Alternative Fuels & Propulsion RANDOM

[balthazar]

22 hours ago, dfelt said:

The following Fiat EV concept could do them very well if it came in at the right price for a subcompact

That is not going to save Fiat.

[Potluck]

On ‎9‎/‎21‎/‎2019 at 5:44 PM, balthazar said:

That is not going to save Fiat.

Nothing will save fiat. they're the next brand to exit the us.  Yes, even before Chrysler does.

[David]

Rivian has added voice control to their R1T / R1S for opening up their Frunk.

https://twitter.com/EdLudlow/status/1176890257360318464

https://t.co/92NlH2cg6S

 

[David]

Canoo https://www.canoo.com/ has come out of skunk works mode to show off their low cost people mover EV.

According to electrek with a fresh $1 billion in funding they will do a subscription service only of their vans which look like a modern take on the old VW microbus.

https://electrek.co/2019/09/25/canoo-electric-vehicle-futuristic-subscription/#more-104351

[David]

Tesla seems to be gearing up to start charging for connectivity with a cap at 50GB a month.

https://electrek.co/2019/09/24/tesla-monitoring-data-charge-connectivity/

We finally have a 168 mile rang EV auto for a asking price of $8,700 dollars. Catch is that to buy this Renault K-ZE CUV electric auto you have to go to china.

https://chargedevs.com/newswire/renault-k-ze-ev-goes-on-sale-for-8700/

[riviera74]

5 hours ago, dfelt said:

Tesla seems to be gearing up to start charging for connectivity with a cap at 50GB a month.

https://electrek.co/2019/09/24/tesla-monitoring-data-charge-connectivity/

We finally have a 168 mile rang EV auto for a asking price of $8,700 dollars. Catch is that to buy this Renault K-ZE CUV electric auto you have to go to china.

https://chargedevs.com/newswire/renault-k-ze-ev-goes-on-sale-for-8700/

That could be a low cost EV Rogue if Nissan wanted to do that.

[David]

12 minutes ago, riviera74 said:

That could be a low cost EV Rogue if Nissan wanted to do that.

I would totally agree, I do not see the need for a Smart or Fiat size, but I think the Rogue EV for inner city would work.

[David]

The first full conversion of a gas station has been done. Interesting it is on the east coast so close to some of you in Maryland.

https://www-cnbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2019/09/26/first-gas-station-to-ditch-oil-for-electric-vehicle-charging-now-open.html

[David]

Bollinger B1 and B2 electric auto's. The original concept was a truck, now Bollinger has shown off their new B1 which is an SUV and the B2 which is a pickup. Big question is how will it pass safety tests as their does not appear to be any airbags in the auto's. Retro look much like the original Land Rover.

https://www.autoblog.com/2019/09/26/bollinger-b1-b2-electric-truck-suv-unveiled/#slide-2172314

[David]

South Korean is pushing Hydrogen as an alternative to electric or petro, yet due to explosions, death and environmental concerns, Koreans are resisting to change over to hydrogen.

To quote this story:Hydrogen stand operator Sung said while refueling itself takes about 5-7 minutes, the next driver must wait another 20 minutes before sufficient pressure builds in the storage tank to supply the hydrogen or the car's tank will not be full.

This is the other problem is that the fueling sites are not allowed to hold much in storage, so there is a 20 min wait between fueling auto's to get a full tank.

https://www.autoblog.com/2019/09/29/hydrogen-stations-south-korea/

[David]

Rivian showed off along with their R1T silver truck a new Blue R1t with a darker interior. One of the reservation holders in Seattle video taped the event and the truck and posted to You Tube. I have to say I really like what I see, just need to get damn access to test fitting myself in the auto before I plunk down a deposit. Have to say I really have more respect from a business stand point for RJ over Musk.

More info was also posted here in the story at Electek web site.

https://electrek.co/2019/09/30/rivian-blue-r1t-electric-pickup-truck-prototype/

[David]

According to this story, JFK airport has installed 38 charge points and is moving to change out the ground equipment used in support of airplane flights. The goal is to save 200,000 gallons of fuel and over 4 million pounds of Green house gas a year.

https://chargedevs.com/newswire/jfk-airport-terminal-5-installs-38-charging-hubs-will-electrify-ground-equipment/

Exxonmobil has come out with a complete product line of EV fluids designed to allow EVs to travel farther on a single charge and reduce wear by extending component life.

https://chargedevs.com/newswire/exxonmobil-launches-new-suite-of-fluids-and-greases-for-electric-vehicles/

 

[David]

This one is an interesting story, Honda is planning to buy more renewable energy than any other auto company in the US as it pushes to reduce it's CO2 footprint.

https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1125226_honda-plans-to-buy-more-renewable-energy-than-any-other-automaker

@Drew Dowdell Drew help me out here as I would like to better understand this. Is Honda just buying and reselling renewable energy with the end result is they get a green house gas exemption due to where their factories are located? It seems to me that Honda is paying for wind and solar power in exchange for a credit against the power they consume that is not renewable and as such the people around these renewable power plants are who really benefits?

These deals always seem a bit confusing. Thank you

[David]

Very cool Conversion, a 1992 E30 BMW cabriolet had been converted to a LS V8 and was one fast road racer, it has since undergone another transformation with having a Tesla P85 power train and Chevrolet Battery packs installed into the E30 BMW and is now allowing you to never miss a yellow light again. Watch the video in the link below.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/29886/a-tesla-swapped-e30-bmw-means-youll-never-miss-a-yellow-light-again

 

[Drew Dowdell]

5 minutes ago, dfelt said:

This one is an interesting story, Honda is planning to buy more renewable energy than any other auto company in the US as it pushes to reduce it's CO2 footprint.

https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1125226_honda-plans-to-buy-more-renewable-energy-than-any-other-automaker

@Drew Dowdell Drew help me out here as I would like to better understand this. Is Honda just buying and reselling renewable energy with the end result is they get a green house gas exemption due to where their factories are located? It seems to me that Honda is paying for wind and solar power in exchange for a credit against the power they consume that is not renewable and as such the people around these renewable power plants are who really benefits?

These deals always seem a bit confusing. Thank you

Imagine the power grid is a series of really big buckets with pipes (power transmission lines) between them. 

Electricity gets dumped into the bucket and consumers and businesses sip out of the bucket. The electricity that gets dumped into the buckets comes from all sorts of source; wind, solar, coal, nat gas, nuclear, etc.   Electricity can also be transferred from bucked to bucket.

Is the electricity Honda is actually using coming from nat gas, coal, wind, or solar? Hard to tell which electrons are actually being used, but Honda is buying the same amount of energy from renewable sources to dump into those buckets, so that counts for them as buying sustainable energy.

Due to where they are buying, then yes, the people who benefit most from GHG reduction are the people closest to these renewable plants. 

[David]

14 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Imagine the power grid is a series of really big buckets with pipes (power transmission lines) between them. 

Electricity gets dumped into the bucket and consumers and businesses sip out of the bucket. The electricity that gets dumped into the buckets comes from all sorts of source; wind, solar, coal, nat gas, nuclear, etc.   Electricity can also be transferred from bucked to bucket.

Is the electricity Honda is actually using coming from nat gas, coal, wind, or solar? Hard to tell which electrons are actually being used, but Honda is buying the same amount of energy from renewable sources to dump into those buckets, so that counts for them as buying sustainable energy.

Due to where they are buying, then yes, the people who benefit most from GHG reduction are the people closest to these renewable plants. 

Much appreciated Drew, I knew you would put it into layman terms that would make sense to me. Since the PNW does not have alternative power suppliers, all our power which is Hydro, Wind, Solar or Ocean derived is in the same bucket sold by the only power company around PSE.

[Drew Dowdell]

1 hour ago, dfelt said:

Much appreciated Drew, I knew you would put it into layman terms that would make sense to me. Since the PNW does not have alternative power suppliers, all our power which is Hydro, Wind, Solar or Ocean derived is in the same bucket sold by the only power company around PSE.

You're probably part of a bigger grid than just PSE, but I haven't looked at a map at work recently to remember.

[David]

20 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

You're probably part of a bigger grid than just PSE, but I haven't looked at a map at work recently to remember.

Thanks Drew, went out to the web site, https://www.pse.com/ but while they have an outage map, does not seem to have a grid map that says this is the areas PSE covers.

[Drew Dowdell]

22 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Thanks Drew, went out to the web site, https://www.pse.com/ but while they have an outage map, does not seem to have a grid map that says this is the areas PSE covers.

Of course I could have just googled it..

Each color is on big bucket. There are smaller buckets inside those which would be localized utilities like PSE. 

[David]

13 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Of course I could have just googled it..

Each color is on big bucket. There are smaller buckets inside those which would be localized utilities like PSE. 

WOW, never knew, this is very interesting. Makes sense the amount of power we sell to California after seeing this map.

[David]

For those that are interested, Nissan IMk concept unveiled ahead of tokyo auto show.

https://www.autoblog.com/2019/10/01/nissan-imk-tokyo-concept-city-car/

Seems to be a micro 4 person EV.

[David]

If you want to read about the 4 platforms that VW, Audi, Porsche will use for EV/hybrid/ice, it is a good read.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2019/10/audi-is-planning-20-all-electric-models-by-2025-heres-how-it-will-do-it/

[David]

Interesting read on the compact to Mid Size MEB platform.

https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1125374_audi-details-q4-e-tron-electric-crossover-teases-future-sedan-performance-models

[David]

Seems Tesla has built 15 Tesla semi's for use at the Frito Lays plant in delivery around california.

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/tesla-semi-electric-trucks-roll-into-frito-lay-plant

[Drew Dowdell]

Apparently UPS is using self driving tractor trailers on a fixed route in the southwest. 

[David]

Seems the reports of only early this year and late last year that battery price per kW would be $187 per kW by 2025 are way off after massive advancements have the battery industry heading to $87 per kW battery pack cost by 2025.

https://chargedevs.com/newswire/new-report-cost-and-performance-of-batteries-improving-much-faster-than-forecast/

 

[ocnblu]

2 hours ago, dfelt said:

Seems

SEEMS every post has to start with the word "SEEMS" in here.

[Robert Hall]

Just now, ocnblu said:

SEEMS every post has to start with the word "SEEMS" in here.

Since it's all future stuff, have to couch it in non-definite terms. Reality is complex.

[ocnblu]

?

[Robert Hall]

Couch

verb

1. 

express (something) in language of a specified style.

 

[surreal1272]

1 hour ago, ocnblu said:

SEEMS every post has to start with the word "SEEMS" in here.

Seems like it shouldn’t matter. 

[ocnblu]

16 minutes ago, surreal1272 said:

Seems like it shouldn’t matter. 

Pretty boring stuff in this thread, fer sher.  And to think it was a brainchild of mine.  *shrugs*

[surreal1272]

13 hours ago, ocnblu said:

Pretty boring stuff in this thread, fer sher.  And to think it was a brainchild of mine.  *shrugs*

Pretty boring stuff yet you keep coming back to comment. What’s that they about the definition of the word “insanity”? 
 

“Brainchild”? From what I recall, it was more like complaining like a ten year old with a skinned knee because you though it was not so “random” for someone to talk about something you had no interest in. 
 

Maybe it’s just the Trollus Operatus. 

Edited November 7, 2019 by surreal1272

[David]

So much excitement coming to the EV world this fall.

November 21st we finally get to see the Tesla Pickup Truck. Be interesting to see how it compares to Rivian who I still expect to get to market far ahead of Tesla. https://www.autoblog.com/2019/11/06/tesla-pickup-truck-reveal-november-21/

November 19th we get to see the New ID reveal at the LA autoshow for our EV from VW. https://www.autoblog.com/2019/10/30/vw-ev-concept-petersen-museum-la-auto-show/

November 17th is the official reveal of the production Ford Mach E at LA Auto Show. https://www.autoblog.com/2019/10/30/ford-mach-e-rendered-mustang-inspired-ev-crossover/

Spy photos are leaking of the flagship EQS EV from Mercedes-Benz https://www.autoblog.com/2019/10/29/mercedes-benz-eqs-interior-spy-shots/#slide-2180535

Fisker SUV reservations go live later this month on November 27th, the reveal is January 4th 2020. https://www.autoblog.com/2019/10/31/fisker-ocean-electric-suv/

 

[David]

Gotta love that Sema is embracing EV's so well. GM it seems is going to offer electric power train crate motors that run on 800 Volt systems. One truck that used a dual setup for AWD was the E-10 Hot Rod truck. https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1125874_chevy-e-10-electric-hot-rod-truck-concept-has-a-double-shot-of-bolt-ev

450 horsepower, a 0-60 time in the 5.0-second range, and a quarter-mile time of approximately 13 seconds - LOVELY TRUCK

2020 Kia Iqonic EV got a boost to 38 kWh battery pack with an EPA rating of 170 miles.

https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1125897_2020-hyundai-ioniq-electric-range-boosted-to-170-miles-for-most-efficient-ev-on-the-market

 

[surreal1272]

2 hours ago, dfelt said:

Gotta love that Sema is embracing EV's so well. GM it seems is going to offer electric power train crate motors that run on 800 Volt systems. One truck that used a dual setup for AWD was the E-10 Hot Rod truck. https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1125874_chevy-e-10-electric-hot-rod-truck-concept-has-a-double-shot-of-bolt-ev

450 horsepower, a 0-60 time in the 5.0-second range, and a quarter-mile time of approximately 13 seconds - LOVELY TRUCK

2020 Kia Iqonic EV got a boost to 38 kWh battery pack with an EPA rating of 170 miles.

https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1125897_2020-hyundai-ioniq-electric-range-boosted-to-170-miles-for-most-efficient-ev-on-the-market

 

Absolutely love the color choice! It's works perfectly with that classic ride.

[David]

5 hours ago, dfelt said:

So much excitement coming to the EV world this fall.

November 21st we finally get to see the Tesla Pickup Truck. Be interesting to see how it compares to Rivian who I still expect to get to market far ahead of Tesla. https://www.autoblog.com/2019/11/06/tesla-pickup-truck-reveal-november-21/

November 19th we get to see the New ID reveal at the LA autoshow for our EV from VW. https://www.autoblog.com/2019/10/30/vw-ev-concept-petersen-museum-la-auto-show/

November 17th is the official reveal of the production Ford Mach E at LA Auto Show. https://www.autoblog.com/2019/10/30/ford-mach-e-rendered-mustang-inspired-ev-crossover/

Spy photos are leaking of the flagship EQS EV from Mercedes-Benz https://www.autoblog.com/2019/10/29/mercedes-benz-eqs-interior-spy-shots/#slide-2180535

Fisker SUV reservations go live later this month on November 27th, the reveal is January 4th 2020. https://www.autoblog.com/2019/10/31/fisker-ocean-electric-suv/

 

Seems Jalopnik was able to get pics of the almost naked Mach E and I have to say the pic from the Mach E Forum is pretty spot on. Check it out: https://jalopnik.com/this-is-the-ford-mustang-inspired-suv-caught-almost-tot-1839701061

[oldshurst442]

^^^

At least it looks like a normal CUV.  

Will it be a success?  Who knows?   Tesla it seems are the only EVs that seem to resonate with the majority of the people.  EV and non EV people. 

Non EV people it seems are not exactly lit up on fire with adopting and adapting to EVs just yet.

Maybe this Mach-E well get non-EV people to look at EVs... because Im sure EV people will not look at this ride.  The Tesla Model Y is their God send. 

Edited November 7, 2019 by oldshurst442

[David]

16 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

^^^

At least it looks like a normal CUV.  

Will it be a success?  Who knows?   Tesla it seems are the only EVs that seem to resonate with the majority of the people.  EV and non EV people. 

Non EV people it seems are not exactly lit up on fire with adopting and adapting to EVs just yet.

Maybe this Mach-E well get non-EV people to look at EVs... because Im sure EV people will not look at this ride.  The Tesla Model Y is their God send. 

Tesla products are sooooo Ugly to me and look dated. They have no style or Mojo, I honestly do not get what people think is so great about tesla other than they pushed the awesome EV technology.

Interior is like being a minimalist, dead, lacks style, warmth or anything that says I am riding in a quality classy auto.

I take the Jag iPace over a tesla or even an MB EQC over the Tesla. I honestly an very excited for the Rivian auto's and the Ford F150 over Tesla's truck. I suspect it will be just another geriatric blah EV.

 

[oldshurst442]

7 hours ago, dfelt said:

Tesla products are sooooo Ugly to me and look dated. They have no style or Mojo, I honestly do not get what people think is so great about tesla other than they pushed the awesome EV technology.

Interior is like being a minimalist, dead, lacks style, warmth or anything that says I am riding in a quality classy auto.

I take the Jag iPace over a tesla or even an MB EQC over the Tesla. I honestly an very excited for the Rivian auto's and the Ford F150 over Tesla's truck. I suspect it will be just another geriatric blah EV.

 

Looks are subjective.

But because Tesla sells the amount they sell, their styling DOES resonate with the people. And THAT would be WORLDWIDE...

As we know, for the most part, ugly cars do not sell. Tesla cars sell well.  WORLDWIDE over Tesla cars are the most sold EVs. Ugly or not, THAT by definition  makes Tesla style have Tesla mojo.    In other words, Tesla has its own style and people gravitate towards it.   And Tesla having its own style doing things its own way having its own mojo is a very good thing when it comes to BRANDING...

Kleenex, Vaseline, Coke, Scotch Tape, Fridgidaire, Crock-Pot, Jet-Ski, Bubble Wrap, Google, Xerox, Amazon...   The Tesla brand is fast becoming that kind of brand...if it aint already there...

And the Model 3's  minimalist approach to its interior (and that is how the Tesla Model S' interior will be too on its next refresh that will be soon enough)  is well received by many that buy the Tesla 3. In fact, its a selling point. And a very successful selling point at that.  You and I dont like it. But these EV peeps seem to adore it.  

Plus, you cant argue, Tesla has a very very good product to sale you.  It aint all marketing bullshyte and fad of the day internet sensation...  The EV technology that Tesla sells you is quite possibly the best there is out there...

Plus its charging network that helps with the branding...

I know you were NOT the one chastising me for dissing Ferrari VS Ford movie by saying that I dont want to see bullshyte American flag waving nonsense in the movie... but Ill tell you one thing, and others that hate on Tesla...

AND ILL DO THE AMERICAN FLAG WAVING HERE. WHICH IS RIGHTFULLY DESERVED IN THIS CASE!!!   

TESLA IS AMERICAN!!!   AN AMERICAN CAR COMPANY THAT IS COVETED ALL AROUND THE WORLD. BE PHOQUING PROUD!!!  WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER YOU FOLK???!!!  THESE ARE THE TIMES WHEN YOU SAY:  AMERICA!  PHOQUE YEAH!!!

 

Edited November 9, 2019 by oldshurst442

[riviera74]

Call me when Tesla outsells Toyota, Honda and/or Hyundai/KIA.  Then Tesla will be an American icon.

[Drew Dowdell]

On 11/8/2019 at 10:37 PM, riviera74 said:

Call me when Tesla outsells Toyota, Honda and/or Hyundai/KIA.  Then Tesla will be an American icon.

Tesla is already outselling BMW and Benz at their respective price points. 

[ocnblu]

3 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Tesla is already outselling BMW and Benz at their respective price points. 

Paper tiger

[oldshurst442]

57 minutes ago, ocnblu said:

Paper tiger

Not when only EV sales are concerned.

Ill give you the over all vehicle sales argument in the market place.   But even you got to admit, amongst all EV cars/models/brands out there, Tesla is the one that is king of the jungle.  

 

[oldshurst442]

On 11/8/2019 at 10:37 PM, riviera74 said:

Call me when Tesla outsells Toyota, Honda and/or Hyundai/KIA.  Then Tesla will be an American icon.

OK... 867-5309?

 

 

[ocnblu]

Just please don't ask me how I gained access.  Just thank me for breaking its cover.  Enjoy!

[Robert Hall]

1 hour ago, ocnblu said:

Just please don't ask me how I gained access.  Just thank me for breaking its cover.  Enjoy!

Ah, the convertible version of the upcoming Mustang-inspired CUV EV....sweet...

[David]

2 hours ago, ocnblu said:

Just please don't ask me how I gained access.  Just thank me for breaking its cover.  Enjoy!

Mommy finally got you an auto you could handle.  

[David]

Seems Police are finally taking a heavy hand to IDIOTS who ICE electric charging stalls.

German Translation via Bing:

Our #A11 also takes care of heavyweights:
If the big blue had actually tapped the charging station, the electricity would probably have failed in the surrounding households. 

Gonna suck for this Ford truck owner when they return to find their truck gone to the impound yard. Nice Raptor in the impound cage where they belong.

Imagine all the ICE owners who would be pissed if EV's decided to park in front of gas station pumps not allowing people with empty tanks to fill up. 🙄

[David]

Seems we have a new American Cruiser, Designed in California, 100% built in China and available for sale soon after a major roll out at the Milan Motorcycle  Show.

https://electrek.co/2019/11/12/hadin-american-style-cruiser-electric-motorcycle-eicma/

Also out is the latest G20 review for which counteries are leading in addressing climate change:

Market share of EVs in new car sales, the report, which drew its data from the International Energy Agency, named the top 5 as:

• China: 4.48%
• US: 2.45%
• Canada: 2.32%
• South Korea: 2.21%
• France: 2.15%

https://electrek.co/2019/11/12/green-transport-report-card-g20-countries/

Latest on Tesla charging is a new 28 stall V3 supercharger station between LA and Pheonix. Allowing a much shorter time for the 372 mile drive.

https://electrek.co/2019/11/12/tesla-largest-28-stall-supercharger-v3-station-la-phoenix/#more-110165

Sadly it seems in Germany vandals are setting Tesla auto's on Fire. Go figure. 🙄\

Seems while he had sentry mode on, was too cheap to buy a USB thumb drive to record the actual video.

https://electrek.co/2019/11/12/tesla-set-on-fire-targeted-vandal/#more-110083