Leaderboard

Thanks guys, I had a really nice birthday. I got some cash from my family to put towards my motorcycle fund and I got a pasta extruder so I can now make macaroni and other extruded past shapes. I made 8 eggs of pasta for dinner last night and it turned out great. Saturday night I had a small group of friends over for pizza, drinks, and cake and my best friend left his dog with us for the night so I had him all Sunday as my shadow. It was nice and calm and I got a nice birthday present from the State of PA too. :-)

How about a partial arrangement? Like : most government vehicles (postal trucks, etc), all transit vehicles (taxis, buses, etc), all light cargo vehicles (vans) and half the passenger cars & light trucks go BEV, and the other half remain IC. That would be a HUGE move "forward" and reduce emissions GREATLY, yet still offer choice and allow the consumer to choose. Have a goal of the year 2050 to reach this breakout. That, at least, seems feasible. The '100% in 14 years'... isn't.

When CAFE was instituted in '78, the goal was to raise the average from 18 to 27.5 by 1985. Except for a dip to 26.0 in '86-88, it remained 27.5 thru 2010. Because it takes YEARS to effect an average change on a scale like that. And I point out that MPG in '78 wasn't ONE MPG; passenger cars had a significant numeric jump on '27.5' already under their belts; it was 18.0 in 1978, so that was a 50% increase in 8 years. A tall order from a manufacturer's POV, but since not that much focus had been executed to that point, there was ample 'room' for improvement. The highest peak (cars and light trucks) in that era reached 26.2 in 1987. In 2004, the CAFE was 24.6, as average vehicle weights increased from 3200 lbs to 4000 lbs- mostly as a result in the increasing market share march of light trucks. In 2007, the EISA bill was passed, raising the CAFE bar to 35 by 2020. In 2012, the Obama Administration proposed to raise the CAFE to 54.5 MPG by 2025, a straight up arbitrary doubling with no consideration or knowledge of the feasibility of doing such. That was a 100% increase in 13 years. While manufacturers had already started gearing for that change (and DID accomplish a significant fleet rise since '78), it was rescinded by the Trump Administration in 2016. There is some degree of 'law of diminishing returns' in play at this point; CAFE isn't a result of simply turning a dial. In contrast, some local politicians are --likewise with no consideration or knowledge of the industry-- proposing to take nearly the same time interval (14 years) and increasing the EV market by around 5000% (2% > 100%). [I think I have that math right.] This, despite the obvious- increasing the MPG of passenger cars was only projected to cost the consumer something like $500-$1000, vs. the current EV consumer cost increase of $10,000-$25,000. These proposals and talks of mandated bans are NOT remotely workable in this time frame.

Many have heard of AI and they think Terminator. Yet AI in the computer industry has allowed us to build computers and accessories faster due to the ability of AI to sift through data faster than humans can. This brings us to how AI is helping the Auto industry transition to EV's and how battery tech will change much faster than in the last two decades. IBM has announced their recent battery project is developing prototypes of new faster charging batteries that are free of Nickel and Cobalt thanks to AI. It has allowed them to quickly evaluate a set of 20,000 potential compounds for use in the Battery electrolytes. This would normally take 5 years via traditional human research and yet was accomplished in nine days using AI. GM Ultium batteries and Panasonic batteries have reduced testing from three years to about six months. This is going from a large number of time consuming charging and discharging cycles to using AI to cover what would be done manually in three years to six months. Gbatteries has used AI to build faster and more reliable DC fast chargers. InoBat from Slovakian has stated that AI is helping them to boost battery density by 20% with the batteries being sold in 2023. VW has stated AI is helping them lay out a new roadmap of lite weight materials for auto's including their own batteries that are in development. Dyson has claimed that AI is how they have brought Solid State batteries to market now. AI is going to help usher in the next generation of not only Auto's but phones, computers, etc. AI will touch just about every aspect of life for people. https://www.wsj.com/articles/electric-car-batteries-get-a-boost-from-artificial-intelligence-11604422792 https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1130221_report-ai-will-dramatically-speed-up-battery-development-and-thus-ev-adoption https://na.panasonic.com/us/press-releases

Jersey also: 76 and mildly breezy 2day.

@Robert Hall Seattle usually is mid 50's as we start are normal cool down to winter, but we are now in high 30's during the day, below freezing at night and rain returns tonight for the week with highs only in the low 40's and mid 30's at night. Expecting heavy snow fall in the mountains. No fall here, leaves changed last week and dropped over the weekend and now bare. Seems fall was only a few weeks and now winter. Crazy Climate Change.

6th day in a row w/ high over 70...first time since 1956 for NE Ohio, very unusual. Beautiful weather...lots of leaves..

If I could photocopy my best friend's dog and keep him as my own I would. He loves coming over to our place, it's like his second domain. I fold the seats down in the back of the avalanche and put blankets down and he rides around in the back with me.

@Drew Dowdell Good one and its timing with your birthday! And, since I've only had one dog and it was a "velcro dog" breed, I'd be a little perplexed if my dog wasn't my shadow. It became sort of a baseline with me.

Todays vintage truck content

Nah. Sculpted on the outside. We tend to associate abs being sculpted with a Greek God image. But... We tend to forget that ocean waves could also be sculpted. Now...think of THAT image and transfer that thought into cellulite and fat whenever Rebel Wilson walks or giggles. Puts a damper on this whole positive body image propaganda, now doesn't it?

NOTE FROM THE ADMIN: Please note this thread will be locked down temporarily as we have gotten some complaints about the conversations dealing with politics and current election. This is not the thread for these discussions! Need everyone to go to their respective corners to cool down.

somebody in government, should suggest that. Where will this idea come from since most politicians are brain dead, corrupt or both? How 'bout somebody in the general population raise awareness, get steam behind THAT idea and force the government to do just that. Democracy is actually run that way... Declaring one's self as the winner in an un-finished election is...um...not. But I am digressing again.

Everybody has got some sort of plan to try to get of off the internal combustion engine for personal transportational needs. Even Greece for crying out loud. An almost third world country at times since the Ottoman empire blazed through. A not so much better than a third world country since she gained her freedom back including her bankruptcy a decade ago. Diesel scandal or not, it seems the Greek people and government, (in a more or less honest and ideal democracy, the populous and the government should be one and the same...we all knwo that is quite the feat to accomplish, some say impossible but I digress) are on the same page of where the future SHOULD be regarding the earth's well being and the internal combustion engine. An American that bled General Motors, still does. He is on that same wave length. http://www.autoextremist.com/

Like seriously now... I dont give a shyte who you vote for... Just dont try to tell me Trump is a stand-up man... and if you stop trying to convince me otherwise, I might forget that you are an idiot for following such a criminally insane a$$hole EVs please

Sure. But this aint about Biden. Its about #44 and how HE divided America. Its about how #45 is one sneaky con of a fraud. But some dont even wanna see that. Some...out of the sheer hatred of #44 give a pass to #45 to do as he pleases, because of that raw hate. The latest: Declaring he is a victor of an un-finished election. (Tyrannical and dictorial) Accusing the opposition of voter fraud. Downright criminal no matter if he is right (for the democrats') or he is lying. But the implications OF HIS ACCUSATIONS are deeper than that. One has to question his motives for doing that. He does have legal problems...very serious legal problems when (and if) his presidency is over. That in itswelf is serious talk as he said just last week, that he does NOT intend to go quietly if he loses. And in actual fact, last night, he NEVER once led at ANY time and HE declared himself victor... And now...he wants voting to stop...the counting to stop...he wants top declare himself president, he is suing two states for counting of the votes allegedly for voter fraud, yet no other REPUBLICAN party member is SHARING THAT thought... Don Jr. told a white supremacist group to "have fun" This very same white supremacist group ran a Biden election party bus off the road in Texas... Like HOLE PHOQUE!!!! What is all that? FAKENEWS? DEMOCRATS ARE THE DICTATORS? Here we are...we are still hell bent on shytting on #44, yet what #45 just done JUST the last 24 hours is a gazillion times worse than what #44 has done in 8 years. Yet Im supposed to just turn my attention AWAY from what Trump is doing to the south of me? Maybe Canadian news is lying to me? Im taking this out of context? Because Im a stupid Canadian? Because Trump is honest? Because Trump has NEVER lied? Never frauded? Yeah... The famous Fakenews. You are NOT a proud American... You are NOT boots on the ground. YOU dont live or breathe the problems and dilemmas of EVERY American and when YOU DENY the realities of of your fellow countrymen: You are the opposite. You are a danger to YOUR country. I asked you how YOU are gonna unite with your fellow American and all I giot back is more shyte rhetoric and insults. You hardly know your own rights...by defending and supporting the con you have as #45... You are even tooo stupid to see it... I pity you.

Pan Am, TWA, United, and American all had 747s going daily from LAX to New York back in the day. I don't know if that meant fewer flights per day. There was also 747 service from LAX to Chicago, Honolulu, and Miami. It was National that flew to Miami and the airline was absorbed by Pan Am, so they got the route. Some Honolulu bound 747s marketed that they had lounges for coach/economy in the back. Continental - absorbed by United - was one such airline. First class definitely had a lounge, and it was upstairs. They then turned to using the hump for additional seating and "suites" that produced revenue. This National 747 was the -100 series, the first ones. You can see this one is named Linda (near the second level's 3 windows). They had one named Patricia. You can see their Florida themed sunburst logo on the tail. Their marketing went along the lines of "fly Linda" or "fly Patricia." Back then, it would have been considered different and humorous. Today, some snively, uptight individual would come forth and say it's sexist and be offended.

^ the 3 lil dots in the upper right corner...

Beautiful. I love the Hudson River Valley. And driving along I-87 between Montreal and NYC. I stopped in Plattsburgh, where SUNY is located just south of the Canadian border, and got a fantastic gyro meal. And, a long time ago, I met up with "razoredge" in Albany, his general area, and that was a hoot. If you ever fly into Newark or LaGuardia airports and you diagonally go over the Hudson River Valley, it's amazing that so much pristine, wooded land is that close to NYC. The same would apply to the eastern ~2/3 of Long Island. The middle of it is very rural once you go way east.

And probably a lot of custom 'mil-spec' parts that you can't find from normal GM suppliers...

And other minor trivialities like all the spare parts, the engineering, the testing....

That is not how it works; there a lot more involved than merely dividing the contract amount by the number of vehicles.

TBG SS is limited production, has a collectors status with high resale value even with the miles I have on it. Once I think I convert the Suburban, I will probably garage the SS for just weekend trips is my long term thinking. After all, how many TB SS do you really see, they stand out from the standard TB. Even now I get compliments and people are surprised when they learn it is a TB SS edition.

Hudson RIver, NY :

I agree... I was simply stating step 1.

We need comprehensive GOVERNMENT reform, on all levels... but unfortunately the 'fox runs the henhouse'.

Ford Ranger on the Trans American Trail...not my ranger though. I am starting to really love mine. Fuel economy is dropping slightly as it is getting more broken in, probably because I am driving it loaded up with all sorts of things frequently, and also enjoying the Turbo.

True, but I still do not think it is right or fair to jack up prices, I just shop elsewhere than deal with dealers like that. Very cool as the SAE j2954 wireless charging standard has been released and it includes V2G or Vehicle to Grid reverse charging which means you can have your EV plugged in and if you lose power at the house, the auto can supply power to the house. As a water proof charging pad, this makes EVs even easier as you just come home park over the pad and let it re-charge overnight. https://insideevs.com/news/450548/sae-j2954-wireless-charging-standard/ This is the actual standard site, but very techy, the story above is a nicely laid out clear explanation of the code. https://www.sae.org/standards/content/j2954_201904/#:~:text=The Recommended Practice SAE J2954 establishes an industry-wide,charging of light-duty electric and plug-in electric vehicles.

If change is inevitable, then obviously some Gov’t existing policies are going to change. Fighting inevitability is futile, no? There was all manner of fearmongering thrown around in 2016... on major issues that never even came to the ‘table’. Same as always.

You are no longer permitted to your own opinion or to ‘sit back’. Now you MUST be involved in every social /political issue, because your ‘life/soul/very existence’ depends on it (yet AGAIN). Sick of the lies and the spin.

I'm a political atheist. The problem as I see it is a lack of respect & willingness to listen / compromise, coupled with a terminal media functionality cancer. Media as a journalistic 'Hippocratic oath', is basically dead. There is SO MUCH ROOM for a new objective information entity... but the populous at large is so hyper-partisan now, I doubt it would survive economically.

Blaming the president for the American public seeing through the veil of EV BS is asinine. NOTHING to do with the president, and everything to do with the American need for genuinely useful vehicles. There, an expansion.

Insider rumor (Canadian Ford union) is that Ford is developing a 415 CI (6.8L) pushrod V8 (derived from the Super Duty 7.3L) for an option in the next generation '23 Mustang. Seems interesting.

I think if EVs (BEVs) with a decent range are available in the $25-45k range---which is where a typical vehicle is today at the heart of the market---and comparable in size and features to a typical Corolla, Camry, Rav4, Highlander, etc---and look like a typical mainstream vehicle---not a tiny potato on wheels-- then they may take off.... The only things available new for $15k are horrid subcompacts for which a 5 yr old used car would be infinitely preferable.

I disagree with your price target. That's not going to happen because viable, attractive vehicles aren't coming out in 2025 or 2030 at a 1990 price level. EVs need to MATCH the equivalent IC vehicle pricing to become a considered alternative. They cannot survive against the status quo at 10 grand (or 30 grand) higher than their competition, they must come down in price. So far, none have.

From the Alternative Vehicle Control Department : EDITORIAL :: Use to be; race cars were manufacturer-built and had proprietary powertrains. That was deemed "unfair" and the cars were all homogenized to the point that toyoter built a pushrod V8 just to be able to run. We were told 'it's really about the race drivers, anyway'. NOW... they're working on removing that aspect of the sport. I really don't get it. What are we (no me; I don't watch racing) supposed to root for, the GPS software? I don't think there's any more blantantly sad example of 'technology for technology's sake'.

The next step will be... to save on the myriad of associated & tremendous costs; all motorsport vehicles will be 2-dimensional computer renders, broadcast on screens. But you'll be able to toggle thru different camera views, like the underside and cockpit, plus when the car you're viewing from crashes, your phone will vibrate. Idiots will love it.