G. David Felt

WOW, from a meer 55GWh of battery production in 2021, the U.S. is expected to produce 1,000 GWh of battery cells by 2030 now. Expansion Of EV Battery Manufacturing Capacity In North America Amazes (insideevs.com)

The last and finale special edition model of Dodge will be revealed March 20th at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Roadkill Nights is the focus of the commercial for this "Last Call" special edition dodge. Dodge Last Call Powered by Roadkill Nights Vegas The Dodge Last Call Powered by Roadkill Nights Vegas one-day performance festival will not only reveal the final Dodge “Last Call” special-edition vehicle, but also spotlight the electrified future of the brand with the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept also on display in Las Vegas. Enthusiasts can purchase general admission tickets and view information for the Dodge Last Call Powered by Roadkill Nights Vegas event at www.Motortrend.com/DodgeLastCall. A Livestream feed of the reveal will be available for viewing at DodgeGarage.com, the Dodge YouTube channel, MotorTrend YouTube channel, as well as at MT+. Event activities will include Small Tire and Big Tire drag racing on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Dodge Thrill Rides and simulators, a car show and sponsor/vendor midway areas, a post-event concert/afterglow and more. As with previous Roadkill Nights events, the Roadkill Nights Vegas performance fest will be packed with celebrity appearances — highlighted by a special performance by Grammy-winning superstar Diplo. 2023 Dodge Charger/Challenger “Last Call” Highlights The seventh and final 2023 "Last Call" special-edition model commemorates the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger, which are coming to an end in their current HEMI-engine-powered forms at the end of 2023. Six Dodge "Last Call" models have already been introduced: the Dodge Challenger Shakedown, Dodge Charger Super Bee, Dodge Challenger and Charger Scat Pack Swinger, Dodge Charger King Daytona and Dodge Challenger Black Ghost. In addition to the seven “Last Call” special-edition models, Dodge is also celebrating its 2023 model lineup by bringing back three beloved heritage exterior colors, B5 Blue, Plum Crazy purple and Sublime green, and one popular modern color, Destroyer Grey. 2023 Charger and Challenger R/T models will also feature new “345” fender badging, a callout to the 345-cubic-inch HEMI® engine under the hood, and all 2023 Dodge Charger and Challenger models will carry a special commemorative “Last Call” underhood plaque. Dodge also launched a new Horsepower Locator online tool to help Brotherhood of Muscle members make the “Last Call” for the model of their choice. The Dodge Horsepower Locator tool, as well as information on the brand's 24-month Never Lift plan, is available at DodgeGarage.com. Stellantis Media - ‘Last Call’ Countdown: Teaser Video No. 1 — ‘Runnin’ Hyde’ (stellantisnorthamerica.com) @oldshurst442 @surreal1272 @ccap41 @riviera74 @Drew Dowdell @Robert Hall So what do you guys think the final 7th version will be called and how much power over the 840HP Demon do you think it will have? Could this have the rumored 1,000HP big block V8 as a final send off? Seems Stellantis released last night the following press release: Stellantis Media - Stellantis Announces $155 Million Investment in Three Indiana Plants to Support North American Electrification Goals (stellantisnorthamerica.com) The basics of the press release: Company to localize production of new electric drive module (EDM) in Kokomo EDM provides all-in-one solution for electric-vehicle powertrains, delivering improved performance at competitive cost Investments to be made at Indiana Transmission, Kokomo Transmission and Kokomo Casting plants More than 265 jobs retained Total investments in Indiana since 2020 to support electrification goals grow to nearly $3.3 billion, including gigafactory joint venture with Samsung SDI Announcement aligns with company’s long-term strategy to reach 50% U.S. battery-electric vehicle sales by 2030, starting with the first fully electric Ram vehicles from 2023 and Jeep® from 2024 Since 2020, Stellantis has invested nearly $3.3 billion in Indiana to support its transition to electrification. This includes recent announcements of $643 million to produce a new engine for conventional and PHEV applications, a next-generation eight-speed transmission and a gigafactory joint venture with Samsung SDI.

Cool News World first! Charging a Chevy Bolt EV on a Tesla Supercharger using Magic Dock | Electrek Leased 2020 Chevy Bolt EV Worth More Than Residual Value (gmauthority.com) Have to say I like the Buick Electra E5 interior from the Chinese market. All-New Buick Electra E5 Interior Design Revealed In China (gmauthority.com)

Nissan is wanting to re-enforce that they have been a major EV auto supplier and is encompassing even more today by having clean delivery of EVs from the port to the dealership. The first delivery of the Nissan Ariya EVs was to Downey Nissan in LA. Nissan in collaboration with Nikola and Kenworth will be using the first of their EV Class 8 Semi trucks for hauling their EV autos to dealerships. Both Nikola and Kenworth will provide the trucks that will pull traditional car haulers. This is being done in collaboration with logistics partner Avant-Garde Auto Logistics LLC, a woman-owned transportation company headquartered in Smyrna, Tennessee. Nissan has also collaborated with current logistics partner Wallenius Wilhelmsen on installing a proper charging solution to support the truck operations from the Port of Los Angeles. Chris Styles, VP of Nissan North America, Supply Chain Management, had this to say: "By being an early adopter of this technology, we're showcasing our innovative spirit and positioning ourselves to meet our long-term goals for zero-tailpipe-emission transportation." The first Ariya deliveries are the FWD trims which are now on sale in North America with the 4ORCE all-wheel-drive trims following spring of 2023. Nissan, Nikola and Kenworth have come together to run this Proo-of-Concept (POC) out of the Port of LA with the Logistic partners who manage North America Auto Distribution to best understand the use of EV Class 8 Semi trucks for new vehicle deliveries. Initially Nikola and Kenworth both supplied two trucks for this POC. Over the next 90 days, all companies will review the lessons learned from this project and Nissan has stated that they plan to move forward with purchasing EV Semi trucks to expand delivery across California and eventually North America as they expand use of the Class 8 BEV trucks for a variety of logistical use. Nissan as one of the first automakers to use EV heavy-duty trucks to transport new vehicles to dealerships believes this will help them on achieving carbon neutrality across its global operations by 2050. Nissan has set one of the most aggressive EV targets as the company has targeted 40% of all new auto sales for Nissan in North America to be electric by 2030 as part of their Ambition 2030 plan. Nissan believes that the all-new 2023 Nissan Ariya, Nissan's first all-electric crossover SUV with an EPA estimated range of 304 miles for the Venture+ model is a perfect partner for daily commutes as well as road trips. Nissan as an EV pioneer has built the all-electric all-new Ariya SUV on the strengths of the Nissan LEAF, which has sold almost 600,000 globally since its release a decade ago. Timeless Japanese Futurism (TJF) is the design philosophy that Ariya delivers on in Nissan's redefinition of style. TJF is characterized by Nissan's Japanese approach of simple-yet-powerfully modern. Designers according to Nissan embraced this concept of sleek, sexy and seamless to communicate how an EV paired with advanced driving capabilities offers a new perspective in design, function and ownership experience. iki, a Japanese term was embraced in characterizing the Ariya's chic, cutting-edge nature, which Nissan believes is represented in the vehicles seamless, elegant and fresh front end. Nissan says that the Ariya is highlighted by a shield, a reimagined grille for the EV era. The Ariya shield incorporates a 3-D traditional Japanese Kumiko pattern just under the smooth surface, while protecting sensors used for driver assistance functions without the aesthetics interrupting operations. Nissan also redesigned their brand logo so it is prominently placed at the center of the aerodynamic shield, beaming with crisp definition from the 20 LEDs that compose it. The lower section of the shield is bordered by subtle lighting that illuminates, along with the logo, when the Ariya is ready for operation. Thin LED headlamps, constructed with four 20-millimeter mini-projectors to reinvent Nissan's signature V-motion design. A single, uninterrupted horizon line stretches across the side profile, linking the front fascia and the rear and conveys linear movement, creating architectural beauty in tension and drama from every angle. Nissan in their press release of the new Ariya deliveries to dealerships had additional praise about the rear fascia of the Ariya. Quote: The rear of Ariya is equally striking, characterized by a steeply raked C-pillar that blends flawlessly into the rear deck. The one-piece light blade, representing the rear combination lamps, has been engineered to give a blackout effect when parked, and a consistent red illumination, day or night, when in use. Rear fender flares and a high-mounted rear wing signal Ariya's powerful EV capabilities. Nissan had the following to state about the Ariya EV. 6 two-tone exterior paint combinations Akatsuki - Special two-tone Copper and Black package, expresses the moment just before dawn, as the sun marks the beginning of a new day. Color package is pictured above. 3 full-body colors EV Platform for spacious interior cabin climate control is under the front hood rather than in the cabin increasing space due to the electric powertrain Minimalist instrument panel Haptic switches are integrated into the dash and instrument panel Adjustable center console Shifter with capacitive haptic drive mode controls 50/50 weight distribution Floorboard is a structural body change, maximizing comfort and space Spacious cargo area with back seats folded down Interior continues the future with a hybrid voice recognition system, Amazon Alexa voice control along with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Ariya has an assortment of high-tech features such as ProPILOT Assist 2.0, Nissan newest iteration of driver assistance technology. Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of six active safety features. Automatic Emergency Braking Pedestrian Detection Blind Spot Warning Rear Cross Traffic Alert Lane Departure Warning High Beam Assist Rear Automatic Braking Nissan made this statement on the release of the Ariya for sale at their national dealership network: Nissan Ariya crossover marks a new era for electric vehicles, promising an incredibly powerful and smooth ride thanks to the full strength of Nissan Intelligent Mobility delivered by the latest assistance technologies designed to support, respond and respect the driver's intentions. A sleek, sexy, seamless design inspired by Timeless Japanese Futurism gives all occupants a welcome, personal impression aimed to surpass expectations. View full article

Happy B-Day @oldshurst442

The Korean Herald News outlet is reporting that South Koreas second-largest automaker Kia will start production of their full-size EV9 SUV in the first half of 2023 after Kia's labor union (Korean Metal Workers) and Kia management fame to agreement on production, strategy and future employment security. According to the new source, the Kia EV9 will be produced at the company's Gwangmyeong factory in Gyeonggi Province. The EV9 SUV is expected to officially start taking pre-orders in April. The specifications of the EV9 Concept that Kia has stated has been kept close to the concept are 194 inches long, 122 inch wheelbase, 81 inches wide and 70 inches tall. This has it on the smaller side of the fullsize SUV market but on par with the Ford Explorer. Comparison of Full Size SUVs provided by carindigo.com. The Kora Herald is also reporting that this same production site will start producing two more EVs next year in 2024. These will be global EVs filling in the Small Car and Mid-sized car categories. The projects are labeled as "CT" and "SV" with industry watchers predicting this is the EV3 and EV4 as Kia stays with their EV naming scheme. The agreement with the unions have confirmed that Kia will build a new plant in the province and will be the first new plant since 1997. The new factory will produce only EVs with the addition of the PBV's products at this plant which will be Kia unmanned subcompact cars for delivery and robot taxis. Kia has previously unveiled its plan to release two new EVs every year expanding their global lineup of EVs to 14 by 2027 as released at last year's 2022 investor's event held in March. Details of the EV9 at the time of the reveal was as follows: Battery Range options of 220 to 290 miles or 354 to 467 kilometers RWD versions would have 150 kW output (201 HP) AWD versions would have 300kW output (402 HP) Kia had stated at the time of the reveal that the EV9 would sell for between $56,000 and $73,000 U.S. dollars and that additional specifications would be released just before pre-ordering was opened, so more should be coming in April 2023 about the EV9. View full article

@oldshurst442 Thought of you today, when I had a single meeting after my doctors appointment. A new team member based in California was chatting with one of our team members based in Toronto. The California team member just could not grasp why the Toronto team member could not drive to Calgary and back in the same day to have lunch at the CN Tower.

Conspiracy Theories

Best example of Alien Fodder yet

Politicians

I totally feel your pain mate, the right but cheek has that pins and needle affect along with the calf cramp and the occasional toe tingles. Sucks, but first I have to address my left knee, then I can address the low back, pinched nerve issues. On a funny note, my son asked me to marry him and his fiancée. I said yes, but Washington state requires you to be a part of religion. So I followed the links from the WA state website that points to a variety of organizations that will certify you to perform weddings. This atheist is now an ordained minister! ?

Two interesting stories for today: https://cleantechnica.com/2023/02/26/us-auto-industry-down-3-million-sales-19-since-2019/ QUOTE: “Fun fact. The overall auto industry has on average declined 1.18% y/y since 2015. In this span, BEVs have grown on average 57.67% y/y while ICE sales declined 2.51% y/y. Total ICE production in 2022 was just 74 million … a level last seen in 2007! With BEVs really capturing the market now it seems clear we are well past ‘peak ICE’ which happened in 2017 at 96.5 million cars.” Compared to 2021, things change up a bit. Tesla still saw strong growth — just not as much of course (37%). Cadillac was up decently (14%). And a few other brands were up moderately — GMC was up 7%, Chevrolet was up 6%, and Mercedes was up 6%. Chevrolet (80,000+) and GMC (35,000+) were up the most in volume terms aside from Tesla (~139,000). Looking at the suffering brands, Honda lost the most volume-wise year over year (down a whopping 428,021), followed by Nissan (-236,355), Toyota (-178,032), Ram (-102,137), and Jeep (-94,097). In terms of a percentage drop, Fiat is still on the bottom of the pile. (Is Fiat going to survive in the USA?) Buick (-42%), Acura (-35%), Honda (-33%), and Alfa Romeo (-30%) also saw a significant drop in sales year over year. OUCH on the sales front. The car folks like @ccap41 @oldshurst442 @surreal1272 @Robert Hall @Drew Dowdell @riviera74 should enjoy this story. [VIDEO] 2025 Corvette Zora: Would You Buy One? - Corvette: Sales, News & Lifestyle (corvetteblogger.com)

Sciatic Nerve

True, I am finally downstairs working, so I am able to keep an eye on the site. WOW, I have a high pain tolerance, but this is a new kind of pain that I have not experienced. Roll my left leg to the left and all is fine. Roll it to my right and wow, stars. On top of this, just got a call from my doctor about discomfort I have had in my right hip and waking up at night with my right calf cramping and he had me get x-rays on Friday. Results show degenerative disc in L1 to L7 and L5 pinching on my sciatic nerve. Go figure, nothing I ever do is easy or in small quantities. LOL

Surgery

FYI - You might not see me post much in the coming weeks as on Friday night I twisted my knee being in a hurry and popped my ACL. Braced up and on crutches and pain meds. Have to see an orthopedic doctor this week.

Pain Killer

While I love saving gas, I am all for having a little extra omf under the hood. Example is my daughters 1999 Durango with the 5.9L V8 in her 4x4 that they then made it an AWD RT edition for 2000 and removed the 5.8L from the 4x4 option list in 2000 with a smaller V8 in the 4x4 model. She is over 300,000 miles and while the auto is old and not as fast as it used to be, with maintenance, it is still running strong and moves way better than an equal Durango that has the V6 or smaller V8 engines. I believe the Encore GX with a little more omf, aka bigger engine, extra piston would be what I would want if I could fit and drive one. The 3 cylinder motors I have not seen great history with them, but then it could also be my limited exposure to them since everything I drive and have owned have always been V8 SUVs/Trucks.

I would do my mid 80's Monte Carlo SS Aero or standard with T-Tops. Course this is cool too. Experimental EV: 1967 Buick Riviera Electric Vehicle | Barn Finds

All awesome candidates for conversion to EV powertrain if the person loves the car enough.

I think you might have seen it elsewhere as I never seen the videos till, I was cruzing during a boring all hands meeting on YouTube and came across it today. Then I find on binging the twitter coverage from one of the local news stations. I agree with you that the exit ramp that is there and I took a couple weeks back to take the wife to the Flower and Garden show at the convention center is short and terrible off ramp to a red light. Yet it was built back in 1960 when autos were a different breed. I will say they just finished a major expansion of the convention center and hotel rooms to attract tech conventions and I was surprised as many locals that this ramp was not closed for good. Politicians got their way with a old, design poor exit ramp that really should have been made to go away.

Exciting to see the spy photos of the EV above the LYRIQ out in winter weather testing. Electric Cadillac Crossover Above Lyriq Spied Testing (gmauthority.com) I do like the more traditional upright back on this suv.

@Drew Dowdell @surreal1272 @oldshurst442 @Robert Hall @ccap41 @riviera74 I am sure there are many and I wish like slack they had an @channel ability as this video is just too funny. Does not matter if your drive a car, suv, truck, ev or ICE. This is the Union St. Exit to down town Seattle at the Convention center and the off-ramp is a 50 plus year old off-ramp that is way too short and clearly so many people do not pay attention to the signs that go from 60mph to 20 mph in about 500 feet. As such, I just discovered that one of the folks working in the building at the off-ramp has built a compilation video of all the crashes. Enjoy Seattle Stupidity at it's best. Found a tweet of the off ramp and someone actually driving it. Seems it is 60 to 30 in a few hundred feet at best and then like 50 feet to 20mph and around the corner. Crazy.