G. David Felt

Have to say I have never been a Van Fan overall, liked some of the 70's era tricked out vans, but I do like this interior on the VW ID.Buzz electric Van. https://www.autoblog.com/2022/01/27/vw-id-buzz-interior-leaked-spy-photos/

WOW, Some very Interesting news today: Ford has partnered with Sunrun, a leading solar company to optimize the running of your home with their solar system when needed using the available Intelligent Backup Power. They will also have it as a purchase option when you buy the Ford EV truck. https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2022/02/02/f-150-lightning-power-play.html Ford has doubled F150 Production this year to be 150,000 EV Trucks and will have total capacity of 600,000 EVs by the end of 2023. https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2022/01/04/ford-planning-to-[…]ble-all-electric-f-150-lightning-production-150000-units.html Ford seems to have decided to follow GM as they do a major reorganization to shift to fully electric cars adding to the $30 Billion an additional $20 Billion as they they hired Doug Field, Former Apple Car Project to lead the overhaul of the ICE company to one of Technology and BEVs. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-01/ford-to-spend-up-to-20-billion-reorganizing-for-shift-to-evs Crazy, for your safety seems we have Speed Enforcement Cameras coming to a local highway near you. https://www.autoblog.com/2022/02/02/traffic-speed-cameras-biden-infrastructure-bill/ The Bloomberg story would have been a good writeup, just no time today as my regular job has be busy. Click the Link and Read, very interesting as they change, Ford to keep a focus on ICE to be competitive with everyone, but the real focus will be to convert the whole company portfolio to BEV. Lincoln it seems will follow Cadillac as dropping all ICE asap as they replace each model with a BEV.

Interesting to see the First all new Cadillac IQ Dealership open in late December. Was not on the official GM or Cadillac China news web site, but GM Authority covered this. GM Opens New Cadillac Pure Electric IQ Store In Shanghai (gmauthority.com) I also wish GM would have some of the LYRIQ out for people to check out here in the US as China has now. All-New Cadillac IQ Shanghai Kerry Store Opens In China (gmauthority.com) Wish GM would do this kind of stores here with showing the History of Cadillac and the luxury and design style with a focus of moving into the future.

Two very cool stories, first one is the GM approved coachbuilder that built an actual Cadillac Pickup back in the 70's. Rare 1976 Cadillac Mirage Pickup Sells For $41K (gmauthority.com) This caddy pickup was built with only the 500 cubic inch V8. Additional pictures of the Pickup on the link above. @oldshurst442 Might find this to his liking. Who knew a Bandit Edition of the 2021 Silverado recently sold at Auction, $286,000 2021 Chevy Silverado Bandit Fetches $286k At Barrett-Jackson (gmauthority.com) I have very mixed feelings about this Truck, Cool and yet Oh so not right when the Bandit should be a car in regards to the heritage of the Movie. Yet for the 21st Century and the love of Trucks, I could see a modern day Bandit would use a performance focused Pickup over a car.

Seems the market is less than impressed with Tesla earnings call and lack of any new product production (Semi, CyberTruck, $25K Tesla, Roadster 2.0) So here comes Tesla showing off that out of Nevada where they make the battery packs and a production line is supposedly set up for building the Semi, a group of Semi's are charging. Musk probably feels he can keep his rabid fans happy by showing that they are making some progress.

Rivian video showing all their drive modes. Pretty cool. Decent Truck and Tesla has NOTHING to compete with this. Hey Tesla, you paying attention, this is what a real truck is and does.

I understand the point you're attempting to make, but Drew specifically pointed to pre-diagnosis. @Drew Dowdell to quote drews post above: How many people did you infect in your pre-symptomatic period? The period before you are tested and discover you have Covid is a time when you are very high in transmission of the virus to others. That is the only point Drew made. Nothing about after the diagnosis you are being out and about.

Looking Good Robert! Jeep needs a bath I see. That is allot of snow, reminds me of our storm a few weeks back and the piles still around. Next storm moves in tonight here, rain upper 30's in the greater Seattle area and heavy snow in the passes. Should make skiing great this coming weekend.

My wife, both my son, daughter and my sister and her partner Renee, six people in total that had Zero symptom's from getting vaccinated. Zero symptom's from getting boosted too. I do not hear except from people who are very much out of shape that they had any aches and were knocked out for a weekend. So yes, if you are totally out of shape, have other family history issues, you will probably feel the effects from vaccination. The bigger question to ask oneself is: Can I live with myself if I pass on the covid virus to more vulnerable people and they lose their life all due to my resistance to a proven vaccine that helps to prevent serious illness as well as transmitting the virus to others? ? UPDATE: Brain Fart, My Parents, wife parents, grandparents all had ZERO symptoms from the vaccine and grandparents are very German, overweight as is my wife's Korean parents that are overweight. Still no side effects from the vaccine or booster.

As a 54-year-old that works out daily, ski's 40 plus miles on the weekend, yes, I am active. But family DNA does play a part and as such, I deal with both my wife's parents and my own as well as our own grandparents, aka great grandparents to my kids and with them I take health and safety very seriously. I would hate to be a burden on our health system, I also would hate to be one that could easily transmit such a deadly virus to seniors even though I am reaching that area too. The point being is in looking at the big picture of humanity, why would one not want to protect themselves and their loved ones and friends by not boosting the body to fight off a deadly virus. The billions of test cases now, the proof that even vaccinated can get the virus, but find only a day or two down as the body is programmed to fight and destroy the virus. Caring about friends and I do consider you a friend @ccap41 you have been lucky that it did not affect you. Yet, I bet you like us all would love to get back to travel, and carefree living. As an unvaccinated person you still have a high chance of having it affect you in ways you do not even know yet. I know you think now that you have had covid you are fine, but the science does not bare that out. Just stay safe, stay alive and stay with us. David

Covid Vaccine is that successful and working as no vaccine is ever 100%. Per the recent data released by the CDC: effectiveness of full vaccination for preventing hospitalization was 96% for Pfizer-BioNTech, 96% for Moderna, and 84% for Janssen COVID-19 vaccines; among adults aged ≥75 years, effectiveness of full vaccination for preventing hospitalization was 91% for Pfizer-BioNTech, 96% for Moderna, and 85% for Janssen COVID-19 vaccines. Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing Hospitalization Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years — COVID-NET, 13 States, February–April 2021 | MMWR (cdc.gov) COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Research | CDC I find this to be also effective as this story looks at the charts: How Covid-19 vaccines succeeded in saving a million US lives, in charts - Vox Hate to say it, but where various sources of these same feeble excuses that you use for not getting vaccinated are the very folks that are also vaccinated. Example is Fox News, Podcasts such as on Spotify, etc. I find it very interesting that these people lie and continue to spread false information about vaccination and yet they are also vaccinated themselves. Fox News is a perfect example where every single employee must be vaccinated but they spread lies about the vaccine. You cling to healthy young, physically fit which is what so many people say their loved ones were but unvaccinated and they died from it. If we did not care, we would not be pointing out the lifesaving benefits of the Vaccine. ? Is there possibly another reason here? Is it because of the Lies spread about how the Covid Vaccine will make you sterile, shrink your balls and make you impotent? Sadly, that one has been debunked already but seems conservative areas cling to this as if getting the vaccine makes you less of a man. I myself just do not get why you would even want to go through the illness and take the risk of dying versus vaccination. FAQ per CDC: Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines | CDC MYTH: The natural immunity I get from being sick with COVID-19 is better than the immunity I get from COVID-19 vaccination. FACT: Getting a COVID-19 vaccination is a safer and more dependable way to build immunity to COVID-19 than getting sick with COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccination causes a more predictable immune response than infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine gives most people a high level of protection against COVID-19 and can provide added protection for people who already had COVID-19. One study showed that, for people who already had COVID-19, those who do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more than 2 times as likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get fully vaccinated after their recovery. All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States are effective at preventing COVID-19. Getting sick with COVID-19 can offer some protection from future illness, sometimes called “natural immunity,” but the level of protection people get from having COVID-19 may vary depending on how mild or severe their illness was, the time since their infection, and their age. Getting a COVID-19 vaccination is also a safer way to build protection than getting sick with COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccination helps protect you by creating an antibody response without you having to experience sickness. Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Getting sick with COVID-19 can cause severe illness or death, and we can’t reliably predict who will have mild or severe illness. If you get sick, you can spread COVID-19 to others. You can also continue to have long-term health issues after COVID-19 infection. Learn about why you should get vaccinated even if you already had COVID-19. If nothing else, if you want a laugh read the FAQ section, it is entertaining on all the Myths that the anti-vaccinated tend to push and are debunked.

So sad to see that the leading death of our Police Officers across the nation is due to a lack of vaccination due to misinformation. 'Preventable tragedy': Fox News silent after guest dies of Covid (msnbc.com)

I found this interesting and funny at the same time. He is so full of it as he DOES NOT look comfy in the back seat. One can see all their auto's from Ice to Hyper or what is a Hybrid ICE/Electric and BEV here: Koenigsegg - YouTube This is a good look at their autos with Jay Leno Garage.

January 31st, 2022, Koenigsegg introduced revolutionary BEV technology starting with the David unit, yes this is a revolutionary 6-phase inverter called David. This is followed by the company new Quark Electric Motor that utilized a novel torque/power-rish balance between radial (power-dense) and axial (torque-dense) flux topology called "Raxial Flux". Furthermore, per Koenigsegg press release they have integrated two Quark E-motors with one David inverter, plus planetary gear sets, in order to create a class-leading Terrier, a torque vectoring EV-drive unit. Here you have a family photo of the Quark motor to the left, Terrier EV Drive Unit center and David the 6-phase inverter to the right. Let's start with the Quark Electric Motor, a 63 lb motor dry weight that produces 335 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. For scale they have a 330-mL energy drink for comparison in the picture. 330-mL is equal to a 12oz Red Bull energy drink. For a better writeup read the following for a detailed explanation of axial flux motors and how they work: Charged EVs | A closer look at axial flux motors - Charged EVs In layman terms, the Quark Electric Motor is designed to bolster the low-speed range for brutal acceleration and then focus on horsepower at the top end where you want the high-speed range. This means performance from the big surge of torque off the line with a continued record speed push to a top end speed without any torque or power loses. To quote the CEO and Founder Christian von Koenigsegg: “The Quark is unique in its high efficiency in combination with its class-leading torque-to-power-to-rpm-to-weight matrix. This means, when using the Quark in applications such as marine, aircraft or VTOL, there is no need for a step-down transmission, instead direct drive can be achieved, as the RPM of the motor is right from the get-go. Small high-revving motors can have higher peak power to weight ratio, but they need transmissions in most applications in order to get to the desired output rpm and torque, causing energy loss and adding weight and complexity to do the same job. So, any benefit in size is lost. In other cases, like the Terrier application, the transmissions can be reduced in size and complexity compared to higher-revving, less torque dense motors, which is also a big win. I guess we’re trying to reach the edge of optimal in-betweeness,” The Terrier EV Drive Unit gained its name in respect to the Terrier dog breed, both are characterized by their small, energetic and fearless demeanor per Koenigsegg. The Terrier, is a configuration of two Quark electric motors and one David, 6-phase inverter presenting the opportunity to create the most power/torque dense, torque vectoring drive unit in the EV industry. 670 hp / 886 lb-ft of torque weighing just 187 pounds offering torque vectoring across an axle. The Terrier surpasses today's drive units, needing only one inverter that lends 3 phases to each Quark, thereby drastically reducing weight, size and components. Furthermore, the slim packaging of the Quarks allows the slim package of the David to sit between the two Quarks for a super dense package. The Quarks give massive power and torque at reasonable RPMs, only small low-ratio highly efficient planetary gear sets are needed at each output. Further design was taken into account so that the Terrier can be mounted directly to the chassis, thus removing the need for subframes and the added weight they bring. David 6-phase Inverter Koenigsegg class leading SIC Inverter with 6-phase output delivers high power handling in a lite weight solution. 15 kg or 33 lbs. This ultra-compact inverter produces 1,300 Arms AC at 850 V (DC) over 6 phases with up to 750kW of power. If used in an AWD configuration using the Terrier you have 1.5MW of power in a 1,340 hp / 1,772 lb-ft of torque with Torque vectoring. Where did the name come from you ask, Koenigsegg CEO states that their Inverter David is smaller, lighter and more powerful than any inverter on the current market and they named it David in relation to the story of David and Goliath. This is how Koenigsegg see's themselves going up against much larger established auto parts suppliers. Both Quark, Terrier and David are designed with OTA capability so that as improvements in the software algorithms and software can be pushed out to continually improve the performance of these auto parts. David is designed under the ISO 26262 regulatory framework and international high voltage safety standards. Designed for the harsh automotive environments and designed to emit low electromagnetic emissions. This is just the start of Koenigsegg motors, inverters, controllers and batteries to come that will be offered to the auto industry for best in class performance. Koenigsegg reinvents the wheel – Koenigsegg Quark and Terrier: Koenigsegg’s first in-house E-motor and EV-drive unit with pioneering ‘Raxial Flux’ topology - Koenigsegg (cision.com) Koenigsegg creates class-leading SIC Inverter with 6-phase output and names it David - Koenigsegg (cision.com) Quark E-Motor_2 - Koenigsegg (cision.com) View full article

OUCH, BA2 strain of Omnicron is replacing the original BA1 strain. Scientists on alert over rising cases caused by a new Omicron-related strain (yahoo.com)

1989 Cadillac Brougham for sale, 61K miles asking $19,950 1989 Cadillac Brougham for sale near you - MSN Autos Marketplace WOW, remember when you had Ash Trays everywhere! Laxy Boy Cushy! d'Elegance Anyone?

Wonder how long it will take them to rebuild this section of the highway? ? What is the detour like?

Ya kinda left off some of the fuel tax as that is state only and you also have the federal .184 cents tax per gallon on that cost also. Each time I fuel up I have to pay Federal on top of State. State Tax .45 cents + Federal Tax .184 cents = .634 cents per gallon tax. I filled up the Escalade and SS today, total paid was $115.46 Whereas if I charge at home here @ 6 cents per kW the SS would cost me $6 for the same Gas range and the Escalade would cost me $10. So, my cost of fueling is $16 from home. Yes, no taxes paid to support the roads, so a different way of charging to help cover road costs is needed. Yet the convenience and money savings are great. Washington Gasoline and Fuel Taxes for 2022 (salestaxhandbook.com)

The Motors can produce the higher HP/Torque, but it reduces the battery range. This is why you only get the higher HP/Torque with the bigger battery pack as customer have range issues, no different than with ICE auto's.

Yes, we have to now deal with Omicron B2 which is even more infectious according to my CDC meetings and fakes looking like Delta when tested. They are now reworking how they test to better Identify B2 as Denmark is now the leading country in B2 infections, and it does hit hard unless your vaccinated.

Washington does not charge sales tax on any EV purchased even a 6 figure one. There is currently a yearly $110 fee on top of normal auto registration that you have to pay since you're not paying gas tax. We have no annual inspection here, but I would love them to stop the yearly emission testing of all auto's and replace it with a safety inspection as the number of autos on the road missing critical safety gear, Head lights, Taillights, working lights, bumpers, etc. is terrible IMHO. Washington just finished a 2-year run of 36,000 people who were part of a beta test of mileage tax versus gas tax. In this case, they were credited for their gas tax they paid and had to pay for the miles they drove. This is based on a various amount per mile from 1 cent to 5 cents. From what I read locally, those that drive so little per year, loved it as they paid less. Road Warriors who drive over 15,000 miles a year ended up paying more unless you were in one of the lowest costs per mile groups. Will be interesting to see how Washington changes and if they go with a mileage tax like Oregon is doing for BEVs. Gas tax for ICE, Mileage tax for BEVs and Hybrids.

Drew, Could this existing platform be used to build a Luxury Sport line of BEVs for Kia to compliment Genesis? How was the noise level in the auto? If everything was turned off, was the wine of the motors ok, terrible, etc.? How about wind noise, tire noise, etc? Outside of Material quality, how was the Fit n Finish? Compared to a Tesla, Bolt, Mach-e? My traditional question of personal size, Yes, at 6'6" tall how do you think big and burly people would fit in this EV?

I totally agree, this is where KIA should take tech from Rimac and build a Luxury Performance on Road and Off-Road line of auto's that would complement Genesis. I could see them truly having a decent BEV Luxury Line that goes beyond what Kia's EV6 type auto is and can squarely compete with the Europeans and American auto companies. My question to you Drew, Do you think Kia should do this with ICE and Hybrid or focus fully on BEV?

This does bring up the interesting pickle of doing like what I am going to do. Convert my 1994 GMC SLE Suburban from ICE to EV and with a much lower book value, I get modern powertrain with low book value, so licensing is a minimal cost.