G. David Felt

Donut Lab started with the dream of a light weight fast in-wheel motor and they delivered it in a 17" form factor that packed 150 kW (201 HP) with 1200 Nm (886 lb-ft) of torque in a 21 kg (46 lbs) weight. Welcome to the TS Ultra from the Verge Motor cycles company.  Experience Life on the Verge - Verge Motorcycles Besides delivering on the dream of a possible light cycle from the movie TRON, the performance is amazing when you consider the instant torque with a 0 - 60 mph of 2.5 seconds and a max range of 233 miles. Yet, then we have the company division that has been setup to expand on what this motor potential could be and with it, the Donut Lab company has taken this in multiple directions. Donut Platform - Redefining Electric Mobility Donut Lab has stated the following: Build the highest-performing EVs with game-changing specifications, outpace the competition, and achieve unparalleled efficiency. With reduced costs, faster time to market, and no need for high-budget R&D, our plug-and-play platform makes creating revolutionary vehicles simpler than ever. While there is much more to this company as they also have battery packs, controllers, software, and robots, we will focus on the Motor, the key to the future of transportation. Per Donut Lab, this is Direct Drive Reimagined, thus delivering the following benefits: Lighter & Compact Direct drive minimizes unnecessary weight and takes up less space, making vehicles lighter, more agile, and allowing for increased design flexibility. Cost Reduction Reduces costs by eliminating unneccesary transmission components while reducing wear and extending lifespan. Streamlined Design A more straightforward design with fewer components reduces overall system complexity. Low Maintenance With fewer moving parts, direct drive requires significantly less maintenance. This ensures customer satisfaction with reliable, long-term performance. Maximum Efficiency Enhances energy transfer efficiency for improved performance. This translates to greater power output and lower energy consumption while extending range. Optimized Cooling Generates less heat, reducing the need for additional cooling systems. Here is their Press Release this week: Pretty much Donut Lab has delivered their motor design in the following packages: Drone (120mm) - 3 kW (4 hp) power, 20 (15 lb-ft) Nm torque, 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) mass Scooter (12") - 15 kW (20 hp) power, 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) torque, 8 kg (18 lbs) mass Motorcycle (17") - 150 kW (201 hp) power, 1,200 Nm (885 lb-ft) torque, 21 kg (46 lbs) mass Automotive (21") - 630 kW (845 hp) power, 4,300 Nm (3,172 lb-ft) torque, 40 kg (88 lbs) mass Semi-truck (21") - 200 kW (268 hp) power, 3,000 Nm (2,213 lb-ft) torque, 40 kg (88 lbs) mass Donut Lab has created a portfolio of options and yet one question that engineering minds always ask, "What about the unsprung Mass"? Donut Labs response is as follows: Donut Lab motors offer the highest torque and power density, thus reducing the unsprung mass to an imperceptible level, all without sacrificing performance. Donut Labs responded with the following message about their design simplicity: The Donut Platform redefines vehicle design, drastically lowering the threshold for creating new vehicles. By eliminating unnecessary moving parts, the architecture and engineering processes become significantly simpler and more streamlined. With our solution, vehicles are not only lighter, but the cost of the powertrain is also reduced compared to traditional systems. This simplified design brings multiple benefits: decreased weight leads to greater efficiency, reduced manufacturing complexity minimizes costs, and fewer components translate to lower maintenance needs over the vehicle’s lifetime. The result is a powerful, efficient, and elegant architecture that empowers innovation and makes cutting-edge vehicle development more accessible than ever before. Donut Lab stated the following for one of many use cases: Hypercar Donut Platform empowers hypercars with unparalleled agility, power, and design flexibility — setting a new benchmark for performance-driven innovation. Weight savings - Achieve a 108kg reduction on a 1,450kg vehicle for enhanced efficiency and performance. Performance - Delivering 1,500kW and 9,000Nm of total wheel torque, with acceleration from 0-100km/h in under 2 seconds. BOM cost saving - Reduce drivetrain Bill of Materials (BOM) costs by 55%. Space saving - Free up 200 liters of packaging space, enabling improved aerodynamics and increased cabin storage capacity. You can read the various use case studies here: Industries - Donut Lab View full article

Yes, as to why after so many decades, I have left GM. Honda news out of Japan, unstated internal sources state that Honda is excited to get Nissan Off-road capable SUV and Trucks to build as Honda products for the global market. Not sure if that is a good thing or not, but Honda does have a better reliability than Nissan and if they can do to Nissan SUV/Trucks body on Frame what they did for their GM Ultium EV than it could work for them.

One could only hope that the MAGA would go for the White on White and then have the continental shelf break and flip in the South Atlantic Ocean feeding the sharks and other predators of the world as we remove the hate filled spew of humanity.

Time to export the racist hate filled folks from America, the Multi-Cultural society is what made America, not a White Racist hate filled view. I would say we give them all a 1 way ticket to Antartica and let them have White on White there.

WOW, Let the FALSE propagation of information fly, this is the worst way to run a social media platform IMHO. Meta ends fact-checking | LinkedIn

I was thinking of their Hydrogen powered Corolla they demoed in Japan. Expanding Possibilities with the Liquid Hydrogen-Powered GR Corolla in the Season Final Round | Corporate | Global Newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website Evolved Liquid Hydrogen-Powered GR Corolla to Participate in Super Taikyu Fuji 24 Hours Race | Corporate | Global Newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website QUOTE: The liquid hydrogen-powered engine generates power by injecting hydrogen, the fuel, directly into the engine for combustion. The liquid hydrogen-powered GR Corolla uses a reciprocating pump that pumps the fuel, through the reciprocating motion of a piston when transferring hydrogen from the fuel tank to the engine.

This goes for the Toyota Hydrogen is better than EV approach, such a complex high compression engine solution that I cannot see it being better than an EV.

The testing of all the new production Solid State battery lines is showing that the next generation of EV batteries should last two plus decades with 372 miles to 621 miles of range. Honda Solid state battery is rated at 750 km which is 466 miles and LG / Samsung has stated that their solid state battery will come in a wide range of sizes from 600 km to 1000 km so at this point, if you have a battery pack good for 621 miles of range or 1000 km, that is pretty much a solid day of road trip with charging at DC that evening or a level 2 over night at the hotel. Pretty much makes range anxiety a thing of the past. Course I am consistently averaging 300 to 320 miles of range on my EV9 and as @Drew Dowdell pointed out even after 12 years on the high side at 265 miles, plenty for local driving. I feel this is no different than the drop off in performance from an ICE auto in regard to HP/Torque except that EVs tend to not lose the HP/Torque like an ICE auto does while consuming more gas. Instead, you're just looking at battery degradation. Good read on EV Motors: Electric Vehicle Motor Lifespan: How Long Does It Last? — PRIMECOMTECH Pretty much, EVs I feel will outlast ICE autos.

My issue with the Train restaurant is the exposure to flying bacteria from others onto your food and drink. When the pandemic hit, my wife and I still wanted to keep our family traditions going with mundo making, holiday cookie making, etc. As such, we looked for ways to ensure people could attend and participate and keep everyone healthy and safe. What I realized is how much spittle comes out of one's mouth when talking. As such, the amount of mouth bacteria that comes out onto food makes me no longer go out to eat. I have petitioned our local health department to make these types of masks a requirement as it does not make it hard to breath, but it does make it much safer for food handling. Course while this is the new standard in the asian rim for food handling, here in backwards America, people are selfish and cannot even bother to test to see the visual facts of how much comes out of ones mouth. I do challange everyone if you want to see how much natural spittle comes out of ones mouth, wear one of these while talking with your family / friends and see the evidence. As cool as the train delivery thing is, I would have to pass on this as a not very clean experience of food and drink.

Comfort food to this international citizen is the following: Japanese Katsu in all protein versions, Korean BBQ, German Schnitzel, Italian Pasta, French Buttery mashed potatoes, Any sauce made from the 5 french sauces: The Five Mother Sauces of French Cuisine, Greek food, Chinese stir fry, Just about anything Rice based from the Asian rim. I could go on, but now I am hungry and time for a late dinner. 😛

This is so true. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2024/12/11/the-rise-of-the-lazy-overachiever-why-your-best-employees-are-working-less-and-winning-more/

I cannot fault your logic on this and suspect your WK2 GC will outlast the current mess of products they are building IMHO.

Lamborghini is entering the EV space and how best to give the world the best EV sports car than to benchmark the current best mass produced EV that has something no one else has. E-shift, THE SIMULATED electric shifting EV. https://carbuzz.com/video-lamborghini-caught-benchmarking-hyundai-ioniq-5-n/

With all the quality problems @ Stellantis brands, I could not recommend any of them to people to buy.

This is awesome news showing that the R&D into EVs is far stronger and better than ICE supporters have stated. 12yrs for a battery pack is on par with the life of an ICE engine. That stated, it would imply to me that like any auto, ice or EV, if taken care of they will last a much longer time than many expect.

Make me question holding onto old auto's when you see how poorly they are made from a Safety standpoint.

Drop of Tesla vehicle sales causing stock to drop. I see this as people do not want to own an EV from a person born into wealth and racism from South Africa who supports white supremacy and hate. He bought his CEO / Chairman control of Tesla as he never created Tesla as much as his fans say he did. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/topstocks/tesla-reports-first-ever-annual-vehicle-deliveries-decline-stock-falls/vi-AA1wRdUQ?ocid=BingHp01&cvid=7b206570873146ce939f3b5b9352de39&ei=46

Toyota products are finally earning their Garbage reputation with all the problems they have had and still have especially with the transmission and engine exchanges due to poor manufacturing. Kia is not alone in this, I have so seen that in the East coast and mid west with all the salt they put on the roads affecting every make and model from all the vendors. Not surprised to see a dangerous auto like that with the frame totally rusted.

New car prices are still $10,000 above average transaction from 2020. 2025 they are expected to crash and reach 2020 pricing. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/2-reasons-car-prices-crash-110016851.html

This not surprising for those that follow the auto industry. https://www.torquenews.com/1084/toyota-desperately-trying-stop-their-brand-image-taking-straight-dumpster-dive-now-tacoma

To all C&G members and visitors.

@Jacob Diana Welcome to C&G, look forward to interacting with you.

Very interesting read! https://newatlas.com/automotive/subaru-most-reliable/

Having done so much driving coast to coast due to my son's Gymnastics from age of 5 to college before he retired in college. I would say the following: British Columbia is equal to the west coast in many ways till you take the Highway and head north in BC and hit the Yukon's and then you truly have an Alaska Conservative equal. Having not spent any time in the NW territories, I cannot answer but would suspect it is far more conservative due to sparse population and tight nit communities of both native Indians and other groups. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba I find to mirror the U.S. mid-west and Texas. Antario and Quebec I find to be a mixed pot of southern politeness with backstabbing rudeness in some areas and others if your white to be very polite period. I did find in various cities some amazing multi-cultural city areas. I also hit up against the same French BS I hit when I was working in France. A very narrow mind set of society or a very liberal one that was more relaxing to how I was raised. Two sides of a coin. Have never been to Newfoundland and Labrador but would love to see the area. So, no comment on the folks there. NB, Prince Edward and Nova Scotia have been over all very polite and friendly when my wife and I visited about 5 years ago. Like the NE corner of the U.S., lots of friendly people and the occasional narrow-minded turd. If money was no object, would love to visit the rest of Canada including Nunavut and the NW Territories to explore and photograph the area. Would love to experience the drive over the Ice Highway too. So much of North America to see and yet so little time. Could the People Benefit from a single currency with a open free North America, meaning Canada, U.S. Mexico become the North American Union of States. SURE, but will it? NOT in OUR LIFETIME!!! Too many selfish, fascist pricks that hate society if it does not benefit them to allow such a Great Multi-Cultural Union. IMHO