G. David Felt

Porsche is owned by VW and while they have justified building a new one, that does not mean with the change to EVs that a manual transmission will survive when they are less efficient than an automatic. In an interview VW said as long as enough are sold they will build them, but that is no promise of them to last long term. https://www.thedrive.com/news/32738/vw-is-fine-building-manual-transmissions-but-only-if-you-hypocrites-actually-buy-them Nissan is struggling so while a concept might have a manual transmission, I would bet that from a cost accounting exercise, they will have a hard time justifying building one and supporting it in the 400Z or what ever they actually call it. Nissan dropped the manual transmission from their truck and SUV offering only Automatic transmissions. There is no commitment from the Company on having manual transmissions in their cash strapped times. Plenty of stories, but the Honda Civic, Accord, Fit, all have dropped manual transmissions. No More. I suspect the Civic Type R will be a one and done as it was already in development, but the rest of the product line has killed off manuals. Less than 2% of sales does not support a product type. https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1128912_honda-kills-civic-si-coupe-fit-manual-transmission-in-accord https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/2021-honda-accord-manual-transmission/ https://www.autoblog.com/2020/10/15/2021-honda-civic-sedan-no-manual-transmission-option/ Mustang and Camaro will probably stick with the manual transmission they have, but with GM and Ford committing more resources and moving up release schedule of EVs to have in GM's case 30 now rather than 20 new EV models on the market by 2025 and EVs do not require a transmission. The days of Manual are closing. Plus the latest in Class Action Law suit against Ford for their MT82 Transmission I can easily see the manual being killed sooner rather than later. https://fordauthority.com/2020/06/mustang-mt82-transmission-woes-lead-to-new-class-action-lawsuit/ For the final fun of ICE auto's, I expect the performance area to be where you find Manual transmissions and even then they will be special built purpose dual clutch transmissions with electronic help. https://www.sae.org/news/2020/01/gm-tremec-corvette-dct-collaboration

I look at it this way, buy a new Suburban spending $80K or convert the one I have which is in excellent shape and I love for half that price. I will take the conversion route as a fun project for me to do. Gonna wait and see what GM wants for the AWD Connect and Cruise EV kit.

On the GM front, found even more details in the MarketWatch report on GM's increased investment in EVs. from $20 billion to $27 billion by 2025. They also have announced they will have 30 rather than 20 various EVs on sale by 2025. To quote what GM announced today: key elements of GM's plan, including: By 2025, GM will launch 30 EVs around the world, and more than two-thirds will be available in North America. Cadillac, GMC, Chevrolet and Buick will all be represented, with EVs at all price points for work, adventure, performance and family use. Engineering advances have increased the previously stated GM-estimated maximum range of Ultium-based vehicles from 400. GM's Ultium-based EVs, when produced, will be capable of driving ranges up to 450 miles on a full charge1. GM's versatile Ultium platform provides the building blocks for everything, from mass market to high performance vehicles – all from a single, common cell in most markets and a set of interchangeable propulsion components. More than half of GM's capital spending and product development team will be devoted to electric and electric-autonomous vehicle programs. GM's second-generation Ultium chemistry is projected to deliver twice the energy density at less than half the cost of today's chemistry. GM is already prototype testing this next-generation technology, which is expected to be available mid-decade. Ultium technology, supported by hundreds of granted patents and pending patent applications, is expected to bring EVs closer to price parity with gas-powered vehicles. Both the GMC HUMMER EV and Cadillac LYRIQ programs were accelerated, along with other vehicles to be revealed at a later date. GM is hiring 3,000 electrical system, infotainment software and controls engineers, plus developers for Java, Android, iOS and other platforms. GM continues to explore third-party licensing for its Ultium EV architecture, batteries and propulsion systems, along with its Hydrotec fuel cell technology developed with Honda. GM, in collaboration with its dealers, will leverage its sales and service capabilities and software-powered innovations to deliver an exceptional customer experience for EV loyalists and new EV customers alike. These second-generation cells will get closer to cost parity with gas-powered engines due to: Cell design that enables higher energy density and uses less non-active material, making more room for the part of the battery that produces energy. Manufacturing efficiencies through GM's Ultium Cells LLC joint venture with LG Chem. Better integration between vehicles and their battery packs, enabling fewer cells and modules. Less expensive cathodes, reduced active material, novel electrolytes and the first use of lithium metal anodes in a GM battery. GM speeds its EV rollout and pace of innovation The modular and highly flexible qualities of the Ultium system, along with engineering advances in battery technology, the use of virtual development tools and lessons learned during the HUMMER EV development process, have enabled GM to bring EVs to market much faster than originally planned. The 2022 GMC HUMMER EV's development time of 26 months – down from about 50 months – is now the benchmark. The development schedules for 12 vehicle programs have been moved up, including: GMC HUMMER EV Three other GMC Ultium variants, including an EV pickup Four Chevrolet EVs, including a pickup and compact crossover Four Cadillacs In addition, Buick's EV lineup will include two Ultium-based EVs. After the GMC HUMMER EV, the next EV to launch will be the LYRIQ, Cadillac's first all-electric vehicle, which will arrive in the first quarter of 2022, nine months ahead of schedule. Much more in the release below. https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/home.detail.html/Pages/news/us/en/2020/nov/1119-electric-portfolio.html https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gm-boosts-investment-grows-electric-portfolio-to-lead-in-ev-race-301177462.html https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/gm-boosts-investment-grows-electric-portfolio-to-lead-in-ev-race-2020-11-19

Based on comments from all those OEM, I expect manual transmissions to be dead and gone by 2025.

Funky Lift kit of the Day. Want a taller riding Prius you say, Got it! Want bigger tires you say, Got it! Want it cheap and made in the USA you say, Got it! A local US based company has come out with a $300 lift kit for all versions of Prius that raises the car 1.5 inches allowing for bigger 27" diameter tires to fit on the auto. For the AWD Prius, this gives it much desired ground clearance for off road driving as well as running up the mountain to ski. https://www.thedrive.com/news/37692/this-company-makes-toyota-prius-lift-kits-and-people-are-actually-buying-them

Latest review of the all new 2021 Tahoe Diesel shows it is more fuel efficient with more power than a 2021 Blazer which is a fraction of it's size. https://www.autoblog.com/2020/11/19/2021-chevrolet-tahoe-diesel-fuel-economy/ Latest update on GM's EV plans show that instead of having Cadillac a luxury EV only brand by 2030, GM has moved it up to be pure EV by 2025 with Chevrolet, Buick and GMC a heavy mix of EV, Hybrid and ICE. https://www.autoblog.com/2020/11/18/gm-mary-barra-electric-vehicle-strategy-cadillac-lyriq-hummer/

Wow, Idiot driver, smoked pot, drove his Tesla 3 at 100 mph and destroys the auto by breaking a power pole and trees, but runs away from the scene and is caught 3 blocks away and arrested. Surviving shows Tesla did a good job engineering the car to survive. Battery pack did get scattered all over and into surrounding homes as the battery pack got ripped apart in the crash. https://www.autoblog.com/2020/11/19/tesla-crash-100-mph-scatters-burning-batteries/

Yes, our Auto leadership is not where is used to be and based on what the Chinese have on sale now and producing they are ahead of both the US and Germany in shipping EVs as they supply their own market and are already shipping autos into Europe.

Divorce

That is where China can replace the poor leadership currently in the US by moving tech in Auto ahead showing the world leadership that is missing here. Sadly the US has lost their leadership in the automotive industry with rare leading by Tesla. The next decade is going to really show who is the leaders in the auto industry as we evolve beyond the ICE era.

OUCH, Come on Chevrolet, get your act together for a so/so full size pickup. Reviews of the current full size Chevrolet pickup all highlight the power train options. Yet the interior of sparse, blah cheap plastic on a $60K truck makes this last in comparison to the Luxury and much cheaper RAM or as this one review says is a Greying F-150 pickup both of which for less money has a more luxury interior. This problem has been around for both GMC and Chevrolet trucks. GM really needs to get their act together in regards to interior quality of their Trucks. To quote the review: This Silverado Custom Trail Boss' dynamics are surprisingly friendly and its powertrain is amongst the best you'll find in any half-ton pickup. A highly versatile bed and snappy infotainment system are welcome advantages as well, but that dearth of features and unspectacular interior make it a bit tough to recommend. I still think the Ram 1500 provides a more comfortable, premium experience and even the gray-haired F-150 still has a leg up over this Silverado. https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/reviews/2020-chevrolet-silverado-1500-review/

Mercedes-Benz has announced their all new Maybach S-Class car with a Bi-Turbo V8 producing 496 HP / 516 lb-ft or torque. While the current Maybach has the V8 and a V12 motor. The new one will only launch with a V8 and it will also have the Mercedes VQ48 Volts hybrid system that gives an additional 21 HP and 184 lb-ft of torque at take off to move this heavy auto. Power is delivered through an AWD system paired with a 9sp transmission. If you want to see more of this luxury barge there is a total of 74 pictures at the link below. https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/2021-mercedes-maybach-s-class-sedan-official-debut/

As Rivian moves closer to full scale production of their R1T and R1S for the North American market, CEO R.J. has stated that they will begin taking orders for their full size truck and SUV in Europe (2022) and Asia (2023). Yet the real growth will come from building smaller size EV's that more than meet the roads and cities of Europe and Asia. Medium and small size EVs are on Rivian's road map along with production in those two areas. https://www.autonews.com/china/rivian-ceo-eyes-smaller-electric-vehicles-china-europe Video of the CEO comments on Europe and Asia for EV sales. https://www.autonews.com/video/first-shift-rivian-plans-smaller-evs-europe-china

The benefit of having an auto with much less complexity is the much less maintenance cost.

So true that Tesla is going to feel the heat as other manufactures come online with product to sell.

I think one of the issues is also long term contracts. Businesses are looking at bonus payments to executives / mgmt. and as such squeeze every penny for profit versus looking at the long term of pay out the cancellation fee to the supplier and change to a better technology faster. I honestly think the auto industry could improve auto's faster if they did not look at 5 to 10 year contracts. The more often changes happening in the last few years is making me think even the OEMs have finally woke up to the fact they have to change at a faster pace like the tech industry. While the tech industry is focused on new tech every 90 to 180 days of which I do not think the auto industry needs to change that fast, they should be looking at no more than 2 years before updating to newer tech from lights to interior materials, etc. Change has to happen faster than having an auto go 10 years of the same tech. Honestly I am surprised some products like Toyota Tundra have gone on so long or the Nissan pickup truck. Stagnant auto tech will be the death of an auto company as we move forward. They have to change faster.

We are 2020 now, 2030 is 10 years from now, not 8.5 years. I honestly do not see why we could not have the consumer auto market selling electric only by 2030. This is possible over the next 10 years. We have seen change like this happen in many other industries where 10 years later what they sell versus a decade earlier is vastly different.

Securing American global EV manufacturing leadership, dramatically improving public health and significantly reducing carbon pollution is some of the key goals that ZETA or Zero Emission Transportation Association was formed for. This industry association is focused on creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs. In quoting their www.zeta2030.org web site they state the 3 core points. Job Creation - Enacting ambitious, but realistic policies to accelerate transportation electrification will create hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs. Congress must seize this opportunity or risk ceding this economic growth to others. Cleaner Environment - The transportation sector emits more carbon pollution than any other sector of the U.S. economy. Electric vehicles produce no tailpipe emissions and are 67% less carbon intensive than gasoline-powered auto's over their lifetime. Real Savings - By going electric, vehicle owners can save over $700 a year in Fuel and an additional $330 in annual maintenance costs. Federal, state and local incentives can drive greater consumer benefits. Their press release has the ZETA five key policy pillars: 1. Outcome-driven consumer EV incentives. Point-of-sale consumer incentives drive adoption, provide cost reductions and achieve real results in pushing transportation electrification. In addition, incentivizing early retirements while encouraging EV adoption will speed the transition and meet the urgency of the moment. 2. Emissions / performance standards enabling full electrification by 2030. Emission targets are a key piece of protecting public health and sending the correct market signals to support and accelerate the transition to zero emission transportation. 3. Infrastructure investments. Strong federal charging infrastructure investments will drive the electric transportation transition and ensure that the United States is leading the way in a clean recovery where everyone is better off. 4. Domestic manufacturing. We should not only accelerate U.S. transportation electrification, but also work to ensure that we secure domestic economic growth and leadership in EV manufacturing. Federal policies must encourage job creation and economic activity across the entire EV supply chain and lifecycle, from critical materials to vehicles. 5. Federal leadership and cooperation with sub-national entities. Federal support should invest in research and development, provide an aligned vision for electrification, and ensure local leaders are empowered with the expertise and resources to support full vehicle electrification. Further details about their key issues can be found here: https://www.zeta2030.org/key-issues/ ZETA includes the following founding members: ABB Albemarle Corporation Arrival ChargePoint ConEdison Copper Development Association, Inc. Duke Energy Edison International Enel X EVBox EVgo Ioneer Li-Cycle Lordstown Motors Lucid Motors Piedmont Lithium PG&E Corporation Proterra Redwood Materials Rivian Siemens Southern Company SRP Tesla Vistra Volta Uber WAVE ZETA mission statement: ZETA brings together those whose values and strategic interests support 100% electric vehicle sales by 2030. This diverse non-partisan group coordinates public education efforts and federal policy development to promote EV adoption with the goal of creating American electric vehicle manufacturing jobs, better serving consumers, improving air quality and public health, and significantly reducing carbon pollution. ZETA can be contacted at the following: Joe Britton Executive Director, ZETA [email protected] David Ganske Communications and PR for ZETA [email protected] View full article

Nissan has announced that they will sell EVs only in China by 2025 and will then look at the rest of the world for EV sales after that. https://chargedevs.com/newswire/nissan-to-sell-only-electrified-cars-in-china-by-2025/ Workhorse EV company has secured another 500 order for their commercial delivery van. https://chargedevs.com/newswire/workhorse-receives-order-for-500-electric-delivery-trucks/ Lordstown Motors has announced they have secured 50,000 orders for their AWD in-wheel hub motor crew cab pickup truck that will be in production and delivery summer of 2021. https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1130319_lordstown-motors-claims-50-000-orders-for-electric-pickup-arriving-fall-2021

Roasted Chicken (Costco )

Mercedes-Benz brought out their EQC, their first EV from the ground up and slowly put it on sale in Europe while holding off in North America markets. As it would seem, it was a good thing. Mercedes-Benz Press Release The EQC originally was released in Europe with a 7.4kW charging controller onboard so that home charging from 10% to full took 11hrs at 240V. The 2022 Model that will hit North American shores next year will have an upgraded charging controller of 11kW which means that same 10% to full is now done in 7hrs 30 min. This is a huge boost and more in-line with GM and Ford charging controllers along with Porsche for AC charging of the 80kWh battery pack. Mercedes-Benz delivered 45,000 EV and Plug-in Hybrid auto's during the 3rd quarter of this year in Europe and China. According to the latest ACEA report, Petrol was 47.5% of new auto sales in Europe, Diesel was 27.8% and EV/HEVs made up 22.4% and alternative fuels made up the rest at 2.3%. https://www.acea.be/press-releases/article/fuel-types-of-new-cars-petrol-47.5-hybrids-12.4-electric-9.9-market-share-t BMW Mini division showed off a new MiniVan concept for Mini as an EV Urbanaut mini minivan. https://electrek.co/2020/11/17/bmw-mini-electric-van-concept-autonomous-future/

@A Horse With No Name @Robert Hall @balthazar The Seattle scene of brick / brick Tudor inspired brick homes is still hot in some regards based on the prices, though the pandemic has cooled the prices a bit. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2324-Boyer-Ave-E-Seattle-WA-98112/49006596_zpid/ https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3606-SW-Admiral-Way-Seattle-WA-98126/49124548_zpid/ https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1905-26th-Ave-E-Seattle-WA-98112/49098271_zpid/ https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5723-25th-Ave-NE-Seattle-WA-98105/49117516_zpid/ This is to me an overpriced fixer upper that has 6 bed rooms. But while I love a brick home, I would demo it and build new. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6200-Rainier-Ave-S-Seattle-WA-98118/48694116_zpid/ Here is the 4 bedroom, 3 bath rambler I had in Flower Mound Texas. Had bought it new and built, Amazing how much has changed since 1994.

Mexican water

I see it as a very economical commuter auto / inner city living type auto. GM needs to get an equal in price and size EV for the dense cities as I think it will do well. The Bolt is too expensive for people who are looking for this kind of auto. The future is going to be very interesting.