Support the Arctic Sea Ice Forum and Blog

Author Topic: Electric cars  (Read 448196 times)

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1850 on: September 11, 2020, 03:13:27 AM »
Oh, dear.  Nikola’s house of cards may be collapsing.

Hindenburg Research -- a noted short-seller -- accused Nikola of being "an intricate fraud built on dozens of lies" in its report published today.

Many of the falsehoods were already known, like the non-functioning Nikola One semi truck at its reveal, the much-touted “battery breakthrough” that was vaporware, and the amazingly cheap hydrogen already in production using solar (when actually the company has not produced any hydrogen, and has no solar panels at its plant).

But Hindenburg documents details such as how the “Nikola One in Motion” video was in truth just the unpowered truck rolling down a hill*; that his younger brother who previously installed driveways is “Director of Hydrogen Production/Infrastructure”; that an inverter developed “in-house” was really a commercially-available unit from Cascadia with masking tape over the label; and that a third of its reservations, $3.5 billion in orders, are from U.S. Xpress, which had only $1.3 million in cash on hand last quarter.
 
*see it here:  https://twitter.com/wholemarsblog/status/1304147059025432576

“Nikola seems to be bringing nothing to the partnership but concept designs, their brand name and up to $700 million they will be paying GM for costs related to production,” Hindenburg said on Thursday.

Unsurprisingly, two law firms have announced investigations into “allegations that Nikola may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.”
See:  https://twitter.com/danravicher/status/1304054582243397634

Nikola founder and executive chairman Trevor Milton responded to Hindenburg's report on Twitter, saying "This is all you got?" He also promised to respond to Hindenburg's "lies" in more detail later in the day. 
NKLA stock closed down 11% to $37.57 Thursday.

Here is the Hindenburg report.  It is not short:   https://hindenburgresearch.com/nikola/

Nikola Shares Tumble After Hindenburg Note Alleging Fraud - TheStreet
https://www.thestreet.com/investing/nikola-shares-tumble-after-hindenburg-note-alleging-fraud
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1851 on: September 11, 2020, 03:31:19 AM »
^^^
When interviewed by Tesla Daily’s Rob Maurer, Trevor Milton sounded amazed at all the information required for a company to be listed on the stock exchange.  He may not yet appreciate that his habitual lying and fraud suddenly have significant adverse consequences.
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1852 on: September 11, 2020, 03:03:32 PM »
V2G (Lucid will offer batteries for home and commercial storage.) One Air can charge another Air. 8)

By my reading pukka V2G was conspicuous only by its absence from the Air Global Reveal:

https://V2G.co.uk/2020/08/lucid-air-supports-ac-ccs-v2g/#Sep-10

Quote
Not only can we charge the car from your house. The car can also supply power to your house, which is a whole new world of features.

Maybe so, but that's V2H, not "vehicle-to-grid".
"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

NeilT

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6275
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 386
  • Likes Given: 22
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1853 on: September 11, 2020, 03:46:29 PM »
Maybe so, but that's V2H, not "vehicle-to-grid".

That is more about house to grid technology than the ability to draw down on the power of the vehicle though isn't it?

I know it's a lot more technical than that, but boiling it down for the masses, the last leg is house to grid and they are supplying car to house.

Which leaves it open for others to supply the H2G solution.
Being right too soon is socially unacceptable.

Robert A. Heinlein

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1854 on: September 11, 2020, 05:21:02 PM »
Lucid “V2X”

Lucid Air to offer vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-vehicle charging features
August 19, 2020
Quote
A recent press release from electric car maker Lucid Motors has revealed that the company will be rolling out its flagship Air sedan with a rather interesting feature: V2X. According to the company, “V2X” refers to “vehicle-to-everything,” which means that the Lucid Air will have full bi-directional capabilities built-in, allowing the car to function in both vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) scenarios.

As noted by the company in a press release, the Lucid Air’s bi-directional home charging capabilities could provide a lot of value to owners of the luxury electric sedan. Thanks to bi-directional charging, Lucid Air owners could utilize their vehicles as an energy storage unit to power their homes, which is particularly useful during those occasional trips to off-grid areas. The company described these features as follows.

“Home charging is one of the key benefits of EV ownership. In addition to the standard Lucid Mobile Charging Cord that comes with every Lucid vehicle, Lucid has also developed the Lucid Connected Home Charging Station, one of the first AC charging stations with bi-directional charging ever offered. With bi-directional charging, owners can enjoy not just a more cost-effective charging method, but also use their Lucid Air as a temporary energy reserve to power their homes, including off-grid vacation properties,” the company noted. ...
https://www.teslarati.com/lucid-air-v2g-v2v-charging-confirmed/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1855 on: September 11, 2020, 05:26:37 PM »
A recent press release from electric car maker Lucid Motors has revealed that the company will be rolling out its flagship Air sedan with a rather interesting feature: V2X.

Believe it or not I have read the press releases.

Do you get the "joke"?

https://twitter.com/V2G_EVSE/status/1304332503994564608
"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1856 on: September 11, 2020, 05:39:44 PM »
Boiling it down for the masses, the last leg is house to grid and they are supplying car to house.

Which leaves it open for others to supply the H2G solution.

One of Lucid's earlier press releases explicitly mentioned:

Quote
Full bi-directionality for advanced Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) capabilities built-in for future enablement of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) features.

but the recent "reveal" revealed only V2H and V2V.
"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1857 on: September 11, 2020, 06:27:20 PM »
...
but the recent "reveal" revealed only V2H and V2V.

These are the things under Lucid’s control, with Lucid products.  V2G is not, so they cannot promise it to all potential customers.
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1858 on: September 12, 2020, 03:05:12 AM »
Nikola’s Trevor Milton, yesterday on Twitter:  “Leaders stay and fight”

Trevor Milton’s plane right now: is in the air, outside of the US, current destination: Austria.  I am not joking.

See:  https://twitter.com/teslanomous/status/1304560708072267776

Edit:  Update:
Quote
Trevor Milton (@nikolatrevor) 9/11/20, 9:04 PM
Employees heading to Germany for the Nikola Tre trucks.. You know, the that were not suppose to exist according to the hit job. Lol. I'm in utah / Arizona for the weekend.
https://twitter.com/nikolatrevor/status/1304586601092136960

——
He promised a quick reply yesterday about the Hindenburg report “to all you guys.”  Posted several expletive-filled selfie videos.  Then said his reply will take longer.  Then: I’ve been working on it for 14 hours.  It may take all night, but I’ll have it out before the market opens Friday morning.  Then: Nikola has retained a law firm and I can’t say anything else at this time.

See:  https://twitter.com/iammeadows/status/1304416895932784646

—-
Quote
NikolaTeslaWorld (@NikolaTeslaNews) 9/11/20, 4:29 PM
 Lawsuits or investigations announced since yesterday against $NKLA by:
- The Schall Law Firm
- Farqui
- Johnson Fistel
- Hagens Berman
- Portnoy
- Howard G. Smith
- Rosen, National Trial
- Frank R. Cruz
- Block & Leviton
https://twitter.com/nikolateslanews/status/1304517494057701381

—-
Quote
Am I the only one who finds it ironic that the 'Hindenburg Report' is going to be responsible for the downing of a hydrogen company?
https://twitter.com/will_watt/status/1304391160459223040
⬇️ Photo below.

========

Quote
Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) 9/11/20, 8:20 AM

Lucid: Presenting the Lucid Air

EV Community: oooooo

Lucid: Starting at just $169,000 next year

EV Community: [shrug?]

Hindenburg: Hey look! A Nikola rolling down a hill!

EV Community: RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE

Lucid: god damnit
https://twitter.com/wholemarsblog/status/1304394350722383874
« Last Edit: September 12, 2020, 03:51:21 AM by Sigmetnow »
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Stephen

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 152
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 31
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1859 on: September 12, 2020, 03:38:54 AM »
^^^
....
  He may not yet appreciate that his habitual lying and fraud suddenly have significant adverse consequences.
....
Please take your opinions about Donald Trump to the correct forum.  ;D
The ice was here, the ice was there,   
The ice was all around:
It crack'd and growl'd, and roar'd and howl'd,   
Like noises in a swound!
  Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1860 on: September 12, 2020, 04:42:46 AM »
Trevor posted photos tonight of partially-assembled Nikola trucks in Ulm, Germany, after saying weeks ago that ‘five trucks are rolling off the line right now.’
Quote
Trevor Milton (@nikolatrevor) 9/11/20, 10:53 AM
These were planned to release later but alleged trucks didn't exist in Ulm Germany. Do these look fake? Thanks to the Ulm fab / assembly teams for showing the trolls what's up. You guys have my admiration. F@&k the haters. Well come back stronger from the lies spread about us. 
https://twitter.com/nikolatrevor/status/1304432858937741313
At the link:  photos of the exterior of a couple semi truck cabs tilted open for maintenance, and various truck sub-assemblies with documents and tools.
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Jim Hunt

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6268
  • Don't Vote NatC or PopCon, Save Lives!
    • View Profile
    • The Arctic sea ice Great White Con
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 87
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1861 on: September 12, 2020, 09:22:32 AM »
These are the things under Lucid’s control, with Lucid products.  V2G is not, so they cannot promise it to all potential customers.

Actually it's probably fair to say that the V2G things are more under my control than Lucid's.

Last week I was one of eight people from across Planet Earth attending a virtual meeting of the EV-DESS task force of joint working group 11 of IEC technical committees 57 and 69.

Next week there's a "Systems Committee Smart Energy" meeting that also includes TC 8, TC 13 and TC 120:

https://www.iec.ch/dyn/www/f?p=103:186:0::::FSP_ORG_ID:11825
"The most revolutionary thing one can do always is to proclaim loudly what is happening" - Rosa Luxemburg

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1862 on: September 12, 2020, 10:22:45 PM »
 :o 8) Enjoy it while it lasts!

Tesla bug allows other electric cars to charge for free at new Supercharger
Quote
Non-Tesla electric cars owners were surprised to find out that they can charge, technically for free, at new V3 Superchargers in Europe, where Tesla now uses the common CCS standard.
Though it appears to be a bug and not a feature.

With the launch of the Model 3 and its Supercharger V3 in Europe, Tesla switched its main charging standard to CCS.  While most other electric cars on the road use the same standard and connector, it didn’t mean that other EVs where able to use Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network. Tesla vehicles still have to do a software “handshake” with the Supercharger before it can start charging. This handshake also handles the cost of charging to be linked to the driver’s Tesla account.

However, several reports are currently coming out showing that virtually any other electric vehicle with CCS can charge on Tesla’s new CCS V3 Supercharger in Europe.

Electric vehicle rental company Nextmove tested it out with several other EVs:
➡️http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqUa1-M1Cf8  [in German]

They managed to test it with a long list of electric vehicles, including with the ID.3 and it seems to work with all of them:
   •   VW e-Golf
   •   VW ID.3
   •   BMW i3
   •   Opel Ampera-e (Chevy Bolt EV)
   •   Hyundai Kona Electric
   •   Hyundai IONIQ Electric
   •   Renault Zoe
   •   Porsche Taycan

This is most likely a bug and not a feature since without a link to a Tesla account, Tesla is delivering those charges for free right now.
At this point, the leading theory is that there’s a bug in Tesla’s V3 handshake that releases the charge even if it doesn’t detect the vehicle as a Tesla car.

In the past, Tesla has often indicated that they are open to the idea of sharing the Supercharger network with other automakers, but it would be dependent on coming to an agreement on sharing the cost.
The automaker has been rumored to be in discussions with other automakers to come to such a deal, but it has never resulted in anything.
https://electrek.co/2020/09/12/tesla-bug-electric-cars-charge-free-superchargers/

Video of a non-Tesla charging (watch the range display), at this link:
https://twitter.com/wholemarsblog/status/1304673212714766337
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1863 on: September 13, 2020, 05:35:29 PM »
—- Nikola
Bloomberg has independently confirmed several of the items in the Hindenburg report, and noted others, such as Nikola’s definition of “construction” being: “We have some permits.”
Quote
At a press event on July 22, ahead of the groundbreaking of Nikola’s Coolidge, Arizona, factory, Head of Global Manufacturing Mark Duchesne fielded a question on when construction would get underway. “That one is an easy answer,” he said. “Start of construction is tomorrow.”
The timeline was repeated by Milton the following day in a tweet. But “construction” turns out to be a broad term.

To facilitate the groundbreaking ceremony, the city of Coolidge issued Nikola a temporary use permit on July 13. The document, obtained by Bloomberg, allowed the company to do some limited ground clearing and preparation for holding the event, along with listing a plan for coronavirus safeguards. It didn’t allow further construction to start beyond that. The company also obtained a Pinal County dust permit around the same time, a legal requirement in Arizona.

Quote
Beer Trucks
Back in March, Nikola said in a presentation to investors that it has a “signed binding agreement” to provide Anheuser-Busch with as many as 800 hydrogen fuel cell electric semi trucks. What the presentation didn’t say was that Anheuser-Busch committed to buy fewer trucks than that, and doesn’t have to buy any at all.

Quote
Prototype Production
On July 13, Milton said European partner Iveco was already producing vehicle prototypes.
“We have a truck coming in to production right now with 720KwH, the largest battery we know of anywhere in the world coming in to production,” Milton said on the TC’s Chartcast Podcast. “We have five of them coming off the assembly line right now in Ulm, Germany.”
On Aug. 4, during the company’s debut earnings call, Russell echoed the sentiment, saying that the first five prototypes were “coming off the end of the facility at this point.”

Those statements were a mischaracterization of Nikola and Iveco’s progress in Ulm, according to two people familiar with the matter. The assembly line is still under construction and not yet operational or building prototypes, the people said. There are prototypes being built by hand in a workshop, one of the people said.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-12/nikola-s-history-of-discrepancies-has-been-hiding-in-plain-sight

——
Nikola President Mark Russell talked with the Financial Times about the “Nikola in Motion” video truck/prototype.
“But did it actually work?
His answer, after a long pause: ‘I wouldn’t comment on that.’”
- Financial Times
From:  https://twitter.com/p3dguy/status/1304546776389529601
⬇️ FT textpic below.

——
Other damning information suggests that Nikola’s hydrogen trucks will take longer to fuel than the pure-electric Tesla semi, and faces significant technical challenges that have not yet been addressed.

“Trevor Milton claims Nikola has created, championed, & chaired a group that has already developed a heavy-duty 70 MPa high-flow hydrogen fueling protocol (H70HF).  It's called the PRHYDE project: prhyde.eu”
Video of clips of Trevor and (an investor?) claiming amazing H2 fueling specs:
https://twitter.com/ajtourville/status/1304832081286041605

Quote
According to PRHYDE's 29 July 2020 preliminary simulations, rapid high-flow 70 Mpa hydrogen fueling presents major technical challenges: filling a 350 L container with 70 MPa hydrogen (i.e. only 14 kg of hydrogen) in 15 minutes results in overheating.

As of 23 April 2020, the project had only begun assessing the shortcomings of commercially available fueling hardware and estimating the possible challenges & risks surrounding high-flow 70 MPa hydrogen fueling
Earliest estimate for when the project believes it can settle on a final protocol?
— September 2021
After which, the protocol will still have to go through an homologation process to become a standard before the hardware can begin to be manufactured

What is Nikola's role in the project?
— Testing hydrogen tanks at different pressure levels
When is Nikola scheduled to begin testing according to PRHYDE's 10 August 2020 report?
— End of 2020
Quote
From Nikola's 11 June 2020 promotional video:
1.086 – 1.031 = 0.055 kg in 1.5 sec = 2.2 kg/min
Even if the initial high-rate of flow could be kept constant throughout the fueling cycle (which it can't), it would take 36 minutes to fuel 80 kg of hydrogen!

ALEX: 36 minutes has not been achieved, not even close... and the driver probably has to stay standing there at the nozzle
< That’s asking for an accident to happen!
ALEX (@ajtourville) 9/12/20, 2:11 PM
Yup. If you read the reports on prhyde.eu you'll get a glimpse of the many challenges & risks involved with high-flow hydrogen fueling
https://twitter.com/ajtourville/status/1304842227747827712

Above is from:
⛔️ NIKOLA HYDROGEN FUELING ⛔️
Debunk of Trevor Milton's lies regarding Nikola’s ability to fuel its hydrogen truck in ~10 minutes
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1304832081286041605.html
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1864 on: September 13, 2020, 08:47:11 PM »
Quote
Tesla bug allows other electric cars to charge for free at new Supercharger

Tesla may have been knowingly allowing this to happen at a low level, to assure Teslas were not locked out due to any software handshake issues they might have encountered.  But now that the word is out — no more!
Quote
Kevin (@kjongeling) 9/13/20, 3:37 AM
@electricfelix @Hachy_1 nu bij Tesla Apeldoorn Oost, en krijg het opladen niet meer aan de praat. Lader die het gisteren wel deed, doet het nu niet meer. Paal ernaast doet het ook niet. #corsae

[ @electricfelix @Hachy_1 now at Tesla Apeldoorn East, and can't get the charging going anymore. Charger who did it yesterday, it's not doing it anymore. Pole next to it doesn't work either. #corsae]
https://twitter.com/kjongeling/status/1305047865480413184
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Bruce Steele

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 2505
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 744
  • Likes Given: 40
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1865 on: September 13, 2020, 10:36:32 PM »
Sig, I have noticed Tesla owners back their cars into the chargers. I was wondering how one would charge if you were towing a trailer ? Do you know what truck charging plans might be and whether cybertruck or semi also charges from back of the truck ? I kinda think those of us who haul livestock might be persona non grata at the Tesla chargers here in our local Marriott parking lot.  So I guess I am saying anyone hauling a trailer would need to unhitch before charging or truck chargers will have different setups.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1866 on: September 14, 2020, 12:27:09 AM »
Sig, I have noticed Tesla owners back their cars into the chargers. I was wondering how one would charge if you were towing a trailer ? Do you know what truck charging plans might be and whether cybertruck or semi also charges from back of the truck ? I kinda think those of us who haul livestock might be persona non grata at the Tesla chargers here in our local Marriott parking lot.  So I guess I am saying anyone hauling a trailer would need to unhitch before charging or truck chargers will have different setups.

This has long been an issue.  The short answer is, it depends.  Some charging stations have pull-through spots, which are handy for cars with trailers.  Sometimes pulling up across the end of a row will work.  The other options are parking perpendicular across several spots, which is of course uncool unless it’s off-hours and the station is ~empty.  Or, unhitching the trailer to charge.

Semi trucks will use a Megacharger, so they should be placed with trucks in mind.  Likely at existing ICE truck stops, for example.

The Cybertruck charge port on the prototypes is in the left rear, like other Teslas.  The Cybertruck and the Model Y will indeed make charging with a trailer more common. 

The TMC forum has a thread listing chargers which are trailer-friendly:
https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/trailer-friendly-supercharger-locations.61389/

Other threads here, including “Trailering best practices”:
https://forums.tesla.com/search?adv=&search=Charging+with+trailer&title=&author=&cat=all&tags=&discussion_poll=1&discussion_d=1&comment_c=1&discussion_question=1&comment_answer=1&group_group=1&within=1+day&date=

They mention Bjorn Nyland's Model X with trailer videos on YouTube.
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1867 on: September 14, 2020, 08:27:39 PM »
Volkswagen Starts Deliveries Of “ID.3 1ST
Quote
Today, on September 11, 2020, Volkswagen officially started deliveries of its long-awaited first MEB-based model, the ID.3.
The first unit of the limited edition 1ST (one of 30,000 rich-equipped 58 kWh version cars), was handed over by Volkswagen's Sales Director Jürgen Stackmann to a customer - Oliver Nicolai - at the Transparent Factory in Dresden, Germany.

Customer deliveries probably are starting already at other dealerships in Germany and possibly in other countries anytime soon now.
Volkswagen recently showed that hundreds of cars were shipped to the UK, Norway and Sweden, as well as to multiple other markets in Europe, from Italy, through the Netherlands to Ireland.

We guess that September registrations of ID.3 in Europe should skyrocket, possibly exceeding 10,000.
Soon after the first batch of ID.3 finds a way to customers, Volkswagen will unveil its second MEB-based model, the ID.4 which is already in production and scheduled for sale later this year.

The major offensive entered the stage of production and sales and we will closely look at how well the proprietary-designed BEVs from Germany will cope on the market.
The multi-billion dollars of investments leaves Volkswagen with no margin for error. The IDs must succeed (and sell in hundreds of thousands a year) or the entire company would be hit hard.
https://insideevs.com/news/443595/volkswagen-started-deliveries-id3-1st/


Germany's most influential testing publication says the ID.3 [is not very good]
https://twitter.com/wholemarsblog/status/1304148089100406784
90-sec video at the link.


——-
Below is a link to Nikola’s rebuttal to the Hindenburg report.  Of note is that the image featured at the top… shows a Nikola truck rolling down a hill. ::)

Highlights:
- We didn’t SAY the truck was moving under its own power down the hill when we made that video.  And investors at the time were all aware the Nikola One didn’t work.
- We had PARTS for the truck used in the reveal. They just weren’t in the truck.
- We moved on to other projects and never got the Nikola One working under its own propulsion.
- We didn’t SAY that that particular inverter was designed in-house, although we said we design a lot of stuff ourselves, particularly inverters and said other companies have asked to use them. We do use third-party parts in our prototypes.  Everybody does.
- That “Game-changing battery cell technology” we crowed we had?  We’re actually just “excited about potential breakthroughs.”
- Our former CFO didn’t leave; we fired him.  The fact that we returned Nikola deposits around that time is just coincidence.

- No mention of the missing “3.5 megawatts of solar up on the roof producing about 18 megawatts of energy a day in our headquarters and we’re storing 10,000 kilograms of hydrogen and using fuel cells as energy backup and batteries as energy sources as well.”  Only:  We can store and dispense 1,000 kg of hydrogen at the station at our headquarters.

  —
Nikola Corp | Nikola Sets the Record Straight on False and Misleading Short Seller Report
https://nikolamotor.com/press_releases/nikola-sets-the-record-straight-on-false-and-misleading-short-seller-report-96

  —
Nikola admits One wasn’t self-propelled in response to Hindenburg
https://www.teslarati.com/nikola-one-response-self-propelled-hill-hindenburg-report/amp/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

NeilT

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6275
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 386
  • Likes Given: 22
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1868 on: September 15, 2020, 11:49:12 AM »
Quote
Volkswagen vows to overtake Tesla on tech and production by 2023

https://evcentral.com.au/volkswagen-vows-to-overtake-tesla-on-tech-and-production-by-2023/

Now lets apply the sniff test.

2 shift Shanghai producing 200kpa M3.  Stated goal 3 shift.  So 300kpa M3
Model Y capacity stated at 450kpa full 3 shift.
Fremont at 500kpa M3/Y in 2020, expect 550 in 2022.
Fremont S/X, expect continued decline to 40kpa
Berlin, phase1, stated capacity 500k
Assume 500k for Texas.

I get 2.34 million vehicles in 2022.

If the reports are correct and Berlin is sized at 2M vehicles per year, then, assuming 1m in Texas and incremental increases in Fremont and shanghai, I get 4.5m in 2023.  This is ignoring Cybertruck, Semi, new gigafactories to come online and any other major improvements in production.  Texas is 3 times the size of Berlin and 9 times the size of Shanghai, so I would expect more than 1m vehicles per year but Cybertruck and Semi may take more space for less volume.

Either way, 1.5m to meet Tesla's stated production?  Smells like BS to me.

I also expect Tesla to build at least 2 more gigafactories between now and 2023.  Meaning more production capacity than Ford and leaving VW in the starting blocks.
Being right too soon is socially unacceptable.

Robert A. Heinlein

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1869 on: September 16, 2020, 05:06:40 PM »
—- EU Emissions fines
Quote
JPR007 (@jpr007) 9/14/20, 5:49 AM
British data firm PA Consulting said 13 automakers are on track to pay a total of €14.5 billion in fines from the European Union in 2021 for failing to meet tougher new emissions standards
asia.nikkei.com/Business/Autom…
https://twitter.com/jpr007/status/1305443554253103105
~ Volkswagen shapes up as a leading offender, with carbon dioxide emissions per kilometer slated to average 109.3 grams in 2021
That would result in a fine of roughly €4.5 billion
The EU's updated corporate average fuel economy, or CAFE, standards take full effect in 2021
~ Each automaker needs to reduce average fleetwide emissions to 95 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer
Failure to comply brings a €95 penalty per vehicle for each gram in excess of the threshold.
~ The new CAFE standards represent a roughly 30% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from the previous targets set for 2015
Yet 20 major auto brands that sell in the EU exceeded the updated limits last year, researcher JATO Dynamics reports
~ Nissan Motor's alliance, which includes French partner Renault and fellow Japanese maker Mitsubishi Motors, faces a fine equivalent to about 130 billion yen ($1.22 billion)
Nissan already anticipates a net loss of 670 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2021
~ Toyota Motor's average emissions would just exceed the threshold at 95.1 grams, but the company's heavy sales volume in the EU would produce a fine of roughly 2.2 billion yen
~ The impact will be reflected in production costs
For Mazda Motor, each Mazda3 subcompact would incur as much as 400,000 yen in additional expense
~ The EU offers noncompliant automakers an alternative to fines
Manufacturers that exceed the bloc's emissions standards can buy credits from other companies that outperform the requirements, potentially paying less than they would in fines depending on the price negotiated
~ Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has reached a deal to buy emissions credits from Tesla
Fiat Chrysler faces an estimated €2.5 billion in penalties next year and is reportedly set to buy €1.8 billion in credits between 2020 and 2023
~ Manufacturers of conventional gasoline vehicles oppose the EU regulations, which they say will squeeze their finances and threaten jobs
~ The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association EMEA asked the European Commission in March to postpone implementation of the new standards. 
~ The EU holds that the stricter requirements are crucial for the fight against climate change and has not changed its stance

< So I presume 100% of the fines go directly into eco projects, new forested areas and green energy production ? Carbon offsets are a joke.
JPR007:
It will be a little more complicated than that for Das Auto
1. They get fined
2. They go borrow the money from the ECB
3. They pay the fine and it goes back to the ECB
4. Das Auto takes a tax deduction for the fine they paid
5. Das Auto get a tax rebate from the Tax Man

—- U.S. Emissions fines
US reaches $1.5 billion settlement with Daimler over emissions scandal
Daimler must also recall and repair Mercedes-Benz diesel cars that cheat the system.
September 15, 2020
Quote
US prosecutors and Daimler AG have agreed on a settlement worth $1.5 billion to lay to rest the emissions cheating scandal.

On Monday, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) said the deal, proposed between the DoJ, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), California Air Resources Board (CARB), and Daimler -- as well as its US subsidiary Mercedes-Benz USA -- will wipe the slate clean when it comes to allegations of violating the US Clean Air Act.

Under the terms of the settlement, set in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, Daimler will agree to pay $945 million in penalties, civil and otherwise. In addition, the automaker will recall and repair every Mercedes-Benz diesel vehicle sold in the US with a defeat device, the gadget at the heart of the emissions scandal.

The emissions scandal involving Volkswagen and Daimler came to light back in 2016. So-called "clean diesel" engines were developed to enable the sale of vehicles in the United States, but engineers realized the engines were pumping out more nitrogen oxide (NOx) than legally allowed.

Defeat devices were developed to ensure tests in laboratories would show that clean diesel vehicles conformed to US laws, but in real-world situations, NOx levels were far higher.  The discrepancy and defeat devices were discovered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), leading to the complaint. Volkswagen was previously ordered to pay up to $14.7 billion to resolve Clean Air Act violation charges.

The DoJ says that Daimler must recall and repair vehicles sold in the US between 2009 and 2016. At no cost to customers, the company will remove defeat devices and update vehicle software to bring cars in line with US environmental laws. In addition, the Stuttgart, Germany-based company must extend warranties for updated software and hardware in the repaired vehicles, and launch "projects" to further reduce NOx emissions from these vehicles. …
https://www.zdnet.com/article/us-reaches-1-5bn-settlement-with-daimler-over-emissions-scandal/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1870 on: September 16, 2020, 05:11:01 PM »
—- Nikola, continued
 Hindenburg says Nikola’s ‘rebuttal’ shows the allegations of fraud are correct
We View Nikola’s Response As a Tacit Admission of Securities Fraud
Quote
Last week, we issued a report that presented extensive evidence of a litany of material false statements made by Nikola’s Founder and Executive Chairman, Trevor Milton.

We included 53 questions at the end of our report that we believe shareholders deserve answers to. The company promised a full point-by-point rebuttal, but then only responded to 10 of our questions.  Of those 10 responses, the company debunked nothing. Instead it either confirmed or sidestepped virtually everything we wrote about, and in some cases raised new unanswered questions.

- Nikola Failed to Address 43 of our 53 Questions. Of Those It Touched On, It Largely Confirmed Our Findings or Raised New Questions
- Nikola Admitted That Its Deceptive “Nikola One in Motion” Video Was, In Fact, Video of The Semi-Truck Simply Rolling Down A Hill.
- The Company Says It Never Claimed the Truck Was Powering Itself, Despite Deceptive Editing and Claims That it Had “1,000 HP” With “Sports Performance”
https://hindenburgresearch.com/nikola-response/

—-
The SEC Gets Involved With Nikola
Quote
Nikola Corporation's (NASDAQ: NKLA) wild week has reached the ears of the SEC.
What Happened: After Monday's closing bell, Bloomberg reported the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is examining Nikola "to assess the merits of a short-seller's allegations that the electric-truck maker deceived investors about its business prospects, according to people familiar with the matter." …
https://www.benzinga.com/news/20/09/17499431/the-sec-gets-involved-with-nikola

—-
Quote
*Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaOne) 9/15/20, 4:13 AM
[Former] $NKLA CEO, Trevor Milton, disclosed he bought 41,400 shares on 09/14 at prices from $30.10-$33.60
<< I’m new to trading so I don’t know. But can he do that? After something like this?
< god no. this is illegal and now he has the sec on him .  if you say anything or do anything that can potentially pump the price the sec goes after you . just ask elon musk ;D
< Something very negative probably kicks in for Trevor if $NKLA Stock falls below a certain price...
>> A small drop in the ocean to the number of shares he currently owns (91,644,134 shares). This is just to curb the bleeding.  He will be bag holding these for a while once the SEC hammer comes down and GM flees the sinking ship.
< While he sold $90 million worth of stock prior
https://twitter.com/deitaone/status/1305781893384802306

—-
Quote
Gary Black (@garyblack00) 9/15/20, 9:10 AM
Hindenburgh has published research that verifies what I and others on this board have long suspected: $NKLA has no proprietary battery or hydrogen tech; it’s battery and FCEV trucks are a long way from production; it’s $10B order book is mostly fluff. IMO, there’s nothing there.
...
Gary Black (@garyblack00) 9/15/20, 9:10 AM
3/ Based on my own experience with the SEC (I’ve worked on two fraud cases where I was brought in after the fact), it’s pretty clear the SEC is pursuing NKLA (not the reverse) under 10(b) of the 1934 Act. I believe $GM will soon void the $NKLA deal, and NKLA will fall below $20.
https://twitter.com/garyblack00/status/1305856544966402049
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1871 on: September 16, 2020, 05:15:14 PM »
Uber backup driver in fatal Arizona autonomous-car crash charged with negligent homicide
Published: Sept. 15, 2020
Pedestrian killed in 2018 crash; NTSB found driver was distracted by cell phone
Prosecutors declined in March 2019 to file criminal charges against Uber, as a corporation.
Quote
PHOENIX — The backup Uber driver involved in the first self-driving vehicle fatality has been charged with negligent homicide for being distracted in the moments before fatally striking a woman in suburban Phoenix.

Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel’s office said on Tuesday that Rafaela Vasquez faces one count in the 2018 crash in Tempe that killed 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg. She has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors declined in March 2019 to file criminal charges against Uber, as a corporation, in Herzberg’s death.

Vasquez, 45, told investigators that she didn’t use her cell phones before the crash. It was not immediately known if Vasquez has an attorney who could comment on her behalf.  But the National Transportation Safety Board concluded Vasquez’s failure to monitor the road as she watched the television show “The Voice” on her phone was the main cause of the crash.

The contributing factors cited by the board included Uber’s inadequate safety procedures and ineffective oversight of its drivers, Herzberg’s decision to cross the street outside of a crosswalk, and the Arizona Department of Transportation’s insufficient oversight of autonomous vehicle testing.

The board also concluded Uber’s de-activation of its automatic emergency braking system increased the risks associated with testing automated vehicles on public roads. Instead of the system, Uber relied on the human backup driver to intervene.

The Uber system detected Herzberg 5.6 seconds before the crash. But it but failed to determine whether she was a bicyclist, pedestrian or unknown object, or that she was headed into the vehicle’s path, the board said.

The death reverberated throughout the auto industry and Silicon Valley and forced other companies to slow what had been a fast march toward autonomous ride-hailing services on public roads.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/uber-backup-driver-in-fatal-arizona-autonomous-car-crash-charged-with-negligent-homicide-2020-09-15


—- Human drivers
Quote
Breaking911 (@Breaking911) 9/11/20, 1:04 AM
Wild video [at the link] shows a semi truck slamming into another car, pushing it into several other vehicles Tuesday on Interstate 5 in Sacramento. A total of 9 vehicles were involved in the crash. 1 person was killed, & 3 others were hospitalized.

< Holy crap!!! Immediately stop all drivers from driving and do not call human beings drivers because it gives false sense of security in the software’s abilities.
https://twitter.com/breaking911/status/1304284757853966336
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1872 on: September 17, 2020, 01:48:38 AM »
Scania launches fully electric truck with 250 km range
Sept 15
Quote
Scania now launches its first fully electric truck. With a range of up to 250 km, the Scania electric truck can operate during the whole day and still return safely to its home depot for overnight charging. If there is a need for an extended range, the driver can fast charge the truck over a break or during natural stops in operation.

The truck is available with the option of either five, for a total of 165 kWh, or nine batteries totalling 300 kWh installed capacity. With five batteries the range is 130 km. The range is, of course, dependent on the weight, body type and topography.

With the combustion engine removed, space for batteries has been freed. Additional batteries are mounted on the chassis frame. The new electric motor delivers a continuous power of 230 kW or approximately 310 hp. The motor has two gears to provide high power over a wider speed span, thereby improving comfort.

Scania’s battery electric truck comes equipped with a CCS charging connector to charge from the electric grid. With 130 kW DC charging, the five battery packs will be charged in less than 55 minutes and the nine batteries in less than 100 minutes. The truck can also be charged through regenerative braking. …
https://www.scania.com/group/en/home/newsroom/press-releases/press-release-detail-page.html/3768729-scania-launches-fully-electric-truck-with-250-km-range


======
Interesting choice of date.  September 23 is the day after Tesla battery day (announced Aug 21).
Volkswagen Confirms U.S. ID.4 Reservation/Ordering Scheme
Aug 28
Quote
Volkswagen announced that the ID.4 reservation platform for the U.S. will be launched on September 23, immediately following the reveal of the car (11 a.m. EDT).
The company confirmed also that the process will start from a fully refundable $100 reservation deposit, required to secure a place in line.
...
The second step is the invitation to lock the configuration and confirm the order with an additional $400 deposit....

Meanwhile, the customer will be able to negotiate the final sales price with its dealer to complete the purchase.

This might be a weak point in the process, especially if demand will far exceed supply like we saw many times in the case of other brands. Hopefully, dealers will not go much beyond MSRP.
https://insideevs.com/news/441405/volkswagen-us-id4-reservation-ordering-scheme/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

NeilT

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6275
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 386
  • Likes Given: 22
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1873 on: September 17, 2020, 03:04:35 PM »
Interesting choice of date.

It may be the day after the battery investor day, but it is the day OF the public hearing on environmental complaints for the Giga Berlin factory.  With 406 complaints logged.

It is also time to remember that the full certification for Giga Berlin has not been issued yet.

Perhaps they want to push the point a bit that it is not Just Tesla who are building low carbon transport?
Being right too soon is socially unacceptable.

Robert A. Heinlein

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1874 on: September 17, 2020, 10:00:24 PM »
Interesting choice of date.

It may be the day after the battery investor day, but it is the day OF the public hearing on environmental complaints for the Giga Berlin factory.  With 406 complaints logged.

It is also time to remember that the full certification for Giga Berlin has not been issued yet.

Perhaps they want to push the point a bit that it is not Just Tesla who are building low carbon transport?

Except that VW’s presentation is for the US audience, and very few people in the US know about Giga Berlin, let alone the complaint hearing.

Perhaps the timing is meant to boost the morale of VW workers, particularly in the US, as a counterpoint to what should be a mind-blowing Tesla reveal.
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1875 on: September 17, 2020, 10:04:40 PM »
Daimler Trucks unveils Mercedes-Benz fuel-cell concept truck, previews long-haul battery-electric truck; electrification strategy
Sept 17
Quote
Daimler Trucks will start series production of a purely battery-powered heavy-duty truck next year. The range of the series-produced eActros on one battery charge will significantly exceed that of the prototype’s approximately 200 kilometers.

Daimler Trucks plans to have the eActros LongHaul ready for series production in 2024. Its range on one battery charge will be approximately 500 kilometers [300 miles].

Many of the long-haul applications in the practical operations of transport companies do not require a range greater than the approximately 500 kilometers that the eActros LongHaul will be able to cover on one charge. In addition, legal requirements regarding truck drivers’ driving times limit the need for longer ranges, depending on the case. In the EU, for example, truck drivers have to take a break of at least 45 minutes at the latest after 4.5 hours of driving.

Importance of depot charging.
With its market launch in the middle of the decade, the eActros LongHaul will be available some time before the GenH2 Truck. The required infrastructure can also be set up sooner—and at comparatively low cost—by the transport companies themselves for charging at their depots.


Daimler Trucks also unveiled the concept Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck, marking the beginning of a fuel-cell push by Daimler for the long-haul transport segment.  Daimler Trucks plans to begin customer trials of the GenH2 Truck in 2023; series production is to start in the second half of the decade. Due to the use of liquid instead of gaseous hydrogen with its higher energy density, the vehicle’s performance is planned to equal that of a comparable conventional diesel truck.

Daimler Trucks is currently pressing ahead with the development of the necessary tank-system technologies to make liquid hydrogen usable also in mobile applications as an energy source for series-produced fuel-cell trucks. The storage of cryogenic liquid hydrogen at -253 ˚C is already common practice in stationary applications, for example in industry or at hydrogen filling stations. This also applies to the transport of liquid hydrogen as cargo.


In April this year, Daimler Truck AG concluded a preliminary, non-binding agreement with the Volvo Group to establish a new joint venture for the development to series maturity, production and commercialization of fuel-cell systems for use in heavy-duty commercial vehicles and other applications. …
https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/09/20200917-daimlertrucks.html
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1876 on: September 18, 2020, 09:30:58 PM »
Interesting choice of date.

It may be the day after the battery investor day, but it is the day OF the public hearing on environmental complaints for the Giga Berlin factory.  With 406 complaints logged.

It is also time to remember that the full certification for Giga Berlin has not been issued yet.

Perhaps they want to push the point a bit that it is not Just Tesla who are building low carbon transport?

Except that VW’s presentation is for the US audience, and very few people in the US know about Giga Berlin, let alone the complaint hearing.

Perhaps the timing is meant to boost the morale of VW workers, particularly in the US, as a counterpoint to what should be a mind-blowing Tesla reveal.

There are still those who think the timing may be due to a VW-Tesla collaboration of some sort, although both companies have denied any such ambitions.
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1877 on: September 18, 2020, 09:34:27 PM »
LG Chem plans to separate battery business as electric cars take off
Quote
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea’s LG Chem, an electric car battery supplier for Tesla Inc and GM said on Thursday it plans to separate its battery business into a new company as the electric vehicle market takes off.

The move came after LG Chem swung to a profit in its car battery business in the latest quarter. It expects further profitability thanks to growing demand from European car makers and more sales of cylindrical batteries used in Tesla cars.
LG Chem, South Korea’s top petrochemicals maker, has long bet on car batteries as a new growth engine, but it has never made an annual profit in the business since it started making them about a decade ago.

But expectations are growing for its car battery business as automakers push for more electric vehicles, fuelled by Tesla’s rise and tougher emissions regulations in Europe. …
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lg-chem-batteries-idUSKBN2680AC

——
KIA Plans EV Division With 7 Models, 25% EV Sales By 2030. Is That Goal Too Low?
Quote
…Sad to say, it is pretty much dead center on target with what the rest of the industry is planning and better than some of the bigger names in the car business. Based on a Google search by manufacturer using the search prompt “electric car goal 2030” or various companies, here is a summary of what we found.
   •   Volkswagen:  40% 
   •   KIA:  25%
   •   BMW:  50% but that includes hybrids and PHEVs
   •   Mercedes: 50% but that included hybrids and PHEVs
   •   GM:  5 million total EV sales by2030 
   •   Toyota: 1 million EVs a year by 2030
   •   Honda:  ⅔ PHEV and EV by 2030 
   •   Ford: Unknown. No Google result found.
   •   Nissan: Unknown. No Google result found

Non-automotive sources seem to think EV sales will be between 28% of the market [Bloomberg New Energy Finance] and 50% of the market [Boston Consulting]. Note that the Boston Consulting advice includes hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles as well. It is important to bear in mind while having such discussions that many industry sources conflate “electrified vehicles” with “electric vehicles,” which often leads to confusion among potential customers who do not understand such fine distinctions. …
https://cleantechnica.com/2020/09/17/kia-plans-ev-division-7-models-25-ev-sales-by-2030-goal-too-low/amp/

—-
Ford invests $700 million in EV plant, adds 300 jobs related to electric F-150
Quote
The new manufacturing center at the Dearborn-based Rouge Center, once complete, will add 300 jobs and is part of a $700 million investment in building the all-new F-150 lineup, including the first-ever F-150 PowerBoost hybrid. The new jobs will support battery assembly and production of the F-150 PowerBoost hybrid and fully electric F-150.

The new vehicles will utilize Ford’s already-existing body and paint shop, Johnson said. However, the new building should be completed “sometime next Summer.”
https://www.teslarati.com/ford-ev-plant-300-jobs-electric-f-150/amp/

—-
Ford  throws shade at Tesla and GM, says F-150 EV will be a ‘real’ work truck
Quote
Yet for all its pedigree, Ford will likely be releasing the electric F-150 significantly later than its rivals. Even today, the American automaker expects the electric F-150 to be due around the middle of 2022. By this time, the electric pickup market will be active, with vehicles from Rivian and Tesla already competing in the market. Rivian expects to start deliveries of the R1T in June 2021, while leaks from Giga Texas have revealed that Tesla may start the Cybertruck’s trial production around May 2021. …
https://www.teslarati.com/ford-throws-shade-tesla-cybertruck-not-real-work-truck/amp/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1878 on: September 18, 2020, 10:04:07 PM »
—- Nikola’s undetermined factory water source, and Facebook ads
Quote
ALEX  (@ajtourville) 9/17/20, 11:22 PM
Darrell Wilson, owner of HilgartWilson, says the source of the water for the Nikola factory in Coolidge Arizona is still “to be determined” ::)
https://twitter.com/ajtourville/status/1306795681387089923
[ ~1 min vid from the Sept 9 Coolidge Planning and Zoning meeting at the link]
< Don’t environmental impact studies have to be done prior to development?
<< Yes. You're right. When $NKLA bought the land for the factory… they should have factored in access to water & the time needed for an E.I.S. but that would entail a level of competence in the site selection team.


Quote
ALEX (@ajtourville) 7/20/20, 11:21 PM
Nikola has been sitting on its Coolidge factory site since 12 September 2018... almost 2 years now!
Fake groundbreaking ceremony is in 3 days & Trevor Milton hasn't even submitted any site plans to the city for approval
Land is a prop in the $NKLA scam
walter-unger.com/coolidge-gives…
https://twitter.com/ajtourville/status/1285414578701115393

> Never mind the hundreds of millions of gallons purified water required to produce the damn H2. Huge issue for the SW.
>> Yes! I'm not seeing anyone address this. Never mind Arizona - there's tons of states with water shortages. How are they going to get enough?

——-
Quote
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Jeremy Judkins (@jeremyjudkins) 9/17/20, 11:17 PM
Nikola Badger Vs Audi R8.  This is running as a Facebook ad.
I literally have no words.
[Vid: Actual $200k Audi sports car, vs. Badger rendering in the bg.  You can order a Badger today!]
< Funny how they quote specs for something that does not exist even in prototype form
https://twitter.com/jeremyjudkins/status/1306794538913193984

Trevor Milton has been uncharacteristicly absent from Twitter for days.  I suppose the Facebook ads are to keep his fans engaged. I doubt they are watching the Planning Commission meetings.
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

vox_mundi

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 10166
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 3510
  • Likes Given: 745
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1879 on: September 19, 2020, 12:48:35 AM »


Daimler and Torc are developing Level 4 automated trucks for the real world. Here is a glimpse into our closed-course testing, routes on public highways in Virginia, and self-driving capabilities development. Our year of collaborating on the future of transportation culminated in the announcement of our new truck testing center in New Mexico.
“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

Insensible before the wave so soon released by callous fate. Affected most, they understand the least, and understanding, when it comes, invariably arrives too late

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1880 on: September 20, 2020, 01:16:52 AM »
Arizona
Quote
ALEX  (@ajtourville) 9/18/20, 1:31 PM
It appears Nikola site in Coolidge facing critical water issues which may cause serious delays

Listen to Steve Miller, Pinal County Supervisor for District 3, & Mark Duchesne, Nikola global head of manufacturing, talk about the water issues on Aug. 21, 2020. #NikolaGate 
https://twitter.com/ajtourville/status/1307009372518785024
2min vid
Supervisor:  The Dept. is not issuing new certificates of assured water.  It will require a ton of money to develop new water resources for the county.  Nobody’s stepping up to pay for that.  It will be about a year before we can forward new guidelines to the water resource committee.
Nikola guy:  When I joined Nikola and took on this project, I had no idea about the water issues in the county. “We’re schooling ourselves….”

——
Trevor Milton has now taken his Instagram account private, after creepy texts from him emerged, raising disturbing questions.
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1881 on: September 21, 2020, 05:04:58 PM »
Trevor Milton resigned from Nikola this weekend, after the latest (personal) allegations surfaced.

Nikola Stock Falls After Founder and Chairman Milton Departs Amid Short-Seller Allegations
Trevor Milton has left the company he founded, effective immediately.
https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/09/21/nikola-founder-and-chairman-milton-departs-amid-sh/

Update: Nikola Motor's Trevor Milton Makes Resignation Official
https://m.benzinga.com/article/17583274

GM says they will continue the agreement to build EVs under the Nikola brand.
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

NeilT

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6275
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 386
  • Likes Given: 22
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1882 on: September 22, 2020, 10:17:57 AM »
So Milton gets to step out, sell his shares and then claim it was his ousting that collapsed the company?
Being right too soon is socially unacceptable.

Robert A. Heinlein

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1883 on: September 22, 2020, 04:58:31 PM »
After Nikola’s non-denial “rebuttal” to the damning Hindenburg report, Nikola was silent for days.  On Saturday, the personal allegations against Trevor Milton broke open.  2am Monday, Nikola publicly announced Milton is out — without mentioning Hindenburg.  You do the math.

Nikola: Trevor Milton Quits (or gets thrown out) - YouTube


Notable in Trevor’s lawyer-approved farewell statement is that he now refers to Nikola’s “world-changing mission,“ in place of his often-boasted "world-changing technology."  ;)

Why is GM sticking with Nikola?  Because it was GM’s Stephen Girsky’s SPAC that created Nikola’s IPO.
Quote
Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) 9/21/20, 1:52 AM
“Stephen Girsky, former Vice Chairman of General Motors Co. and a member of Nikola's Board, has been appointed Chairman of the Board, effective immediately” — Nikola
https://twitter.com/wholemarsblog/status/1307920609557401602
< How serious is it for Girsky and Russell being names in the lawsuits that are piling up ?
Whole Mars Catalog: This is a disaster for Steve Girsky and VectoIQ. Their entire SPAC could go up in flames.  And if and when it does, the entire idea of SPACs will be tarnished forever

~ this was Steve Girsky and the SPAC guys who pulled this deal off
“We showed up with an army of people to due diligence this thing. I don’t doubt there are going to be twists and turns here, but I did put my reputation on the line for this deal” — Steven Girsky
https://twitter.com/wholemarsblog/status/1306299853320777728

Stringer Bell (@Stringbell27) 8/25/20, 4:49 PM

Here's why I think Nikola is a fraud.
Steve Girsky just aquired 21,000 shares for free.
https://sec.report/Document/0001731289-20-000030/

https://twitter.com/stringbell27/status/1298361991736840195

Steve Girsky Replaces Trevor Milton At Embattled Nikola (With Video)
FreightWaves
https://m.benzinga.com/article/17587471

—-
Quote
Gary Black (@garyblack00) 9/21/20, 10:16 AM
$NKLA net:
1/ GM has swapped out TM in favor of Girsky; GM deal will go forward. 
2/ Top TM lieutenants likely to leave (Mark Russell?) as GM exerts more control. 
3/ Girsky likely to cut deal with SEC to pay one-time $100M fine to settle SEC fraud claims.
I closed my puts.
https://twitter.com/garyblack00/status/1308047572716548097
< Girsky engineered the IPO after "vetting" Trevor and NKLA...he is part of the problem...the SEC and DOJ should be leaning on Girsky as well!
< GM in on this from the outset

—-
Image: Spreadsheet of former large Nikola investors who have sold their shares, many to zero.
https://twitter.com/girldadninja/status/1306708422125993985

—-
There are a ton of red flags in the agreement for Trevor to leave Nikola, such as regarding copies of all emails and phone records being available for lawsuits, and Nikola reserving the right to sue.
 Links to the document are available here:
https://twitter.com/wholemarsblog/status/1307992846746529792

——


My take:  Nikola had some funding, lots grand plans and renders, but nothing real to offer.  They admitted they had lots of suppliers, for “all the things they didn’t know,” but expected they could somehow just plug all the parts together and it would magically work.  It didn’t.

GM knew Nikola had no actual tech, nor the expertise to develop it.  GM just wants the Nikola brand to hang its electric/fuel cell hat on — keep it separate from GM ICE business, and easy enough to dump if it doesn’t work out for GM.  Free advertising via Trevor Milton for those foolish enough to believe.


—-
See @davidbateman posts on Twitter beginning Sept 19 for the texts/allegations of Trevor Milton’s personal serial misconduct.
See also @WholeMarsBlog

Trevor Milton’s cousin’s allegations published in the Wall Street Journal
https://twitter.com/wholemarsblog/status/1308216513610964992


==== GM is supposed to supply Nikola’s batteries and fuel cells outside of Europe. So, Europe, beware: Nikola apparently plans to dangerously cobble together its new truck batteries out of small off-the-shelf packs.
Quote
Nikola Insider (@InsiderNikola) 9/21/20, 5:37 PM
It wasn't the biggest news to drop this weekend, but the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal both confirmed the rumor that Nikola signed a contract with Romeo Power to use their batteries in the Tre. Here is a (long) thread explaining why this is so important.
1/
https://twitter.com/insidernikola/status/1308158385833963520
« Last Edit: September 22, 2020, 05:03:56 PM by Sigmetnow »
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sciguy

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 1969
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 237
  • Likes Given: 188
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1884 on: September 22, 2020, 07:54:59 PM »
EVs are getting closer to the price parity with ICEs.  One of the major milestones is getting battery pack prices below $100/kWh.  Several companies are expected to do so by 2024.

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/The-Tipping-Point-For-Mass-EV-Adoption.html

Quote
The Tipping Point For Mass EV Adoption
By Tsvetana Paraskova - Sep 22, 2020

Analysts have estimated that battery pack prices should drop to US$100/kWh so that electric vehicles have a chance to compete with cost with the internal combustion engine. Automakers and industry experts believe that the US$100/kWh milestone could be reached as early as in 2024, or even sooner—and that milestone will unleash the electric vehicle revolution.

Lithium-ion battery pack prices have declined by 87 percent from 2010 to 2019, with the volume-weighted average hitting US$156/kWh last year, according to estimates from BloombergNEF.

Quote
Many automakers are working to achieve the US$100/kWh milestone.

In March this year, GM said that its joint venture with LG Chem would drive battery cell costs below $100/kWh.

Quote
Executives at Volkswagen told the New York Times last year that the company was paying less than $100 per kWh for batteries.

The tipping point for the EV revolution is just a few years away, Boston Consulting Group said at the start of this year. 

Wood Mackenzie sees battery pack prices dropping below the US$100 kWh milestone by 2024, thanks to economies of scale and technological improvements, and despite the coronavirus-driven crisis.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1885 on: September 24, 2020, 02:55:16 AM »
California Just Banned Gas-Powered Car Sales...in 2035
Did California just kill the non-electric car?
Quote
So long, internal combustion engine. We hardly knew ye -- and starting in 2035, you'll be banned from California new car lots. On Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that will ban the sale of new gas- and diesel-powered automobiles within the state effective 2035, saying the ban is essential to the state's goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2045.

Mind you, the ban won't forbid ownership of gas-powered cars. It won't forbid reselling used cars that are powered by internal combustion or driving them on California roads (at least not yet). What it will do, is ensure that, 15 years from now, the only new cars sold in the state are zero-emission electric vehicles.

Newsom's announcement came one day after Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk lamented, during his "Battery Day" exposition, that only about 1% of car sales in the U.S. currently are electric. In California, that number is closer to 10%, reports The Wall Street Journal. But far from being proud about that accomplishment, the governor seems to be viewing it as merely 10 down, 90 more to go. 

California's ban can be expected to accelerate Detroit's transition away from gas-powered cars and toward electrics. Of course, the major U.S. automakers were headed in that direction already and, in a statement today, Ford (NYSE:F), for example, seemed to accept California's ban as an inevitability, agreeing that "it's time to take urgent action to address climate change."

The ban may have one, perhaps unintended side effect: Japan's Toyota (NYSE:TM), which has focused its efforts on improving fuel efficiency with hybrid gas-electric engines, and which became the world's second largest car company partly thanks to its popular Prius hybrid, may be forced to switch strategies and go all-electric going forward. 
https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/09/23/california-just-banned-gas-powered-car-sales-in-20/


What California's 2035 Gas-Powered Vehicle Ban Means For Investors
Quote
“Let us no longer be victims of geopolitical dictators that manipulate global supply chains and global markets,” Newsom said.
California, with almost 40 million residents, is the most populous state and represents 1 in every 10 new automobiles sold.
The Democratic governor's move would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 35%, according to his administration.

Newsom is also calling on new regulations for medium- and heavy-duty trucks to be 100% zero-emission by 2045, but the measure was not part of Wednesday's official order.

California state agencies are being called on to speed up the development of electric vehicle charging stations across the state.

Why It’s Important: The move by California could have a huge impact on the automobile industry, especially if other states follow its lead.
Automakers like Toyota Motors Corporation (NYSE: TM), Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) may need to speed up their progress in producing electric vehicles or miss out on sales in the largest U.S. state.

Potential Auto Winners: Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) stands to benefit from this new regulation, especially with its headquarters being in Palo Alto.  Tesla is also working on an electric semi-truck.

What’s Next: Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised a $25,000 electric vehicle car from his company in the next three years.
Ford expects to have 15 electric vehicle models by the end of 2020 and for electric vehicles to represent 10% of fourth-quarter wholesale volume.
General Motors has announced plans to vertically integrate part of its production to help lower costs and increase the efficiency of electric vehicles.
https://m.benzinga.com/article/17630478


========
—-The last gasp of protest from dealers in traditional OEM ICE states
Michigan’s New House Bill 6233 Wants To Ban EV Automakers From Doing Business
September 20th, 2020
Quote
The gist of the new bill, House Bill 6233, is that any new auto manufacturer — a company that does not already have an establishment in Michigan — can not come in, set one up, and do business. This is a bold attempt to block the sales of electric vehicles from new companies — whether they be Rivian, Lucid Motors, Xpeng, or another startup — to residents in Michigan. ...
https://cleantechnica.com/2020/09/20/michigans-new-house-bill-6233-wants-to-ban-ev-automakers-from-doing-business/amp/

Quote
Bonnie Norman - Rest in Power RBG (@bonnienorman) 9/20/20, 5:58 PM
 
The mission is about accelerating the transition to sustainable energy. In the past, EV owners of all brands have shown up to help Tesla in various state battles. We will be there for Rivian, Bollinger, Lucid, & others as they fight to sell American-made products in the US. - me.
https://twitter.com/bonnienorman/status/1307801230870151169
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

interstitial

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 2867
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 567
  • Likes Given: 96
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1886 on: September 24, 2020, 04:34:59 AM »
Some earlier goals along the way like 20% of a given manufactures vehicles sold must by zero emission by 2025. 70% by 2030

KiwiGriff

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 1614
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 710
  • Likes Given: 372
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1887 on: September 24, 2020, 08:43:30 AM »
Quote
So long, internal combustion engine. We hardly knew ye -- and starting in 2035, you'll be banned from California new car lots. On Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that will ban the sale of new gas- and diesel-powered automobiles within the state effective 2035, saying the ban is essential to the state's goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2045.

Also very significant in the US context.
It signals the end of loopholes for gas guzzling trucks like america's best selling vehicle the ford  f150 .
The order also says that, “where feasible,” medium and heavy duty vehicles such as trucks and construction equipment should be zero-emission by 2045.
Animals can be driven crazy by placing too many in too small a pen. Homo sapiens is the only animal that voluntarily does this to himself.
Notebooks of Lazarus Long.
Robert Heinlein.

nanning

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 2487
  • 0Kg CO₂, 37 KWh/wk,125L H₂O/wk, No offspring
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 273
  • Likes Given: 23170
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1888 on: September 24, 2020, 12:30:29 PM »
Electric cars won't solve our pollution problems

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/23/electric-cars-transport-train-companies
  by George Monbiot


All vehicles create carbon emissions and cause congestion. The coronavirus crisis should help us break our dependence on them

  article text without HS2:
If the government has a vision for transport, it appears to be plug and play. We’ll keep our existing transport system, but change the kinds of vehicles and train companies that use it. But when you have a system in which structural failure is embedded, nothing short of structural change will significantly improve it.

A switch to electric cars will reduce pollution. It won’t eliminate it, as a high proportion of the microscopic particles thrown into the air by cars, which are highly damaging to our health, arise from tyres grating on the surface of the road. Tyre wear is also by far the biggest source of microplastics pouring into our rivers and the sea. And when tyres, regardless of the engine that moves them, come to the end of their lives, we still have no means of properly recycling them.

Cars are an environmental hazard long before they leave the showroom. One estimate suggests that the carbon emissions produced in building each one equate to driving it for 150,000km. The rise in electric vehicle sales has created a rush for minerals such as lithium and copper, with devastating impacts on beautiful places. If the aim is greatly to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, and replace those that remain with battery-operated models, then they will be part of the solution. But if, as a forecast by the National Grid proposes, the current fleet is replaced by 35m electric cars, we’ll simply create another environmental disaster.

Switching power sources does nothing to address the vast amount of space the car demands, which could otherwise be used for greens, parks, playgrounds and homes. It doesn’t stop cars from carving up community and turning streets into thoroughfares and outdoor life into a mortal hazard. Electric vehicles don’t solve congestion, or the extreme lack of physical activity that contributes to our poor health.

So far, the government seems to have no interest in systemic change. It still plans to spend £27bn on building even more roads, presumably to accommodate all those new electric cars. An analysis by Transport for Quality of Life suggests that this road-building will cancel out 80% of the carbon savings from a switch to electric over the next 12 years. But everywhere, even in the government’s feted garden villages and garden towns, new developments are being built around the car.

If one thing changes permanently as a result of the pandemic, it is likely to be travel. Many people will never return to the office. The great potential of remote technologies, so long untapped, is at last being realised. Having experienced quieter cities with cleaner air, few people wish to return to the filthy past.

Like several of the world’s major cities, our capital is being remodelled in response. The London mayor – recognising that, while fewer passengers can use public transport, a switch to cars would cause gridlock and lethal pollution – has set aside road space for cycling and walking. Greater Manchester hopes to build 1,800 miles of protected pedestrian and bicycle routes.

Cycling to work is described by some doctors as “the miracle pill”, massively reducing the chances of early death: if you want to save the NHS, get on your bike. But support from central government is weak and contradictory, and involves a fraction of the money it is spending on new roads. The major impediment to a cycling revolution is the danger of being hit by a car.

Even a switch to bicycles (including electric bikes and scooters) is only part of the answer. Fundamentally, this is not a vehicle problem but an urban design problem. Or rather, it is an urban design problem created by our favoured vehicle. Cars have made everything bigger and further away. Paris, under its mayor Anne Hidalgo, is seeking to reverse this trend, by creating a “15-minute city”, in which districts that have been treated by transport planners as mere portals to somewhere else become self-sufficient communities – each with their own shops, parks, schools and workplaces, within a 15-minute walk of everyone’s home.

This, I believe, is the radical shift that all towns and cities need. It would transform our sense of belonging, our community life, our health and our prospects of local employment, while greatly reducing pollution, noise and danger. Transport has always been about much more than transport. The way we travel helps to determine the way we live. And at the moment, locked in our metal boxes, we do not live well.
"It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly" - Bertrand Russell
"It is preoccupation with what other people from your groups think of you, that prevents you from living freely and nobly" - Nanning
Why do you keep accumulating stuff?

NeilT

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6275
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 386
  • Likes Given: 22
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1889 on: September 24, 2020, 01:21:21 PM »
And if the UK author of the article had done a bit of digging, it would have been evident that net outflow from urbanised areas in the UK is very strong.

So once the city cycle lanes and integrated public transport systems will be used, proportionately, less and less.  Whilst the rest, denied their EV vehicles due to a marked lack of pragmatism in the Environmentalist world, will continue to spew out ever increasing amounts of CO2.

Which will kill off humans and other species exponentially faster than microplastics.

Thank god for Tesla!
Being right too soon is socially unacceptable.

Robert A. Heinlein

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1890 on: September 24, 2020, 03:24:58 PM »
Quote
Whole Mars Catalog:
A new baby born today in California will not be allowed to purchase a polluting car when they get their license.
~ not that they would want one anyway
~ and not that they would need a license
Elon Musk: Haha true
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1308974330542514176


—-   
Tesla Model S saves cancer-stricken owner’s life after disease causes crash
“the EMT literally said ‘every penny you spent on this car was worth it because it saved your life.’ I’m guessing an EMT would have better perspective than most”
https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-s-crash-saves-life-cancer-causes-accident/amp/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1891 on: September 24, 2020, 05:38:50 PM »
Quote
The reduction of ground level ozone and noxious pollution concentrations in urban spaces more than justifies EVs over ICE. Also, EVs have far greater work efficiency than ICE, so even when powered by fossil fuel generated electricity, EVs are FAR cleaner than ICE vehicles.
https://twitter.com/steve_loxton/status/1308801633946677248


——-
Embattled Nikola Gets Its First Sell Rating From Wall Street
The heavy-duty trucking pioneer’s recent drama is enough to shake the confidence of any investor. But that isn’t the only reason a Wedbush analyst downgraded the stock.
Quote
One Wall Street analyst now recommends selling shares of embattled alternative fuel heavy-duty trucking pioneerNikola, the first to do so.

Wednesday evening, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives cut his rating on Nikola (ticker: NKLA) stock to the equivalent of Sell from Hold, and his price target to $15 a share from $45. That’s the lowest price target on the Street.

“It has been a Twilight Zone-like few weeks for Nikola investors as the company has seen some highs with the flagship GM partnership announcement followed by the shocker that founder and former Chairman Trevor Milton was leaving the company,” wrote Ives.

The drama is enough to shake the confidence of any investor. But that isn’t the only reason Ives downgraded the stock. “Some of the eye popping battery innovations coming out of Tesla ...looking to reduce battery costs well below the $100 [per kilowatt-hour] threshold, this potentially changes the game with further price parity on the EV front and throws a wrench in the [return on investment] story around hydrogen fuel cell vehicles over the long term.” …
https://www.barrons.com/articles/nikola-stock-gets-its-first-sell-rating-from-wall-street-51600952097

Or here:  https://apple.news/AsFZDVHrdRt2YqaNcBIkJuA
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1892 on: September 24, 2020, 10:07:01 PM »
Quote
BMW has opened a new “battery competence center”, promising to double i3 range from 126 to 252... in 10 years.

Yeah, you should probably call it the battery incompetence center... because your company won’t survive until 2030 at that pace.
https://twitter.com/wholemarsblog/status/1309158442347700229
Images below.
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

nanning

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 2487
  • 0Kg CO₂, 37 KWh/wk,125L H₂O/wk, No offspring
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 273
  • Likes Given: 23170
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1893 on: September 25, 2020, 08:00:55 AM »
Thanks for responding NeilT, but I think you are far too easy in throwing the investigations and view of George Monbiot away.
And, alas, you have not come with strong arguments or seriously engaged in a discussion of systemic change. It seems your bias makes it impossible for you to seriously see downsides, which one could say is a bit denier-like.

And as always, right along returns the daily stream of the rich consumers' newsposts. Immediately the 'dream' takes over.

I am a bit 'sick' of the lack of open discussion and open minds here by most in this thread.
Most here seem really addicted to their metal boxes and will not seriously think about systemic change, which is what's absolutely necessary, or recognise downsides from electric cars and its infrastructure and its 1 person high-energy use and its unequalness and its destruction of living nature and its direct pollution and its dependence on fast decreasing non-renewable resources and the human rights abuses and living nature pollution that goes with it. The Guardian article I posted above touches on many subjects. Should I refrain from posting in this thread? Because it absolutely has no effect whatsoever?
Think also of the majority of humanity that has no car. Think about transition that includes them. That should influence the way you think about electric cars. Rich countries have had everything for so long and the majority is still poor. Please.

Most posts are about products and Tesla cheerleading imo ("thank god for Tesla").
It would be nice if the rich consumers on this forum can show that they ARE open to discussion and CAN change their minds; that they do not suffer from bias and addiction.
If you cannot change your minds, then it is extremely unlikely that all the less AGW/Biosphere collapse-aware rich consumers outside this forum will ever change their minds.
'I'm all right Jack'?
"It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly" - Bertrand Russell
"It is preoccupation with what other people from your groups think of you, that prevents you from living freely and nobly" - Nanning
Why do you keep accumulating stuff?

nanning

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 2487
  • 0Kg CO₂, 37 KWh/wk,125L H₂O/wk, No offspring
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 273
  • Likes Given: 23170
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1894 on: September 25, 2020, 08:24:36 AM »
Most people who posted comments below that article in the Guardian are much more enlightened in their views. And take the discussion much more serious. What am I doing here, you could ask, and you would likely say good riddance if I left. I may terminate myself because of the deep hell that rich humans have created, and still digger deeper, and the extremely low morality regarding the poor majority and the rampant materialism and consumerism. This greedy shit show is despicable.

Apologies for the not so nice words.
"It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly" - Bertrand Russell
"It is preoccupation with what other people from your groups think of you, that prevents you from living freely and nobly" - Nanning
Why do you keep accumulating stuff?

BeeKnees

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 2319
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 339
  • Likes Given: 335
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1895 on: September 25, 2020, 12:43:36 PM »
And if the UK author of the article had done a bit of digging, it would have been evident that net outflow from urbanised areas in the UK is very strong.

I think you are being to negative.

For far too long people have been priced out of cities and there is still a desire, particularly among the younger population to be in a vibrant city environment.

There is an opportunity here to reverse the trend of commuting to an office in the city and for those offices abandoned by the change to become accomodation.  I think this will breathe life back into cities and as the article highlights, make localised facilities more attractive. 

What is interesting from where I live is not an outflow from cities since covid appeared, but the outflow from commuter belts.  People are realising they no longer need to be in range of the office to work.  Transforming our cities will take time, but hopefully the effect of covid means they now have little choice. 
« Last Edit: September 25, 2020, 08:23:19 PM by BeeKnees »
The Russian State has embarked on a genocide of Ukrainians that is supported by the owner of this forum

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1896 on: September 25, 2020, 08:56:23 PM »
These articles are about various automakers — but it seems that comparisons to Tesla are inevitable these days.  ICE manufacturers are floundering in their attempts to beat, or even match, Tesla’s success in advancing sustainable transport.

—-  BMW
Quote
Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) 9/24/20, 9:41 PM
“The SEC today announced settled charges against Germany-based automaker BMW AG and two of its U.S. subsidiaries for disclosing inaccurate and misleading information about BMW’s retail sales volume in the U.S. while raising approximately $18 billion from investors” — SEC
https://twitter.com/wholemarsblog/status/1309306952917291009
~ “According to the SEC, from 2015 to 2019, BMW inflated its reported retail sales in the U.S., which helped BMW close the gap between its actual retail sales volume and internal targets and publicly maintain a leading retail sales position relative to other automotive companies”
~ “Companies accessing U.S. markets to raise capital have an obligation to provide accurate information to investors. Through its repeated disclosure failures, BMW misled investors about its U.S. retail sales performance and customer demand for BMW vehicles while raising capital”

WMC: Wait. BMW inflated US retail sales???   but the sales data they faked showed them getting killed by Tesla! You mean it was even worse that that?!?

—-
Getting Real About Electric Cars, Batteries and Hype
The GM-Nikola fiasco should make investors take a harder look at where the value really lies.
September 24, 2020
Quote
Auto companies across the globe are looking for their next green partner, even if they have their own grand plans for electric vehicles. But cautionary tales are emerging of why the best way into this brave new world – compelled by a regulatory push and sky-high Tesla Inc.-like valuations – may be to seize the wheel on their own. …
https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/opinion/articles/2020-09-24/gm-nikola-fiasco-take-a-reality-check-on-electric-cars-batteries-and-hype


The Nikola scandal proves even GM will do anything to catch up to Tesla
September 23, 2020
Quote
Tesla just keeps pulling away
Every automotive company in the world is trying to catch up to Tesla (TSLA).

Sure, the electric vehicle manufacturer controlled just 1.13% of total U.S. automotive market share in 2019, Cox Automotive told Yahoo Finance, but automakers ranging from Ford (F) to Honda (HMC) to Toyota (TM) are working feverishly to match something almost more important than Tesla’s sales: its technology.

And yet Tesla seems to be moving ever further ahead of the competition. During its Battery Day event on Tuesday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the automaker plans to build a $25,000 electric car, something that would make electric vehicles far more affordable for average Americans. Tesla’s Model 3, its least expensive model, currently retails for $37,990.

“Tesla is really the dominant player, and of course, an electric vehicle pure play, and they are doing some really innovative things on the battery side to get better,” Garrett Nelson, CFRA senior equity analyst, told Yahoo Finance’s The Ticker following the Battery Day event.

That kind of progress has automakers doing everything they can in the hopes of topping Musk. Ford originally teamed with EV upstart Rivian for an electric Lincoln SUV, but that has since been canceled. The company does, however, plan to launch an electric version of its Mustang later this year. Honda, meanwhile, tried to get its EV vehicles off the ground in the U.S., but has since killed its only offering, the Clarity EV, due to poor sales.

Most recently, GM struck a seemingly outrageous deal with zero-emissions vehicle maker Nikola, which short-selling firm Hindenburg has accused of being a fraud. …
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/amphtml/news/nikola-candal-proves-even-gm-will-do-anything-to-catch-tesla-193531338.html
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1897 on: September 26, 2020, 05:07:23 PM »
—- Win in Michigan!
Quote
James Chen (@JamesChenEsq) 9/25/20, 4:24 PM
Thanks to everyone that helped to shine a light on Michigan House Bill 6233 that would have shut Rivian sales and service (as well as those operations of other manufacturers) out of Michigan.
~ A broad cross section of consumer groups, manufacturers, interest groups and Michigan residents made their voices heard at the legislature.
...  [groups such as …]
~ Finally, I should note that the bill never made it to the House floor for consideration as the legislators heard the voice of Michiganders and EV supporters loud and clear! Thanks again!
https://twitter.com/jameschenesq/status/1309589651628396544


—- More on the BMW case
SEC charges BMW for misleading investors on US auto sales
Quote
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has pressed charges against German automaker BMW AG, along with its domestic subsidiaries BMW of North America (BMW NA) and BMW US Capital, for misleading investors on US auto sales numbers.

“BMW inflated its reported retail sales in the U.S., which helped BMW close the gap between its actual retail sales volume and internal targets and publicly maintain a leading retail sales position relative to other premium automotive companies,” the SEC press release reporting the charges detailed.

The agency’s investigation found that BWM NA maintained an internal “bank” of unreported retail vehicle sales to use as needed for meeting monthly sales targets irregardless of the actual sale date. Also, BMW NA was found to have paid dealers to designate vehicles as “demos” or “loaners” in order to inflate sales numbers. These practices amounted to material misstatements and omissions to investors. …
https://www.teslarati.com/bmw-lied-us-auto-sales-sec/amp/


—— About that California ICE-ban announcement:
   Just weird
Ford seemingly denies Tesla’s existence as it supports CA’s zero-emissions initiative
Quote
A recent press conference from California Governor Gavin Newsom proved to be quite interesting for the Tesla and electric car community. During his speech, where he praised California’s place as the leader in the United States’ electric vehicle movement, the governor dubbed veteran automaker Ford as the leader in the EV sector. Even more interestingly, the CA governor seemed almost intent to leave Tesla out when he was speaking about the state’s EV milestones.

The governor’s speech was shared on Twitter by Ford COO Jim Farley, who noted that the veteran carmaker is the only American automaker to stand behind California in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This statement promptly raised some eyebrows and sarcastic jokes from the online EV community, considering that Tesla, an all-American automaker, has been mass-producing zero-emissions cars in the state for years. The fact that there was a Model 3 parked beside a Ford Mustang Mach-E during the speech was just icing on the cake. …
https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-does-not-exist-ford-california-announcement/amp/

Ford Forgets About Tesla As It Supports CA & Talks Range, Charging, Speed
https://insideevs.com/news/445857/ford-ignores-tesla-makes-bold-false-claims/amp/


=======
—-  VW’s ID.4 reveal for the U.S. market was targeted at U.S. “soccer moms” who love their ICE SUVs and might accidentally go electric.
Quote
Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) 9/25/20, 6:13 PM
Love this genuine and unscripted moment from the Volkswagen ID.4 review [ ::) ]
why are there gas cars in an electric car reveal 
https://twitter.com/wholemarsblog/status/1309616950918524928
2 min vid clip

Volkswagen unveils the ID.4, its new all-electric SUV
Quote
With the ID 4, VW will be competing directly with Tesla, whose Model Y compact SUV was just released last year and retails for over $52,000. But VW says it’s really taking aim at a market segment that’s currently dominated by gas-powered vehicles, namely the compact SUV market that includes heavy hitters like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Nissan Rogue. “There is no electric car in this market,” Keogh said.

Volkswagen intends for the ID.4 to compete directly against those gasoline-powered SUVs. Volkswagen isn't just going after customers looking specifically for an electric vehicle, but for those looking for a small SUV in general, said Keogh. Among owners of small SUVs, 30% have said they will consider an electric model for their next purchase, he said.

““I think we’ve probably got [the ID 4] a few years sooner” because of Dieselgate, Keogh said ”
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/23/success/volkswagen-id-4-electric-suv-unveiled/index.html

Volkswagen introduces ID 4 electric SUV with 250 miles of range and a $40,000 price tag
Five years after Dieselgate, the automaker brings its first battery-electric vehicle to the US
https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/23/21444141/volkswagen-vw-id4-electric-suv-price-range-specs

=======
Overtaking the Renault Zoe in the rankings, which has dominated the European market for several months.
Tesla Model 3  becomes best-selling EV in Europe [in August]
September 25, 2020
Quote
The Tesla Model 3 has taken the top spot as the most popular electric vehicle in Europe in terms of sales for August. The most-affordable EV from Tesla overtook the Renault Zoe in the rankings, which has dominated the European market for several months.

According to a report from the EV Sales Blog, the Model 3 was delivered to 7,020 customers during August. This figure was enough to give it the top spot by a sizeable margin. The second-place Zoe from Renault sold 6,183 units, trailing the Model 3 by nearly 900 units.

The Ford Kuga PHEV, Hyundai Kona EV, and Mercedes A250e finished off the top 5 with 5,055, 4,054, and 3,505 units delivered…respectively. …
https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-3-best-selling-ev-europe-august-2020/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1898 on: September 26, 2020, 05:23:13 PM »
——- Tesla Battery Day fallout
Quote
Disruption Research (@DisruptResearch) 9/23/20, 11:05 PM
Reaction to Tesla battery day by a major Korean battery company insider:
“We wouldn’t have been so nervous if Tesla announced a pie-in-the-sky plan such as solid state batteries.
But what was announced looked like something they’re actually going to execute on, which is scary.”
https://twitter.com/disruptresearch/status/1308965825429172224

Quote
Steve LeVine (@stevelevine) 9/25/20, 11:03 AM
Much-overlooked, again from @sdmoores: Musk has made a gargantuan geopolitical play — to shift the vortex of the whole battery-making chain from China to the U.S. 
https://twitter.com/stevelevine/status/1309508822701150215
Graphic at the link.


“I know all you short sellers are gonna say ‘well everyone’s gonna do that!’. Well, they aren’t doing it” — Sandy Munro
https://twitter.com/wholemarsblog/status/1309558521252380673
:) Vid clip at the link.
full video here: ➡️youtube.com/watch?v=GkQga-mzO4Y

Experts Agree That After Tesla Battery Day "If You Are Designing An ICE Car, You're Screwed"
Quote
At 21:10 when they started to talk about the above slide, Sandy really lit up. Sandy said, “That slide is everything that says, if you are investing in ICE vehicles, you’re screwed”. He then went on to attribute this to vertical integration, a well-funded research and development center, and a free reign to be the best on the planet
https://www.torquenews.com/11681/experts-agree-after-tesla-battery-day-if-you-are-designing-ice-car-youre-screwed/amp
⬇️The slide below.

—-
Quote
Steve LeVine (@stevelevine) 9/25/20, 10:09 AM
There is a chasm of misunderstanding what happened on @elonmusk's Battery Day, stemming from a misunderstanding of the battery: Though he'll be typically late, Musk set a transformationally higher bar for the industry—the age of mass market electrics. 1/3
~ Going top-to-bottom through the lithium-ion battery and how it's made, Musk laid out how to reduce costs to $56/kWh, far below the $100 cost parity line with combustion. 2/3
~ If he can actually do it—which battery experts I spoke with treat as a fait accompli—Musk will force rival automakers and startups to wholly rethink their own EVs and batteries. At risk are lithium metal and silicon anode startups. GM and VW must go back to the drawing board. 3/3
https://twitter.com/stevelevine/status/1309495122434895874

What Everyone Got Wrong About Elon Musk’s Battery Day
Disappointed investors and analysts are missing what battery experts recognize as a transformative announcement
Quote
On Thursday, two days after the event, Venkat Viswanathan, a professor at Carnegie Mellon, said that he still had not fully digested all that Musk presented — and that it could require a phalanx of top battery experts to adequately analyze.

And what is that new bar? James Frith, head of energy storage at BloombergNEF, said that by his calculations, Musk was describing a new battery cost of about $56 per kWh. That is down from an average cost today of around $150 per kWh. (Tesla’s are currently lower, at $130.) He gets there by reconfiguring both electrodes, eliminating whole stages of manufacture, intensifying automation, mining metals more efficiently, tapering the length of supply lines, removing hundreds of parts from the EV, molding large sections of the vehicle as a single piece, and more.

“If he gets to $60, we can get well below $50 — maybe even $40,” he said. “Fifty dollars would be just transformational.” …
https://marker.medium.com/amp/p/eebbd33734a0

—-
The tail end of the Battery Day presentation was incredibly significant and foretells the final nail in the coffin of the traditional car industry based around fossil fuel propulsion.
Tesla’s $25,000 Electric Car Means Game Over For Gas And Oil.
Quote
Without much more than a single slide and a couple of sentences, Elon Musk delivered the punchline revealing where all the minor improvements up until that point in the presentation were leading. Numerically, it was a 56% reduction in battery costs. But then he explained that this would enable a $25,000 Tesla “with fully autonomous capability”. In atypical style for Musk, he didn’t make any bolder claims about what this car would be able to deliver, but we can read between the lines.

Musk infamously cancelled the Standard Range version of the Model Y, stating that under 250 miles EPA range was too low, and subsequently that 300 miles of EPA range was the “new normal”. From this we assume that the $25,000 car will have at least 300 miles of EPA range, which would mean well over 300 miles with the more frugal WLTP test. You can also be certain this car will be fast because there’s no such thing as a slow Tesla, so it will definitely do 0-60mph in under 6 seconds. There have already been rumors of Tesla planning a small hatchback / subcompact vehicle, with a design teased back in January, and this will likely be the format of the new car given the price.

The $25,000 tag doesn’t initially sound that impressive, when you can buy an internal combustion engine Toyota Corolla in the USA starting at under $20,000. But this isn’t the market the car will be aimed at. The Tesla Model 3 starts at just under $40,000 in the US, and was clearly aimed at the luxury mid-sized market epitomized by the BMW 3-series, which its sales have annihilated in the USA. The new $25,000 car – shall we call it the Model 2? Everyone else is – will be aimed at another European icon, the hugely popular VW Golf, which represents quality at an affordable price. You can pick one of those up for just over $23,000.

Which would you choose for $25,000 – a Tesla Model 2 EV or a VW Golf with a conventional fossil fuel engine? No longer will the argument hold that “I can’t buy the EV because it’s too expensive”, because they will be the same price. You could still say “300 miles is not enough to get me all the way from New York to Los Angeles or London to Edinburgh in one go”, but who really does that? In three years from now, recharging will be much more ubiquitous, too – and it’s hardly a trial for Tesla owners already. When you can buy an EV with over 300 miles of range that is faster and equipped with better technology than an internal combustion engine VW Golf, as well as being much cheaper to run, only groundless anti-electric prejudice will stop you. There won’t be any real reason to buy a car that runs on fuel derived from oil and gas anymore. …
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesmorris/2020/09/26/teslas-25000-electric-car-means-game-over-for-gas-and-oil/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25764
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1899 on: September 30, 2020, 06:27:28 PM »
Nikola news
Sept 30
Nikola announces “postponement” of Nikola World 2020. 
Releases statement confirming only “plans” and “expectations”:

Nikola Executing Strategy and Vision to Deliver Innovative Technology, Energy and Transportation Solutions
… Nikola expects the first batch of five prototypes of the Nikola Tre, a 100% battery-electric truck, will be substantially completed at our JV facility in Ulm, Germany in the next few weeks…. [The ones Trevor said were “rolling off the line right now.”]
… Nikola expects to begin testing production-engineered prototypes of its hydrogen fuel-cell powered semi-trucks for the medium- and long-haul trucking sectors, by the end of 2021….
… Nikola’s planned network of fueling stations are central to its business model and to advancing hydrogen fuel-cell based transportation…..
… Nikola continues to make progress on the development of its 1 million square-foot manufacturing facility in Coolidge, Arizona….
[No mention of the hydrogen fuel cell version of the Nikola Tre that their VP extolled in his video from the non-functional Tre cab a few days ago.]

And at the bottom of the lengthy press release:
Quote
Update on Nikola World:
Due to COVID-19 audience size restrictions at Arizona’s major venues, we have made the decision to reschedule an in-person Nikola World until we can bring the Nikola community together safely. Any tickets related to Nikola World will be refunded or held, based on the customer’s preference. We will continue to provide progress updates across our entire product portfolio.
https://nikolamotor.com/press_releases/nikola-executing-strategy-and-vision-to-deliver-innovative-technology-energy-and-transportation-solutions-98

I note that Trevor did only promise the keys to a Badger, not the truck itself, to the winner of that Twitter contest a few weeks ago.  Would be an embarrassing moment at Nikola World, though.
< Arizona approves larger crowds than 50 if additional precautions are met.
< Did people actually think this would happen?
< $nkla up 12% on the news that they have no product.

Nikola postpones forum where electric pickup was to debut
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2020/09/30/nikola-postpones-forum-where-electric-pickup-debut/3585670001/


=====
Nikola founder bought truck designs from third party
https://worldnewsera.com/news/finance/nikola-founder-bought-truck-designs-from-third-party/
The design he’s suing Tesla over.

—- Why the Nikola Two prototypes will remain in their parking lot:
Quote
Nikola Insider (@InsiderNikola) 9/28/20, 8:02 PM
So, let's talk about the Nikola Two. For those who don't know, that's the two trucks that they had Bosch design and build for them a couple of years ago. It's their ace in the hole--a truck that runs! We've all seen videos of it limping around the parking lot.
Please read on...
https://twitter.com/insidernikola/status/1310731763728015360
~ So, the Nikola Two does run. But does it run well? No. In one of Trevor's most brazen and bizarre lies, he claimed that it could do 0-60 in under five seconds, when anyone could see it took at least 10 seconds. Trevor deleted the video, but here it is:
 
Nikola Two Going “0-60 in Under 5 Seconds” - YouTube  [~15 sec cell phone vid from back seat of the truck.]
➡️https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSiWPNe2llU
 
~ When people called him out his responses were bizarre. He claimed that the ten seconds was from 0 to 60 then back to 0 even though the video plainly contradicts this. He promised that an edited video would somehow clarify what everyone could see themselves (that video never came)
~ So does this matter? Or is it just another one of Trevor's hijinks that you just have to shake your head at? I would argue that this is really important, and gets to the core of what went wrong with Nikola. This will get a little technical but bear with me. …
Thread discusses subpar substitutions made to batteries and fuel cells to the original Bosch design.

—-
Nikola Founder Milton’s Fall Reveals What His Backers Feared
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-28/nikola-founder-milton-s-fall-reveals-what-his-backers-feared?sref=6pMuDGj6

——
Worthington got a Nikola stock sale lockout agreement that was months shorter than other investors. And they sold the maximum amount of shares the first moments they could, during the hype and runup last spring and summer.  The most suspicious thing is, they had had prior business dealings with Trevor Milton — which turned out very badly.  So, red flags abound.
This Single Shareholder Made $488 Million from Nikola (NKLA) Shares
➡️https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI1XDH9cdIs
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.