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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #600 on: October 01, 2015, 12:07:31 AM »
And here is a link to the 30-minute video (from Tesla cameras, not someone's cell phone :) ) of the Model X launch/presentation last night.

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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #601 on: October 01, 2015, 03:55:17 PM »
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #602 on: October 01, 2015, 04:05:20 PM »
How to address one of the "problems" with electric vehicles.   ;D

Quote
@_youhadonejob: Wtf? ...
http://t.co/aFqMmkIZWJ

https://twitter.com/_youhadonejob/status/649517400812032000
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #603 on: October 05, 2015, 03:27:41 AM »
The National Park Service has been struggling with the problem of pollution inside national parks for decades.  Great Smoky Mountains National Park recently added EV charging, and cleaner vehicles for its own use.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Gets EV Charging
http://pluginsites.org/great-smoky-mountains-national-park-gets-ev-charging/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #604 on: October 06, 2015, 03:31:29 AM »
European Makers: NOx Limits Must Rise For Real-World Emissions Tests
Automakers "cannot meet pollution regulations when cars are taken out of testing laboratories."
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1100332_european-makers-nox-limits-must-rise-for-real-world-emissions-tests
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #605 on: October 06, 2015, 11:51:34 PM »
VW Diesel Emission Scandal: Five Possible Long-Range Effects
Quote
A struggling brand, with the wrong product mix, minimal electrification technology, and a new reputation for deliberately flouting the law of the land has a tough road ahead of it.
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1100346_vw-diesel-emission-scandal-five-possible-long-range-effects
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #606 on: October 07, 2015, 01:21:30 AM »
U.S. House Panel Prepares to Press VW on Cheating Timeline
Quote
The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday disclosed its own investigation into whether Volkswagen lied to the U.S. government in certifying its diesel vehicles as eligible for alternative motor vehicle tax credits, which are used to develop the market for higher-cost, less polluting cars.
Volkswagen’s 2009 Jetta TDI Sedan and SportWagen models qualified for $1,300 per vehicle tax credits, and several 2010 models were later certified as eligible, Senators Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, and Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, said in a letter to VW executives on Tuesday. More than $50 million in subsidies went to the cars’ buyers, they said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-06/u-s-house-panel-prepares-grill-volkswagen-on-cheating-timeline
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #607 on: October 09, 2015, 11:21:04 PM »
Quebec to expands electric transport program with $420 million over 5 years
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The funds will finance the provincial program to offer up to $8,000 in rebates at the purchase of electric vehicles.

The new plan includes an EV infrastructure aspect. Quebec will install 785 public charging stations including 60 DC fast-charging stations in the province. They will also encourage businesses to install charging stations for employees. The government currently offer a rebate up to 75% of the cost to install charging stations for business owners.
...
99% of electricity generation in Quebec come from renewable sources, thanks to inexpensive hydro-electricity, making the province an ideal market for electric transport. The program should go a long way in helping kick-start the industry in the province.
http://electrek.co/2015/10/09/quebec-to-expands-electric-transport-program-with-420-million-over-5-years/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #608 on: October 12, 2015, 09:59:08 PM »
Tesla Model X SUV Qualifies For $25K 'HUMMER Tax Break' in the U.S.  8)

For business equipment, any vehicle weighing more than 6,000 pounds that is "an integral part of ... furnishing transportation."
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1100416_tesla-model-x-suv-qualifies-for-25k-hummer-tax-break
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #609 on: October 13, 2015, 02:20:32 PM »
In the U.S.:  How Will VW Fix My Diesel Car, And When? A List Of All Models
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1100400_how-will-vw-fix-my-diesel-car-and-when-a-list-of-all-models
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #610 on: October 13, 2015, 03:54:35 PM »
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ritter

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #611 on: October 13, 2015, 08:32:05 PM »
VW To Focus On Electric, Plug-In Hybrid Tech, Slash Spending Due To Diesel Scandal
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1100444_vw-to-focus-on-electric-plug-in-hybrid-tech-slash-spending-due-to-diesel-scandal

So.... I'm just supposed to drive my TDI for another year or so until VW gets around to fixing it? I sent correspondence to VW customer "care" 2.5 weeks ago. Still no response, not even an automated one.

ritter

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #612 on: October 13, 2015, 08:41:09 PM »
VW To Focus On Electric, Plug-In Hybrid Tech, Slash Spending Due To Diesel Scandal
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1100444_vw-to-focus-on-electric-plug-in-hybrid-tech-slash-spending-due-to-diesel-scandal

So.... I'm just supposed to drive my TDI for another year or so until VW gets around to fixing it? I sent correspondence to VW customer "care" 2.5 weeks ago. Still no response, not even an automated one. It's really frustrating.

Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #613 on: October 13, 2015, 09:17:21 PM »
So.... I'm just supposed to drive my TDI for another year or so until VW gets around to fixing it? I sent correspondence to VW customer "care" 2.5 weeks ago. Still no response, not even an automated one. It's really frustrating.
Begs the question as to what "safe to drive" really means.  :o
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #614 on: October 13, 2015, 09:51:35 PM »
Aston Martin Seeks `Beauty and Soul’ in All-Electric Sports Cars
Quote
“We’re a V-12 engine company,” the executive said, referring to the engines used in Aston Martin cars. “Project that into the future. Do I go the way of the rest of the industry and downsize the engine? Do I see Aston Martin with a three cylinder engine? God forbid.”
...
Palmer said Aston Martin will remain a maker of luxury sports cars, avoiding competition with Elon Musk’s Tesla Motors Inc., which makes all-electric sports cars. The Aston Martin executive’s impression is that Musk will increasingly target the middle-market with more affordable cars. Palmer said he wants to avoid anything “vanilla in the middle.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-12/aston-martin-seeks-beauty-and-soul-in-all-electric-sports-cars
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ritter

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #615 on: October 13, 2015, 10:25:55 PM »
So.... I'm just supposed to drive my TDI for another year or so until VW gets around to fixing it? I sent correspondence to VW customer "care" 2.5 weeks ago. Still no response, not even an automated one. It's really frustrating.
Begs the question as to what "safe to drive" really means.  :o
No kidding. What's a little more smog between friends, right? It's only a little respiratory failure....

New lawsuit filed for Californians requiring VW do a buyback since it can't correct the emissions in any timely way. I guess I'll see where this goes. As an environmental professional and conscious citizen, this sucks NOx.
http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-volkswagen-diesel-buyback-lawsuit-20151012-story.html

Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #616 on: October 15, 2015, 04:21:02 AM »
The audio is rather choppy and somewhat hard to follow, but if you are curious about the Tesla autopilot system, there is a wealth of information in the linked audio presentation from Elon Musk.  The Tesla system apparently is unique in that each car uploads driving data, allowing all the cars to "learn" from each other and improve over time (about one million miles of experience a day) -- down to lane changes and parking lot flow.

Tesla reveals all the details of its ‘Autopilot’ and its software v7.0 [slide presentation and audio conference]
http://electrek.co/2015/10/14/tesla-reveals-all-the-details-of-its-autopilot-and-its-software-v7-0-slide-presentation-and-audio-conference/

Edit: And an article by a driver describing his experience with the new system:
http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/14/Tesla-autosteer-drive/
« Last Edit: October 15, 2015, 04:37:42 AM by Sigmetnow »
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #617 on: October 15, 2015, 04:17:57 PM »
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #618 on: October 15, 2015, 04:50:42 PM »
“We intend to be leaders in this disruptive technology.”

Ontario opens its roads to self-driving car testing
http://electrek.co/2015/10/15/ontario-opens-its-roads-to-self-driving-car-testing-google-tesla-obvious-candidates/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #619 on: October 15, 2015, 05:32:35 PM »
VW Will Recall 8.5 Million Rigged Diesels After German Hard Line
Quote
Volkswagen AG will embark on one of the biggest recalls in European automotive history, affecting 8.5 million vehicles, after German authorities threw out the carmaker’s proposal for voluntary repairs.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-15/vw-faces-mandatory-recall-in-germany-over-diesel-cheating
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #620 on: October 15, 2015, 06:09:01 PM »
Russia takes the egg-before-chicken approach, developing charging infrastructure while EVs are still scarce.

Public chargers going online in Moscow, nationwide network planned
https://chargedevs.com/newswire/public-chargers-going-online-in-moscow-nationwide-network-planned/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #621 on: October 15, 2015, 06:28:00 PM »
Not because it is new or improved....

Why is Ford suddenly advertising its Focus Electric after 3 years?
https://chargedevs.com/newswire/why-is-ford-suddenly-advertising-its-focus-electric-after-3-years/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #622 on: October 16, 2015, 02:12:59 AM »
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #623 on: October 17, 2015, 02:26:42 AM »
Tesla CTO: We’ve shifted core focus to Model 3, majority of employees now working on mass production of $35,000 vehicle
http://electrek.co/2015/10/16/tesla-cto-weve-shifted-core-focus-to-model-3-majority-of-employees-now-working-on-mass-production-of-35000-vehicle/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #624 on: October 17, 2015, 03:52:01 AM »
More problems with VWs:  Previously undisclosed software "apparently serves to warm up some portion of the exhaust emission treatment system, a function that must be disclosed to the EPA so it can be evaluated and, if necessary, tested."

EPA: 'Long List' Of Questions On New VW Diesel Software Feature
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1100459_epa-long-list-of-questions-on-new-vw-diesel-software-feature
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silkman

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #625 on: October 17, 2015, 09:42:03 AM »
Dodgy dealing at Porsche too it seems:

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/environment/article4588545.ece

The full Times article is behind a pay wall but the gist is that Porsche secretly put a software delay into the throttle system at 30mph to ensure that the cars met noise pollution requirements.

The result, according to the anedotal reporting in the article, was a 2.5 second delay to the car's acceleration on overtaking from 30mph, causing a risk of collision and, clearly, enormous loss of face for the purchaser of a £50k vehicle who paid the price precisely to perform this sort of manoeuvre.

Another example of industrial arrogance in the face of environmental legislation it seems and more damage to the reputation of VW.


Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #626 on: October 17, 2015, 11:33:17 PM »
VW Diesel Acceleration, Fuel Economy Fall Without 'Cheat Mode'
Consumer Reports figured out how to keep a pair of Volkswagen Jetta TDI models in their "emission-test mode" while the cars were being driven on the road, to determine how the cars might perform without "cheat mode."
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1100425_vw-diesel-acceleration-fuel-economy-fall-without-cheat-mode-video
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #627 on: October 19, 2015, 04:59:50 PM »
France Expands Electric-Car Bonus To Scrap 10-Year-Old Diesel Cars
Quote
Efforts to limit the number of diesel cars on French roads a represent a reversal of a decades-long policy of encouraging them.

In the 1960s, the French government and auto industry made the decision to move to diesel because of its superior fuel economy.

Now, France is paying for that choice in the form of high levels harmful particulate matter and other pollutants from diesel exhaust.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1100428_france-expands-electric-car-bonus-to-scrap-10-year-old-diesel-cars
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #628 on: October 19, 2015, 05:05:41 PM »
China proposes “game-changing” goals for EV charging infrastructure
Quote
The Chinese government has proposed an ambitious plan to improve the country’s EV charging infrastructure. The new strategy, announced in September by the State Council, envisions a charging infrastructure capable of supporting up to 5 million EVs by 2020.

Market analysis firm CCM estimates that the program, which calls for 12,000 public charging stations and 4.5 million charging points, will require an investment of up to 120 billion renminbi ($19 billion), and calls it a “game-changer” for the country’s EV market.
https://chargedevs.com/newswire/china-proposes-game-changing-goals-for-ev-charging-infrastructure/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #629 on: October 19, 2015, 09:47:50 PM »
The Bavarian Police is now using all-electric BMW i3’s as police vehicles [Picture Gallery]
http://electrek.co/2015/10/19/the-bavarian-police-is-now-using-all-electric-bmw-i3s-as-police-vehicles-picture-gallery/
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Neven

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #630 on: October 22, 2015, 12:31:28 AM »
Coincidentally, I came across this article:

Quote
Tesla Reliability Doesn’t Match Its High Performance

Tesla Motors’ all-electric Model S sedan got high marks in Consumer Reports’ 50-plus tests involving driving dynamics and livability, and it consumed energy at the electric equivalent of 84 miles per gallon (87 MPGe in the P85D trim). It’s the best-performing car we’ve ever tested.

But its predicted reliability is another matter.

As part of our Annual Auto Reliability Survey, we received about 1,400 survey responses from Model S owners who chronicled an array of detailed and complicated maladies. From that data we forecast that owning that Tesla is likely to involve a worse-than-average overall problem rate. That’s a step down from last year’s “average” prediction for the Model S. It also means the Model S does not receive Consumer Reports’ recommended designation. (To be recommended, a vehicle has to meet stringent testing, reliability, and safety standards, including having average or better predicted reliability.)

The main problem areas involved the drivetrain, power equipment, charging equipment, giant iPad-like center console, and body and sunroof squeaks, rattles, and leaks.

Specific areas that scored worse on the 2015 model, compared with the 2014 model in last year’s survey, were the climate control, steering, and suspension systems. Complaints about the drive system have also increased as the cars have aged—specifically for the 2013 model, which was the car’s first full model year. (See more details on the Tesla Model S model page.)

But those problems mostly still fall under Tesla’s four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty (and eight-year/unlimited mileage battery and drivetrain warranty), so they are generally being corrected at no cost to owners.
This is what I mean when I say I don't like those hyper-high-tech EVs. There's simply too much risk of planned obsolescence built in. An EV only makes sense if it's simple and sturdy and long-living. Otherwise it's just like a printer, built to break. And that kind of corporate thinking is a huge part of the predicament.
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #631 on: October 22, 2015, 01:30:34 AM »
Yes, complexity means more things that can go wrong.  But the Tesla is a new design, from a new company.  Their new patents are ushering in updated technology for a new era.  Given that they are not playing it safe by using existing technology, I think a "break-in"/learning period is to be expected, and doesn't mean the product was designed to fail.

These early Tesla owners know the car is on the leading edge -- and Tesla knows it must be ready to respond to problems.  This doesn't feel like "planned obsolescence" to me:
Quote
Consumer Reports also found that customers rate Tesla service and loyalty as the best in the world. Close communication with our customers enables Tesla to receive input, proactively address issues, and quickly fix problems. Over-the-air software updates allow Tesla to diagnose and fix most bugs without the need to come in for service. In instances when hardware needs to be fixed, we strive to make it painless.

Quote
Despite the problems, our data show that Tesla owner satisfaction is still very high: Ninety-seven percent of owners said they would definitely buy their car again.

Neven, I can see you value simplicity and dependability.  :)  EVs will get there!  But the first of anything has the toughest job -- and the most to prove.
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Neven

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #632 on: October 22, 2015, 01:35:51 AM »
Yes, that's also true. There's just a lot of stuff that can break in this luxurious versions. Hopefully the Model S will have to be so price-competitive that they leave out a lot of the unnecessary Schnickschnack.
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Sigmetnow

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« Reply #633 on: October 22, 2015, 02:05:07 AM »
Oh, and here's another point:
Quote
@elonmusk: Consumer Reports reliability survey includes a lot of early production cars. Already addressed in new cars.

Quote
@bonnienorman: @elonmusk Many owners have bought a 2nd & then 3rd Tesla--it's clear reliability improved. Customers vote with dollars :)

Quote
@elonmusk: Tesla gets top rating of any company in service. Most important, CR says 97% of owners expect their next car to be a Tesla (the acid test).
« Last Edit: October 22, 2015, 03:10:33 AM by Sigmetnow »
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #634 on: October 22, 2015, 03:08:39 AM »
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Laurent

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #635 on: October 22, 2015, 11:33:01 AM »
World Solar Challenge: Dutch university Delft wins race in Australia
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-34600540
Quote
A team from Delft University in the Netherlands has won a solar car race in the Australian outback.

The university's Nuon Solar Team was the first to arrive at the finish line in Adelaide. The 3,000km (1,800 mile) race took four days to complete.

The race, which happens once every two years, started on Sunday in Darwin.

Nearly 50 teams from universities and schools around the world took part. Delft University had also won the last challenge in 2013.

The World Solar Challenge is aimed at promoting research on solar-powered cars which could become a consumer product one day.

See also for more photos : http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/gallery/2015/oct/22/world-solar-challenge-australian-electric-car-race-charges-ahead-in-pictures
« Last Edit: October 22, 2015, 11:49:53 AM by Laurent »

Laurent

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« Reply #636 on: October 22, 2015, 11:42:38 AM »
What I learnt from a month cycling in the Netherlands
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2015/oct/22/what-i-learnt-from-a-month-cycling-in-the-netherlands

Thought it is about bicycles, there is a lesson for cars...I do think it is very important :
Quote
Another important factor contributing towards the safety enjoyed by Dutch cyclists, is the country’s strict liability laws – in a collision between a faster, larger vehicle and a slower, more vulnerable one, the former is found liable by default, unless its driver can prove otherwise. Those on foot are protected from cyclists and both are protected from motor vehicles. You can sense the respect drivers of motor vehicles give cyclists, and in a month I experienced none of the near misses, or aggressive driving that are almost a daily occurrence in London.

Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #637 on: October 23, 2015, 01:28:07 PM »
Elon Musk says Tesla will have production capacity in China within 2 years. The timeline matches the company’s planned release of its mass volume $35,000 car, the Model 3.
http://electrek.co/2015/10/23/elon-musk-says-tesla-will-have-a-factory-in-china-within-2-years-to-satisfy-local-demand-for-the-model-3/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #638 on: October 23, 2015, 09:52:41 PM »
U.K. survey:  81 percent of 14-year-olds said they plan to make the first car they buy an electric car.  The survey respondents also felt that lowering carbon emissions should be an important consideration in vehicle purchases.
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1100611_younger-car-buyers-in-u-k-want-electric-cars-far-more-than-older
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #639 on: October 24, 2015, 02:13:37 AM »
Tesla argues the auto lobby effectively delayed fuel economy improvements in the U.S. by about 20 years; says current clean car volume requirements in California should be quadrupled.
http://electrek.co/2015/10/23/tesla-argues-the-auto-lobby-effectively-delayed-fuel-economy-improvements-in-the-u-s-by-about-20-years/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #640 on: October 24, 2015, 12:37:58 PM »
Volkswagen Diesel Car Scandal Causing Surge In EV Interest, According To British Car Leasing Company
Quote
We’ve seen enquiries for electric cars go through the roof in recent weeks,” stated Flexed.co.uk representative Mark Hall, “Petrol and diesel cars just aren’t getting a look in.”

Interestingly, the surge seems to pertain mostly to pure all-electric vehicles rather than to plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). PHEVs have reportedly remained largely unchanged.

“There seems to be a wave of disgust at Volkwagen over the emissions scandal, and it’s driving customers away from petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars, no matter what the make.”
http://evobsession.com/volkswagen-diesel-car-scandal-causing-surge-in-ev-interest-according-to-british-car-leasing-company/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #641 on: October 24, 2015, 12:51:21 PM »
In California, Electric Cars Outpace Plugs, and Sparks Fly -- but They Shouldn’t
http://www.evconnect.com/ev-connect-blog/in-california-electric-cars-outpace-plugs-and-sparks-fly/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #642 on: October 24, 2015, 01:42:20 PM »
Volvo to produce an EV by 2019
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“We believe that the time has come for electrified cars to cease being a niche technology and enter the mainstream,” said Volvo Cars CEO Håkan Samuelsson. “We are confident that in two years’ time, 10 percent of Volvo’s global sales will be electrified cars.”
https://chargedevs.com/newswire/volvo-to-produce-an-ev-by-2019/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #643 on: October 27, 2015, 04:47:43 PM »
Reducing delivery truck mileage?
Amazon, Google, and now Walmart foresee using small drones to deliver packages to customers.

Quote
"Drones have a lot of potential to further connect our vast network of stores, distribution centers, fulfillment centers and transportation fleet," he said. "There is a Walmart within five miles of 70 percent of the U.S. population, which creates some unique and interesting possibilities for serving customers with drones."
Article and video:
http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/wal-mart-seeks-test-drones-home-delivery-pickup-n451746
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #644 on: October 27, 2015, 08:56:07 PM »
Cars To Vanish From Downtown Oslo Before 2020
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Norway's capital, Oslo, may ban most people from driving their cars--electric or otherwise--into the city center by 2020, according to The Independent (via Autoblog).

"We want to have a car-free center," Lan Marie Nguyen Berg, the lead negotiator for the Norwegian Green Party in Oslo, told reporters last week.

The plan is reportedly endorsed by all three of the political parties that make up Oslo's city council: the Green Party, the Labor Party, and the Socialist Left.
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1100628_cars-to-vanish-from-downtown-oslo-before-2020?fbfanpage
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #645 on: October 30, 2015, 05:29:16 PM »
The Autopilot is learning fast: Model S owners are already reporting that Tesla’s Autopilot is self-improving.
http://electrek.co/2015/10/30/the-autopilot-is-learning-fast-model-s-owners-are-already-reporting-that-teslas-autopilot-is-self-improving/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #646 on: October 30, 2015, 11:59:06 PM »
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #647 on: October 31, 2015, 12:24:59 AM »
Volkswagen's Excess Emissions Will Kill 59 Americans: Study
An MIT and Harvard study is the first peer-reviewed estimate of the health impacts of Volkswagen's faulty software code.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-30/volkswagen-s-excess-emissions-will-kill-59-americans-study

Image:  "Where VW's Pollution Is Worst" [in the U.S. -- in Europe it is much worse.]
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Sigmetnow

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #648 on: November 02, 2015, 09:57:23 PM »
EPA says:  VW Diesel V-6 Engines Used By Audi, Porsche Have Cheat Software Too
Quote
The vehicles affected are the 2014 Volkswagen Touareg TDI, the 2015 Porsche Cayenne Diesel, and five 2016 Audi models: The A6, A8, and A8L TDI sedans; the A7 TDI hatchback; and the Q5 TDI sport utility vehicle.

About 10,000 diesel luxury vehicles from the 2014 through 2016 model years are affected, according to the EPA and the California Air Resources Board, which also took part in the announcement.
...
Unsold 2015 and 2016 vehicles will likely be subject to an immediate stop-sale order, meaning that dealerships will have to take both new and used models off sale until a fix can be developed, tested, approved, and installed--a process that could take many months.

Additional fines--beyond those due for the 482,000 diesel vehicles with the 2.0-liter TDI diesel engine that was identified six weeks ago--could total as much as $375 million.
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1100717_vw-diesel-v-6-engines-used-by-audi-porsche-have-cheat-software-too-epa
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ritter

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Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....
« Reply #649 on: November 02, 2015, 10:27:16 PM »
Volkswagen's Excess Emissions Will Kill 59 Americans:

But their FAQ page says it's perfectly safe to keep driving them.  ???

(unless you have an impaired respiratory system...)