G. David Felt

After the Olds Station Wagon, the family went Suburban's and has never really looked back.

Energy

As to why there is variety. Course everyone has their own tastes, that is why a Multi-Cultural society is so great due to variety. Glad you love your Ford and are liking the Ford trucks. Keep everyone working is the goal. Excited to see the EV F-150. Yes, Interesting times for sure. Be interesting to see how this plays out. 2035 is 15 years away, so none of us know what all could happen globally. Covid-19, it seems is going to stick around for a few years and based on vaccination rates, I see it taking till 2023 to get the globe back to a semi normal life, but still not back to what it was before the virus hit.

The Drive as well as a few other web sites that have a difference access to the Tesla configuration site see's that you will have both steering wheel styles as options. They do state that they think many will not want the Playstations / XBOX rectangle steering wheel. Tesla Site Code Shows Refreshed Model S with a Regular Old Steering Wheel, Not a Yoke (thedrive.com)

That was the weird part is that the black edition was only allowing you to configure it up with the Diesel when I was on there earlier today. ?

I have to say that right now, I was loving the RAM for looks over Ford or GM options especially the butt ugly Chevrolet pickup. Yet then GM launches the 2021 HD Denali Black edition and I have to say this is HOT! Wish you could get it without the Diesel, but still this is now the best looking truck out there I think for the GM, Ford and Ram. Only draw back for me is that the interior while nice, looks so dated.

Ford Corporation has released their new Marketing Campaign of "Club Quarantine" with DJ D-NICE and the Launch of the 2021 F-150. Quote: A “Work It Out” 30-second television spot airs today on OWN, BET and TV One. It features D-Nice driving to a gig in a 2021 F-150 filled with DJ equipment. Respecting social distancing rules and his responsibilities toward masking up, D-Nice brings the party to the partygoers, utilizing the truck’s available Pro Power Onboard™ to run his equipment. Ford Launches 2021 F-150 with New Lifestyle Campaign Featuring ‘Club Quarantine’ DJ D-Nice | Ford Media Center

Ford Motor Company has announced that they are starting production of the Ford Mach-E in China for local sales only. The Ford Mach-E will go on sales fall 2021. Per the Press release link below, Ford will invest $11.5 Billion for 2021 and 2022 for EV development. Ford to Manufacture Mustang Mach-E in China for Local Customers | Ford Media Center

GM has released their plans to be Carbon Neutral by 2040 and this will come by eliminating tail-pipe emissions by 2035. As such this pretty much says that Chevrolet and GMC Gas / Diesel powered trucks / SUVs will be gone by 2035. QUOTE: Electrification The use of GM’s products accounts for 75 percent of carbon emissions related to this commitment. GM will offer 30 all-electric models globally by mid-decade and 40 percent of the company’s U.S. models offered will be battery electric vehicles by the end of 2025. GM is investing $27 billion in electric and autonomous vehicles in the next five years – up from the $20 billion planned before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Renewable Energy To address emissions from its own operations, GM will source 100 percent renewable energy to power its U.S. sites by 2030 and global sites by 2035, which represents a five-year acceleration of the company’s previously announced global goal. Today, GM is the 10th largest offtaker of renewable energy in the world and in 2020, the company received a 2020 Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. General Motors, the Largest U.S. Automaker, Plans to be Carbon Neutral by 2040 (gm.com)

Very Cool 1,800W, 60V electric Mountain Bike. The bike has a 24.5 Ah battery. The bike uses RockShox fork up front with a 29" wheel for better attack angle and traction, but a 27.5" tire in back for better acceleration and torque.

Fueling auto's

Ahead of the arrival of AWESOME EV Trucks, Diesel sales have surged. In 2020 Diesel truck sales jumped 28% as overall new auto sales declined 14%. The latest report shoes that for 2019 and 2020 5 of the top 10 non-gasoline auto's were diesels. The number one top sales was the Tesla Y CUV. In the drive to boost fuel efficiency, auto makers in the US have resorted to using diesel and it will be interesting to see if this is blunted by the arrival of electric trucks this fall. Currently there are 13 diesel options for light-duty and heavy-duty pickups and 12 diesel options for SUV's. Just before arrival of electric trucks, diesel sales are surging (greencarreports.com)

I did find it interesting that now that GM has shown their 1,000HP Tri-motor setup for the Hummer, Tesla had to change their Plaid plans for the dual motor system and went Tri-motor. GM has stated that their Ultium battery system can easily hit 600 miles depending on configuration. Full size trucks and SUVs will have that option.

Perfect description of the current ICE CUV / Car mess. Thank you for confirming what we already have minus the cleaner air, home fueling versus running out to a cold gas station, etc.

Torture

Tesla Released their updated Tesla S luxury sedan today with the new Plaid Power Train. Tesla S now has the longest range battery pack at 520 miles. Tesla S now has a top of the line performance Plaid + package that will have 1,100HP with a 1.99 second zero to 60 mph and a tri-motor powertrain. Tesla Model X is expected to come out in April. Tesla showed off their new interior design. IMHO not that impressed with their updated look. Tesla Model S refreshed with a radically redesigned interior and 520-mile range - Roadshow (cnet.com) Tesla Shows New Model S, with Version Offering 520 Miles of Range (caranddriver.com)

Gotta start some place to get the info out so companies can plan. Lordstown Motors did say while they introduced a crew cab pickup starting at $52,500 that stripped basic work trucks would cost considerably less. Maybe if you go plastic floor, plastic seats and minimize electronic stuff like door locks and windows they are thinking $30K per truck? ? ?‍♂️

Great to see ya back Dwight! Loved the probes, was a cool Ford/Mazda car.

Global EV sales in 2020 3.2 million sales. Charged EVs | Global plug-in vehicle sales surpassed 3.2 million in 2020 - Charged EVs

I am NOT Going Political, focus on the Auto portion of this please. The Biden administration made a Major change this week on Monday to the Buy America executive order. Something no other president has done to date, in fact this portion has not changed since 1954 which is what Defines Goods and Services. Auto's MUST have a minimum of 50% of the auto components made in America from the raw materials to the final component. President Biden via executive order has laid out a long term plan to replace all 645,000 federal vehicles with net-zero emission auto's Made in the USA! Components must be a minimum of 50% from raw material to final assembled component made in the US and the auto must be assembled in the US. This is open to all auto companies from around the world, but must adhere to the Made in the USA requirements. The executive order points to replacing existing federal trucks with electric from Ford, Rivian, Tesla and GM. One question that is unanswered is how Canada will fit into this equation since GM has committed to the city and unions in changing over this year the plant that builds the Chevrolet Equinox to be the assembly point for BrightDrop EV600 delivery van. The federal government does have a large Van pool that is used to move packages and mail between the various federal buildings especially in DC. To clarify this executive order will now require the Window sticker on vehicles using the American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA) which places a greater mathematical weight on the domestic content calculation on components that are more expensive and labor-intensive in being required to be followed. Currently the AALA shows that the Tesla Model S and Model 3 have the highest Domestic content under tally. This will also help to clarify where the auto is made and just how much is truly built in North America / USA. To clarify, this also will include the 173,000 military vehicles which GM has submitted a Hydrogen solution on their mid size trucks that has been posted here in the past. This also will cover and defines the 225,000 USPS vehicles. Currently just the USPS and Military consume 375 million gallons of gas and Diesel a year at an annual fuel cost of $4.4 Billion dollars. According to one estimate from the government GSA or General Services Administration, this will cost about $20 billion to replace the vehicles. One interesting note is the average age of the USPS delivery auto is 28 years old. GSA has stated this is a long over due update to the USPS that will enhance tax payer cost savings in the long run. Current USPS delivery auto's have no airbags, no anti-lock brakes and no air conditioning in addition to many things that are no longer used by any other auto's in the industry driving up maintenance costs to be higher than any other federal auto maintenance program. American-made and all-electric: Biden plots out the future for the federal vehicle fleet (greencarreports.com) Charged EVs | President Biden announces plan to update federal vehicle fleet with US-made EVs - Charged EVs

GM and Navistar are getting in bed together to build 2,000 Class 8 Semi Trucks. This will create additional jobs as GM ramps up production. GM has also stated that the HydroTEC Fuel Cell Power Cubes are a perfect fit for use in a wide range of applications from Marine to earth-moving and mining equipment as well as Locomotives and power generators. The current Power Cell is good for 500 miles of heavy load use with a refueling time of 15 minutes. This allows for the use in both short and long haul applications. GM states they will have additional announcements coming. GM to Supply Navistar With Hydrotec Fuel Cell Power Cubes for Electric Vehicles UPDATE - Forbes has a story too, this will not affect the arrangement to supply Power Cell Cubes and motors to Nikola for their Hydrogen truck. Hydrogen Truck Convoy: GM, Navistar Form Fuel Cell Alliance (forbes.com) Navistar has recently undergone a restructuring and is focusing on becoming a global leader in Hydrogen and EV based commercial trucks. The Hydrogen Class 8 Semi trucks will go on sale as a 2024 model in 2023. Currently they are rebuilding an existing Diesel assembly line into a Hydrogen truck assembly line and will move forward with in depth testing of the production mules using the GM Fuel Cell. Navistar Collaborates with General Motors And OneH2 To Launch Hydrogen Truck Ecosystem - Jan 27, 2021 To quote Navistar News Release: Under its partnership agreement with Navistar, OneH2 will supply its hydrogen fueling solution, which includes hydrogen production, storage, delivery and safety. In addition, Navistar is taking a minority stake in OneH2. Through its affiliates, OneH2 plans to kickstart substantial hydrogen heavy truck refueling infrastructure by incorporating more than 2,000 International® RH™ Series FCEVs into existing truck fleets in the near term. "We're excited about the opportunity to partner with Navistar," said Paul Dawson, OneH2 president and CEO. "We believe strongly that hydrogen fuel is the future of zero- emission renewable energy in the heavy truck market, and are pleased that this agreement will provide additional scope for its application. Under this agreement, we will be able to offer fleets a zero-emission truck with total cost of operation lower than diesel in key segments of the industry." These newly announced collaborations with General Motors and OneH2 represent important milestones in Navistar's phased development of hydrogen fuel cell solutions. These technologies leverage Navistar's battery electric vehicle platforms and provide the customer with a single-source, fully integrated zero-emission solution that includes vehicles, fueling and service.

Very first auto I drove was our 1970 Mercury Station wagon.

@William Maley Is that Sport Mode or a Sport Model if you want less body roll? In regards to the body roll, is it like the older Cadillacs and Lincolns of the 70's to 90's being a cushy lux cruiser so body roll was expected? Is the adaptive suspension like the Magna ride of Cadillac or just a quick responding traditional shock suspension? Rear door looks much longer than the front, does this equate to more leg room inside or just an easier time getting in and out? How was the tactile feel of the knobs and buttons?

Linus

Public Transit buses seem to be just as stinky if they are older ones. Never a fan of the Diesel bus, yet I acknowledge the need for public transit and school buses. We just need to move to cleaner safer buses over todays dinosaur model.