G. David Felt

@Drew Dowdell @Robert Hall Very cool here as Porsche retrofits older cars with Carplay. Porsche brings CarPlay to older models with new upgrades | AppleInsider Seems Carplay 2.0 is coming to Porsche and Aston Martin this year. Apple CarPlay 2.0 confirmed for 2024 as iOS 17.4 reveals a ton of features — here's everything it can do | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

Have to say that this story is spot on. Where am I going to charge my EV? The answer can be frustrating. (usatoday.com)

Very interesting, style wise it is nice, but the engine is just not my cup of tea. I wonder when Buick will get their first EV.

Lets not forget the Truck recalls they did January 3rd. Ford F-150 recall: 112,965 pickup trucks recalled for roll away risk | CNN Business Ford is not helping themselves with leading the recalls.

I thought of that, but Europe has stricter emissions than us now so I have to question that. It really would be interesting to hear from VW why the difference.

? This makes no sense to me as to why the European version gets the extra horsepower and not the US where you find far more higher horsepower autos than in Europe. I just do not understand VWs logic on this.

Doubt it as GM has made it very clear that the resources $$$ would have to be pulled away from their existing EV buildup of battery plants, power trains and the Ultium Platform or from other ICE projects to build Hybrids. I see GM selling ICE till the transition is complete with EVs and nothing in between other than the Hybrid Corvette.

It will be interesting to see how this little auto lasts with a weight of 3,428 lbs. or 1555kg, I feel it is a bit fat for the little 1.5 turbo engine. Maybe this also explains the low trailering specifications. At least they did drop a little weight as the 2024 model was 3,465 lbs. with the same engine. Interesting is that at the start of the Equinox in 2005 you had two V6 engine options with a maximum trailering of 3,500 lbs. and even in the outgoing 2024 model with the optional 2.0 turbo engine you still had a 3,500 lb. trailering capability and now we have only 1,500 lbs. and a single engine choice, no options. I wonder if this is GMs way of pushing people into bigger higher-level autos to get the same trailering capabilities. Interesting that the Blazer EV has a 3,500 lb. trailering capacity in RWD models but drops to 1,500 lbs. in the AWD models.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon Android Auto system has a basic software switch that allows the OEM to enable or disable Android Auto and Apple Carplay. This is an easy change that can be done by an OTA update. This is how Honda on the same system is supporting the two-cell phone connectivity versus GM not supporting it. Back in 2022 more details were released along with updated SDK for the system. Connected Car and the Snapdragon Digital Chassis - Qualcomm Developer Network This does make me wonder how long before a company like Jet Chips for custom ICE chip replacements gets into an SDK Break package that unlocks everything the OEM thinks the end user does not need. Yes, this would be aimed at the more technical type folks, much like a cell phone that is broke open for use anywhere. Interesting times we live in for sure.

Yup, this is very exciting to hear, if they deliver it with proper Android Auto / Apple Carplay support, they will win market share. I think Ford and GM could be in trouble due to their choice of full control over the display interaction.

cool tech

Pretty much kiss any idea of democracy and a decent legal system good buy with all the shady lawsuits that will happen.

My concern is that since GM is using the Qualcomm system that they could turn it off. Course the opposite is that they come to see customers leaving them and end up turning it on for everyone. This whole thing has me looking at the Kia EV9, Hyundai equal and the Genesis GV90 EV as a potential next new auto for us.

CARS needs to go forward as the pressure from dealerships on selling shady packages, fees is just terrible if you have spent any time in the last year buying an auto.

An interesting force is happening in the auto industry, and it comes down to supporting or not supporting the use of Android Auto / Apple Carplay. This feature which is pretty standard across the internal combustion auto's (ICE) is only found on a select group of electrical vehicles (EVs) as the global auto industry has chosen to move to a Qualcomm Snapdragon Digital Chassis running the Android operating system. If you wish to understand all the tech details about this platform, you can read it here: QUALCOMM Snapdragon Automotive 5G Platform The basic understanding of this system is it is an auto-to-cloud over-the-air (OTA) high speed computer network running the Android operating system. Like android smartphones, this system allows the AUTO OEM to run their own eco system with pay store. Yes, this system does work seamlessly with Android Auto and Apple Carplay and as of today this is where the difference is coming to the consumer. End result is the auto manufacture can totally control what you buy, install and do on your EV and keep everything to just the auto company or sell it to 3rd party companies. This system allows you to log into your existing Android apps and use them as you would on your phone but on your EV. Currently the Auto OEMs have gone into two camps, those keeping everything to themselves and disabling the support for Android Auto/Apple Carplay and those OEMs that support Android Auto/Apple Carplay. Currently GM, Ford, VW, BMW, Nissan and others have stated they will not enable Android Auto/Apple Carplay in their EVs. Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Honda, Volvo and Polestar all currently support Android Auto / Apple Carplay in their EVs running on the same Qualcomm Snapdragon Automotive 5G platform. You then have the only two EV companies that are exceptions to the above, Rivian and Tesla. Rivian uses the QUALCOMM Snapdragon Ride Flex system with their own custom software stack, thus not supporting Android Auto or Apple Carplay. Tesla uses their own inhouse controller board and software stack also not supporting Android Auto or Apple Carplay. This brings us back to the question stated as the title of this write up. Would you buy an auto without Android Auto or Apple Carplay?

I expect Hyundai to continue to lead in performance EVs as they want to lead in the markets they sell in and for ending 2023, Hyundai became #2 in North America. GM and Ford are going to have a hard time catching up as they pause their EV efforts. Tesla is going to also have a hard time holding off Hyundai as they have their Trilogy to spread costs out over and to drive EV development and options with the Hyundai/Kia/Genesis trilogy of EVs. I see Hyundai doing well in 2024.

WOW, Talk about a total zone on my part, now I get what @trinacriabob is meaning, thank you Robert.

What am I missing, I do not get your post? Sorry

This is a freakin funny read. Cold weather creates Tesla graveyard in Chicago. One EV speaks out (usatoday.com)

Very cool tech for storing electricity that can support homes to EVs during storms. Texas startup delivers landmark results with 'earthen' battery technology: 'The opportunities ... are significant' (thecooldown.com) This 'earthen battery' can store clean energy underground (thecooldown.com) Have to say that this is a very cool Ford SUV This Ford Everest Raptor Might Be The Coolest SUV You Can't Get In America (msn.com)

My gut tells me that the BMW M series of auto's with manual transmissions will be some of the last ICE auto's to go when they do finally move to all electric auto's.

Rich have gotten richer, the rest of us poorer. People wonder why we are giving such huge tax breaks and money to companies and the 1% when the rest of us can barely afford to buy a new auto let alone a home. Welcome to the 21st century.

WOW, This is very crazy to see on the Hyundai/Kia/Genesis EVs for Regen/1 peddle driving. Clearly the software needs an update. I wonder if there is a way to see what the OTA updates have been for the EVs? @Drew Dowdell do you know if there is a webpage for Hyundai/Kia/Genesis for software updates? I have not found anything yet. Update, seems that Hyundai/Kia/Genesis has without a federal mandated recall issued an update for all EVs with 1 pedal driving. Not Exactly a Recall: Hyundai to Update EV Brake Lights - Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com)

LOL, BMW won most of the Worst at CES Awards, guess the press is not impressed with BMW tech focus. CES 'Worst of' awards puts spotlight on security and privacy concerns (usatoday.com)

The focus on additional profits in the EV generation of autos. Does make me wonder what other distractions will happen with a system that allows games and uses those tiny hand controllers. Never got into the Xbox or PlayStation due to the small controllers compared to a mouse and keyboard of a computer. But then each to their own as Tesla owners seem to love playing with their tablet screen in their auto as they wait for charging. Wish I could have taken a picture, but the Tesla charger at a Fred Meyers in Totem Lake Kirkland Washington yesterday was full of 20 auto's charging and about 6 more waiting. It was crazy, with everyone moving to the NACS standard this need for self-entertainment will be a positive win for the auto companies. @Anthony Fongaro Wonder if you can play a game on this system and then pick up playing it on your home console system?