G. David Felt

Gonna have to dig into why so many are going 48V mild-hybrid systems. I have to question why this particular voltage system compared to other options. So, I stopped writting and did a little research and Boom, here is some interesting info: With 48-volt stop-start: The starter is replaced with a beefier 48-volt device called a motor generator unit(MGU), belt alternator starter, or belt-driven starter generator. A 48-volt lithium-ion battery pack, typically in the trunk. A DC-to-DC converter. https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/247889-cars-moving-48-volt-electrical-systems Per the story, we are looking at a standard that was built to allow the key component companies to supply a superior system. Per the story listed above: Bosch, Continental, Delphi, and Valeo are among the key components makers working to provide 48-volt systems to automakers. As I have mentioned before in other threads, an electric turbo pretty much removes all lag. The Audi system uses a real turbo on the ICE for higher speeds and better performance and yet at lower speeds and from a stop uses an e-Turbo to have instant torque. The e-Charger as Audi calls it removes those noticeable tenths of a second for spin up to 100,000 to 200,000 RPM to be instant in the e-Charger much like all electric motors, instant torque and performance. HISTORY: mid 90's the auto industry attempted to do this with a 42 volt system. Yet due to technology and other issues, it was not ready for prime time. Quoting the story: Now, says Jason Schwanke, senior systems engineer at Bosch, “The main focus is improving the emissions and fuel economy of the vehicle. 48-volt is a system to augment the combustion engine, reduce fuel consumption, reduce [diesel] particulate emissions, and improve the driver experience by increasing the responsiveness of the vehicle.” Schwanke envisions a second iteration of cars that go beyond a smallish belt-drive motor generator. Rather than 2 kilowatts, it could be 10, 15, or 20 kilowatts. “Decouple the combustion system [from the motor generator],” he says, “you can do some advanced features you can’t do from a belt system … things like going through a parking lot [on electric power] or low-speed urban driving.” In other words, while 48 volts is a step up from 12 volts, it’s also a step down in cost from 300-volt-plus systems in traditional hybrids. End result is that the 48 volt system gets you close to everything you need in a full traditional hybrid system with out all the added cost of the 300 volt system.

Nope did not go over our heads, Beetle is not selling in huge volumes and is a perfect ev auto for inner city driving. Should do just fine as a sales volume ev.

Halo product does NOT have to be a coupe. Coupe style has been overkill by the auto industry. There are clearly airflow attributes to the front and back that would be done for a skateboard ev auto. Those could be specific air inlets for cooling / cabin fresh air.

Ready Player One is a great movie from this year. Yea, so tired of everyone getting tatted up.

Reviewing all the pictures, one thing is clear to me, this is an Ev\Hybrid concept at the worst, actual new auto at the best. I have to say that while it does go away from the arts n science, I do like it very much.

Totally agree, a blog from a Tesla owner stated the following which I believe to be true: This may come to the dismay of “gearheads”, but electric drive trains spell the end of tinkering in the garage the same way that transistors mostly did away with the TV repairman. https://www.quora.com/Does-a-Tesla-car-have-very-minimal-maintenance-costs

Plus bring back the original Frunk

This totally makes sense and would be the first actual rational approach from Dictator Potus45.

Like all shifts that have drastic affect on an industry, alternative fuel is now with computers showing much better ways to power an auto. Change is hard, but in the end I still call everyone here a friend and an enjoyable debating auto enthusiast. These debates is what drives us to view things in a new light. Wishing you all the best with learning new skills.

I would agree with you on the distinction if it was not for the fact like @balthazar makes a point of lumping them all together as the bulk of society really does not care or know the difference you point out now. Like splitting hairs of a medium brown versus dark brown.

They had to take 50+ years before Fins on roofs became the new norm as an Antenna.

Starting off the July thread, saw this Mini Mini Van from Subaru of Japan imported into Washington. Right hand drive So tiny compared to the GMC pickup.

WOW, Explain please your Kool Aid brand of almost 10% down. ?

I have come to love Papa Murphys pizza, take n bake, Love at 425! My favorite pizza from them is the Gourmet Delite Crispy thin crust. 16" Chicken Bacon Artichoke, I can eat the whole thing. 16" Backup Pie is their Herb Chicken Mediterranean.

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/07/02/mercedes-benz-electric-vans-fuel-cell/ Mercedes-Benz is planning to have a fuel-cell delivery van in 2019, yet the BIG NEWS is that starting in the fall, August to October time frame, they are going to start selling their pure electric delivery van globally. These vans will have a top speed of 75 mph with a 150 kilometer range or about 95 miles. 112 HP, 221 Lb-ft of torque and can carry 2,365 pounds of payload. There is also a Luxury Class A camper from Mercedes-Benz now. https://videos.vidible.tv/prod/2016-06/16/5761c5ace4b07a81b865387b_853x480_v3.mp4?rZ4uYOYDEQxcX2N8jJxdvxM1fQfWLPwqIaRF0tQ0aUYAvKcIlBn_rjo6a0CDk3i0 This is very cool camper bus with garage.

All good Drew, Happy to be a QA Tester for you as I appreciate what you do to pay the bills. Like @Cubical-aka-Moltar I get white spaces and weird formatting on Chrome / Opera and worse on Firefox. Here is Opera Seems the web site will not even come up on Edge. So much for the Pure HTML5 browser.

That is how I feel about NYC pizza and the stomach hell it gives me after eating it. Way too acidic for me. Like me some godfathers though!

I do, just way at the bottom after scrolling a few pages. Really weird as if our Forum is possessed by Potus Sarcasm folks, Sarcasm.

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/06/29/chinese-owned-mg-plans-an-awd-electric-roadster-to-rival-miata/ Have to say this is sexy as hell and way better looking than the Miata!

Some really weird things are happening with the site today, I have right mouse clicked on threads and had it open in a new tab and have me not signed in and when I try I cannot get in to comment. I also have huge white spaces that pop up in random places on the page.

Except Arrogant Musk does not want to follow what the auto industry has learned over the last 100+ years. His I can do it better without starting with what the auto industry has already learned and improved from there is his downfall.

Very cool as the Golden Sahara has reappeared. http://autoweek.com/article/classic-cars/basement-find-golden-sahara-back-public-eye?ite=27730&ito=1250

Where, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, one of the surrounding bedroom communities? Indianapolis, Cleveland and Cincinnati I would think already have their own auto shows. So I would have to think it would be a local community rather than downtown detroit. Maybe they can host it in Pontiac, I doubt any of the surrounding communities has a big enough place to host the show.

https://techcrunch.com/2018/07/02/elon-musk-model-3-tent-tesla/ This is interesting as they have some interesting figures as provided by Tesla. 20% of the Tesla 3 cars were produced in their fancy assembly line tent. Which was 5,031 cars built in a tent. So musk tweeted this, but the facts boil down to the following: As reported by Tesla today, Monday July 2nd, 28,578 Model 3's were produced in Q2 overshadowing S & X models which produced 24,761. Q2 Productions up 55% over Q1 Delivery breakdown of Q2 40,740 autos: Model 3: 18,440 Model S: 10,930 Model X: 11,370 Since July 2017 at the splashy hand over to the first customer event, Tesla has delivered a total of 28,386 Model 3 vehicles. Tesla says they will continue to ramp up to 6,000 model 3's a week by the end of July. Target delivery for Model S & X auto's is still at 100,000 by Dec 31st 2018. Based on current numbers for Q1 & Q2 of S&X models, Tesla is looking at the following numbers: Q1 S=11,730 + Q2 S=10,930 = 22,660 Q1 x=10,070 + Q2 x=11,370 = 21,440 First half S&X sales = 44,100 As we enter a slowing economy, I have to question Tesla being able to make up that roughly 22,000 shortfall in auto sales. Model 3 numbers are as follows Q1 = 8,180 + Q2 = 18,440 = 26,620 Conservative if they can keep 5,000 a week production, means Q3 & Q4 will add 130,000 cars for the 26 weeks left in the year. If they can boost it to 6,000 a week by the end of July, they will hit 152,000 cars built. I suspect that hitting 100,000 cars for the Model 3 is about as good as it will get for 2018 and if they can hit 100,000 for the S&X that is 200,000 auto's for the company. big improvement but not the millions made by other OEMs. Bigger question, will they actually turn a profit? http://ir.tesla.com/financial-information/quarterly-results

I stand totally corrected by @Drew Dowdell and @Cubical-aka-Moltar You guys have convinced me of a better way forward for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram than anything Fiat / Alfa / Maserati could do. I am assuming that the whole FCA mess would have to be bought, so maybe Fiat could actually get a superior subcompact platform from Hyundai to replace the garbage they currently have.