Posted on 07/24/2021 9:01:09 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
He developed gasoline engines for family sedans as well as thunderous Nascar racing machines.
By last year, though, the excitement was gone. His projects were no longer about advancing the engine, just nursing along existing technology. All the buzz had shifted to electric vehicles. In December, Mr. Penkevich took early retirement at age 59.
“It’s been a fun ride,” said engineer Dave Lancaster, who spent 40 years working in engine development at General Motors Co. “But I think we’re coming into the homestretch for the conventional engine.”
Over the past several decades, auto makers in most years rolled out between 20 and 70 new engines globally, according to research firm IHS Markit. That number will fall below 10 this year, and then essentially go to zero, the research firm said.
“We don’t want to be left making the best buggy whips,”
For the UAW to prevail, workers would have to vote yes, and wages likely would be far lower than at a car factory. Other battery plants typically pay $15 to $18 an hour, compared with a top hourly wage of around $30 for a UAW-represented worker at an assembly plant.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Audi brand had acoustics engineers develop software to customize the sounds of the new e-tron GT electric sports car, which meld sounds from 32 sources, including a model helicopter and a fan blowing over a piece of plastic pipe. The result is a whirring sound that morphs as the driver accelerates.
One of the reasons EVs have a big future is because they are much simpler to build than ICE cars. They take about half the total hours, and those hours are less skilled than traditional car making.
As battery prices fall that will make an EV with the same specs much cheaper than a gas powered vehicle.
If you park an electric vehicle in your garage, make sure your fire insurance is up to date and covers that kind of fire.
Nothing will replace the sound of a big block..
nothing.
I’ve been seriously considering an electric powered generator for when we lose electricity here.
Tell me..how do they expect to charge these things?
They have virtually destroyed the generation capacity in this country and they expect to charge these things? With what?
For the UAW to prevail, workers would have to vote yes, and wages likely would be far lower than at a car factory. Other battery plants typically pay $15 to $18 an hour, compared with a top hourly wage of around $30 for a UAW-represented worker at an assembly plant.
The way things are going, only the wealthy will be able to drive which is what I think they want. The roads are too crowded with us lowly peons.
ROF!
I think I’ll wait for di-lithium crystals
unicorn farts.
“Tell me..how do they expect to charge these things?”
The useful thing is that our grid is designed to provide the power needed at 7pm on a Tuesday. At every other time there is lots of spare capacity.
If EVs are set to charge overnight, essentially no new capacity is needed.
Energy consumption in the US has levelled-off and may in fact be declining, due to improved efficiency of new technologies like LED lights and SMPS. And generation capacity has been augmented with renewables, whether you like it or not. In 2019, consumption from renewable generation sources virtually equalled that from coal at 11.3 vs 11.5 billion quads, and renewables will continue to increase while coal will decrease. Nothing has “virtually destroyed” nuclear, natural gas, or hydro (the oldest renewable source).
Next time you calculate your energy stats be sure to factor in the cost of transmission infrastructure for conventional vs. distributed generation and direct and indirect subsidies to the fossil fuel industry as things are not always a easy as they may seem.
In fact, the best way to get new low-cost energy generation is to keep using it because that’s what creates the economic incentive for R&D and investment.
—”make sure your fire insurance is up to date and covers that kind of fire.”
My neighbor’s three weeks old Ford(ICE) went up in smoke one recent afternoon and took his the car, garage, house...
You can get a good deal on a nice 3/4 acre lot!
Won’t happen. EVs are another fad, as they were around the turn of the last century. The ICE will continue to dominate the roads and racetracks.
—” considering an electric powered generator for when we lose electricity here.”
NICE!!
Tesla sells them under the Powerwall brand.
Unless we become more efficient at harnessing safe nuclear power or discover some other energy source, ICEs will continue to dominate. I think rubber tires will be a thing of the past for road travel, if not roads in general. Personal transportation has been in a rut long enough.
LOL! SWYDT
—”how do they expect to charge these things?”
Peak daytime load is twice peak overnight load.
There is more than sufficient to buy time and add capacity as needed.
And with offshoring any and all manufacturing to prevent any possible pollution...
All the power needed!
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