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Gas Engines, and the People Behind Them, Are Cast Aside for Electric Vehicles
WSJ ^ | 23 July 2021 | Mike Colias

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: automotive; toast; uaw; unions
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And then there is this:

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.

1 posted on 07/24/2021 9:01:09 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Full TXT:

https://archive.vn/AXoiD


2 posted on 07/24/2021 9:02:55 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT (("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

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.


3 posted on 07/24/2021 9:07:58 AM PDT by Renfrew
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To: DUMBGRUNT

If you park an electric vehicle in your garage, make sure your fire insurance is up to date and covers that kind of fire.


4 posted on 07/24/2021 9:08:05 AM PDT by antidemoncrat (somRead more at: https://economicti)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Nothing will replace the sound of a big block..

nothing.


5 posted on 07/24/2021 9:08:50 AM PDT by cableguymn (We need a redneck in the white house.... But the fact checkers said the story was false!)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

I’ve been seriously considering an electric powered generator for when we lose electricity here.


6 posted on 07/24/2021 9:10:14 AM PDT by Tolk2112
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To: Renfrew

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?


7 posted on 07/24/2021 9:12:10 AM PDT by crz
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To: DUMBGRUNT
And not all auto makers are fully embracing of electrics. Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda has said electric vehicles are overhyped and will make cars too expensive.

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.

8 posted on 07/24/2021 9:12:38 AM PDT by Pollard
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To: Tolk2112

ROF!


9 posted on 07/24/2021 9:13:04 AM PDT by crz
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To: Renfrew
As battery prices fall that will make an EV with the same specs much cheaper than a gas powered vehicle.

The auto manufacturers did not need regulations and subsidies to push the buggy whip manufacturers under. 95% of auto/light truck buyers still vote with dollars for ICE vehicles. In the early automotive days there were cars that ran on electricity and wood (steam) as well, they died natural deaths.

New laws in Red China, Canada and some U.S. states (e.g. California) are forcing the car manufacturers' hands. Will battery/semi-conductor/on-board generation (e.g. hydrogen) change what people want to buy? Maybe, but no electric car gives everything the range of ICE cars provide, and it would be best to let them take their place in the market, be it niche player or dominant force organically, so that the grid can keep up.
10 posted on 07/24/2021 9:18:11 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana (“At first you go bankrupt slowly, then all at once.” -- Hemingway)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

I think I’ll wait for di-lithium crystals


11 posted on 07/24/2021 9:22:14 AM PDT by FatherofFive (We support Trump. Not the GOP)
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To: crz

unicorn farts.


12 posted on 07/24/2021 9:22:33 AM PDT by cableguymn (We need a redneck in the white house.... But the fact checkers said the story was false!)
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To: crz

“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.


13 posted on 07/24/2021 9:25:21 AM PDT by Renfrew
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To: crz

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.


14 posted on 07/24/2021 9:25:34 AM PDT by bigbob
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To: antidemoncrat

—”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!


15 posted on 07/24/2021 9:27:07 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT (("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message)
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To: Renfrew

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.


16 posted on 07/24/2021 9:29:24 AM PDT by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit..)
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To: Tolk2112

—” considering an electric powered generator for when we lose electricity here.”

NICE!!

Tesla sells them under the Powerwall brand.


17 posted on 07/24/2021 9:29:32 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT (("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

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.


18 posted on 07/24/2021 9:31:00 AM PDT by Fester Chugabrew (No audits. No peace.)
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To: Tolk2112

LOL! SWYDT


19 posted on 07/24/2021 9:33:43 AM PDT by one guy in new jersey
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To: crz

—”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!


20 posted on 07/24/2021 9:34:04 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT (("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message)
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