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 ...
—”They are urban vehicles only and they will blow up the power grid”
That is an unsupported supposition.
The capacity will
be there for many years, I have posted a usage graph link.
The larger problem is how to charge the many ungaraged vehicles?
Yes, power is available at most lampposts but the costs of political/union workers to provide a metered receptacle?
Most of the copper charging cables will be gone before morning. Using an ax and wooden chopping block...
I'm looking at this from the standpoint of someone who is likely to view vehicle charging as something more similar to charging a mobile phone than to refueling a vehicle with gasoline. In a culture dominated by electronic devices there is likely to be a natural tendency for people to take advantage of opportunities to charge a device while it is stationary -- to ensure that it has as much power as possible available when there is a need to disconnect it. I believe most drivers would look to take advantage of ANY "down" time for the vehicle and charge it just so they are confident it has a full charge when they start it up again.
—”The government needs to stay the hell out and let the market handle it.”
Totally agree with one minor change.
The charging plugs need to be standardized with the charging commutations between the vehicle and charger.
As the power grid demands more current to charge the millions and millions of vehicle batteries, the law of supply and demand will kick in and electricity prices will soar beyond current comprehension.
Assuming that all fossil fuel and nuclear power plants are shut, can wind and solar supply the tera-wattage required, or will electricity be a perk available only to the well to do?
The new Jaguars have a switch on the dash that you can flip which, I think, changes the airflow of the exhaust to make it louder if you like.
For sure.
It’s in the interest of the manufacturers too I would think.
the vehicle a lot less attractive to you as a motorist.
—
That’s the idea - force people into mass transit, rail, trolley, bus, etc. Long held liberal dream. Is perhaps why the “infrastructure” bill includes billions for mass transit?
Don’t forget time-to-refuel. I can fill my tank in 10 minutes. For the car I drive that’s 360 combined miles. Try that with an electric vehicle, especially in a northern winter.
i’ve worked on both throughout the years...
the later models are still pushrod design but running two cams (one for each cylinder) instead of a single cam running both cylinders and are more reliable and don’t leak oil like the earlier models...
my father currently has two later model harleys... when you hit the starter button they fire right up every time...
—”Harley Davidson switched to electronic ignition the engine lost the skip “
Can you link to anyone who returned to the old wasted spark system?
I’ve been on my airhead BMW for years and not HD for years, but this makes no sense???
I think COVID-19 has done more damage to the appeal of mass transit than anyone realizes.
Charging capability & adequate power production should have been considered before they ever started promoting electric vehicles. A lot of folks have no interest in an electric vehicle for several good reasons. If they are so dead-set on electric vehicles, then we should have started well before now with building new power plants....and certainly NOT depending on so-called “renewable” power sources.
Charging capability & adequate power production should have been considered before they ever started promoting electric vehicles. A lot of folks have no interest in an electric vehicle for several good reasons. If they are so dead-set on electric vehicles, then we should have started well before now with building new power plants....and certainly NOT depending on so-called “renewable” power sources.
They fire up every time but if some chip controlled part fails, you are sitting on the side of the road.
Points can be made to work regardless of their condition just keep a coil in your toolkit, carbs can be “rebuilt” on the side of the road.
To be honest the only Harley I’ve had was a 1948 flathead, It never left me stranded.
I’m a more of a British guy actually.
Can tune a British twin to kick over with your little toe, first time everytime.
Well hell...back in the 50s as a ten year old lad I was experimenting with multiple baseball cards on front and rear forks of my bicycle...finally settled on an 8 card arrangement with some double card units....sweet!
...and they were renewable and free.
BMW has announced a 2 liter 4 cylinder that produces 400 HP, no need for big block engines anymore, but you could always add sound effects I guess.
Rush used to advertise those in one of his hoax adds.
he’s 83 years old and all about the convenience factor...
after my 26 years of operating automotive towing and recovery services and cleaning up numerous wrecks i refuse to ride a motorcycle on public roads...
i’m into building hotrods and show cars...
So far no one has talked about the road tax that is inevitable, being added to the cost of a charge up. Diesel used be practically free now it cost more than standard gasoline, ever wonder why? Most don't.
You are probably right, but that will not stop then from jamming mass transit down out collective throats. The more we are under the elite’s control the better they feel, the richer and more powerful they become.
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