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Category Archives: engineering
Toyota AZ Proving Grounds Now Accessible to Other Makers?
This is an unusual move in AutoInformed’s view because testing grounds by their very definition are involved with the operation and testing of future products that are usually closely guarded secrets. It might be the latest example of the extreme demands on capital and resources that automakers are grappling with as the industry rushes headlong into the unknown future of mobility involving autonomous and electric vehicles. It is one way to offset some of enormous and ongoing costs involved. Continue reading
GM Cuts More Deals on Materials, Factories for EV Motors
Lurking in the background of this issue is a larger national security problem that sees China spending twice as much on research and development as the US. A bill to restore and increase US government sponsored scientific R&D has passed the Senate but is being held up by infighting among Democrats in the House of Representatives, which is representative of our ongoing politically-based dysfunctional government. See David Leonard in The New York Times this morning. Continue reading
Connected – Bosch Touts Application Independent Software
“Software development is a longstanding core competence at Bosch. Every year, we put more than 200 million control units running our own software into vehicles worldwide. With this new set-up, we want to become the leading provider of application-independent vehicle software,” says Dr. Stefan Hartung, chairperson of the Mobility Solutions business sector of Robert Bosch GmbH. Continue reading
CARB Fines Honda Motor for Small Engine Emissions
Small off-road engines are a major source of pollution in California. In California during 2021, these small engines surpassed light-duty passenger cars as a source of smog-forming emissions. This includes the emissions of raw fuel that continue to evaporate from these engines, lawn mowers and other equipment even when they are powered off. CARB will consider a regulation on 9 December 2021 to transition small off-road engines to zero-emission technologies, aka electric. This will help California “meet its required federal clean air standards, clean the air and significantly reduce harmful emissions for those who work all day with these small off-road engines.” Continue reading
Ford Motor US Sales Up in November
As usual Ford Motor should consider changing its name to Ford Truck. Ford brand SUVs achieved record November retail sales on the success of new products. Sales increased 25.6% y-o-y to a total of 66,390 vehicles. The Bronco family had its highest combined sales since launch – totaling 19,773 SUVs, which to put it in perspective is less than the output of one assembly plant on an annual basis. Sales of Lincoln’s new Nautilus increased 24.9% y-o-y. Year-to-date, sales of the new Nautilus are up 14.6%. While inventory is scant, Lincoln took in a record number of new retail vehicle orders last month, totaling 2,600. Mustang Mach-E sales increased 8.4% from October on sales of 3,088 SUVs, though as a latecomer it still trails Tesla’s Model Y by a wide margin. Continue reading
EV Gold Rush – GM, Posco to Build New Plant
“We are building a sustainable and resilient North America-focused supply chain for EVs covering the entire ecosystem from raw materials to battery cell manufacturing and recycling,” said Doug Parks, GM executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. Analysts will not that Korean owned Posco’s operating income and net income have declined in 2019 and 2020. The GM deal – if it works – will be beneficial to the company, which also has close business ties with China. Continue reading
Solid State Batteries: Factorial Energy Parade Adds Stellantis
The agreement also includes a strategic investment from Stellantis. Mercedes-Benz also has invested in Factorial in what were in effect concurrent announcements. Stellantis announced in July 2021 its target of having the first competitive solid state battery technology introduced by 2026. Solid-state batteries exist as automotive vaporware currently so all the usual caveats about Forward Looking Statements apply. Continue reading
Solid State Batteries Lure Mercedes-Benz to Factorial Energy
Solid-state batteries exist as vaporware currently. They are enticing because of the difference in the use of an electrolyte that is made of solid material instead of the commonly used liquid electrolyte. The electrolyte, of course, is needed to transport ions back and forth between the electrodes when charging and discharging the battery. Solid electrolytes promise optimization of battery safety, as well as the use of new types of anodes, such as lithium-metal anodes. These can provide an almost doubled energy density compared to today’s Li-ion battery cells. As a result, they promise an increase in range, while at the same time ensuring shorter charging times. Continue reading
Daimler Truck Moves Past MB Commercial Vehicles to Wörth
With Daimler splitting into two independent companies* on 1 December 2021, Daimler Truck has transferred the first batch of historic Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles and parts of its truck and bus archive to a location in Wörth. Daimler Truck’s collection contains around 130 vehicles. About 30 were previously located in Stuttgart and the surrounding area. Continue reading
Cadillac LYRIQ In Pre-Production Tuning
For evaluation of LYRIQ’s performance on different road surfaces and in varying traffic conditions, Cadillac developed routes that included freeway, urban, and rural driving scenarios. Under these conditions, engineers assessed drive quality, systems calibrations, and other elements that directly affect the in-car encounter of a customer kind.
For evaluation of LYRIQ’s performance on different road surfaces and in varying traffic conditions, Cadillac developed routes that included freeway, urban, and rural driving scenarios. Under these conditions, engineers assessed drive quality, systems calibrations, and other elements that directly affect the in-car encounter of a customer kind.
Continue reading
EV Boats – GM Buys Into Pure Watercraft
The so-called Pure Outboard from Pure Watercraft uses efficiency to benefit a boat’s performance while reducing environmental pollution with much lower operating costs and maintenance than traditional marine propulsion systems, it’s claimed. An open issue with EV technology remains the thus far unexplored anti-trust implications as giant global automakers and battery companies appear to be well on the way to owning and controlling electric mobility. Continue reading
Automotive Chips – Ford Adds GlobalFoundries to Help Design and Supply
GF and Ford have signed a non-binding agreement for GF to create more semiconductor supply for Ford’s current vehicle lineup, as well as joint research and development to address the growing demand for feature-rich chips to support the automotive industry. Continue reading
Production Starts on Prototype Volta Electric Truck
When completed in January, the fleet will start a testing scheme. This will involve Volta Trucks engineers replicating a wide range of customer usage and delivery cycles, as well as taking the Volta Zero to the extremes of cold weather environments in the Arctic, hot weather in equatorial conditions, and crash testing,. This according to Volta will validate the safety, durability, and reliability of the vehicle. Continue reading
Amazon and Stellantis to Connect Vehicles to Digital Services
The STLA SmartCockpit platform will use Amazon products that are purpose-built for vehicles, it’s claimed. Stellantis will produce custom, brand and vehicle-specific capabilities. The software will offer services through an app store displayed through an “adaptive user interface design that presents timely, relevant information and features suited to each occupant’s individual needs and preferences.” In other words, you will be tracked. What happens to your personal information – how it is used, sold or resold or given to government entities – was not disclosed in the announcement. Continue reading →