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Episode #102 – No Charging, No Parking!

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #102 - No Charging, No Parking!
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This week Sam has returned from California and after driving the 2019 Kia Niro EV, he has a rant about electric vehicle drivers that think they have a right to park right next to the building even when they aren’t charging. Rebecca has been driving the lovely new Volvo V60 and Dan has the “first ever” Ford Edge ST. In the news, the crew ponders the new Cadillac CT5 that was shown ahead of its public debut at the New York Auto Show. Porsche drops some teasers of the upcoming Taycan electric sedan and Fisker pivots with a new production, retail and service strategy. Sam talks with Henrik Fisker and the team opines. Links New Fisker electric SUV Porsche Taycan Teaser 2020 Cadillac CT5 Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of… Read More »Episode #102 – No Charging, No Parking!

The Tech Guy #1575

Sam joins Leo in studio, and he says that while electric vehicles are getting more popular, it would still take 20-30 years to replace the entire fleet in the US. He drove to Eastside Studios in a KIA NIRO electrified vehicle. The NIRO Hybrid gets 50 mph, but you can get a plugin hybrid as well, which gets 27 miles on a charge. Or you can get a fully electric NIRO, which has a 239-mile range.  Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing and hosting it you can join at https://www.patreon.com/wheelbearingsmedia

Episode #101 – We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Badges

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #101 - We Don't Need No Stinkin' Badges
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The whole crew is back in the same time zone this week as Rebecca shares her thoughts on the new Toyota Rav4 Hybrid, Sam drives the refreshed 2019 Nissan Maxima and Dan plays with the Ford F-150 Raptor. The mythical mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette has been Don Sherman’s personal unicorn for nearly 50 years and the first prototypes go back even farther than that. It now seems closer than ever and yet still so far away and we discuss why. Cadillac is adopting a new badging scheme similar to what Audi launched in Europe a couple of years ago and no seems to be happy about it. We discuss whether to just dispense with the badges entirely. Meanwhile Rivian seems to be developer a modular bed system for its upcoming electric pickup truck. Links Cadillac’s new badges Audi updates is nomenclature Rivian goes modular Corvette’s twisting… Read More »Episode #101 – We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Badges

The Tech Guy #1573

Next week, Sam will be test driving the new KIA Niro. It’s an electrified vehicle, which is different from an electric vehicle. And there’s also an electrified hybrid that offers some electric propulsion but isn’t completely electric. That kind of propulsion varies. The Nero has an electric motor that runs alongside the engine, and one that charges the batteries and regenerative braking. But it still needs gas to power the main engine. A plugin hybrid has a larger battery and can drive about 15-40 miles, but once depleted, relies on gas. So driving around town, which is most driving, you can go electric, and then on longer trips, you can use gas. Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing and hosting it you can join at https://www.patreon.com/wheelbearingsmedia

Episode #100 – Lots of Electrons in Geneva

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #100 - Lots of Electrons in Geneva
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As Wheel Bearings breaks into triple digits we have one more two part show with Rebecca still in the sub-continent. In the first half of the show, Sam and Rebecca talk more about transportation in India and the challenges of deploying electric vehicles there. Sam has been driving the Genesis G70. Then Rebecca and Sam dive into some of the highlights of the 2019 Geneva Motor Show including the Honda E prototype, a new era of coachbuilding based on electric vehicle platforms like the VW MEB, the Alfa Romeo Tonale and some new Aston Martins. Meanwhile Dan has been driving the 2019 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. Dan and Sam dive into the new plug-in hybrid versions of the Jeep Renegade and Compass coming next year and Tesla’s new Supercharger V3. For automotive engineers and developers that want to develop their skills in AI and working… Read More »Episode #100 – Lots of Electrons in Geneva

The Tech Guy #1571

This week’s EV car news is that TESLA is shutting down all of their dealerships, in the hopes that reducing the overhead will translate into reducing the price tag on their vehicles. Now if you want to buy a Tesla, you can do it online and Tesla will deliver it to you. As for servicing, Tesla will likely have some service centers open in major areas, but they may also do a service at home program where they come to you to do any servicing. In other Tesla news, Elon Musk says that Tesla will have full self-driving by the end of the year. But Sam says that doesn’t mean you can crawl into the back and take a nap. This week, there were two autonomous crashes with fatalities when people took their hands off the wheel. What three words is a new navigation idea, where… Read More »The Tech Guy #1571

Episode #099 – Live From The Sub-Continent

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #099 - Live From The Sub-Continent
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This week, location and schedule constraints meant that the show was recorded in two parts. Sam talked with Rebecca while she was on vacation in India and then picked up later with Dan back in his native time zone. Sam drove the Hyundai Kona Electric and Rebecca describes transportation in India. Tesla made some news just hours before recording by finally releasing the mythical $35,000 model 3 and simultaneously announcing the closure of almost all of its stores. Being in India gives Rebecca some insight into why Ford’s adoption of What3Words is meaningful. Meanwhile back in New England, Dan has been driving the 2019 Volkswagen Golf SE and pondering the big Detroit plant investment announcement that Fiat Chrysler made this week. Dan and Sam also dive into the new Polestar 2 and we get an update on US availability of the Volkswagen Arteon. For automotive… Read More »Episode #099 – Live From The Sub-Continent

Episode #098 – Look Both Ways Before Crossing the Street

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #098 - Look Both Ways Before Crossing the Street
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This week we’re talking luxury as Rebecca drives the Maserati Levante, Dan has the Mercedes-Benz E450 and Sam relaxes in the Kia K900. At the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, Anton Piech, son of Ferdinand and great grandson of Ferdinand Porsche launches his own car company with an electric sports car. Ford has more trouble with emissions and fuel economy testing, Elon Musk proves again that he shouldn’t have a twitter account as Tesla General Counsel bails after less than two months at the company and IIHS tests pedestrian detection and braking systems. A reminder not to rely too much on technology to save you. For automotive engineers and developers that want to develop their skills in AI and working with Nvidia processors we have a 20% discount code for the Nvidia GPU Technology Conference Silicon Valley. Check out the sessions at https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/gtc/topics/automotive-and-transportation/ and use the promo code MCXNAVIGANT when… Read More »Episode #098 – Look Both Ways Before Crossing the Street

The Tech Guy #1569

This week’s topic is high capacity chargers for electric vehicles. Battery range and charging are the biggest challenges facing EVs. Where are the charging stations? Sam says that navigation systems often have charging stations built into the route your driving, and based on your EV, they will also draw a circle around the usable range of your electric vehicle before you need to get a charge. But Sam says that it costs a lot of money to install high capacity, high power charging stations, especially in rural areas. The Tesla Supercharger is coming with 120KW charging capacity. The Electrify America is three times that. So you can get 80% charge in about 15 minutes. That kind of advancement will help make it easier to buy an EV. The other issue is charging connectors. Tesla has a proprietary connector, so you’d need an adapter to use… Read More »The Tech Guy #1569

2019 Kia K900 – The Self-Made Entrepreneur Of Luxury Sedans

One of the recurring storylines around Tesla is the rarity with which new automotive brands launch and succeed in a self-sustaining way. In fact, while it’s not exactly common, it does happen with some degree of regularity. Case in point is Kia. While the company traces it roots back to 1944, it was really only in the early-1990s that it ventured outside of South Korea under its own name. While the early models were to say the least not very good and the company went bankrupt in the Asian financial crisis, it persevered. Hyundai took a controlling interest in 1998 and it’s been uphill for both companies ever since. The 2019 K900 is yet more evidence that fantastic luxury cars don’t have to come from Europe, America or Japan. Read the rest of the review at Forbes Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you… Read More »2019 Kia K900 – The Self-Made Entrepreneur Of Luxury Sedans