EVs

[r0tor]

When the eAWD stuff works, it can work well.  When it doesn't your screwed...

Saying that, most rednecks are cruising around in their 4x4s with open front/rear diffs which need electronics to make them work anyway.

[FoMoJo]

For serious off-road (rock crawling) I would think that Torsen type differentials would be best, included front, rear and in the transfer case. 

[Morris Minor]

Mary Barra is shutting down on Cruise robotaxi development. Rumor is they lost $11bn on it. A wise move; stock is up 2½%.
Their business & expertise is confined to highly profitable full-size trucks & SUVs for the North American market. (Plus the little side hustles with the Corvette & performance Caddies.)  That's it. Period. Stick to your knitting.

"GM intends to combine the majority-owned Cruise LLC and GM technical teams into a single effort to advance autonomous and assisted driving. Consistent with GM's capital allocation priorities, GM will no longer fund Cruise's robotaxi development work given the considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market."

[GoCougs]

Yes, it's a good call. Waymo is ahead of everyone including showing that robotaxi is not a viable business. But also shows that GM and Detroit in general are in their final days in their current incarnation in relying on gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs. Could be the unions. Could be forced EV adoption. Could be an economic downturn. Not sure what'll do it but it's coming. (Though, TBF, GM is in the best financial position of the three.)

[Morris Minor]

Yes, it's a good call. Waymo is ahead of everyone including showing that robotaxi is not a viable business. But also shows that GM and Detroit in general are in their final days in their current incarnation in relying on gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs. Could be the unions. Could be forced EV adoption. Could be an economic downturn. Not sure what'll do it but it's coming. (Though, TBF, GM is in the best financial position of the three.)

AFAIK Waymo & Zoox are the only ones left standing. For now.

[565]

[afty]

I don't know how the economics shake out, but the customer experience of riding in a Waymo is much better than Uber/Lyft.  Because there's no driver, there's no social contract to uphold.  You don't have to talk to anyone, you can play your music over the stereo, you can set the temperature however you want, etc.  Also honestly it drives better than the typical Uber driver -- smoother and less aggressive. I'd choose it over Uber every time, even at the same price.

[Morris Minor]

I don't know how the economics shake out, but the customer experience of riding in a Waymo is much better than Uber/Lyft.  Because there's no driver, there's no social contract to uphold.  You don't have to talk to anyone, you can play your music over the stereo, you can set the temperature however you want, etc.  Also honestly it drives better than the typical Uber driver -- smoother and less aggressive. I'd choose it over Uber every time, even at the same price.

I'd love to try it if I get the chance. We're going to Austin, TX next week, so maybe there.

Uber is no longer the primo experience it once was. If you don't want to be ferried in a dinged-up old vehicle with stained seats & grimy windows, your best bet is to pay triple for an Uber Black. Also, if you specify an EV, their drivers tend to look after the cars better.

[veeman]

Amazing what a $41,500 (without tariff) Chinese EV brings to the table. 673 hp, 497 mile range. Interior (other than the color combo with the exterior) looks great with fantastic ergonomics. Without tariffs cars like these, especially in SUV form, would decimate (centimate?) legacy automakers EV offerings once they get the replacement parts supply chains in place.

[giant_mtb]

I saw a YouTube Short of that thing earlier where it has a "lane-change-pass" button. Where you push a button, turn on your turn signal, change lanes, and then it throttles to pass the car that was in front of you.

How is that impressive? You already have that button under your foot. Or if you have adaptive cruise, you just change lanes and it'll speed up to pass the car that's no longer in front of you with no button presses necessary?

WOW, such technology.

[Laconian]

I saw a YouTube Short of that thing earlier where it has a "lane-change-pass" button. Where you push a button, turn on your turn signal, change lanes, and then it throttles to pass the car that was in front of you.

How is that impressive? You already have that button under your foot. Or if you have adaptive cruise, you just change lanes and it'll speed up to pass the car that's no longer in front of you with no button presses necessary?

WOW, such technology.

On the EV6 it looks at your blindspots before executing the change. It's much much much slower than just doing the damn maneuver yourself.

[giant_mtb]

On the EV6 it looks at your blindspots before executing the change. It's much much much slower than just doing the damn maneuver yourself.

Just more of EVs "solving" problems that don't even exist.

Would be cool to see an EV that just operates like a normal vehicle. Not every EV needs to have silly/useless functions just because it's an EV.

[GoCougs]

Amazing what a $41,500 (without tariff) Chinese EV brings to the table. 673 hp, 497 mile range. Interior (other than the color combo with the exterior) looks great with fantastic ergonomics. Without tariffs cars like these, especially in SUV form, would decimate (centimate?) legacy automakers EV offerings once they get the replacement parts supply chains in place.

It actually does look really good in quality, design and features/function/performance both in and out. No EV in the US looks this polished, esp. from the likes of Detroit. But 487 mile range out of only a 101 kW-hr battery and a 450 kW charge rate? And only $41k? That doesn't add up though.

[Laconian]

Just more of EVs "solving" problems that don't even exist.

Would be cool to see an EV that just operates like a normal vehicle. Not every EV needs to have silly/useless functions just because it's an EV.

You can get a lower trim level and then the bells and whistles go away.

[giant_mtb]

You can get a lower trim level and then the bells and whistles go away.

Fair enough.

[Laconian]

Fair enough.

I agree with your grouchiness though. I really just wanted the HUD and adaptive cruise, and I got all these pseudo-FSD gewgaws which don't work very well.

I think Tesla does it better but I wouldn't trust a computer to handle a lanechange anyways. IMO there's just too much context and "body language" reading needed.

[565]

It actually does look really good in quality, design and features/function/performance both in and out. No EV in the US looks this polished, esp. from the likes of Detroit. But 487 mile range out of only a 101 kW-hr battery and a 450 kW charge rate? And only $41k? That doesn't add up though.

487 is on China's CLTC cycle, which models usual commutes in China (urban slog of gridlock at 0 to 15mph)

They estimate CLTC translated to EPA rating would be 35% less, so prob around 320 miles of range, so similar to most offerings on the market.

[565]

DCar (Chinese motoring publication) must be doing some promotional thing to get these Chinese EV's into the hands of US YouTubers.

[565]

I want one of these Chinese super-minivans so bad in the US.  I got to ride around in my cousin's in China and honestly these things are amazing. Tons of space, tons of speed, tons of tech, super soft ride.  The only thing they don't do is handle well, and are definitely not cheap.

I think that Tesla is going to try to make something like this since these are such a huge seller in China.



I hope they bring this to the US.

[Laconian]

2o6 has driven a lot of those uber-minivans and he raves about them.

[veeman]

Probably best left for the political subsection forum but I don't see US govt allowing these kind of vehicles to come to U.S. and within a short time destroying U.S.legacy minivan market. Toyota Sienna and Honday Odyssey made in the U.S. Chrysler/Dodge minivans made in Canada.

[AutobahnSHO]

Probably best left for the political subsection forum but I don't see US govt allowing these kind of vehicles to come to U.S. and within a short time destroying U.S.legacy minivan market. Toyota Sienna and Honday Odyssey made in the U.S. Chrysler/Dodge minivans made in Canada.

I don't think it would be "that hard" to convert the US minivans. They already figured out how to cram the gas tank and muffler system under a flat floor- just swap all that for battery space.

[565]

I don't think it would be "that hard" to convert the US minivans. They already figured out how to cram the gas tank and muffler system under a flat floor- just swap all that for battery space.

Well this is promising, and apparently coming to America.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a63182844/mercedes-benz-new-electric-luxury-van-teaser/

Honestly something like this makes way more sense than the Escalade IQ EV.

[afty]

I saw my first VW ID.Buzz (EV revival of the Microbus) the other day.  It looks pretty cool.

[SJ_GTI]

This article popped into my homepage news recs.

https://insideevs.com/news/744553/ev-registrations-usa-october-2024/

Total of 106k EV registrations in October (+5% YoY), despite Tesla sales being down.

Tesla is still the largest EV seller on an individual basis (by a long shot), but it is now less than half the overall market (45k/106k). Model Y and Model 3 are the top two sellers, with the top 5 rounded out by the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Chevy Equinox, and Honda Prologue.

Funny to note that the Honda Prologue is outselling it platform mates, the Chevy Blazer and Cadillac Lyriq (the Equinox is on a very similar platform, but it is slightly smaller).

Rivian managed to stay in the top 10, but just barely (and looks to be down significantly vs last year).

[Morris Minor]

This article popped into my homepage news recs.

https://insideevs.com/news/744553/ev-registrations-usa-october-2024/

Total of 106k EV registrations in October (+5% YoY), despite Tesla sales being down.

Tesla is still the largest EV seller on an individual basis (by a long shot), but it is now less than half the overall market (45k/106k). Model Y and Model 3 are the top two sellers, with the top 5 rounded out by the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Chevy Equinox, and Honda Prologue.

Funny to note that the Honda Prologue is outselling it platform mates, the Chevy Blazer and Cadillac Lyriq (the Equinox is on a very similar platform, but it is slightly smaller).

Rivian managed to stay in the top 10, but just barely (and looks to be down significantly vs last year).

You got me curious. The almighty Grok speaketh: -

Question: "What are the main differences between a Honda Prologue and its GM counterpart, the Chevy Blazer?"

Answer: The Honda Prologue and the Chevrolet Blazer EV share a common platform, the GM Ultium architecture, but there are several notable differences between these two electric SUVs:

Design and Styling:
Exterior: While both vehicles are built on the same chassis, their exterior designs are quite distinct. The Honda Prologue adopts a more minimalist "neo-rugged" design language, contrasting with the Blazer EV's more dynamic, sporty look with features like a Coke-bottle beltline and kinked roofline.

Interior: The Prologue's cabin is described as more subdued and in line with traditional Honda design, while the Blazer has a sportier interior. However, the switchgear and many components in the Prologue are from GM's parts bin, but arranged to Honda's design standards.

Infotainment and Technology:
The Blazer EV features a larger 17.7-inch infotainment screen compared to the Prologue's smaller 11.3-inch touchscreen. The Prologue includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are not available on the Blazer.

The Blazer EV can be equipped with GM's Super Cruise, a hands-free driving technology, which is not available on the Prologue.
Performance and Driving Dynamics:
The Prologue typically offers less horsepower than the Blazer EV, with options ranging from 212 to 288 horsepower compared to the Blazer's 288 to 557 horsepower in its SS trim.

The driving dynamics are tuned differently; the Prologue has a softer suspension setup and lighter steering calibration to align with Honda's driving feel.

Range and Battery:
The Blazer EV offers a higher maximum driving range, with up to 324 miles on a full charge for its single-motor rear-wheel-drive variant, compared to the Prologue's max of 296 miles.

Both vehicles use the same battery technology, but the Prologue uses it uniformly across all trims, while the Blazer has different battery sizes affecting range.

Pricing:
The starting price for the Prologue is generally lower than that of the Blazer EV, making it a more budget-friendly option for those looking at similar EV features without some of the Blazer's premium trims.

Market Perception and Branding:
The Prologue is seen as Honda's stopgap entry into the EV market, leveraging GM's platform to quickly introduce an electric model while Honda develops its own. There's a sentiment among some that it feels less like a true Honda due to its GM components.

Conversely, the Blazer EV is considered a full-fledged Chevrolet product with all the brand's typical features and technology, though it has had some issues with its infotainment system.

These differences highlight how, despite sharing core components, each vehicle has distinct characteristics tailored to their respective brands' ethos and market positioning.

[AutobahnSHO]

I bet a lot of Prologue buyers were looking for something else and saw it when they got to the Honda dealer?

[veeman]

Also Prologue comes with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. If I was picking between the two and price was similar, that alone would make me choose Honda.

[Morris Minor]

"Both vehicles use the same battery technology, but the Prologue uses it uniformly across all trims, while the Blazer has different battery sizes affecting range."

ICE makers should offer different gas tank sizes. If Mazda offered something bigger than the thimble-sized tank of the CX-5, I've have taken it.

[AutobahnSHO]

ICE makers should offer different gas tank sizes. If Mazda offered something bigger than the thimble-sized tank of the CX-5, I've have taken it.

You used to be able to get extra gas tanks in the giant super duty pickups.... But sure about now.