#electric vehicle (EV) technologies

[destielmemenews]

"The administration said the loan would support the construction of a facility where Rivian will make up to 400,000 “mass-market” electric SUVs and crossovers.

Specifically, it will support construction of Rivian’s R2 and R3 models, which the company says will be sold at a “significantly lower price point” than its flagship R1 vehicle, which is considered to be a luxury car."

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[odinsblog]

As cold weather sweeps across the U.S., some electric vehicle owners are learning a bitter truth: Low temperatures can stop the cars dead in their icy tracks.

The issue crystallized this week when some Tesla owners in Chicago discovered their EVs' batteries had died in sub-zero temperatures. Drivers also said some of Tesla charging stations weren't working, or if they did work that the stations were taking longer than usual to charge up their vehicles.

“I've been here for over five hours at this point, and I still have not gotten to charge my car,” Tesla driver Brandon Welbourne told CBS Chicago. “A charge that should take 45 minutes is taking two hours.”

What happens to electric vehicles in cold weather?

Here's what to know.

Electric vehicles are less efficient in cold weather, with Recurrent's research finding that below-freezing temperatures reduced driving range up to 30% on 18 popular EV models.

An EV with a 200 to 215 mile range may only go 150 to 175 miles in the cold, Recurrent's Case said, while noting even that reduced mileage is often sufficient for most drivers. “The average person with an EV drives 30 miles a day,” he said.

Still, a shorter range in cold weather could be an issue for some owners if their EV runs out of juice miles earlier than expected, potentially leaving to hunt for an available charger or, worse, stranded in dangerously frigid conditions.

(continue reading) ❄️ 🚗​ 🥶

[netscapenavigator-official]

It’s actually still crazy to me that Tesla successfully managed to get J3400 & NACS to become the North American EV Charging standard by dangling access to the Supercharger Network over companies’ heads.

Like we HAD a universal, standardized plug that every automaker (except Tesla) was using. All cars were already being made with this plug, and all was great.

And then it wasn’t.

Because instead of Tesla (the one and ONLY company that didn’t use J1772 & CCS1) switching to the universal standard… literally every other automaker (and the countless EV models they produce) have decided to slowly, haphazardly, and somewhat prematurely, one-by-one switch their cars over to J3400 & NACS.

Now we’re in a messy situation where some cars have NACS, some don’t. Some are planned to have it, some have no word. Some automakers provide free adapters, some don’t. Oh… and there are like ZERO non-Tesla NACS stations compared to the number of CCS1 stations… so�� not only are there growing pains out the gate… but they’re gonna stick around until the notoriously slow-to-upgrade charging networks of North America decide to start adding/replacing cables en masse.

And all this… when we could’ve just had Tesla switch to J1772 & CCS1. Only their four existing cars would’ve had to have come with it, and the charging network they have 100% control over could’ve switched just as fast.

One car brand.

Four models.

One charging network.

But no. We get the shit end of the stick because people won’t stop giving Elon Musk their money.

Tesla could’ve done it, too. They adopted CCS2 in Europe after the standard was mandated. But they refused to do so in the U.S. for money reasons. Now, we’re stuck with a cable, which has smaller DC pins, potentially meaning it’s inferior and less future proofed… yay…

[renaultlove]

Renault Love presents Renault 5 EV prototype in Roland Garros livery.

[fragile-practice]

Week in Review

October 23rd-29th

Welcome to Fragile Practice, where I attempt to make something of value out of stuff I have to read.

My future plan is to do longer-form original pieces on interesting topics or trends. For now, I'm going to make the weekly reviews habitual and see if I have any time left.

Technology

OpenAI forms team to study ‘catastrophic’ AI risks, including nuclear threats - Tech Crunch; Kyle Wiggers

OpenAI launched a new research team called AI Safety and Security to investigate the potential harms of artificial intelligence focused on AI alignment, AI robustness, AI governance, and AI ethics.

Note: Same energy as “cigarette company funds medical research into smoking risks”.

Artists Allege Meta’s AI Data Deletion Request Process Is a ‘Fake PR Stunt’ - Wired; Kate Knibbs

Artists who participated in Meta’s Artificial Intelligence Artist Residency Program accused the company of failing to honor their data deletion requests and claim that Meta used their personal data to train its AI models without their consent.

Note: Someday we will stop being surprised that corporate activities without obvious profit motive are all fake PR stunts.

GM and Honda ditch plan to build cheaper electric vehicles - The Verge; Andrew J. Hawkins

General Motors and Honda cancel their joint venture to develop and produce cheaper electric vehicles for the US market, citing the chip shortage, rising costs of battery materials, and the changing market conditions.

Note: What are the odds this isn’t related to the 7 billion dollars the US government announced to create hydrogen hubs.

'AI divide' across the US leaves economists concerned - The Register; Thomas Claburn

A new study by economists from Harvard University and MIT reveals a significant gap in AI adoption and innovation across different regions in the US.

The study finds that AI usage is highest in California's Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area, but was also noted in Nashville, San Antonio, Las Vegas, New Orleans, San Diego, and Tampa, as well as Riverside, Louisville, Columbus, Austin, and Atlanta.

Nvidia to Challenge Intel With Arm-Based Processors for PCs - Bloomberg; Ian King

Nvidia is using Arm technology to develop CPUs that would challenge Intel processors in PCs, and which could go on sale as soon as 2025.

Note: I am far from an NVIDIA fan, but I’m stoked for any amount of new competition in the CPU space.

New tool lets artists fight AI image bots by hiding corrupt data in plain sight - Engadget; Sarah Fielding

A team at the University of Chicago created Nightshade, a tool that lets artists fight AI image bots by adding undetectable pixels into an image that can alter how a machine-learning model produces content and what that finished product looks like.

Nightshade is intended to protect artists work and has been tested on both Stable Diffusion and an in-house AI built by the researchers.

IBM's NorthPole chip runs AI-based image recognition 22 times faster than current chips - Tech Xplore; Bob Yirka

NorthPole combines the processing module and the data it uses in a two-dimensional array of memory blocks and interconnected CPUs, and is reportedly inspired by the human brain.

NorthPole can currently only run specialized AI processes and not training processes or large language models, but the researchers plan to test connecting multiple chips together to overcome this limitation.

Apple’s $130 Thunderbolt 4 cable could be worth it, as seen in X-ray CT scans - Ars Technica; Kevin Purdy

Note: These scans are super cool. And make me feel somewhat better about insisting on quality cables. A+.

The Shifting Web

On-by-default video calls come to X, disable to retain your sanity - The Register; Brandon Vigliarolo

Video and audio calling is limited to anyone you follow or who is in your address book, if you granted X permission to comb through it.

Calling other users also requires that they’ve sent at least one direct message to you before.

Only premium users can place calls, but everyone can receive them.

Google Search Boss Says Company Invests to Avoid Becoming ‘Roadkill’ - The New York Times; Nico Grant

Google’s senior vice president overseeing search said that he sees a world of threats that could humble his company at any moment.

Google Maps is getting new AI-powered search updates, an enhanced navigation interface and more - Tech Crunch; Aisha Malik

Note: These AI recommender systems are going to be incredibly valuable advertising space. It is interesting that Apple decided to compete with Google in maps but not in basic search, but has so far not placed ads in the search results.

Reddit finally takes its API war where it belongs: to AI companies - Ars Technica; Scharon Harding

Reddit met with generative AI companies to negotiate a deal for being paid for its data, and may block crawlers if no deal is made soon.

Note: Google searches for info on Reddit often seem more effective than searching Reddit itself.  If they are unable to make a deal, and Reddit follows through, it will be a legitimate loss for discoverability but also an incredibly interesting experiment to see what Reddit is like without Google.

Bandcamp’s Entire Union Bargaining Team Was Laid Off - 404 Media; Emanuel Maiberg

Bandcamp’s new owner (Songtradr) offered jobs to just half of existing employees, with cuts disproportionately hitting union leaders. Every member of the union’s eight-person bargaining team was laid off, and 40 of the union's 67 members lost their jobs.

Songtradr spokesperson Lindsay Nahmiache claimed that the firm didn’t have access to union membership information.

Note: This just sucks. Bandcamp is rad, and it’s hard to imagine it continuing to be rad after this. I wonder if Epic had ideas for BC that didn’t work out.

Surveillance & Digital Privacy

Mozilla Launches Annual Digital Privacy 'Creep-o-Meter'. This Year's Status:  'Very Creepy' - Slashdot

Mozilla gave the current state of digital privacy a 75.6/100, with 100 being the creepiest.

They measured security features, data collection, and data sharing practices of over 500 gadgets, apps, and cars to come up with their score.

Every car Mozilla tested failed to meet their privacy and security standards.

Note: It would be great if even one auto brand would take privacy seriously.

EPIC Testifies in Support of Massachusetts Data Privacy and Protection Act -Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)

Massachusetts version of ADPPA.

Note: While it may warm my dead heart to see any online privacy protections in law, scrambling to do so in response to generative AI is unlikely to protect Americans in any meaningful way from the surveillance driven form of capitalism we’ve all been living under for decades.

Complex Spy Platform StripedFly Bites 1M Victims - Dark Reading

StripedFly is a complex platform disguised as a cryptominer and evaded detection for six years by using a custom version of EternalBlue exploit, a built-in Tor network tunnel, and trusted services like GitLab, GitHub, and Bitbucket to communicate with C2 servers and update its functionality.

iPhones have been exposing your unique MAC despite Apple's promises otherwise - Ars Technica

A privacy feature which claimed to hide the Wi-Fi MAC address of iOS devices when joining a network was broken since iOS 14, and was finally patched in 17.1, released on Wednesday.

Note: I imagine this bug was reported a while ago, but wasn’t publically reported until the fix was released as a term of apple’s bug bounty program.

What the !#@% is a Passkey? - Electronic Frontier Foundation

Note: I welcome our passkey overlords.

[arjunvib]

How does an engine contribute to a car's powertrain?

The powertrain in a vehicle is the system responsible for generating power and delivering it to the wheels to propel the vehicle forward. The operation of a powertrain can vary depending on whether the vehicle is powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE) or an electric motor (in the case of electric vehicles). Here's a general overview of how a powertrain works in both types of vehicles:

Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Vehicle - Combustion Process: In an ICE vehicle, the powertrain starts with the combustion process in the engine. Fuel (gasoline or diesel) mixes with air in the combustion chamber and is ignited by spark plugs (in gasoline engines) or compression (in diesel engines).

Power Generation: The combustion process generates energy in the form of mechanical power, causing pistons to move up and down within the cylinders of the engine. This motion drives the crankshaft, converting linear motion into rotational motion.

Transmission: The rotational motion from the crankshaft is transmitted to the transmission, which consists of gears that allow the driver to select different ratios (speeds). This enables the engine to operate efficiently across a range of vehicle speeds.

Drivetrain: The transmission sends power to the drivetrain components, including the driveshaft, differential, and axles, which transfer power to the wheels. The differential allows the wheels to rotate at different speeds, enabling smooth turns.

Wheel Movement: The power transmitted through the drivetrain causes the wheels to rotate, propelling the vehicle forward or backward depending on the gear selection and throttle input from the driver.

Electric Vehicle (EV) -

Battery Pack: The primary source of power for the EV, storing electricity in chemical form.Powers the electric motor and provides electricity for all electronic devices within the EV.

Battery Management System (BMS): Monitors battery cell conditions, including voltage, current, temperature, and state of charge (SoC).It protects the battery against overcharging, deep discharging, and overheating and helps balance the charge across cells. Ensures optimal performance and longevity of the battery by regulating its environment.

Inverter: Converts DC from the battery pack into AC to drive the electric motor.Adjusts the frequency and amplitude of the AC output to control the motor’s speed and torque. Critical for translating electrical energy into mechanical energy efficiently.

Onboard Charger: Facilitates the conversion of external AC (from the grid) to DC to charge the battery pack. Integrated within the vehicle, allowing for charging from standard electrical outlets or specialized EV charging stations. Manages charging rate based on battery status to ensure safe and efficient charging.

DC-DC Converter: Steps down the high-voltage DC from the battery pack to the lower-voltage DC needed for the vehicle's auxiliary systems, such as lighting, infotainment, and climate control. Ensures compatibility between the high-voltage battery system and low-voltage electronic components.

Electric Motor: Converts electrical energy into mechanical energy to propel the vehicle. It can be of various types, such as induction motors or permanent magnet synchronous motors, each offering different efficiencies and characteristics. Typically provides instant torque, resulting in rapid acceleration.

Vehicle Control Unit (VCU): The central computer or electronic control unit (ECU) that governs the EV's systems. Processes inputs from the vehicle’s sensors and driver inputs to manage power delivery, regenerative braking, and vehicle dynamics. Ensures optimal performance, energy efficiency, and safety.

Power Distribution Unit (PDU): Manages electrical power distribution from the battery to the EV’s various systems. Ensures that components such as the electric motor, onboard charger, and DC-DC converter receive the power they need to operate efficiently. Protects the vehicle's electrical systems by regulating current flow and preventing electrical faults.

In both ICE vehicles and EVs, the powertrain's components work together to convert energy into motion, enabling the vehicle to move efficiently and effectively. However, the specific technologies and processes involved differ significantly between the two propulsion systems.

[techdriveplay]

What Percentage of Cars Sold in 2023 Were Electric?

The automotive industry has been rapidly shifting towards electric vehicles (EVs), driven by increasing environmental concerns, technological advancements, and government incentives. The year 2023 marked a significant milestone in this transition. This transition has raised the question: What Percentage of Cars Sold in 2023 Were Electric? Let’s dive into the data to understand the impact and…

[quickev]

Exploring the Latest Innovations in Electric Vehicle Charging

The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is on the rise globally, and as a result, the demand for efficient and accessible EV charging infrastructure has increased dramatically. To meet this growing need, innovators and industries are constantly pushing the boundaries of technology and developing cutting-edge solutions to address the challenges associated with EV charging. In this blog post, we…

[mobiosolutions]

As the UK strides towards a greener future, electric vehicles (EVs) are more crucial than ever. But how can we make EV adoption seamless and efficient? The answer lies in custom app solutions tailored for the electric vehicle ecosystem. From real-time charging station availability to smart energy management, these apps are revolutionizing how we interact with our EVs. 🇬🇧

[naqati]

The Nissan Leaf: Affordable, High-Performing, and Supercharged Electric Vehicle

Nissan Leaf Cost, Range, Performance, and Supercharging Introduction The Nissan Leaf has been a game-changer in the electric vehicle (EV) market since its launch. With its impressive cost, range, performance, and supercharging capabilities, the Nissan Leaf has become a top choice for eco-conscious drivers around the world. In this article, we will delve into the various aspects of the Nissan…

[head-post]

Musk’s Tesla joins court challenges to EU tariffs on Chinese EVs

Tesla has joined a class action lawsuit by a group of Chinese carmakers, including BYD, SAIC and Geely, suing the European Union over the imposition of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

Tesla operates the Gigafactory Shanghai plant in China, where it produces EVs for local and global markets, including European countries. The lawsuit stems from the EU imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, the lowest of which is 8 per cent.

Other carmakers, including SAIC, were subject to 35% tariffs, which ultimately caused outrage and prompted the lawsuit. The European Commission claims that “as a result of a year-long anti-subsidy investigation, the regulator has gathered evidence of Beijing ’s support for China’s electric car industry to take a leading position in the world.”

The European Commission believes it has more evidence than the US and Canada, which apply a 100 per cent tariff on electric cars made in China. Tesla is demanding the tariffs be lifted.

World reaction

Reaction to this news in the auto industry world has been mixed. European manufacturers, especially from Germany, France and Italy, expressed support for the tariffs, seeing them as a defence against competitors from China. At the same time, some countries and companies within the EU oppose these measures, fearing retaliatory steps from China and aggravation of trade relations.

Experts note that this trial may become a turning point in relations between the EU and China in the context of the global electric car industry. China has already declared its readiness to take retaliatory action if the EU does not roll back its tariffs, which could lead to a new trade war.

Free trade and environmental advocates have also called for a compromise, pointing to the importance of the availability of electric vehicles to meet the goals of reducing emissions and moving towards carbon neutrality.

The outcome of this litigation could have a significant impact not only on EU-China trade relations, but also on global trends in electric transport.

Read more HERE

[neosciencehub]

Showcasing Global Leadership: International Participation at BMGE 2025

Showcasing Global Leadership: International Participation at BMGE 2025 @neosciencehub #BMGE2025 #EVs #Technology #Automobiles #Mobility #neosciencehub

The Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 emerged as a significant platform for international participation, reflecting India’s growing stature in the global mobility market. With exhibitors from various countries showcasing their innovations, the expo highlighted the importance of cross-border collaborations and the exchange of ideas that are shaping the future of the automotive…

[mkcecollege]

Electric vehicles (EVs) are transforming transportation with promises of sustainability and reduced emissions. However, widespread adoption faces challenges like improving battery technology, building charging infrastructure, addressing range limitations, and managing power grid demands.

At M.Kumaraswamy College of Engineering (MKCE), students tackle these issues through hands-on projects, focusing on advancing batteries, expanding charging networks, optimizing vehicle efficiency, and lowering production costs. Emerging trends like autonomous EVs, ultra-fast charging, and renewable energy integration are explored, ensuring students contribute meaningfully to the EV revolution.

By blending innovation with practical training, MKCE equips future engineers to drive sustainable transportation and shape a greener world. For more interesting information click here..

[netscapenavigator-official]

Hey thanks for being an EV positive, yet still corporate critical and Tesla negative blog. My first car is an EV that I just got end of last year, and most discussion surrounding them has been... odd. It's either you're an elon bootlicker, someone who hates tesla and therefore also ALL EVs, or the conspiracy nuts who think they're woke death traps. There's some genuinely cool things about EVs, and while I don't think they'll be the entire solution for ICE cars, they have a place i think.

I think there's a middle ground for electric vehicles to exist in a more sustainable future, even if they won't (or shouldnt) be as widespread as ICE cars. Plus, driving one is just straight up fun, and this is coming from a person who used to HATE driving

Now this is an EV take on Tumblr Dot Com that I can get behind! I'll try to keep this as non-rambly as possible, but I love this topic a lot, and sometimes I just like talking about things... Sorry in advance...

I've certainly seen the division in EV opinions, too. It's shame that Tesla Fanboys ruined them for a lot of people, and Elon Musk really sealed the deal. A lot of left-leaning people on Tumblr (and the internet in general) have really been sucking down the oil industry's propaganda lately because they can't bring themselves to separate their opinion of Tesla and EVs in general. It's even starting to leach into the far-left's opinion of green technologies as a whole... which is certainly disheartening.

I, however, also find electric cars really fascinating, so that's why I enjoy talking about them so much on this blog. The concept of a car that does everything you need transportation to do, but silently, smoothly, and with zero-emissions is just so cool. Also, they kinda just... make sense. Like, I plug my dryer into the wall, it does chores. I plug my oven into the wall, it does chore. I plug my phone and laptop into the wall, they do "chores." So why not my car? Like why do I have to go out of my way to a stupid little fueling station and put a liquid in my car that has to be fracked, refined, transported, and then burned? Why can't I just charge my car at home, like every other appliance in my life? And the answer is... I can! And that's really cool! It's such a simple, novel concept, and yet it's been bastardized to hell and back, which I think is a real shame.

On the technology side of things, (in addition to Musk going off the deep end) I just think that Tesla has lost its luster. It got comfy in its market position, stopped innovating, and the legacy automakers caught up. The Hyundai Kia Motor Group is doing far more impressive things, imo. I mean, bringing 800V, sub-20 minute charging to cars that start under $50K is extremely impressive, especially when you consider the ONLY other cars that have and do that are the Porsche Taycan, Audi e-tron GT, Lucid Air, and Tesla Cybertruck (all cars that start over $80,000). Also, not to fangirl too much, but what Kia did with the EV9's drivetrain is downright industry leading... and tbh... I just don't see how people can see the innovations that companies like Hyundai, Lucid, Rivian, etc. are bringing to the market... and still think that Tesla makes good electric cars, let alone good cars at all.

Also, I completely mirror your opinion on the necessity of EVs. Being pro-electric cars doesn't mean you're pro-car dependency. Even in public transportation havens like the Netherlands or Japan, cars still have a place. Whether it be industrial, commercial, or niche personal reasons, cars will most likely have a place in the transportation world for the foreseeable future, and my philosophy regarding that is: So long as they exist, it's better for them to be zero-emission. I genuinely hope to see a public and mass transit revolution in my life time. I hope Americans will see public transportation be better funded and more accessible. I also hope, one day, people who don't want to own a car, won't have to. However, in the meantime (and for those people in the future who simply can't use public transportation for their transportation needs) an electric car is better than a ICE one. Period.

That's not to say EVs don't bring their own environmental challenges. They do. However, my opinion on the matter simply mirrors what studies and research show us: EVs are better for the environment than ICE cars, even if they aren't perfect. Every step in the right direction is a good thing, and a lack of perfection is not an excuse to to wallow and let things get worse.

And P.S.

How fun that your first car is electric! I'm totally jealous. I hope it brings you many many years of reliable transportation, well into the future. <3

[donotdestroy]

"Covering both passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles (LCVs), the global light-vehicle market saw mixed performances from EV manufacturers in the first half of 2024. One of the most noticeable trends was that OEM success followed regional growth patterns. Many Chinese vehicle makers recorded impressive growth between January and June. Compared to the restrained results of most Western OEMs, the likes of Geely, Changan, Li Auto, Seres (Aito), and Chery did particularly well."