InsideEVs Podcast episodes

Listening to podcast, good program. I especially appreciate more focus on charge curves.

For Kyle, is there a different EV for the next cannonball?

The last two minutes about Tesla aux enhancements was good but a 30-60 day would be a better interval: events may be rescheduled so a day, even a week would be too short and/or; selling a Tesla in the open market might take 30-60 days.

Bob Wilson

 

Agreed. As it is, you start to adapt your behavior to get the best out of whatever EV you might have.

 

First off, excellent presentation. You've hit all of my 'hot spots' but that is why I'm here:

• 00:00 - 15:15 -- EV charging (excellent!)
  • peak vs constant rate - facts and data, great!
  • A 2014 BMW i3-REx owner, I found fast DC charging is constant current until the ramp down occurs. OPINION - battery specs show constant "C" charge rates. The slowly increase plateau reveals a poorly designed Battery Management System (BMS) that as the pack voltage increases, it appears to increase the rate. Tesla does a "C" vs "SOC" metric so they are able to left edge, peak charge while the others are ... lethargic.
  • I'll attach my Tesla Fast DC charging since the BMW i3-REx has become 'driveway art.'
    • Location date cost
      Athens, AL 03/31/19 09:24 AM $5.72
      Athens, AL 03/31/19 12:34 PM $6.16
      Athens, AL 04/03/19 08:59 PM $6.05
      Athens, AL 04/04/19 05:42 PM $6.27
      Brentwood, TN 04/17/19 10:41 AM $1.56
      Memphis, TN 04/23/19 10:54 PM $5.56
      Memphis, TN 04/24/19 02:50 AM $1.50
      Tupelo, MS 04/24/19 04:38 AM $5.47
      Memphis, TN 04/30/19 08:35 PM $6.60
      Little Rock, AR 05/01/19 12:27 AM $6.36
      Catoosa, OK 05/01/19 12:16 PM $3.58
      Springfield, MO 05/10/19 06:16 PM $9.02
      Little Rock, AR 05/11/19 12:36 AM $6.84
      Memphis, TN 05/11/19 04:15 AM $1.51
      Memphis, TN 05/11/19 04:46 AM $2.50
      Tupelo, MS 05/11/19 06:34 AM $5.12
      Memphis, TN 05/18/19 07:30 PM $10.50
      Little Rock, AR 05/19/19 01:12 AM $6.60
      Texarkana, TX 05/19/19 04:11 AM $3.19
      Texarkana, TX 05/19/19 04:50 AM $2.09
      Sulphur Springs, TX 05/19/19 06:50 AM $3.41
      Plano, TX 05/19/19 02:31 PM $2.17
      Plano, TX 05/19/19 08:13 PM $13.70
      Lindale, TX 05/21/19 01:13 PM $2.64
      Monroe, LA 05/21/19 05:46 PM $0.66
      Monroe, LA 05/21/19 06:12 PM $4.40
      Pearl, MS 05/22/19 12:38 AM $4.80
      Pearl, MS 05/22/19 09:36 AM $3.60
      Meridian, MS 05/22/19 11:32 AM $3.19
      Meridian, MS 05/22/19 11:51 AM $0.88
      Birmingham, AL 05/22/19 06:16 PM $4.64
      Athens, AL 06/10/19 01:44 AM $12.65
      Bowling Green, KY 06/20/19 08:44 AM $4.06
      Louisville, KY 06/20/19 11:57 AM $4.36
      West Cincinnati, OH 06/20/19 02:17 PM $4.68
      Lima, OH 06/20/19 04:45 PM $5.46
      Maumee, OH 06/20/19 06:27 PM $3.66
      Livonia, MI 06/20/19 08:01 PM $2.40
      Maumee, OH 06/21/19 03:55 PM $5.75
      Dayton, OH 06/21/19 06:32 PM $8.26
      Louisville, KY 06/21/19 11:14 PM $4.51
      Bowling Green, KY 06/22/19 12:49 AM $5.88
      Brentwood, TN 06/22/19 02:30 AM $2.93
      Athens, AL 07/09/19 02:36 AM $2.25
      Brentwood, TN 07/09/19 03:58 AM $4.93
      Athens, AL 07/09/19 05:34 AM $1.00
      Athens, AL 08/05/19 03:25 AM $4.50
      Chattanooga, TN 08/15/19 01:21 AM $2.99
      Manchester, TN 08/15/19 01:46 AM $2.42
      Brentwood, TN 08/15/19 03:09 AM $1.56
      Brentwood, TN 08/15/19 03:16 AM $0.52
      Brentwood, TN 08/15/19 03:20 AM $1.56
      Athens, AL 08/15/19 04:46 AM $2.42
      Athens, AL 09/22/19 02:24 AM $10.89
      Oxford, AL 10/02/19 07:43 PM $1.10
      Athens, AL 10/11/19 10:28 PM $0.88
      Athens, AL 10/12/19 12:30 AM $1.32
      Athens, AL 10/13/19 01:47 PM $2.86
      Athens, AL 10/13/19 06:56 PM $1.54
      Memphis, TN 01/24/20 12:35 PM $7.15
      Little Rock, AR 01/24/20 05:09 PM $6.36
      Texarkana, TX 01/24/20 08:18 PM $4.18
      Sulphur Springs, TX 01/24/20 10:27 PM $2.64
      Ardmore, OK 01/26/20 01:18 PM $3.60
      Oklahoma City, OK 01/26/20 03:36 PM $6.08
      Catoosa, OK 01/26/20 07:34 PM $6.67
      Catoosa, OK 01/27/20 04:38 PM $2.53
      Catoosa, OK 01/27/20 05:02 PM $4.48
      Little Rock, AR 01/29/20 12:00 PM $4.56
      Memphis, TN 01/29/20 04:31 PM $6.57
      Tupelo, MS 01/29/20 07:12 PM $4.43
      Dickson, TN 03/08/20 09:12 AM $0.88
      Nashville, TN 03/08/20 10:05 AM $2.64
      Manchester, TN 03/08/20 11:13 AM $1.98
      Athens, AL 04/10/20 07:25 PM $1.76
      Nashville, TN 04/16/20 09:58 AM $5.28
      Nashville, TN 06/02/20 05:43 PM $3.63
      Athens, AL 06/19/20 12:03 PM $3.52
      Memphis, TN 06/22/20 02:08 PM $2.25
      Athens, AL 06/23/20 06:12 AM $2.20
      Acworth, GA 07/24/20 05:50 AM $4.68
      Acworth, GA 07/24/20 08:03 AM $3.90
      Athens, AL 10/04/20 08:21 PM $6.60
  • 15:02 - Kyle asks, "Does the DC fast charging for a PHEV matter?" Yes as we need to compare the cost of the same route using EV or gas. For example, it is $24 to travel EV between Huntsville-Nashville but only $6 using gas in our BMW i3-REx.
• 15:50 - Model 3 refresh
  • "Eye candy" doesn't matter compared to efficiency, kWh/mi (or mi/kWh).
  • Put a 4680 battery pack in and single cast front and rear, and I'm upgrading!
• 21:38 - Tesla Model 3 defects, so after 29,000 miles, 20 months, can you convince me my Model 3 is a POS?
• 24:54 - Phantom braking
  • I documented a reproducible phantom braking problem and Tesla released a GPS fix. The problem was on the limited access, higher speed speedway, the GPS would 'shift' to the slower speed, access road. It as reproducible and I reported it with YouTube and engineering data. A subsequent release solved the problem and I tested it on 2020.40.3 and it is still fixed.
  • There are 'random' incidents suggesting that an over or underpass for a traffic light controller intersection can lead to a phantom braking event. However, I am not submitting a bug report until AFTER the next AP/FSD release comes out. It is not that hard to install a cabin dashcam and document the problem. Ad hoc reports are not credible. Find a reproducible, phantom brake and we're on the same page (retired engineer.)
  • I have recreated 'phantom braking' with: 2014 BMW i3 Rex; 2017 Prius Prime, and; 2019 Std Rng Plus Model 3. I only care about reproducible, phantom braking. Give longitude and latitude of where it happens more than two times and I'm going on a 'road trip.'
• 33:17 - reproducible, self-driving
  • I have found that after 3-4, autopilot-to-destinations, where I choose a different but identical route, my Model 3 learns how I prefer to get there. Thereafter, it shows my preferred route, not the initial.
• 34:05 - Summon
  • There are three modes: (1) forward/back; (2) smart summon, and; (3) drive to me
    1. Use forward/back to wake up the car. Move it about 2m and the car is suddenly 'awake'.
    2. "Smart summon" often chooses a weird route that can actually drive away from Bluetooth connectivity. I don't trust it.
    3. "Drive to me" seems to choose a direct route. Not perfect but less bad than "Smart summon."
• 35:10 - ID.4
  • Put it in a VW MicroBus body and I'll replace our BMW i3-REx. Otherwise, no interest.
  • Tom, it is not a TARDIS.
• 48:35 - Polestar x
  • too inefficient, too costly ... it is not an ID.4 in a MicroBus chassis.
• 1:00:11 - "bringing in the EPA coast down data" ... excellent! Do you need some help
• 1:04:45 - unhappy with range rating ... Sorry 'bout that.
• 1:06:53 - urban vs useful range ... good discussion that has to be answered by the buyer.
• 1:08:37 - Mercedes, dead air. Does Milton work for Mercedes now?
  • Martyn nailed it!
• 1:11:30 - Tesla in India? Why deal with those 'questionable ethics' people? Pakistan or Bangladesh would make more sense.

Bob Wilson

 

I skipped ahead to the Kona section - mainly because I have a Kona that has been the shop for 2 months because it apparently needs a new battery. Backordered, no ETA. Ultimately waiting to see what this recall does - the actual remedy for the dealers is not yet released, so it is unclear what they will be doing to the cars.

 

Excellent program:

• 2:10 - Tom's rant about embedding Federal Tax Credit is spot on. You pay sales tax on what you buy. You insure for what you buy. Using the Federal Tax Credit should be an "*" so buyer will know but not be misled.
• 8:47 - Tesla price cuts hurt all of the honorable competition who are in the loss leader, first year or two of production. Making a profit in the first year is hard but if your target market competition (aka., Tesla) drops their price, it is going the sting.
• ~21:00 - when discussing the performance changes, consider doing graphs. A retired engineer, charts work better than a word salad ... but it can still be served.
• 38:18 - we'll have to agree to disagree on FSD vs ADAS. I'm a fan because at 70, driver assistance makes a lot of sense. Suggestion, include Mobileye in a compare and contrast.
• 43:28 - please give the software version, not just "the new software version."
• 46:55 - good callout for PlugShare!
• 1:07:35 - "cheapest" electric car? Try this:

Well done. More charge curves. <grins>

Bob Wilson

 

Sorry, I missed the edit cutoff but wanted to share how Rob Maurer of "Tesla Daily" presented the updated Tesla model news:


Now if you' all could do both SAE and a separate Standard Units, everyone would be happy. Combining them in one table would be pretty busy.

Bob Wilson

 

Just a thought: https://insideevs.com/news/449502/tesla-model-sx3y-comparison-october-2020/

You might consider inviting Mark Kane to share his charts in the YouTube video. In fact, you might give him a standing invitation on Thursday to bring him in as a guest ... or at least his charts. He becomes the InSideEVs "Doctor Data:"

A little busy for my tastes, the important stuff is in the chart. ​

LATE THOUGHT:
Perhaps he might do a similar chart for the top "n" EVs in EU and China?

A variation of this:


Bob Wilson

 

Hey, Domenick et al -- next time you go after Electrify America, can you convince them to come up
with some more equitable way to get "membership" benefits aside from the ONLY option of
installing their silly app? The app is only served from the google-store, so people without google
accounts can't participate -- that's flat-out discriminatory. And it doesn't install at all on some
android devices, so they didn't even package it up right. They need some kind of swift kick at
a high corporate level to provide *options* here; their support people are useless and never
pass these obvious points up the chain.

Possible solutions: rebuild the app to be more compatible, and offfer it for direct download
from their own website. And/or (re-)enable signing up on the website, establishing a payment
method, and launching a charge from there. Then anyone with a working browser could play.

You've had a direct and serious channel to their top management. Please use that to inject a dose
of reality in the realm of "customer service". This nonsense and stonewalling has gone on far too long.

_H*

 

Watching the YouTube:

• Hummer EV - trying to make everyone happy, means everyone will have at least one complaint. Reliability and parts counts have an inverse relationship and Hummer has the largest parts count.
  • Tom is right about the price 'justification' that eventually closed the Hummer line down. Calling it a 'halo' makes sense.
  • Kyle quote, "wants to pretend" PERFECT!
  • Martyn asked "Why?" A. Jeremy Clarkson so he can 'grid lock' an EV only zone.
  • Kyle 400/800 V is a by-product of catalog engineering.
  • Tom the suppliers are doing their engineering.
• Tesla 2020 Q3 - great report which means the stock drops. Regulatory credits vs executive compensation. Regulatory credits are real money versus the executive compensation comes from a stock mimeograph machine. Those executive shares are not bought on the open market.
  • The 4680 cells are revolutionary as well as the Tesla designed, cell manufacturing line.
  • Martyn called it right, no longer 'make or break.' (Hint: TSLA is quite affordable today!)
  • Domenick and team, Tesla is not just a car company.
  • Supercharges now all the way between Huntsville AL and Coffeyville KS (where Mom lives!)
• Full Self Driving - I paid $6k a year ago and next week, $10k.
  • Go team USA!!
  • Kyle, Tom, team, learn the technology by using it. At one time, a car required someone proceeding it holding a flag: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_flag_traffic_laws
  • Sh*t will happen and be corrected by an OTA update within a short time, weeks, later.
  • Martyn, have you looked at the USA gun practices? FSD is no risk compared to USA gun owners.
  • You have to relearn how a modern car works and that required 'seat time.'
  • Dudes, I'm 70 year old ... do you really want us older driver operating the car without Autopilot and Full Self Driving? Do you age every year too?
  • Tom, Autopilot is now standard, not an option.
• GM factory upgrades, OK but I'm not buying their stock.
• Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 - I already own a 2014 BMW i3-REx which is not broke.
• Tesla exporting from China to other countries ... brilliant use of capital.

Thanks guys! Excellent show but we need more charge curves. <GRINS>

Bob Wilson

 

It's not a question of "interested", it's the fact that if a non-google or apple user wants to participate in
EA membership and receive the cost benefits, they simply can't. There are plenty of other apps we
can obtain directly from their developers, this is not hard to solve.

My specific install fail was on a Samsung tablet, which is not a phone but can certainly be connected
to the internet and run network-based apps regardless.

_H*