The Future of the Automobile Lecture

[freebeard]

Thanks for that, ChewChewTrain.

Xist -- I thought the (non-car-owning) speaker was entertaining. Especially when he tries to imitate the sound of a gas car running up through the gears.

After a lifetime of buzzing around in VW Beetles, I'm ready for this. I spent a large part of it in the computer world, where people get antsy because the disruption doesn't happen fast enough.

I like the idea of half the parking lots turning into [hemp] gardens. The street past my place is full of jacked-up pickups and blacked out BMW M3s. If it gets quieter I could hear the train-yard better. Hey, maybe Matt Groening will pay to bring the Hyperloop to Springfield.

Auto 'enthusiasts' will discover that the Tesla drivetrain is the small-block Chevy of the 21st Century. Front-, rear- or all-wheel drive with enough beans for anything. Ecomodders will hang a Tesla 10Kw charger on the garage wall to fast charge their tricycle.

[mcrews]

I buy into what he is saying....just not as fast and as much.

And I can see a time when they are dropping electric motors into 'classics' and kit cars.

[ChewChewTrain]

Tony Seba synopsis on future technology:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmnSFdk5ISg

[ChewChewTrain]

Tony Seba left out one other important source of energy: Pole Dancers

For the benefit of all mankind, I recommend we find a way to tap that source of energy.

[redneck]

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I know how to "tap" that source of energy...




>

[ChewChewTrain]

Originally Posted by redneck

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I know how to "tap" that source of energy...




>

I thought I'd toss that "slow ball" to see who thinks like ME! Shame on you, Redneck. But I'm NOT surprised.

[Xist]

Mcrews, will people be twice as angry putting an electric drivetrain into a Firebird as Prius guts?

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

I see all this push for EVs as another attempt to soften the average white Joe. I'd rather ride a gasser scooter before I ever lurk to buy an EV.

Gimme an I! Gimme an N! Gimme S E C U R I T Y! What's that spell? Yay, insecurity :-)

[niky]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

But why on earth would you want to drive in city centers/business districts, if there was any practical alternative?

Every time I drive into the metropolis for a meeting or motoring event, I ask myself the same thing. Even paying a ridiculous Uber surcharge makes more sense than killing yourself sitting in two hour gridlock just to get across town.

When I'm not making maximal use of a vehicle (three to four occupants), I usually take a bus or walk. Even bought a kick-scooter to extend my walking range off-bus, but am wondering if a folding bike would do even better.

Originally Posted by jamesqf

There are plenty of people whose lifestyle does not take them into city centers &c on a regular basis, certainly not every workday. With the spread of reasonably fast internet into rural areas, more people will be able to avoid commuting.

I think this is the elephant in the "disruptive technology" room that the speaker is missing. Telecommuting is a potentially much bigger threat to motoring than EVs... because not everyone can afford a Tesla, but almost everyone can afford internet. Much of my additional income over the past several years comes from online work. To the point where actual physical office work feels redundant. Give us faster internet so we can successfully teleconference, and I'd never have to show my face at my desk.

Originally Posted by jamesqf

I'd go even further: the quiet is yet another reason to drive an EV.

+1

[Xist]

EV drivers are not the type to blast bad music, are they?