Battery Electric Vehicle News / Enjoying the Transportation Revolution

Coastalwatch

It would seem that new models of Trucks are being announced almost as frequently as cars these days and two more here from Renault. Oh well, makes a change from buses I suppose!

Renault Trucks to add two electric trucks to lineup by 2023

Renault Trucks is expanding its electric portfolio and has announced the market launch of two new 44-tonner models for the first quarter of 2023: the Renault Trucks T E-Tech for long-distance transport and the Renault Trucks C E-Tech for construction site transport. Plans are also underway for another freight-carrying electric truck.

The new models will be produced at the Renault Trucks plant in Bourg-en-Bresse, France. They are available in various versions: as 4×2 and 6×2 semitrailer tractors and as 4×2, 6×2 and 8×4 tridem vehicles. The Renault Trucks T and C E-Tech have two and three electric motors, respectively, with a total output of up to 490 kW (666 hp) and are also equipped with an Optidriver transmission.

https://www.electrive.com/2022/03/09/renault-trucks-to-add-two-electric-trucks-to-lineup-by-2023/

JKenH

The Toyota Mirai Gets Something You Can't Find On A Tesla

A significant part of Tesla’s valuation was based on the robo-taxi promise but the legacy manufacturers are catching up on FSD and in some areas are now ahead. 

The 2022 Toyota Mirai is now available with Toyota Teammate. Just like in the Lexus, the Toyota's Advanced Drive feature is classified as a Level 2 system as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International. But unlike Tesla's Autopilot or FSD, the driver can use it without any hands on the steering wheel.

https://carbuzz.com/news/the-toyota-mirai-gets-something-you-cant-find-on-a-tesla

Martyn1981

It seems like years ago (probably was) that I mentioned how Trump had refused to renew California's permission to set its own car standards, something that before him had been renewed about 100 times (every 6 months).

Well it's back, and really important (hence T's actions) since Cali accounts for about 10% of US car sales, so building a mix of cars to meet US or Cali standards isn't economical, so company's have to lean towards the higher Cali standards.

EPA Reinstates California’s Authority To Set Stricter Auto Pollution Standards

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reinstated California’s authority to set its own motor vehicle pollution standards, the LA Times reported yesterday. You may remember the drama during the Trump administration when the EPA kind of lost its mind and said that California could not require higher fuel economy standards than the nation as a whole. That was a reversal of policy that had existed for decades as an add-on effect of the US passing the Clean Air Act.

1961Nick

JKenH said:

The Toyota Mirai Gets Something You Can't Find On A Tesla

A significant part of Tesla’s valuation was based on the robo-taxi promise but the legacy manufacturers are catching up on FSD and in some areas are now ahead. 

The 2022 Toyota Mirai is now available with Toyota Teammate. Just like in the Lexus, the Toyota's Advanced Drive feature is classified as a Level 2 system as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International. But unlike Tesla's Autopilot or FSD, the driver can use it without any hands on the steering wheel.

https://carbuzz.com/news/the-toyota-mirai-gets-something-you-cant-find-on-a-tesla

Comparing Toyota Teammate to Tesla's Autopilot is like comparing a pocket calculator with a Mac. Teammate is basically radar guided cruise control with lane keeping assist & that's light years away from FSD. A robo-taxi isn't much use if it'll only take you between junctions 6 & 9 of the MI & can't navigate the on & off ramps?

Toyota have used geolocation to allow the driver to remove their hands from the steering wheel on the safest highways. Tesla require you to touch the steering wheel every 60s to confirm you're paying attention. 

JKenH

1961Nick said:

JKenH said:

The Toyota Mirai Gets Something You Can't Find On A Tesla

A significant part of Tesla’s valuation was based on the robo-taxi promise but the legacy manufacturers are catching up on FSD and in some areas are now ahead. 

The 2022 Toyota Mirai is now available with Toyota Teammate. Just like in the Lexus, the Toyota's Advanced Drive feature is classified as a Level 2 system as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International. But unlike Tesla's Autopilot or FSD, the driver can use it without any hands on the steering wheel.

https://carbuzz.com/news/the-toyota-mirai-gets-something-you-cant-find-on-a-tesla

Comparing Toyota Teammate to Tesla's Autopilot is like comparing a pocket calculator with a Mac. Teammate is basically radar guided cruise control with lane keeping assist & that's light years away from FSD. A robo-taxi isn't much use if it'll only take you between junctions 6 & 9 of the MI & can't navigate the on & off ramps?

Toyota have used geolocation to allow the driver to remove their hands from the steering wheel on the safest highways. Tesla require you to touch the steering wheel every 60s to confirm you're paying attention. 

A robo-taxi won’t take you very far if you have to keep touching the wheel either. I think FSD is amazing but it doesn’t tick the boxes that legislators require to be ticked on the road to autonomous driving.

1961Nick

JKenH said:

A robo-taxi won’t take you very far if you have to keep touching the wheel either. I think FSD is amazing but it doesn’t tick the boxes that legislators require to be ticked on the road to autonomous driving.

The point I'm trying to make is that radar CC & LKA is all the Toyota will ever be able to do. All Tesla have to do to enable FSD now is to turn off the need to touch the steering wheel. 

JKenH

1961Nick said:

JKenH said:

A robo-taxi won’t take you very far if you have to keep touching the wheel either. I think FSD is amazing but it doesn’t tick the boxes that legislators require to be ticked on the road to autonomous driving.

The point I'm trying to make is that radar CC & LKA is all the Toyota will ever be able to do. All Tesla have to do to enable FSD now is to turn off the need to touch the steering wheel. 

As I said, I think FSD is amazing but the improvements Tesla keeps making are not taking it any nearer robo-taxi status which was used by so many Tesla fans to justify the high stock market valuations. Meanwhile other manufacturers are closer to having a functioning (albeit geographically restricted) robo-taxi service.

https://electrek.co/2021/06/07/waymo-and-cruise-hope-to-charge-for-autonomous-rides-in-california/

1961Nick

JKenH said:

As I said, I think FSD is amazing but the improvements Tesla keeps making are not taking it any nearer robo-taxi status which was used by so many Tesla fans to justify the high stock market valuations. Meanwhile other manufacturers are closer to having a functioning (albeit geographically restricted) robo-taxi service.

https://electrek.co/2021/06/07/waymo-and-cruise-hope-to-charge-for-autonomous-rides-in-california/

Waymo & Cruise are closer to the robots running around an Amazon warehouse than they are to Tesla's FSD.

Tesla are now very close to achieving level 4 autonomy & may do so this year but without regulatory approval. The data from FSD beta (level 4) is showing that the rate of disengagement is dropping rapidly with every update. Level 5 is achieved once the rate of disengagement is zero. 

JKenH

1961Nick said:

JKenH said:

As I said, I think FSD is amazing but the improvements Tesla keeps making are not taking it any nearer robo-taxi status which was used by so many Tesla fans to justify the high stock market valuations. Meanwhile other manufacturers are closer to having a functioning (albeit geographically restricted) robo-taxi service.

https://electrek.co/2021/06/07/waymo-and-cruise-hope-to-charge-for-autonomous-rides-in-california/

Waymo & Cruise are closer to the robots running around an Amazon warehouse than they are to Tesla's FSD.

Tesla are now very close to achieving level 4 autonomy & may do so this year but without regulatory approval. The data from FSD beta (level 4) is showing that the rate of disengagement is dropping rapidly with every update. Level 5 is achieved once the rate of disengagement is zero. 

We could argue this all night😀

michaels

1961Nick said:

JKenH said:

As I said, I think FSD is amazing but the improvements Tesla keeps making are not taking it any nearer robo-taxi status which was used by so many Tesla fans to justify the high stock market valuations. Meanwhile other manufacturers are closer to having a functioning (albeit geographically restricted) robo-taxi service.

https://electrek.co/2021/06/07/waymo-and-cruise-hope-to-charge-for-autonomous-rides-in-california/

Waymo & Cruise are closer to the robots running around an Amazon warehouse than they are to Tesla's FSD.

Tesla are now very close to achieving level 4 autonomy & may do so this year but without regulatory approval. The data from FSD beta (level 4) is showing that the rate of disengagement is dropping rapidly with every update. Level 5 is achieved once the rate of disengagement is zero. 

Could you link that data on Tesla disengagements please and thank you