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Apple in Talks About Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles
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Apple should join http://www.charinev.org/ if they want to have any hope of changing the horrible SAE CCS Combo plug. Tesla SC, chademo, and J1772 are all electrically compatible. We just need a non crappy plug. I think Teslas is the best of the three.
Apple dropped Google Maps for good reason. On early iPhones, Google maps was just an app, off by itself. Once it became clear that maps would be deeply integrated in both the hardware and the software, they had to drop Google. Did they go over some bumps getting up to speed? Sure. They're doing pretty well now, though, the only thing I ever use GOogle maps for is 'street view,' which is a lookup function that doesn't require integration into other functions. The result of this is that Apple doesn't have to check in with Google to be able to write their OS, and Apple can sell a GPS mapping-enabled device that isn't being used as a tool for Google to serve you advertising. The same goes with any upcoming Apple car. They can build mapping into the thing without asking permission from a competitor, and still not create a product that's used as a means for Google to serve you advertising.
The base model Apple car will have a 16 mile range. The 64 mile model will cost another 100 grand.
2007: Does anyone else scratch their heads and say, "Why the hell is Apple designing a phone?" It sounds so ridiculous.
Okay, fair enough. It was just that your response seemed a little harsh, especially since I put a 'grin' emoji at the end of my comment.
Talk about Apple and sticking to its core business, one thing that has remained consistent from the beginning that has been key to their success is that they don't function as a software developer. They are a hardware company that writes its own customized, integrated software. Apple is not going to write software to run somebody else's car.
I made no predictions, beyond the high degree of difficulty and risk of what they appear to be attempting, and some of the many complex issues they are likely to encounter. In order to overcome these obstacles they will have to do a lot more than hire a bunch of people who've worked in the automotive industry. It's naive to think they can assemble an internal team that can completely blank-slate a car and bring it to market successfully in just a few years, without partnering with any number of experienced subsystems manufacturers and an existing automotive manufacturer with the available expertise, tooling, assembly lines, and supply chains. Even so it would be the most difficult product Apple has ever attempted and by no means right in their wheelhouse. They aren't calling it Project Titan for nothing.
No. Lightening 2 cable. It's thinner.
And both would bend. But, also, just like every other car it's radio would lose signal from normal driving. So don't forget to get a case for your car.
One thing about charging stations. As electric vehicles become more prevalent, we will see a stunningly fast rollout of charging infrastructure, whether proprietary, following a standard, or likely in some combination, especially early on.
Consider the current fossil fuels infrastructure. Ever consider how gas gets to your car? Millions of miles of underground pipelines had to be build to push fuel from refineries to regional tank farms, where fuel trucks go to make the short-haul trips to your local gas station. It's a massive and massively expensive infrastructure.
For charging stations, most of it is already there. Power generation and the distribution grid already exists. Since that industry is already under threat from increases in consumer-end solar and wind power generation, they will clamor to accommodate the need for vehicle charging stations everywhere. It will be the power companies' saving grace.
Consider the current fossil fuels infrastructure. Ever consider how gas gets to your car? Millions of miles of underground pipelines had to be build to push fuel from refineries to regional tank farms, where fuel trucks go to make the short-haul trips to your local gas station. It's a massive and massively expensive infrastructure.
For charging stations, most of it is already there. Power generation and the distribution grid already exists. Since that industry is already under threat from increases in consumer-end solar and wind power generation, they will clamor to accommodate the need for vehicle charging stations everywhere. It will be the power companies' saving grace.
We will see. I don't expect Apple to reinvent every aspect of this car from scratch. Nor do I expect them to build it from raw materials. It's an open question whether they will outsource the assembly, though we'll know the answer long before the first production unit rolls off the line. We'll also know which suppliers are providing certain key parts like motors and windshields (just as we currently know who makes the screen and processor for the iPhone).
If all you're saying is that it will be hard, then I agree. I couldn't do it. Raising four kids (under 4yo) is hard enough for me. But Apple has more resources than I do.
Most of the automotive manufacturing that would be completely foreign to Apple at this point would be related to internal combustion powertrains, which is pretty much a moot point for any sort of Apple car. Also, despite all the piling on of Tim Cook that happens on these forums, one thing that is unarguably in his wheelhouse is supply chains. I think the whole point of making an Apple car is not about building a better Ford, it's about making an Apple car. They'll develop whatever network of suppliers is necessary, but they're not going to be sticking an Apple logo on a Chevrolet.
I mean hard, beyond anything Apple has attempted before. Hard to the tenth power. If this project is real then I would say outsourcing the manufacturing is a virtual necessity, probably to factories in Asia. They do almost none of their own manufacturing of consumer electronics as it stands and they seem to have little interest in taking that part of their business in-house. It would take years to create the infrastructure to build cars on their own. Another order a magnitude of difficultly. We will know more when we know it, but until then I am keeping my skeptics hat on.
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Don't know about that. Recent rumors pointed to Apple making overtures to BMW to use one of their platforms, though apparently without success. This tells me they aren't stuck in Not Invented Here mode and would take on a partner to get it done.
I agree about competition, but it would be good if they used the same type of plug in! I could see Apple trying to force people to charge that their stations, using their electricity
Open sourcing the plug in type is a good thing. Tesla + Apple is something else altogether. Not a good thing.I agree about competition, but it would be good if they used the same type of plug in! I could see Apple trying to force people to charge that their stations, using their electricity
If the Apple car is like other Apple products
You'll hop in the car one morning and see a battery symbol with an X across it...and Apple won't replace it because you charged it too many times.
You'll hop in the car one morning and see a battery symbol with an X across it...and Apple won't replace it because you charged it too many times.
Give me the funds, and I would. I am sure an Apple Car would be way over what I could afford, ever.
No, Lightning Pro Plus connector.
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Wait for the third party 100,000 mAH portable USB batteries...
really happy with Apple over the years but I dont think an Electric Car will be a good thing for Apple.
as a Volt owner in San Francisco - charging spots are a premium. The charging apps are not very good
they list private spots, spots not accessible to the public and spots where there no spots. Then you get the Tesla owners who use the charging sports as parking spots and not charging their cars!
I have a chargepoint member but I only use the free spots - these are usually (not always) in parking garages where you are going to a premium for parking. I am not going to pay $1.00 to $2.00 per hour to charge on top of the $5.00/ hr parking fees. Most malls don't have charging spots. Most restraunts don't have charge spots. There is real market if companies put in solar chargers and charge normal rates.
I looked at EVGO they want you pay a monthly fee and have very few spots where I live.
The upside is that my wife works for lets he charge at work for free. There needs to be a lot more spots and the infrastructure is going to take years to build out. The big problem is these companies ( in the pay spots ) want to charge 300%-400% higher that I can charge at home.
they list private spots, spots not accessible to the public and spots where there no spots. Then you get the Tesla owners who use the charging sports as parking spots and not charging their cars!
I have a chargepoint member but I only use the free spots - these are usually (not always) in parking garages where you are going to a premium for parking. I am not going to pay $1.00 to $2.00 per hour to charge on top of the $5.00/ hr parking fees. Most malls don't have charging spots. Most restraunts don't have charge spots. There is real market if companies put in solar chargers and charge normal rates.
I looked at EVGO they want you pay a monthly fee and have very few spots where I live.
The upside is that my wife works for lets he charge at work for free. There needs to be a lot more spots and the infrastructure is going to take years to build out. The big problem is these companies ( in the pay spots ) want to charge 300%-400% higher that I can charge at home.
It's a good thing Apple is ten times as big as they were when they were working on the iPhone.
Tesla has proved it can be done. Apple doesn't have to copy Tesla, but at least they know it's possible with the will and the funding.
Wrong, Nissan has proven it can be done - to some extent. On the other hand, Tesla lives off government loans and promises of grandeur. Those of you who work in the financial sector know exactly what I'm talking about. Free money always makes things easier.
Why? They'll probably use propriety electricity that only works with an Apple car.