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Apple in Talks About Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles
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Everything piece of tech I own is Apple except my TV (but has Apple TV connected to it).
I've got a Tesla Model 3 on preorder, and would even if Apple had a car coming next year. What I love about Tesla is that they are risk takers and push the limits.
How about we add Insane mode for fun to make this car fly. Oh wait, we figured out how to make it even faster, so let's do it. We'll call it Ludicrous mode, and for our next roadster that will be even faster, we'll go maximum plaid!
Apple would never do that. They'd make a great car that's functional and intuitive, but "fun" isn't exactly in their DNA. I want to have fun with this car. For the next one, I may just want a car that I hop in and take a nap. If Apple can pull that off in another ten years, I might consider it. Tesla will have by then. Someone was already filmed taking a nap on autopilot even though it's not made for that.
Also, Apple would have to have charging stations that charge the car as quickly as Tesla. So far no one else comes close, even for upcoming cars.
I've got a Tesla Model 3 on preorder, and would even if Apple had a car coming next year. What I love about Tesla is that they are risk takers and push the limits.
How about we add Insane mode for fun to make this car fly. Oh wait, we figured out how to make it even faster, so let's do it. We'll call it Ludicrous mode, and for our next roadster that will be even faster, we'll go maximum plaid!
Apple would never do that. They'd make a great car that's functional and intuitive, but "fun" isn't exactly in their DNA. I want to have fun with this car. For the next one, I may just want a car that I hop in and take a nap. If Apple can pull that off in another ten years, I might consider it. Tesla will have by then. Someone was already filmed taking a nap on autopilot even though it's not made for that.
Also, Apple would have to have charging stations that charge the car as quickly as Tesla. So far no one else comes close, even for upcoming cars.
Or we can just skip the coercive state and its tendency to pick winners and losers and let the market figure it out. But that would mean not telling people what to do. What do you think? Too outside the box?
Yeah, right, like Tesla is going to add an Apple Lightning connector to their Supercharger stations!
"Tesla, for example, currently has around 600 charging stations worldwide, which pales in comparison to the nearly 400,000 reservations for its lower-priced Model 3. "
Do you even know how these things work??? What a misleading and useless comparison, bordering on complete nonsense. Why not compare the number of gas stations to cars? Oh and while you're at it, exclude all the independent ones, you can only count Shell and Exxon stations.
There are nearly 4000 superchargers stalls now (what their 600 was referring to), but a hundred times as many normal chargers.
Do you even know how these things work??? What a misleading and useless comparison, bordering on complete nonsense. Why not compare the number of gas stations to cars? Oh and while you're at it, exclude all the independent ones, you can only count Shell and Exxon stations.
There are nearly 4000 superchargers stalls now (what their 600 was referring to), but a hundred times as many normal chargers.
I have an Model 3 on preorder also. My friends have a Model S and a Model X (plus a model 3 on order to replace the Model S) and based on their feedback and my experience as a passenger in their cars, I want the Model 3 badly.
I'm not that impressed by insane mode, ludicrous mode, and launch mode, which all feel a bit gimmicky to me. I like the quick acceleration, but these "modes" that you have to fiddle with the touch screen to engage (for launch mode, you may have to wait a while so a heater can warm the batteries. Ain't nobody got time for that! The standard acceleration on the base Model 3 is promised to be under 6 seconds. I doubt I'll configure for just the base model, but I wouldn't pay a cent extra for "ludicrous".
If Apple had a car coming next year, I don't know what I would do. Presumably if that were the case we'd know more about Apple's car than we do now, and I would make an informed decision.
Tesla is pushing the limits of lithium battery technology, and they're building a giant Gigafactory to produce enough lithium batteries for all their cars and Powerwalls, and other battery needs. What if Apple is working with a next generation battery tech, such as the ones we read about but never seem to see in products. How about five minute charging, practically unlimited charge cycles, no need to stop at 80% to preserve battery life? More power stored more safely in a less expensive battery with less mass? Better for the environment?
I'm not predicting that Apple is doing any of that, but I do see Tesla investing heavily in lithium batteries. When they are cranking out 500,000 cars a year, they're not going to be that agile startup company any more. Someone (maybe not Apple) will come out with something that makes Tesla seem like old technology. With all this investment in lithium, they will have a hard time pivoting to the next new thing. They'll be the ones lobbying to make it harder for the new tech to succeed. They'll be the ones trying to convince the public that lithium batteries are superior to the new, untried challenger (the way incandescent bulbs, 4" LCD screens, and 3.5mm headphone jacks are superior).
I'm not making any plans based on Apple car rumors. I am cheering Apple on, because maybe Apple eventually does produce something that makes me want to trade in my Model 3 (that I will trade in my Prius for), and progress is wonderful thing.
A totally free market is too rigid and conservative for me. I see the marketplace as a fourth branch of government, capable of both protecting individual freedom and curtailing it. The checks and balances of the other three branches are crucial to the sustainability of a market. And the checks and balances of market forces are crucial to the operation of the other three branches.
Having said that, I don't see a need to get the US Congress involved in setting electric vehicle charging standards at this time. Eventually a quasi-governmental organization within the marketplace will probably hammer out some standards, using a process that's slightly less political (and less democratic) than our current Congress.
My suggestion to write to representatives in Congress was aimed at those who do feel "there oughta be a law". MacRumors isn't an effective place to start the legislative process.
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They wouldn't need to. Even if Apple's charging port is "Lightning/Bolt/waitthatcantberight" and doesn't fit the cable coming from the Supercharger stations, all there needs to be is an adapter that makes it fit (and performs the necessary handshaking/authorization to allow the electrons to start flowing).
Remember that millions of iPhone users daily charge their iPhones by connecting their lightning port to a standard USB port on a computer, wall wart, automobile, etc.
I hope that the Apple car at least uses USB Type C for compatibility, but Lightning is not a showstopper for me.
I'm using Lightning and USB Type C metaphorically, of course.
Tesla has proved how difficult it is to make money in this business, particularly as a start-up. Apple's size really doesn't have a lot to do with how they make a success of this. Granted they can capitalize it with relative ease but at the same time Tesla isn't exactly undercapitalized, and they've had a tough row to hoe.
The margins on the Tesla Model S are some of the best across the entire auto industry at over 25%.
Check here for the real story:
http://bgr.com/2015/08/11/tesla-model-s-profits-4000/
Tesla would be making profit if they stopped building SuperChargers and stopped building the Gigafactory. Apple could have an advantage by not actually building the cars themselves, though I am interested in seeing how long such an arrangement would last.
Cook openly talks about a strong emphasis on health care. It currently shows itself with SDK's and API's, but the next thing will likely be cloud based record keeping and clinic management services.
[doublepost=1464263735][/doublepost]What is a NEMA 14-50 outlet?
This is a 240 volt outlet installed on a 50 amp circuit breaker. The NEMA 14-50 is commonly used for electric range stoves and large recreational vehicles. A majority of Tesla owners install this outlet near their parking spot for home charging. The electrician will be able to provide all the necessary hardware for installation; no special equipment is required from Tesla prior to delivery. Simply plug your Mobile Connector cord with the NEMA 14-50 adapter into the outlet and the other end into your vehicle. This installation will provide a recharge rate of about 29 miles of range per hour of charge for Model S and about 25 miles per hour for Model X.
Download our NEMA 14-50 installation guide.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_J1772
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Look at how many resources Apple has compared to the VIV team and how far Siri has evolved compared to Viv. I agree - Apple's size or finances doesn't equate to success.
Yeah the 14-50 is fine for overnight charging, though you may want the Wall Connector for faster daytime AC charging. I don't think folks are arguing the house end. I think they are arguing the EVSE end. And even then that is only relevant when talking about DC charging. AC charging has been figured out, everyone (but Tesla) uses SAE J1772 plug. Tesla has an adapter, cause they are electrically compatible. DC charging has three plug types, Tesla is electrically compatible with them all but currently only has an adapter for chademo.
They'd be profitable if they stopped building the infrastructure needed to succeed long term? That's no plan, it's a capitulation.
If Apple does build a car (still not totally convinced they will) then it will be interesting to see how their approach differs from Tesla, which has shown once again that, even with a lot of time and money thrown at it, profits in this industry can be highly elusive. It is certainly not in Apple's DNA to grind out product for five years before seeing results that can measured in earnings. They'd have to be thinking of a far different plan.
I can really see Apple crashing and burning in a few years. iStuff hit a peak in he 2000s debt bubble, they showed no interest in making the Mac something that could hurt Windows when they had the chance, Apple's Cloud offerings are anaemic, the MacPro is one of the crappiest products ever and hasn't been updated since 2013, the Watch is something I've never seen outside an Apple store and now they are making a car when Tesla and the biggest car brands on the planet are all making them.
If Windows 10 wasn't a pile of dung or if Adobe made CC for Ubuntu I'd leave the sinking ship straight away.
If Windows 10 wasn't a pile of dung or if Adobe made CC for Ubuntu I'd leave the sinking ship straight away.
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Honestly, I wasn't sure how to. It happened while I was navigating/driving and I didn't snap a screenshot of the issue. Can you send me the guidelines on how to report it? (l'll do a Google search too).
Don't confuse bank balance with biggest company. Take off their retail staff and they are tiny in relative terms. 10000 staff maybe..
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Do you think selling a 500 dollar phone is the same as a 50k car? How many of these lads who boast about day one purchases do you really think will be there this time.
No, they are different. And?
Do you think selling ads to customers using google's search engine is the same as selling a self driving car? Similarly, no, they are different. And???
I see Apple Watches in the wild on a routine, probably daily basis. Unless you're checking in from the headwaters of the Amazon River, your claim above along with the rest of your "Apple is terrible" rant doesn't carry much credibility.
Imagine rolling up to a charging station and low and behold..your car isn't compatible because it was last years model. I'm all for innovation, but the USB variations are a consumer nightmare. Car companies are encouraged to innovate, but these changes to chargers are how consumers get nickeled and dimed.
Profitability for something as big as starting up a new car company is pretty much always a delayed gratification thing. Research and development, plus tooling up and building out manufacturing capacity are all enormous front-end expenditures. Nobody, including Apple is going to turn a profit on the first cars to roll off the assembly line, unless they sell for a few billion apiece. That's just not how it works.
Tesla's approach has been wise, I think. By starting with high-end models, they obliterate preconceptions about electric cars and make them something desirable. Then they work their way down to more affordable price-points with models that are still desirable and are made with expensive engineering refined and by this point actually made more affordable. So as model 3s get ready to hit the moderately-priced market, no one is looking at them as overly expensive, under-powered, mostly impractical environmental social statements. Instead, they hit a pre-prder sales record because they're cool, and not an expensive, personally inconvenient political statement.
Who knows what Apple will do? My guess is that they'll take some lessons from Tesla, and whatever car they produce, it won't be an ugly little bubble like the now-ubiquitous MotorTrend joke of a mockup.