Quanta Reportedly Supplying Apple With 'Autonomous Driving Solutions'

[jerryk]

Unless you have to take a 400 mile trip across several states in the midwestern winter where there are insufficient fuel charging stations to make the journey. On the other hand, there are plenty of truck stops and gas stations on the route. Additionally, the cold weather isn't really going to mess with your fuel overnight if you're not in a garage, but it will definitely lower the range on your EV the next day.

EV's are fantastic for local driving or if you live in a nice climate. Midwest winter with travel? Prefer a petrol.

Where would these insufficient charging locations be? At least for Teslas there are high speed charger across most of the interstates in the midwest. And for other brands Electrify America is building chargers as fast as they can. And it looks like BP will be adding chargers to their stations.

Hopefully we US will catch up with the EU where places like Circle K and McDonald's have chargers in their parking lots. With no underground fuel storage tanks, double walled barriers, secondary inspection wells to detect leaks, etc to install, EV chargers are relatively cheap to put in place even for small locations.

And EVs can automatically heat themselves when parked overnight. No scraping windshields, frozen windshield wiper or locks because the car interior has been at 72F for an hour while you got ready. The batteries can also pre-heat for max range.

 

[Cleartz]

Oh, I didn't know Google was also doing it as well. It's not surprising, though. I wonder how much better (or worse) Tesla would be if they had sold to Apple.

 

[Glockworkorange]

Where would these insufficient charging locations be? At least for Teslas there are high speed charger across most of the interstates in the midwest. And for other brands Electrify America is building chargers as fast as they can. And it looks like BP will be adding chargers to their stations.

Hopefully we US will catch up with the EU where places like Circle K and McDonald's have chargers in their parking lots. With no underground fuel storage tanks, double walled barriers, secondary inspection wells to detect leaks, etc to install, EV chargers are relatively cheap to put in place even for small locations.

And EVs can automatically heat themselves when parked overnight. No scraping windshields, frozen windshield wiper or locks because the car interior has been at 72F for an hour while you got ready. The batteries can also pre-heat for max range.

If we get to the point where there are charging stations in like a McDonald's or a BP, or in sufficient mass locations, I would agree. Putting them in rest areas would be great too.

Then the problem becomes---how long do I have to sit and wait for this thing to charge?

I don't want a 5 hour trip to become 6.5 because it takes that long to charge.

Bottom line---I was considering a Tesla, but for road travel throughout the midwest for work, I'm just not comfortable. I think we'll be there real soon and I believe my next car will be an EV, likely a Tesla or the I-Pace. I currently drive an F-Pace and am a Jaguar guy, however, the I-Pace does not have autonomous driving capability and Jaguar does not plan on adding it. I don't want to buy an EV without that feature set.

 

[samcheezay]

If we get to the point where there are charging stations in like a McDonald's or a BP, or in sufficient mass locations, I would agree. Putting them in rest areas would be great too.

Then the problem becomes---how long do I have to sit and wait for this thing to charge?

I don't want a 5 hour trip to become 6.5 because it takes that long to charge.

Bottom line---I was considering a Tesla, but for road travel throughout the midwest for work, I'm just not comfortable. I think we'll be there real soon and I believe my next car will be an EV, likely a Tesla or the I-Pace. I currently drive an F-Pace and am a Jaguar guy, however, the I-Pace does not have autonomous driving capability and Jaguar does not plan on adding it. I don't want to buy an EV without that feature set.

literally there are A LOT of superchargers everywhere.....sure not every single block like starbucks but it's very fast efficient now that v3 can charge 0 - 60% in 10/15 min.

Supercharger | Tesla

Stay charged anywhere you want to go by plugging into the rapidly expanding Tesla Supercharger network along your route.

www.tesla.com

 

[jerryk]

If we get to the point where there are charging stations in like a McDonald's or a BP, or in sufficient mass locations, I would agree. Putting them in rest areas would be great too.

Then the problem becomes---how long do I have to sit and wait for this thing to charge?

I don't want a 5 hour trip to become 6.5 because it takes that long to charge.

Bottom line---I was considering a Tesla, but for road travel throughout the midwest for work, I'm just not comfortable. I think we'll be there real soon and I believe my next car will be an EV, likely a Tesla or the I-Pace. I currently drive an F-Pace and am a Jaguar guy, however, the I-Pace does not have autonomous driving capability and Jaguar does not plan on adding it. I don't want to buy an EV without that feature set.

The I-Pace to me, is at least one if not 2 generations behind Tesla as far as the drive systems and efficiency goes. I suggest you study some the range issues with the I-Pace before committing. With that said, I think the I-Pace has nicer interior, and is less of a change from their ICE variant or any ICE car. Teslas are no hard to adapt to, but similar to going to a Mac from Windows, have a different way of doing things. No necessarily wrong, just different.

Regarding charging time, in my X I change charge from 10% to 75% in 40 minutes or less at a Supercharger. The X and S used older batteries packs and charge slower than the Model 3. A Model 3 would do this in 30 minutes or less. Also, Tesla is just starting to roll out the V3 Superchargers that Model 3 can charge at up 1,000 mile per hour. Now the rate slows as the battery fills, so figure 20+ min to go from 10 to 75%.

And BTW, AutoPilot on the Tesla is great! I makes the miles just disappear as you sit back and monitor it's performance as you go down the interstate. I am a private pilot and I liken it to flying an airplane on AP. You are still 100% responsible for the safety of the travel, but it is as a supervisor and commander. I does greatly reduce workload and you stay more alert.
[automerge]1571438541[/automerge]

literally there are A LOT of superchargers everywhere.....sure not every single block like starbucks but it's very fast efficient now that v3 can charge 0 - 60% in 10/15 min.

Supercharger | Tesla

Stay charged anywhere you want to go by plugging into the rapidly expanding Tesla Supercharger network along your route.

www.tesla.com

Depends where you live also. Here in the SF Bay Area we have some places that Superchargers locations less than 1/4 mile apart. And in SoCal there is a mall that some on one level of the parking structure and some on another level.

But even with free Supercharging, 99% of my charging is done at home in my garage. It takes 5 seconds to connect at night, 5 seconds to disconnect in the morning, and 1/2 hour to wipe grin off my face when I see the battery charged every morning.

 

[Lalatoon]

Aaah, I love the Tesla! Just that once it runs out of battery, you are stuck.
A hybrid car is a better solution, specially one that works like a Prius.

You will also get stuck if you run out of gas

 

[gleepskip]

You will also get stuck if you run out of gas

If an ICE driver runs out of gas, they can walk to a gas station. If a EV driver runs out of battery, they call an ICE driver.

 

[truthertech]

The only thing holding EVs back are the long charge times during long road trips (and the public's general fear of losing charge, unfounded as it is 98% of the time). I'll give a few examples from my personal lifestyle where a Tesla S or X would fail to perform (or any other pure EV):

• Driving to/from Breckenridge for skiing: I skied 15 days last winter, 105 miles each way over two high-altitude mountain passes. Little to no EV parking spots in town. 210 miles round-trip over mountain passes would be likely below the base Model X range. Model S would be very unwise as roads are often covered with (sometimes deep) snow.
• Camping: I take my 4Runner deep into the mountains on 4WD roads. Even if the Model X was capable of off-roading like my 4Runner, I typically drive 120+ miles to the start of the 4WD road. This again puts the base Model X beyond its abilities, especially when considering steep, difficult terrain and mountain passes.
• Road trips to national parks like Mesa Verde, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, etc. All outside of a full charge, all requiring long stops at super charging stations (esp compared to a gas station).
• Price: My 4Runner was $37k new with ~10" of clearance. It gets a crappy 19 mpg average, but that's $44k less than a base Model X. If I wanted the extended range of the 100D, we're talking a difference of $62k. I could nearly buy a 4Runner and TWO Model 3's for the price of one Model X 100D.

I think it isn't range anxiety as much any more than the other point you make at the end that it is the cost of the vehicles versus hybrid and ICE vehicles. A decent Tesla is way up there.

 

[DeathChill]

I think it isn't range anxiety as much any more than the other point you make at the end that it is the cost of the vehicles versus hybrid and ICE vehicles. A decent Tesla is way up there.

Disagree with that. A great Tesla is the Model 3. Where I live, the money you save on gas is equal to the car payment if you do any sort of commute.

I was never a car guy, but I can't stop gushing about the Model 3. My wife was against it until she drove it and now she says she can't go back. My parents thought it was a bad idea until I lent it to them and then they didn't want to give it back.

I mean, I've been messing with people all week with the new Smart Summon feature. My car drives itself to me in parking lots and it blows people's minds.

 

[mac_in_tosh]

iAutoOS update 3.4.7 - This update fixes a bug that causes the windshield wipers to turn on in certain emergency situations rather than the brakes being engaged and is recommended for all users of Apple Car.

 

[Vjosullivan]

My local gym has free EV charging and I haven't paid for gas for my daily commute in over a year.

You drive to the gym for exercise? 🤣

 

[DeathChill]

You drive to the gym for exercise? 🤣

Why wouldn't you?

 

[Vjosullivan]

If Apple doesn’t make their own electric car and they just focus on the autonomous driving system...then i hope they team up with VW. The upcoming VW ID Buzz is the coolest & most Apple like EV on the horizon.
View attachment 870633

It does look nice but I couldn't imagine going on tour in a fully laden electric vehicle yet. You'd spend more time hanging around recharge stations than travelling.
[automerge]1571494945[/automerge]

Why wouldn't you?

Me? No. I have weights in the house and a road I can run on outside. I probably save more on fuel than any electric car possibly could.

 

[cwt2nospam]

Aaah, I love the Tesla! Just that once it runs out of battery, you are stuck.
A hybrid car is a better solution, specially one that works like a Prius.

Do you have trouble reading directions? When the car tells you it needs to recharge, do you ignore it??? Charge the Tesla at night and this is never an issue. Buy a hybrid and running out of gas is much more likely.
[automerge]1571499101[/automerge]

A self driving car doesn't mean all electric.

Yes it does. Nobody's going to make a self driving ICE car that can refuel itself. Even if they did, nobody's going to provide insurance for it.

 

[cwt2nospam]

If an ICE driver runs out of gas, they can walk to a gas station. If a EV driver runs out of battery, they call an ICE driver.

If an EV driver runs out of battery, they're doing it deliberately to spread FUD (that has happened, sometimes by "reporters") or they're just plain stupid. There's no reason to need to stop to recharge during a normal day.

 

[philipk]

If an EV driver runs out of battery, they're doing it deliberately to spread FUD (that has happened, sometimes by "reporters") or they're just plain stupid. There's no reason to need to stop to recharge during a normal day.

I ran out of gas once. I was 19 years old and had a very busy schedule. I didn’t bother to take the time to gas up my pick up truck. When I noticed it was so low I went to get gas and living in a rural area I didn’t make it to the station in time. It never happened again.

Most people who run out of gas do so under similar circumstances. It is done around town because they didn’t take enough time to fill up. It is almost never happens on a road trip.

With an EV those scenarios will never happen as you charge every night in your garage or outside your house.

 

[DeathChill]

It does look nice but I couldn't imagine going on tour in a fully laden electric vehicle yet. You'd spend more time hanging around recharge stations than travelling.
[automerge]1571494945[/automerge]

Me? No. I have weights in the house and a road I can run on outside. I probably save more on fuel than any electric car possibly could.

On a 6 hour drive to Portland, I spent about 45 minutes total charging. I could have cut it down but I wanted to eat and wander. Trust me, it's no problem.

My gym is like a 5 minute drive but a 45 minute walk. Also, the amount of weight I lift would get really expensive to buy. Plus the motivation of watching others bust their asses. Maybe it works for you but I'm lifting heavy weights, so not an option for me. I don't think my floors can take 500 lb deadlifts.

 

[Greenmeenie]

It does look nice but I couldn't imagine going on tour in a fully laden electric vehicle yet. You'd spend more time hanging around recharge stations than travelling.
[automerge]1571494945[/automerge]

i totally could. This is coming out in 2022 & is going to have a reported 375 mile range and 30 minute quick charge. They are also incorporating a solar panel that will give the car an extra 10 mile range if you get stuck in the boonies. Touring is totally doable with those ranges. By 2025 ranges will be 500 miles plus. New charging tech is also coming that will charge in minutes making ranges moot. you’d be surprised at how many charging stations are popping up. The green grid infrastructure still needs work. And When we get a President who actually believes in science & investing in the future, that will change too. It’s happening. Most car manufacturers know this and have committed to an electric future despite our current President. Ford just bought a company called Rivian which is making an electric pickup truck with a 500 mile range and more torque & pulling power than any current gas truck. It’s definitely happening.

I tell all my gas lovin’ buddies once you drive an electric car, you will actually understand just how cool they really are. The instant acceleration on even the most basic electric car will blow you away. The lack of a combustion engine and moving parts means less maintenance too.

Is the tech ready for everyone to jump on an electric car? No. Not yet. But it’s coming. And I am totally excited for it.

 

[farewelwilliams]

You drive to the gym for exercise? 🤣

Are you suggesting I should walk for 3 hours to go lift weights + swim and walk 3 hours back? Or maybe you're suggesting I should spend $50k to install a swimming pool and add on a dedicated room to the house for lifting. You know how stupid that sounds?

Interesting you're going off topic BTW. Shows how wrong you are with EVs. Feel free to reply, but I won't be reading anymore from you as it's a waste of time going off topic.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Apple is 100% planning on releasing a premium, $150,000 electric vehicle. And it will be a massive hit

0% chance. If Apple were to release a consumer-oriented car, it would be priced at about the same price as a Tesla, just like the current premium smartphone market between Apple/Samsung.

But imo there’s almost no chance you’ll be able to buy Apple’s car, since I don’t think they’re making one to sell to consumers. It’ll be used in a transportation as a service application.

 

[DeathChill]

Are you suggesting I should walk for 3 hours to go lift weights + swim and walk 3 hours back? Or maybe you're suggesting I should spend $50k to install a swimming pool and add on a dedicated room to the house for lifting. You know how stupid that sounds?

Interesting you're going off topic BTW. Shows how wrong you are with EVs. Feel free to reply, but I won't be reading anymore from you as it's a waste of time going off topic.

I'll throw in $5.60 towards the pool as long as I get to use it whenever I want. Also, I only swim in the nude.

 

[ChrisA]

Aaah, I love the Tesla! Just that once it runs out of battery, you are stuck.
A hybrid car is a better solution, specially one that works like a Prius.

I think this applies to ANY car. Running out of gas or running out of battery power. It is pretty much the same thing.

I actually own a Prius. Good car. I get 51 MPG averaged over 31,000 miles of mixed driving but ALL the power comes from gasoline and none from the power grid.

 

[ChrisA]

Autonomous car industry is scary. How will the manufacturers of such cars escape liability when the cars causes death? I'm not saying the industry shouldn't be developed, but I'm curious to know how Apple plans to avoid paying billions in lawsuits when the cars causes death. Or do they think the cars will be perfect?

Apple will buy insurance. The cost of this insurance will be pasted on to buyers as just the price of the car. People who ride in self-driving cars will not need liability insurance.

The overall cost will be less because today human-driven cars are the leading cause of death in the world for those under about 45 years old. About a million people are killed by cars in the world each year.

So the overall cost will be reduced.

Think of it this way: If all the humans were replaced by robot drivers and these robots killed 100,000 people every year. Bad as that sounds we would be 10 times better off letting the robots drive.

Yes, the insurance is expensive but it will be less expensive than what e pay now.

 

[Vjosullivan]

Apple is 100% planning on releasing a premium, $150,000 electric vehicle. And it will be a massive hit

But it will only burn Apple electricity and run on Apple approved roads, plus when you turn right or left you'll get a pop-up message saying "Do you authorise this vehicle to access the indicators? Yes, no, yes, no, yes, no.".

 

[Vjosullivan]

Think of it this way: If all the humans were replaced by robot drivers and these robots killed 100,000 people every year. Bad as that sounds we would be 10 times better off letting the robots drive.

It might be statistically better but people don't think in statistics. It would only take a few high profile accidents to get politicians campaigning for all sorts of restrictions as part of their election campaigns. Expect to see fully automated lorries banned from cities pretty quickly after a couple of cyclists or pedestrians get run over or one comes off the road and goes through a school.