Jump to content

Leaderboard

Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 03/16/2023 in all areas

  1. I had a recent business trip in Kentucky, part of which involved driving along I-65 between Bowling Green and Louisville. I had forgotten the battery plant site is along this path, and when I first saw it, was surprised at how large it appears to be. I've seen the SKC/Ford battery plant in Georgia, and this seems much larger. I was able to snap off a couple of pics to share with the group. I shot these on the move, so not the greatest, but at least photographic evidence of solid progress on this site:
    4 points
  2. Good to see this venture headquartered in Pittsburgh. Great Tech talent from Carnegie Mellon (one of my alma maters) and University of Pittsburgh. So many of these self driving concerns test in California where straight roads and sunny conditions prevail. Pittsburgh's challenges of roads and weather make a suitable test ground for something you entrust to the general public.
    3 points
  3. It also might become more one way? Ford will build their truck for them but I don't see a point of Ford keeping the MEB if they have a better idea or platform to use.
    2 points
  4. Sounds like the successor to Argo AI. Ford Establishes Latitude AI to Develop Future Automated Driving Technology | Ford Media Center PITTSBURGH, March 2, 2023 — Ford Motor Company has established Latitude AI, a wholly owned subsidiary focused on developing a hands-free, eyes-off-the-road automated driving system for millions of vehicles. With the formation of Latitude, Ford adds a leading team of machine learning, robotics, software, sensors, systems engineering and operations talent as the automaker grows and expands its development efforts in automated driving technology – including advancements in Ford BlueCruise, which already has accumulated more than 50 million miles of hands-free driving. Latitude is reimagining the customer experience by automating driving during times that can be tedious, stressful and unpleasant, such as bumper-to-bumper traffic or on long stretches of highway. The average driver in the U.S. spends nearly 100 hours a year sitting in traffic according to the transportation analytics firm INRIX. “We see automated driving technology as an opportunity to redefine the relationship between people and their vehicles,” said Doug Field, chief advanced product development and technology officer, Ford Motor Company. “Customers using BlueCruise are already experiencing the benefits of hands-off driving. The deep experience and talent in our Latitude team will help us accelerate the development of all-new automated driving technology – with the goal of not only making travel safer, less stressful and more enjoyable, but ultimately over time giving our customers some of their day back."
    1 point
  5. Whoops. Well regardless, MEB was small and something else was large. And....based on that, VW itself is throwing MEB away lol.
    1 point
  6. well, 2 things: 1) Ford has BS/Escape/Corsair/Maverick to replace, not including potential for a potential TC replacement. So they’ll need something capable of underpinning compact products even if sedans or hatches never reappear 2) VW’s MEB platform I think is for compact products only (I believe the version for larger products is called MQB), so if Ford is looking at replacing it with their own platform, it’d have to at least be capable of underpinning compacts - especially since Ford’s use of MEB is/was primarily focused on the European market where smaller/compact vehicles which make up the core part of the market there.
    1 point
  7. Why? If it were a venture worth investing in, they’d have kept it
    1 point
  8. Thanks for sharing this interesting post! It's always interesting to see how large companies adapt and evolve, especially in an industry as competitive and rapidly changing as the automotive industry. Reducing costs and improving quality are both important goals for any business, and I'm curious to see what specific strategies Ford has for achieving these objectives. I have a small business now and use stephenswmg.com to attract more clients. However, I hope to reach the popularity of big corporations once.
    1 point
  9. That's awesome that you're an alumnus of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. That university's Robotics Institute pioneered autonomous vehicle research almost 40 years ago. I agree that Pittsburgh is an ideal place for Latitude AI headquarters.
    1 point
  10. Better ideas, own platform and battery supply….180 degrees to what Jim Hackett signed up for.
    1 point
  11. I’m thinking it’s cause there were a lot sitting waiting to be shipped out after the software update. But maybe it will end up being faster
    1 point
  12. Ford tests all kinds of Chinese models here too doesn't mean they are coming here. Previous gen Transit Custom launched with FWD only 2 wheelbase and 2 roof height. You had to step up to the big Transit to get AWD. E-Transit Custom is indeed RWD. I wonder if it is the same basic drivetrain package as E-Transit.
    1 point
  13. You are correct Captainp4. As mentioned in the link that silvrsvt shared in the previous post, Tesla uses a variety of battery designs for its BEV and energy storage products. Some use cells designed and engineered by Tesla in-house (e.g., 4680 used in some Model Y), others use cells from suppliers like Panasonic and LG Energy Solution (e.g., 2170 used in Model 3). Tesla engineers have long worked with battery suppliers on system integration and on optimizing battery chemistry for its applications, going back to the days of the original first gen Tesla Roadster.
    1 point
  14. More info here https://insideevs.com/news/587455/batteries-tesla-using-electric-cars/
    1 point
  15. Not only volume, but cargo height could make a big difference also. I haven’t seen cargo data for new Custom yet, but the previous model’s high roof was roughly mid way between low- and high-roof full-size vans in cargo height. The L2H2 was nearly as large as an extended Econoline in volume but in a much smaller footprint (primarily due to extra height). Obviously some adults won’t be able to stand completely upright, but most will. Even those who can’t stand fully won’t have to stoop as much.
    1 point
  16. Yeah, that's true. Agreed on dumping MEB if they have their own that they want global volume on.
    1 point
  17. While I do agree that I prefer more integrated screens, I'd say the digital cluster was one of my favorite things about my Mustang. I know I'm younger than you and some others here, so my preferences are different. I recently got in a friend's Mustang rental with the regular cluster, and it looked sad and dated with that setup vs. what mine had. That said, I haven't sat in the new one, so I can't say how it is sitting in it.
    1 point
  18. It’s a very clever way to do it and anyone who is offended by it would just find something else to be offended at.
    1 point
  19. Any bets on how long this one will last? It seems like all of the major automakers' pet projects (AI, ride-sharing, etc.) only last 3-5 years.
    1 point
×
×
  • Create New...