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Auto execs are coming clean: EVs aren't working

Byebye Penis

Alfrescian
Loyal
Agree. But on a personal basis, I'd still stick with ICE until production of solid state EVs matures. EV fires are notoriously difficult to put out, and usually result in lost lives compared with ICE fires.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/car-catches-fire-at-changi-airport-no-injuries-reported

Car catches fire at Changi Airport; no injuries reported​


View attachment 206592
A car caught fire at Changi Airport Terminal 3 Departure Drive on Sept 18
That shouldn't be an EV,

likely coolant leak for BMW, common for german cars.
 

Hypocrite-The

Alfrescian
Loyal
Customers are now stating having buttons as controls is important...no wonder I hate the Tesla

Survey says… Hyundai owners want buttons back​

A focus group of Hyundai owners has unearthed what many motorists have been calling for: fewer touchscreen controls in new cars.
Jordan Mulach

The rise of in-car technology has led to more manufacturers moving away from physical buttons to control certain functions such as a vehicle’s infotainment system, climate control and even safety equipment.
This has been borne out of convenience and cost, allowing carmakers to save money by not installing switches and buttons, instead putting some features into the infotainment system.
However, the practice has drawn the ire of vehicle owners, with Hyundai Design North America (HDNA) recently finding out from a focus group how much of an annoyance the touchscreen-heavy approach has become for motorists.
“As we were adding integrated [infotainment] screens in our vehicles, we also tried out putting touchscreen-based controls, and people didn’t prefer that,” HDNA Vice President Ha Hak-soo told the Korea JoonAng Daily.
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Survey says… Hyundai owners want buttons back
The Santa Fe’s interior is arguable Hyundai’s least-buttoned
“When we tested with our focus group, we realised that people get stressed, annoyed and steamed when they want to control something in a pinch but are unable to do so.”
Mr Ha stopped short of saying Hyundai will move back to having more physical buttons to control certain features, but his comments suggest the brand will make a more conscious effort to not put as many controls behind a touchscreen.
While Hyundai has limited how many controls to some vehicle systems its put behind infotainment sub-menus, other brands have faced more public scrutiny for over-complicating simple changes.
In 2019, Volkswagen started to roll out haptic steering wheel buttons for the cruise control and infotainment systems, which can be triggered by a light brush.
At the same time, the climate controls in some Volkswagen Group vehicles moved into the infotainment screen. A shortcut button on the dashboard takes users to a climate control menu.
Survey says… Hyundai owners want buttons back
Volkswagen ID.5 GTX steering wheel
On some of the newer Volkswagen Group vehicles however there’s also a touch-sensitive slider below the screen, but this only raises or lowers the temperature.
Criticism of the such systems led Volkswagen boss Thomas Schäfer to announce in late 2022 that the brand would return to push-buttons, with some new models having already received the more traditional switches.
Mr Schäfer even went as far to say the haptic steering wheel switchgear, as well as touch-capacitive climate control sliders, “definitely did a lot of damage” to the brand’s image among its loyal fans.
Volkswagen isn’t the most high-profile brand to ditch physical controls, with Tesla’s popular Model Y and Model 3 electric vehicles (EVs) doing without buttons for many systems.
Survey says… Hyundai owners want buttons back
Tesla’s steering wheel indicators
The updated Tesla Model 3 in particular has indicator and windscreen wiper buttons on the steering wheel rather than a traditional stalk. Speed control of the latter is adjusted through the touchscreen.
This car’s gear selector is also now implemented in the touchscreen infotainment system.
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As reported in March, Euro NCAP – the European counterpart to Australia’s ANCAP – will attempt to quell these practices by introducing new safety criteria from January 2026 which will result in points being deducted for certain vehicle functions not being easily accessible via physical controls.
This includes indicators, hazard warning lights, windscreen wipers, activating an emergency calling system and even using the horn.
 

Hypocrite-The

Alfrescian
Loyal
Agree. But on a personal basis, I'd still stick with ICE until production of solid state EVs matures. EV fires are notoriously difficult to put out, and usually result in lost lives compared with ICE fires.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/car-catches-fire-at-changi-airport-no-injuries-reported

Car catches fire at Changi Airport; no injuries reported​


View attachment 206592
A car caught fire at Changi Airport Terminal 3 Departure Drive on Sept 18
Why not mention of the type, make and model? Why are such important information not given out? Is it and EV?
 

Hypocrite-The

Alfrescian
Loyal
Hertz loses $2 billion, largely because of electric cars
The global car renting giant has posted its fourth loss in a row as it slashes its fleet of Tesla and Polestar electric cars.

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Hertz loses $2 billion, largely because of electric cars
+ 7 Photos
Rental car giant Hertz has announced higher than expected losses of more than $AU2 billion which the company says is largely due to its failed electric vehicle strategy.

In announcing its third-quarter (July-September) 2024 results to shareholders, Hertz reported a loss of $US1.3 billion ($AU2 billion) with the majority being losses from its ex-rental electric vehicle sell-off.

The company says it is targeting an average of below $US300 ($AU460) in monthly depreciation for each vehicle, but it’s latest reported figure is nearly double at $US537 ($AU823).

The vehicle depreciation bill for the third-quarter was a staggering $US937 million ($AU1.43 billion).

The company decided to offload one-third of its United States (US) fleet of Tesla and Polestar electric cars – meaning around 20,000 vehicles – in January 2024, which it said was due to high ongoing repair costs.

The following month Hertz cancelled a deal to buy 65,000 Polestar electric cars which were also destined for its US fleet, and in April 2024 said it would sell off an addition 10,000 electric cars.

Tesla and Polestar electric cars remain available for rent through Hertz – and other rental firms – in Australia, where there are currently no plans to remove them.

Hertz loses $2 billion, largely because of electric cars
+ 7 Photos
Hertz loses $2 billion, largely because of electric cars
+ 7 Photos
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Hertz’s decision to sell its US fleet of electric cars and return to petrol-powered vehicles came as resale values of electric vehicles in the US worsened – led by the Tesla Model 3.

A September 2024 study by iSeeCars.com found the second-hand value of electric cars in North America fell by around 25 per cent over the previous 12 months.

This compared to 6.0 per cent decline for hybrids – which are increasing in popularity – and a 4.4 per cent fall for petrol-powered vehicles.

Hertz flooding the used electric car market with thousands of cars would only push Tesla and Polestar values lower – which has now seen the car-rental giant suffer bigger financial losses than expected.

Hertz loses $2 billion, largely because of electric cars
+ 7 Photos
Hertz loses $2 billion, largely because of electric cars
+ 7 Photos
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The rental company still plans to meet its previously announced goal of selling 30,000 electric vehicles from its fleet by the end of 2024.

Contributing to the used value decline has been the reduction in new-car prices of electric vehicles in the US, with Tesla repeatedly slashing new vehicle prices, something it has done elsewhere including Australia.

Tesla’s behaviour is significant as it leads US electric car sales – as it does in Australia – with its 471,374 posted sales making up more than half of all electric vehicles sold in the US year-to-date (873,151 at the end of September).

US buyers have seen the new-car price premium compared to petrol-powered models fall from 33 per cent in September 2020 to 16 per cent in September 2024, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Hertz loses $2 billion, largely because of electric cars
+ 7 Photos
Hertz also paid a premium for petrol-powered cars it purchased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A global shortage of semi-conductors – critical for new-cars – saw waiting lists stretch and prices increase, with some car makers pausing production during the supply crisis.

Hertz now has to sell petrol vehicles it paid inflated prices for during the pandemic to a readjusted market where prices have fallen back to relative normal.

While electric vehicles sales have increased in the US so far in 2024 – up around 8.4 per cent to the end of September – the US auto industry is awaiting policy changes by president-elect Donald Trump, who takes office in January 2025.

Trump’s return to The White House has seen campaign donor and Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced as part of the new government’s administration.

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