Posts

BYD Atto 3, aka Yuan Plus: 3rd bestselling EV globally.

March 26, 2023 March 26, 2023

As of March 2023, this EV from the BYD brand that few have heard of, has risen to 3rd bestselling EV globally behind the Tesla Model Y and Model 3, and could this year overtake the Model 3.

Despite this level of sales success, as the Atto 3, as it is known outside China, arrives in new markets, reviewers often struggle to communicate the significance. As the international bestselling model of the BYD brand responsible for 6 of the 10 top bestselling EVs globally.

The two speed EV transition: Manufactures vs consumers. (part 1)

February 26, 2023 February 26, 2023

It is easy to underestimate how long it will take consumers to transition to EVs, and equally easy to underestimate how urgently manufactures need to transition to avoid collapse.

Two transition speeds? Yes, brands will switch to EVs in their showroom by 2025 or risk failure, but in what seems like a complete disconnect, there will still be internal combustion vehicles on the road past 2050.

Around 10.5 million Electric Vehicles were delivered in 2022, which resulted in less than 0.7% of Internal Combustion Engine vehicles (I C EVs) being replaced by EVs during 2022, even those EVs represented 13% of new vehicles sales.

The data shows that new car showrooms transition to EVs 20x faster than the roads, and vehicle manufacture transition 20x faster then the public, and while ICEVs will likely still around beyond 2050, vehicle makers that can’t switch fast enough could collapse by 2030, bringing radical economic change.

Influence: No, they don’t want to sell your data, it’s worse.

January 16, 2023 January 16, 2023

I recently read another comment containing the ‘I don’t want google getting more of my data to sell’ and it reminded me of the question, ‘why is your data valuable?’, and the common myth that Facebook and Google etc want your data so they can sell it.

They don’t want to sell your data, but the reality, is more sinister: they want the power to change your thinking.

A different perspective: Humans maybe the greatest threat to life on Earth but also the only hope.

January 13, 2023 March 20, 2023

The title ‘one finite planet’ can be mistaken to be yet another proclamation of how we live on this amazing planet which could even be unique, and we humans are foolishly placing it all at risk. Boring.

No. Instead, the perspective is we are living on a planet that is naturally hostile to humans, where nature dictates only a limited total amount of life, can only exist for a limited time, and that time is almost at an end. When seen from this perspective, even the environment mission changes from just not interfering, to the more complex task of tackling the challenge of overcoming nature, while yes, quite importantly, not bringing life to an early end in the process.

EVs 2023: Is Tesla losing its cool as BYD ascends?

January 13, 2023 January 13, 2023

The world of EVs is changing, as is the leadership. Tesla lost 50% of its valuation in 2022. Some are predicting it will lose half of the remaining value in 2023, and although others predict the stock price will rebound, both outcomes are possible, and which becomes reality could depend very much on whether Tesla can remain ‘cool’, or through Musk and twitter becomes linked to far right.

Although entire EV future is not dependant solely on Tesla, a decline could have wide implications, for the market, competitors and the global transition to EVs. Not only are the ‘legacy’ automotive companies GM, Ford, VW and Toyota competition for the hearts and dollars from consumers, but also BYD, who is already taking the EV lead from Tesla.

Keys factor in EV trends during 2023 could turn out to be who is ‘cool’, shifting perceptions of a climate threat and the need for rapid response, and the impact of conflicts such as Ukraine. Rapid radical change for the industry, but it will take longer to impact consumers.

Who makes a profit from EVs? Does everyone but Tesla and BYD make a loss?

November 28, 2022 January 9, 2023

Why is it so hard to make money from making EVs at a competitive price?

This is an exploration of the profitability challenges, and the answers to “Do only Tesla & BYD profit from EVs?” and “Why make vehicles at a loss?“.

Auto makers must either 1) find a way to make EVs at profit, 2) close down, or 3) hope there will still be a large enough market for ICEVs for them to survive. Highly funded research indicates that in future just 5 brands will dominate 80% of the market, and the reality is only one of the top ten automotive from 2021 is a likely contender.

Surviving with an EV and no driveway: on street charging.

November 20, 2022 November 20, 2022

People have for decades owned cars without needing to refuel at home, so it may not seem obvious just how important home charging is for owners of EVs. Various surveys confirm that 80% to 95% of EV charging happens at home and given that less than 80% of people have access to a space to be able to charge at home, those who can’t charge at home are less likely to buy an EV.

To understand the problem, try living with a mobile phone without charging at home, or at work.

COP27: Climate change action sabotage?

November 16, 2022 March 30, 2023

Reports from COP27 seems indicate the key initiative this year to make wealthy nations cover the cost of the damages poor nations will incur as a result of emissions that have main originated from those wealthy nations.

The proposal as it stands has a missing an essential piece, and trying to cover for that essential piece, appears most to likely to increase emissions, and move COP away from a focus on solving the climate crisis and instead toward just fighting over the cost.

This is a troubled look at the key flaw in what has been put forward and the real solution that should be in place.

Did Al Gore nail it: Is climate change merely inconvenient, or is it an existential threat?

November 16, 2022 November 16, 2022

Claims that +1.5^oC warming would be ‘catastrophic’, and that climate change represents an ‘existential threat’ can be quite vague as just what is ‘catastrophic’ or an ‘existential threat’?

This webpaper, seeks to translate ‘catastrophic’ outcomes and ‘existential threats’ into more concrete outcomes.

“We recognise climate change is a serious problem and are committed to net zero by 2050 in order to prevent the disastrous consequences anticipated to occur by around 2026”

Typical government position: Is it ok?

EV Charging for Apartment complexes: A problem that can require a battle.

November 14, 2022 November 15, 2022

There are 3 approaches to residents of apartments being able to charge EVs:

They can go elsewhere to charge.

A small number of charging spaces will be provided.

Provision for individuals to have charging at the designated car space is facilitated.

This is a look at why charging and getting it right is a challenge for apartment complexes, those who want the problem to remain unsolved, and the merits of the possible solutions.

Car Wars: EV rebels vs oil and auto empires.

November 8, 2022 November 9, 2022

This is the exploration of a chequered history, the battles between EV and oil and auto companies that is still happening today. From companies forcefully taking back EVs from consumers to destroy them, to the battle between pop group A-Ah and authorities in Norway, to the Toyota spending billions to fight EVs and the wheels literally falling off their 2022 electric car, from industrial intrigue involving Interpol red notices, to the rise of Tesla and BYD.

The Power struggle in Australia.

November 1, 2022 November 1, 2022

From “the biggest corruption scandal ever” in Brazil, problems in Venezuela, human rights in Saudi Arabia and Iran, to the problems caused by lobbyists against action on climate change, an abundance of fossil fuels is a source of political power, yet rarely force for good, and Australia, with a wealth of coal and gas, is not spared.

The current crisis in Ukraine not only drives up energy prices globally, but it also creates a dilemma for gas producing nations.

BYD Atto 3 Australian Story.

October 21, 2022 February 1, 2023

I started a page on the Atto 3 back in April 2022, but the launch in Australia has become so complex that it justifies a separate page, so here it is together with NZ information, starting with content moved from the original page, but updated.

This is a page with details about the Australian, and New Zealand rollouts of the Atto 3 and the BYD brand, which from these humble beginnings, could become a major part of the automotive scene in both countries.

For the general overview of the Atto 3, including information learnt from the experiences of owners, including those in Australia and New Zealand, see the main Atto 3 page. For the strange events around the Australian launch, and the use of the centre rear seat for baby capsules, read on!

EV Price-Parity: It’s here already – sometimes, and EVs are setting sales records in key segments.

October 19, 2022 March 19, 2023

There already are some EVs with not just “Schrödinger’s parity“, but genuine price-parity winning not just awards, but topping sales charts. These are mostly from the Tesla and BYD duopoly, but they are not entirely alone.

Beating ICE vehicles in sales chart is the best test for price-parity, and segment by segment, EV contenders are being launched. Yes, there are still many overpriced ‘token EVs’ that either exist to satisfy green requirements, provide products for brand loyalists demanding EV products, or help convince their makers “there is little demand for EVs”.

This is an evaluation of price parity, and a list of vehicles with price parity on the market. The previously subsidy free Australian market is the base, but with inclusion of key international. The implications for established brands, and brand loyalty were surprising.

Charge Time Calculator: Configured for Atto 3.

September 27, 2022 September 27, 2022

This is a charge time calculator, which can be set to the charge curve of any car, but defaults to the values for the Atto 3.

Any transition from gas to EVs needs around 30 years.

September 24, 2022 September 24, 2022

In this polarised world, there seem to be two groups: those who all vehicles to be EVs now, and those who feel EVs will never be a good idea.

Truth is, it would create a legal minefield and cost consumers and the environment heavily to ban too quickly, but bans will come.

This is an exploration of reality of a transition to EVs, which concludes any optimum transition takes around 30 years.

This conclusion means anyone wanting to reach EVs by 2050 needs to start very soon, and anyone worried all EVs should never happen, can take comfort that any environmentally sound transition will take a long time, although for economic reasons, does need to at least start soon.

The 3rd EV wave: Tesla and the Chinese are coming, and in a hurry!

September 7, 2022 September 7, 2022

EVs can be divided into 3 waves:

EVs that people can use despite limitations including the Tesla Model S, Nissan Leaf, i-MiEV, and Zoe.

Then EVs are truly competitive in premium and enthusiast markets: Tesla Model 3, then Model Y.

Mainstream EVs at the Tesla Model A/2 price point, but so far from China, not Tesla.

While China has been another world for EVs, with price competitive EVs from US$5,000, only now in 2022 is the rest of the world getting its first 3rd wave EVs, and so far, they all come from China.

Teslas were sold globally, but every other EV, was either an EV not sold in China, or a Chinese only EV. Two separate worlds of EVs, that have begun a hurried unification and bring 3rd wave EVs and automotive industry disruption to the entire world.

EV Literacy: EV tech, AC, DC and Electric Motors and other stuff that’s different.

August 29, 2022 October 29, 2022

For almost 100 years, people have grown up in an age of the internal combustion engine. For many people, this has meant an understanding of engine capacity, cylinders, spark plugs, engine compression, crankshafts, valves, turbochargers, exhausts etc.

The bad news is that EVs mean so much that previous literacy is about to be consigned to history and replaced by permanent magnet and induction motors, regen braking, and other new terms.

The good news is, it is easy to build and EV literacy on the those ICEV foundations, so there is no need to feel illiterate in this new EV world.

One Finite Planet

Sustainability alone is only buying time.

BYD Atto 3, aka Yuan Plus: 3rd bestselling EV globally.

The two speed EV transition: Manufactures vs consumers. (part 1)

Influence: No, they don’t want to sell your data, it’s worse.

A different perspective: Humans maybe the greatest threat to life on Earth but also the only hope.

EVs 2023: Is Tesla losing its cool as BYD ascends?

Who makes a profit from EVs? Does everyone but Tesla and BYD make a loss?

Surviving with an EV and no driveway: on street charging.

COP27: Climate change action sabotage?

Did Al Gore nail it: Is climate change merely inconvenient, or is it an existential threat?

EV Charging for Apartment complexes: A problem that can require a battle.

Car Wars: EV rebels vs oil and auto empires.

The Power struggle in Australia.

BYD Atto 3 Australian Story.

EV Price-Parity: It’s here already – sometimes, and EVs are setting sales records in key segments.

Charge Time Calculator: Configured for Atto 3.

Any transition from gas to EVs needs around 30 years.

The 3rd EV wave: Tesla and the Chinese are coming, and in a hurry!

EV Literacy: EV tech, AC, DC and Electric Motors and other stuff that’s different.

Topics and Subtopics

Charge Time Calculator: Configured for Atto 3.

Economic Activity: An Obsession With An Illusion Of Prosperity.

Solar and Wind: Renewables alone not a substitute for fossil fuels.

Environmental Damage: The Overpopulation Indicator

Population Explosion: What happened to get to 8 Billion people?

Headphones, Earphones Revolution, plus B&O Beoplay H95, H9i, H9, Apple AirPods Max ETC.

Peak Child: When, and what does it mean?