AD #4284 - Mustang Cobra Jet Sets New EV Drag Record; China Price War Spreads to Europe; Tesla Offers Free Supercharging to Boost Sales
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price war in China spreading to Europe
When companies start selling cars for much less, other countries feel the pressure too. Automakers may cut prices to keep customers, but that can hurt profits and lead to cost-cutting in the supply chain.
Shaomi
The hosts are saying Shaomi is setting up a research team in Germany and hiring experienced people from big car brands. The goal is to make cars that fit what European customers want.
Tesla Model
The Tesla Model Y is an electric SUV, meaning it runs on electricity instead of gasoline. It’s designed for daily driving and family use, with space similar to other small SUVs. The podcast is likely comparing its price to other Tesla models, especially the more expensive performance versions.
Joby Aviation
Joby Aviation is the company behind the electric air-taxi demonstrations. They’re testing flights now, but passenger service depends on getting the right approvals.
electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (EV talls)
They’re describing an electric aircraft that can take off and land vertically, without needing a long runway. The idea is to test routes and the infrastructure needed for future passenger service.
Department of Transportation pilot program
This is a government-run trial to help cities prepare for a new type of transportation. It’s about building the right infrastructure and learning how things work safely.
FAA approval
Even if a company can fly its aircraft, it still needs government permission to carry passengers. The FAA is the U.S. agency that checks safety and rules for aviation.
Apollo Global Management
Apollo is a company that’s buying another business. The hosts say the purchase is expected to improve finances and support the supplier’s operations.
VIA's auto interior business
The transcript discusses VIA’s auto interior business being acquired, including details like revenue share, manufacturing sites, and R&D centers. This is relevant because interior suppliers are a major part of vehicle cost and production capacity.
Intrepid
Intrepid provides tools that help car makers test and troubleshoot vehicles before they go on sale. It uses data and cloud software to find problems and support updates remotely.
Neovi cloud platform
Neovi is a software system that collects vehicle data and sends it to the cloud. It helps engineers spot issues quickly and push updates without having to take the car apart.
quarter mile on a prepared drag strip
The hosts describe measuring EV performance over a quarter mile on a prepared drag strip, which is a controlled surface designed for consistent traction. This matters because drag-strip conditions can strongly affect acceleration and top speed comparisons.
Ford Mustang
They’re talking about a special electric Ford Mustang built to run fast in drag races. They mention how much power it makes, how light it is, and how quickly it can be ready for the next run.
drag racing
Drag racing is racing in a straight line where you try to get to the finish as fast as you can. Since cars often run multiple times, things like how fast you can recharge and how the car launches matter a lot.
direct drive
Direct drive refers to an EV layout where the motor is connected to the wheels through a single reduction gear (often effectively one gear). This simplifies the drivetrain and reduces moving parts compared with multi-speed transmissions.
five speed transmission
A five-speed transmission in an EV is used to keep the electric motor operating in its most effective speed range. Even though many EVs use a single-speed setup, multi-speed gearboxes can help optimize acceleration and control traction during launches.
clutch
A clutch is a friction device that can connect or disconnect the drivetrain components. In a drag-focused EV with a multi-speed gearbox, the clutch strategy can control how torque is applied at launch to manage traction and drivetrain shock.
EV motor torque
Torque is the twisting force that accelerates the car, and EVs can produce it very quickly from low speed. Drag launches are largely about delivering that torque to the tires without excessive wheelspin.
free supercharging for a year
Tesla is offering free fast-charging for new buyers for a year. That can lower how much you spend on charging and make the car a better deal.
Model three
They’re talking about Tesla’s Model 3. It’s one of Tesla’s most common cars, and the incentive is tied to buying a new one.
supercharger station
Supercharger stations are Tesla’s fast-charging locations. The episode claims non-Tesla drivers pay more than Tesla drivers to use them.
kilowatts of charging a month
Kilowatts (kW) measure charging power, and the episode uses “kilowatts per month” as a way to estimate how much charging value the free membership could cover. It’s a rough way to compare the incentive’s cost against expected charging usage.
48 volt tech
A 48-volt electrical system is a step up from the traditional 12-volt architecture used in most cars. Higher voltage can improve efficiency and enable more powerful electrification features, but it requires redesigning many components to handle the new voltage.
Tesla Cybertruck
The segment credits the Tesla Cybertruck with being the first vehicle to adopt 48-volt technology. That matters because it signals Tesla’s willingness to redesign the electrical architecture to unlock new electrification capabilities.
Cherry
“Cherry” likely refers to Chery, a Chinese automaker. The segment frames Chery as collaborating with Bosch to develop a 48-volt vehicle architecture, which would affect future power and electronics design across models.
Bosh
“Bosh” in the transcript appears to refer to Bosch, a major global automotive supplier. The episode claims Bosch is partnering with a Chinese automaker to develop a 48-volt architecture, highlighting how suppliers drive electrical-platform changes.
drive by wire, break by wire
Instead of using cables and direct mechanical connections, drive-by-wire and brake-by-wire use electronics to control steering and braking. It can make advanced safety features possible, but it relies on reliable sensors and computers.
electro mechanical braking system
An electro-mechanical braking system uses electric actuation (motors/actuators) to apply braking force rather than relying on hydraulic pressure. This can eliminate hydraulic brake lines and can integrate more directly with software-based driver-assistance systems.
hydraulic brake lines
Hydraulic brake lines carry brake fluid to transmit force from the brake pedal to the calipers. The transcript contrasts this with an electro-mechanical approach that can remove those lines, which can simplify packaging and enable different control strategies.
L3 and higher level Advanced driver assistant systems
“L3” refers to SAE driving automation levels, where the car can handle driving tasks under certain conditions and the driver must be ready to take over. The segment suggests electro-mechanical braking and steer-by-wire are important enablers for higher-level driver-assistance because they allow precise, software-controlled actuation.
steer by wire
Steer-by-wire replaces the traditional mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the wheels with electronic control. This can improve packaging and allow the car to tailor steering feel and stability control, but it requires redundant electronics and fail-safe strategies.