The problem of electric cars for the middle class. In conversation with Carlos Tavares

[Deckard Cain]

Long story short - the supposed 'solid state' battery that Daimler or this supplier has unveiled isn't novel or that great of an improvement over a similar sized pack using conventional lithium NMC packs.

You can still publish interesting/novel discoveries in journals while retaining a patent. A patent is a method of legal enforcement in the absence of licensing that is above and beyond the scientific truth - it is meant for the realm of humans instead of pure nature. Disclosing a discovery via journal may offer a path to an alternative implementation via reverse engineering, but thats a stretch.

A patent can only be attributed to something that is novel. If you describe it previously in detail in a scientific journal you can't patent it.
You can publish scientific papers with something that you wish to patent, but you can't disclose on the paper the process you are patenting.
That might make paper acceptance difficult because reviewers might not accept that you don't disclose how the data you present was generated.
Papers in journals with high impact factors usually have very stringent review guidelines and reviewers are ruthless and very conservative in what they accept. If you knew the demands they sometimes make it's ridiculous.

 

[Deckard Cain]

It's a convenient handwaving explanation for their total and utter failure to be able to produce vehicles in competitive segments, at competitive prices. That was supposedly what PSA was bringing to the table in that they would apply those principals to offering localized Chinese models based on PSA platforms, and its been an utter failure.

Once again Tavares is making excuses for the European portion of STLA failing.

In Europe, Stellantis is dominating the segments with highest sales volume. They dominate the city and subcompact segment, subcompact SUV segment, are the second biggest on the compact segment, and also have great sales on the compact SUV segment.
They have the 3rd biggest sales volume of EVs.

They are very competitive in segments with cut throat competition where they have to compete by price. As opposed to the US where they had to exit the segments that many mopar fans love, like the compact and midsize segments. I don't want to have this constant back and forth with you defending the former PSA business because quite frankly I'm not a great fan of their vehicles handling, infotainment and the way they're decharacterizing Opel and will do the same with Fiat.

 

[TripleT]

A patent can only be attributed to something that is novel. If you describe it previously in detail in a scientific journal you can't patent it.
You can publish scientific papers with something that you wish to patent, but you can't disclose on the paper the process you are patenting.
That might make paper acceptance difficult because reviewers might not accept that you don't disclose how the data you present was generated.
Papers in journals with high impact factors usually have very stringent review guidelines and reviewers are ruthless and very conservative in what they accept. If you knew the demands they sometimes make it's ridiculous.

There are Design patents. In the EU it is first to apply, which I am not a fan of because you cannot work easily with you customers to develop.

 

[ScramFan]

We are talking about different things. When I talk about public transportation it's about systems in metropolitan areas. Some cities in the US do have very good public transportation systems as the metro/subway systems of Boston, New York, the Muni system in San Francisco, etc. Systems that replace daily commuting for many people.
Other things that can be done is to create good bus systems, with dedicated lanes in the roads or their own separate roads (metrobus systems).

Train lines that cross the entirety of the US obviously are not competitive in terms of speed with air travel to justify high speed rail networks from LA to NY lets say.
However, in-state high speed rail should be done in several states or across neighboring state borders with the populational density that justifies it. As you show in your overlay, the area with the highest populational density in the US (the east coast) is roughly the size of Europe. Some of those states could make good train networks. Also, I believe that Cali is making a high speed rail from SF to LA?
Texas to me seems like a state that could make some awesome high speed rail network as well. Spain has what is probably the best high-speed rail network in Europe.

There's some very cool trains in the US and Canada, would be cool to see that being expanded. They're very impressive machines and train travel can be very pleasant and a vacation in itself along scenic routes.

Here we are in the 21st century, extolling the virtues of an 18th century modern of transport.

My guess is that spending gobs of money (or eminent domain) to acquire land to build rail infrastructure is like trying to drive cross country in reverse using only your mirrors.

If one truly believes in the inevitable march forward of technology, then maybe we should stop thinking in two dimensions, and look to the sky. Flying cars might not be as far off as people think.

 

[cygnus]

If you believe in technology (I have my reservations), then L3/L4/L5 driving at higher speeds than what is permitted on highways today is more within reach than mass transportation by air.

 

[Deckard Cain]

Here we are in the 21st century, extolling the virtues of an 18th century modern of transport.

My guess is that spending gobs of money (or eminent domain) to acquire land to build rail infrastructure is like trying to drive cross country in reverse using only your mirrors.

If one truly believes in the inevitable march forward of technology, then maybe we should stop thinking in two dimensions, and look to the sky. Flying cars might not be as far off as people think.

Yes high-speed train is obviously an 18th century mode of transportation. Lets just ignore that the first steam locomotive was made in the XIXth century.
And that high-speed rail competes with airplane travel in distances up to 900-1000km due to having speeds above 300km/h.

The engineering feats behind some train lines and trains in general are amazing. They're beautiful machines. If you haven't tried some scenic relaxed route in a prolonged vacation I recommend you do.
There's some great ones in North America, if you're in Europe I can point you to some amazing ones. If you see what Japan does with their trains, it's mind boggling.
If you wish to travel quickly in Europe, it's also a great mode of transport in many countries. I'll stop gushing about trains now, I usually keep that to other forums.

As for flying cars, thanks but no thanks. It's already risky enough to handle all the idiots in the road when they can only come from two dimensions. Please don't make me have to worry with a third dimension!

 

[Deckard Cain]

If you believe in technology (I have my reservations), then L3/L4/L5 driving at higher speeds than what is permitted on highways today is more within reach than mass transportation by air.

I think that's way more promising than air travel as well.