How Automakers Use Data

Roberto, Chris, and Sebastian meet up at the annual Battery Show in Detroit, Michigan, to talk about the show and what it means for batteries and battery production in the near and far future.

One of the promises of electric vehicles is that they could be used as a battery to power our homes and eventually the grid. That technology is making its way to more and more EV owners as automakers, utilities, and charging hardware companies work out the details. In this episode, we talk to Lynn Ames, GM head of utility and energy market business development, about partnerships and adding value to the automaker's EVs.  Be sure to subscribe via your preferred podcatcher and send us an email with comments, ideas, or just to say "hi," at [email protected].

Driving habits are a data goldmine for automakers. The question is, how are they using that data and what does it mean for drivers?In this episode, we talk with Slate about its decision not to sell data to third parties and how the automaker's configuration page helped the company make a big decision about range. Plus, Sonatus shares information about how automakers are using data based on an industry survey.  Be sure to subscribe via your preferred podcatcher and send us an email with comments, ideas, or just to say hi, at [email protected].

In a world where nearly every device talks to every other device, it's no surprise that vehicles talk to one another and to the cloud. While mapping software has utilized networked devices to help you find the quickest route to your destination, vehicle communications is more than just getting you from point A to Point B. In this episode, we talk to Honda chief engineer Sue Bai about Ohio's proactive roadway maintenance system and Miovision’s VP of V2X sales, Thomas Bauer, about how traffic lights can talk to your vehicle.

Vehicles are increasingly becoming dynamic pieces of hardware and software. In the past (outside of aftermarket upgrades), vehicles wouldn't change once they left the dealership. Now, thanks to over-the-air updates, a vehicle in your driveway can have features added while you sleep. A big part of what makes that possible and will become more commonplace is SDVs (software-defined-vehicles). In this episode, we talk to Arrow and QNX about how their technologies are bringing SDV technology to more vehicles and how that not only benefits the automakers but can result in lower vehicle prices for the consumer.  Be sure to subscribe via your preferred podcatcher and send us an email with comments, ideas, or just to say hi, at [email protected].

Self-driving vehicles are increasingly entering our roadways. Robotaxis from Waymo and Zoox are currently on US roads delivering passengers from place to place within very specific geofenced areas. The technology within those vehicles is what makes them tick, and on this episode, we talk with the two companies making robotaxis a reality.

There's a piece of technology that many say will bring EVs into the mainstream. It's solid-state batteries. With incredible energy density, these batteries can be smaller, charge quicker, and for those concerned about fires, are less prone to thermal runaway events. That means lighter cars that charge as quickly as a gas car refuels. Unfortunately, the technology needed to make Solid-state batteries mainstream and ready for mass production always feels at least a few years away. On this episode, we talk with Honda about its solid-state technology and plans and what it means for the industry as a whole.

One of the more interesting aspects of automotive production and design over the past decade is additive manufacturing. While most of what we hear about the process involves traditional 3D printing, it's a far more complex and nuanced part of the design and manufacturing process. This month we explore how companies like GM, Stratasys, and DuPont are developing and using additive manufacturing.

This month, Senior Editor Chris Clonts speaks with Voltaiq CEO Tal Sholklapper about what his battery analysis company observes in American manufacturers. Sustainability Editor Roberto Baldwin sits down with Jerald Roach, head of department, general assembly at Hyundai’s new EV-building metaplant. And Editor-in-Chief Sebastian Blanco goes deep with Andreas Letsch, director of the Battery Factory Automation Center of Competence at Bosch Rexroth AG about the company’s new motion capabilities that can make battery manufacturing more efficient.In addition to sharing information about their latest technologies, the guests also share information on entering their respective fields and the excitement that the transition to electrification has created.

The past few months have been chaotic for the electric vehicle transition. The federal tax credits are set to end, and tariffs seem to change from week to week. For this month's episode, we wanted to know what's the state of EVs directly from the mouths of companies building and moving forward with EV roadmaps. We talked to BMW about its new iX3 while at IAA in Munich, Germany, and Slate Motors after visiting the automotive startup's factory in Indiana.