Watt Happened: This Week’s News (In Two Minutes or Less)
By Steve Thompson – Jan. 29, 2021
You don’t have much time, so let’s dive into this week’s recap...
Tesla unveiled its revamped Model S and X, which largely included interior tweaks like a horizontal center screen, no gear selector, and a steering wheel that breaks from convention. There’s more, like door pockets, plus a screen and inductive phone charger for backseat passengers, but the massive eye catcher was certainly the Knight Rider-inspired steering wheel, which the feds are reportedly now investigating. The Model S Plaid is supposed to ship next month.
The revamped Tesla Model S and X interior is both a welcome upgrade and a questionable one.
The lack of a physical gear selector for the new Model S and X won’t be an issue because the car will simply know which way you want to go. Well, “know” is a strong word. As Musk stated, the car “guesses drive direction based on what obstacles it sees, context & nav map.” Luckily, you’ll be able to override incorrect guesses – hopefully quickly.
Musk also noted that Tesla’s long-teased Semi is on hold due to battery cell production, although Tesla expects deliveries to begin this year. In addition, Musk noted that the ever-forthcoming Roadster will be released in 2022. Then he Tweeted that the car will be able to fly “a little.”
General Motors is all in on EVs – we’ve known that ever since GM unveiled its Ultium technology and later changed its logo to somewhat, sort of, possibly resemble an electric plug – if you squint. But this week, GM’s Chairman and CEO Mary Barra dropped a bomb when she announced that GM intends to phase out its consumer-grade combustion engines by 2035 and be carbon neutral by 2040.
Lordstown released quite a bit of news this week, too, although it can largely be summed up in one sentence: Lordstown’s batteries will come from LG Chem, an SUV is coming, and an electric van will be unveiled in June.
And finally, President Joe Biden announced that the federal government will begin the process of replacing its fleet of vehicles with U.S.-made EVs. Right around the same time as this announcement came Ford stating that its Chinese-market Mach-E would be made in China rather than Mexico, which is where the U.S. version is assembled. So the next time you’re raided by the FBI, don't expect them to be driving Mach-Es.
(Main image courtesy Ford)
Follow us on Google News and Twitter, and like us on Facebook
