Sony/Honda EV venture

[glaman5266]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey0MjvxH0II

TL/DW: Sony & Honda are going to be working on an electric vehicle packed to the gills with Sony tech.

This appears to be (perhaps obviously) geared mainly for the Japanese market, but do you see something like this in the future for other countries? I can see it happening in metro areas, but only for those areas & not for many years yet. I find it surprisingly optimistic that they’re shooting for a 2025 release. I tend to be rather tech averse (I loathe the thought of self-driving cars or even a simple touchscreen), but the amount of tech that Sony could cram into a vehicle could be massive.

What are your thoughts on this or similar ventures or concepts in general?

[Tarsun2]

im of the opinion that we should go back to ford model T's. i believe we are getting so far away from driving that manufacturers are no longer focusing on driving but rather focusing on ways to remove the driver from actually driving. that we are no longer focusing as we should while we drive.

BUT, at the same time, i appreciate the tech and the evolution of the car and all these crazy things that are happening. i think it amazing to be aware and watch new technologies come around.
magnetic clutch alternators that charge only when needed and based on voltage, usage, and load rather than just 14.7v constantly... DBW (which i despise) and all the factors it accounts for when you hit the gas... Misfire detection from the flywheel... Direct injection and how we study the spray on a microscopic level... its nuts and i really enjoy it but its not for me.

[SignOfZeta]

As a big fan of Honda and an ambivalent fan of Sony I can say this means nothing to me.

Sony is a consumer electronics company who makes…basically toys. Cars aren’t toys…don’t see the relationship…any relationship…other than both companies being pretty sad examples of Japan’s denouement on the global engineering scene. I’d suspect this will just be more American style upmarket trash and unrelated to the real changes in transportation that are needed.

[pghp8ntballer]

I agree with both Zeta and Tarsun on many points.

Actually watch people drive…. More electronics and gizmos to distract inattentive/borderline dangerous drivers are the exact opposite of what is needed. Electronics that remove or greatly reduce human error, absolutely. And with proper redundancy.

[SignOfZeta]

I agree with both Zeta and Tarsun on many points.

Actually watch people drive…. More electronics and gizmos to distract inattentive/borderline dangerous drivers are the exact opposite of what is needed. Electronics that remove or greatly reduce human error, absolutely. And with proper redundancy.

The car gets easier to drive…people pay less attention. So they create driver aids to help people who won’t pay attention not crash…they crash anyway…they make better tools, worse drivers, even better tools, even worse drivers…eventually you arrive at the Tesla owner who’s firebomb car drives straight into a fire truck responding to a previous crack-up…his only question as the pile still burns, “When can I get the new one?”

The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s palace. The only way to win this arms race is to disarm completely and LOOK OUT THE WINDOW.

I do feel compelled to mention that there is no real connection between EV cars and self driving cars. People get that confused.

[pghp8ntballer]

Very well said.

[THE SHOOTIST]

I think it's pissah. You can jump in your self-driving Honda, click your destination from your list of saved places, and go back to playing Call of Duty on your Playstation that's in your car while your car takes you there. No interruption of your leisure time.

[SignOfZeta]

No interruption of your leisure time.

Have you seen Wall-E?

[Tarsun2]

lmao i like that movie but the ending was really rushed. (end montage's are weird lol)

dont we have something like this already? like uber/lyft. you hop in, use the app to get to where you want to go, and keep all your leisure time in tact...

[glaman5266]

Thanks for the responses & I generally agree with all of you. I'm not a fan of it, personally. I like a more pure, hands-on driving experience (though I like my automatic transmissions, lol). Even to the point that I LIKE how loud the inside of my cab is. That way I can hear everything in the engine compartment. Heck, if someone made a vehicle with a modern, more reliable carbureted motor I'd probably be driving that. At least then I might be able to fix it myself. Probably cheaper to fix too.

im of the opinion that we should go back to ford model T's. i believe we are getting so far away from driving that manufacturers are no longer focusing on driving but rather focusing on ways to remove the driver from actually driving. that we are no longer focusing as we should while we drive.

I wouldn't go as far as a Model T, lol. But I see what you're saying. People don't pay attention to how they drive. I'm not sure how something like this would improve the ACTUAL driving experience. I'd say it surely wouldn't.

BUT, at the same time, i appreciate the tech and the evolution of the car and all these crazy things that are happening. i think it amazing to be aware and watch new technologies come around.

Agreed. Seeing some of the tech that goes into automobiles is astonishing. All that tech isn't for me, but it's kinda neat to see & good to be at least aware of it.

The car gets easier to drive…people pay less attention. So they create driver aids to help people who won’t pay attention not crash…they crash anyway…they make better tools, worse drivers, even better tools, even worse drivers…

I completely agree. What happened to actually learning how to drive? lol
An aside: I've said for years that cars are too responsive. They make you think you can get away with driving like a maniac just because you can slam on the brakes in time to stop at a red light after standing on the gas as the previous one. Cars need to be slowed down a bit IMO.