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We're almost at the end of the first month of the Volkswagen scandal, which now includes 11 million cars and Leonardo DiCaprio. VW's US boss has testified to Congress, blaming a few rogue software engineers. All the while, questions have raged about VW Group's future: which projects are safe, which ones are on the chopping block, and how exactly will the company recover from this?
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VW's board has finally started to answer some of those swirling questions. For starters, there's going to be much more emphasis on electrification. Electric vehicles and hybrids have played more of a bit part at VW, compared to Toyota, GM, and domestic rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz. That's going to change with a standard electric architecture that can be used across multiple vehicles and brands.VW Group isn't devoid of hybrid and EV know-how. Audi's Le Mans program has taught it a lot about high voltage automotive systems, and Porsche has a wealth of experience from the 918 Spyder, Panamera Hybrid, and even the 919 Hybrid racer. VW would be smart to leverage all these programs.
VW is the largest car company in Europe. This is what sudden, disruptive technological change looks like.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday October 16 2015, @01:49PM
The photovoltaic panels need not conform to the shape of the roof. No matter whether your roof faces N/S, E/W, or some angle in between, you can use the entire surface area of your roof to get sunlight. Putting struts under your panels may be less eye appealing than screwing them down on the roof directly, but you can angle those panels whichever way you need them to face. In fact, you might even put up more square feet of solar panel, than you have roof, if you allow them to overhang the roof some. Not to mention, any east, south, or west facing wall can support yet more panels. And, if that isn't enough, you can always put some free-standing panels over your driveway, part of your yard, or whatever. Erecting the struts and beams to support all of this may make the panels less economically attractive, but I'm pretty sure that they'll still pay off in the long run.
Why restrict yourself to the roof dimensions and contours?
“Take me to the Brig. I want to see the “real Marines”. – Major General Chesty Puller, USMC
(Score: 2) by frojack on Friday October 16 2015, @05:42PM
Why restrict yourself to the roof dimensions and contours?
Because: WIND.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday October 16 2015, @05:55PM
That reason is inadequate. Especially since I mentioned walls that face other directions than north. Wind isn't even a factor with those.
“Take me to the Brig. I want to see the “real Marines”. – Major General Chesty Puller, USMC
(Score: 2) by frojack on Friday October 16 2015, @06:22PM
Wind is a factor any time you start mounting panels on struts.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.