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> PC manufacturing is wildly different than car manufacturing. I would grant that PC manufacturing is wildly different than manufacturing an internal combustio

by dimal 3y ago

> PC manufacturing is wildly different than car manufacturing. I would grant that PC manufacturing is wildly different than manufacturing an internal combustion engine car, but is it wildly different making an EV car? A lot of complexity disappears once you don't have to orchestrate thousands of tiny explosions, then transmit the thrust from those explosions to multiple wheels in different areas of the car. My understanding of EVs (which is limited) is that they are much simpler.

throwawaaarrgh 3y ago
Yes, any kind of car is wildly more difficult to build at scale than a PC. The motor and transmission are only two of about two dozen systems in a car which need to operate flawlessly. Just the paint alone is hard to get right. Wrong alloy with wrong paint, it chips and flakes. Wrong application, it fades or scratches. Introduce new colors and they might react differently. So now you need to be a paint expert, and be a expert at applying paint, in multiple phases, for multiple parts, many times a day, and never make a mistake. Now do that for 23 other systems in the car and try not to make a mistake. Suspension, steering, brakes, air con, heat, ECU, brake controller, headlight controller, trim fitting, interior fitting, seats, signal and tail lights, seat belts, front/side impact air bags, bumpers, crush zones, windows, speakers, stereo, main electrical / battery, alternator/inverter, wheels, tires, etc, etc. If you screw up the torque on a bolt, break a clip, forget a fitting or connection, etc, the car now has a defect and needs to be repaired or your brand suffers from consumer complaints (in the best case) or down right safety violations or injuries (worst case). Compare that to a small metal box which has about six breadboarded electrical components, a screen and a keyboard. The car has that too, plus everything else!

by dimal 3y ago

throwawaaarrgh 3y ago

Yes, any kind of car is wildly more difficult to build at scale than a PC. The motor and transmission are only two of about two dozen systems in a car which need to operate flawlessly. Just the paint alone is hard to get right. Wrong alloy with wrong paint, it chips and flakes. Wrong application, it fades or scratches. Introduce new colors and they might react differently. So now you need to be a paint expert, and be a expert at applying paint, in multiple phases, for multiple parts, many times a day, and never make a mistake. Now do that for 23 other systems in the car and try not to make a mistake. Suspension, steering, brakes, air con, heat, ECU, brake controller, headlight controller, trim fitting, interior fitting, seats, signal and tail lights, seat belts, front/side impact air bags, bumpers, crush zones, windows, speakers, stereo, main electrical / battery, alternator/inverter, wheels, tires, etc, etc. If you screw up the torque on a bolt, break a clip, forget a fitting or connection, etc, the car now has a defect and needs to be repaired or your brand suffers from consumer complaints (in the best case) or down right safety violations or injuries (worst case). Compare that to a small metal box which has about six breadboarded electrical components, a screen and a keyboard. The car has that too, plus everything else!