“9-speed mechanical drivetrains were peak bike technology, and things have only worsened for consumers ever since”
January 17, 2026 at 10:18 PM
“9-speed mechanical drivetrains were peak bike technology, and things have only worsened for consumers ever since”
EV drivetrains are so insanely simple - it’s getting easier and easier to take drivetrains from donor vehicles and put them into older chassis without connectivity.
September 9, 2026 at 1:13 AM
EV drivetrains are so insanely simple - it’s getting easier and easier to take drivetrains from donor vehicles and put them into older chassis without connectivity.
@techconnectify.bsky.social apparently hybrid drivetrains are good edutainment for cats. or possibly spinning wheels.
May 7, 2026 at 1:04 PM
@techconnectify.bsky.social apparently hybrid drivetrains are good edutainment for cats. or possibly spinning wheels.
Electric *motors* do not. EV drivetrains require fluid changes at regular, but less frequent, intervals
May 12, 2026 at 9:27 PM
Electric *motors* do not. EV drivetrains require fluid changes at regular, but less frequent, intervals
What we really need are affordable EV retrofit kits for common vehicles, from sedans to F-450s. If a conversion could be installed for $10k–$20k instead of replacing whole vehicle, electrification could accelerate dramatically, especially for fleets with good bodies but worn out drivetrains.
September 16, 2026 at 7:22 AM
What we really need are affordable EV retrofit kits for common vehicles, from sedans to F-450s. If a conversion could be installed for $10k–$20k instead of replacing whole vehicle, electrification could accelerate dramatically, especially for fleets with good bodies but worn out drivetrains.
Bike drivetrains will be the end of us
October 18, 2024 at 8:03 PM
Bike drivetrains will be the end of us
my immaculate fuel light bingo record will not be thwarted by electric drivetrains
November 20, 2025 at 10:55 PM
my immaculate fuel light bingo record will not be thwarted by electric drivetrains
I caution against using this framing somewhat since hybrid drivetrains are usually much *simpler* than conventional ICE drivetrains. Toyota's hybrids are bulletproof because the "transmission" is just a planetary gearset and some motors.
But you're bang-on about maintenance
But you're bang-on about maintenance
March 24, 2025 at 6:39 PM
I caution against using this framing somewhat since hybrid drivetrains are usually much *simpler* than conventional ICE drivetrains. Toyota's hybrids are bulletproof because the "transmission" is just a planetary gearset and some motors.
But you're bang-on about maintenance
But you're bang-on about maintenance
we need to stop babying people who use multi-speed drivetrains because they're just lazy and didn't develop the leg strength for singlespeed
March 10, 2026 at 3:38 PM
we need to stop babying people who use multi-speed drivetrains because they're just lazy and didn't develop the leg strength for singlespeed
Also, electrical drivetrains are about 3x as efficient… so ~300x the vehicle miles per acre…
As long as we’re talking about energy per acre: solar would produce more than 100x the useable energy per acre versus biofuels on the vast majority of the world’s land.
Source: Creating a Sustainable Food Future, Chapter 7. www.sustainablefoodfuture.org 🔌💡🧪🌱☀️
August 2, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Also, electrical drivetrains are about 3x as efficient… so ~300x the vehicle miles per acre…
"Cars with drivetrains and engines are cheating"
March 20, 2025 at 5:55 PM
"Cars with drivetrains and engines are cheating"
Very fast changes happening in the new French vehicle stock. Almost all have batteries, and ergo electric drivetrains, but just less than half have plugs. But changing rapidly.
Very strong policy support is sustaining strong growth in sales of battery-electric cars in France, reaching 38% in August, and 30% so far this year. Subsidies are higher for lower-income households, and there are also subsidised leasing schemes for this group.
robbieandrew.github.io/carsales/?la...
robbieandrew.github.io/carsales/?la...
September 3, 2026 at 11:58 AM
Very fast changes happening in the new French vehicle stock. Almost all have batteries, and ergo electric drivetrains, but just less than half have plugs. But changing rapidly.
I like to refer to the different drivetrains in cars as their genders, because it throws off the normie car people.
May 27, 2026 at 3:00 AM
I like to refer to the different drivetrains in cars as their genders, because it throws off the normie car people.
Oh, so now Tesla is recalling cars for sudden loss of drive power?
Because back in 2017 they were doing blatant stealth recalls for this, even as Toyota and Mercedes recalled Tesla drivetrains for the same thing.
More on this in Ludicrous
web.archive.org/web/20170602...
Because back in 2017 they were doing blatant stealth recalls for this, even as Toyota and Mercedes recalled Tesla drivetrains for the same thing.
More on this in Ludicrous
web.archive.org/web/20170602...
October 22, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Oh, so now Tesla is recalling cars for sudden loss of drive power?
Because back in 2017 they were doing blatant stealth recalls for this, even as Toyota and Mercedes recalled Tesla drivetrains for the same thing.
More on this in Ludicrous
web.archive.org/web/20170602...
Because back in 2017 they were doing blatant stealth recalls for this, even as Toyota and Mercedes recalled Tesla drivetrains for the same thing.
More on this in Ludicrous
web.archive.org/web/20170602...
Those videos are golden and I don't think I can get anywhere near that quality, but my angle on hybrid drivetrains is quite different from what most people seem to cover
October 1, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Those videos are golden and I don't think I can get anywhere near that quality, but my angle on hybrid drivetrains is quite different from what most people seem to cover
As a trained mechanic specializing in drivetrains, can I?
January 2, 2024 at 5:30 AM
As a trained mechanic specializing in drivetrains, can I?
Well firstly, PHEV drivetrains shouldn't be thought of as "two separate drivetrains". Usually the drive unit takes the place of the transmission and they're mechanically simpler than a conventional ICE+automatic.
But second, batteries and iron aren't exactly equivalent.
To be clear,
But second, batteries and iron aren't exactly equivalent.
To be clear,
May 15, 2024 at 9:08 PM
Well firstly, PHEV drivetrains shouldn't be thought of as "two separate drivetrains". Usually the drive unit takes the place of the transmission and they're mechanically simpler than a conventional ICE+automatic.
But second, batteries and iron aren't exactly equivalent.
To be clear,
But second, batteries and iron aren't exactly equivalent.
To be clear,
@colinmckerracher.bsky.social:
Colin McKerracher (BloombergNEF):
"We look at several drivetrains in the report, but it's full battery electric that has won this race for future of the heavy trucking segment."
🔋🔋🔋
#battchat assets.bbhub.io/professional...
Colin McKerracher (BloombergNEF):
"We look at several drivetrains in the report, but it's full battery electric that has won this race for future of the heavy trucking segment."
🔋🔋🔋
#battchat assets.bbhub.io/professional...
September 25, 2026 at 1:28 PM
@colinmckerracher.bsky.social:
Colin McKerracher (BloombergNEF):
"We look at several drivetrains in the report, but it's full battery electric that has won this race for future of the heavy trucking segment."
🔋🔋🔋
#battchat assets.bbhub.io/professional...
Colin McKerracher (BloombergNEF):
"We look at several drivetrains in the report, but it's full battery electric that has won this race for future of the heavy trucking segment."
🔋🔋🔋
#battchat assets.bbhub.io/professional...
my take on the Ferrari Luce is that I literally could not care less what the hypercar segment is up to. The force of gravity from BEV drivetrains will act there eventually but in ways that are far less relevant to the economics of automaking or climate than any other aspect of the industry.
how does every single take on the ferrari luce make me want to die
May 29, 2026 at 5:10 PM
my take on the Ferrari Luce is that I literally could not care less what the hypercar segment is up to. The force of gravity from BEV drivetrains will act there eventually but in ways that are far less relevant to the economics of automaking or climate than any other aspect of the industry.
If you love electric car conversions you'll get a kick out of this year's Everything Electric in Sydney. Sunday (today) is the last day to see it. They've even got a couple of off-roaders powered by drivetrains from crashed Teslas. Aussie ingenuity sounds just like kiwi ingenuity. 💪
March 8, 2025 at 10:46 PM
If you love electric car conversions you'll get a kick out of this year's Everything Electric in Sydney. Sunday (today) is the last day to see it. They've even got a couple of off-roaders powered by drivetrains from crashed Teslas. Aussie ingenuity sounds just like kiwi ingenuity. 💪
Yes, features are one thing, but also requiring fancier gas, often more complicated drivetrains. The tires are often lower profile increasing the chances you will scratch wheels or get blowouts and also transmitting more bumps
August 4, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Yes, features are one thing, but also requiring fancier gas, often more complicated drivetrains. The tires are often lower profile increasing the chances you will scratch wheels or get blowouts and also transmitting more bumps
Rented a couple of CX-5s on Turo now, and currently rocking a CX-30 while visiting Arizona. I no longer regularly sample new cars, but Mazdas are nice as ever: simple interiors, not too screen-happy, great handling, nice drivetrains. New ones are nicely upscale too, soft touch material everywhere.
May 3, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Rented a couple of CX-5s on Turo now, and currently rocking a CX-30 while visiting Arizona. I no longer regularly sample new cars, but Mazdas are nice as ever: simple interiors, not too screen-happy, great handling, nice drivetrains. New ones are nicely upscale too, soft touch material everywhere.
But let’s make sure we clamp down on SRAM drivetrains and stupid looking handlebars before conducting a historical or longitudinal study on crashing in WT races
July 7, 2025 at 4:05 PM
But let’s make sure we clamp down on SRAM drivetrains and stupid looking handlebars before conducting a historical or longitudinal study on crashing in WT races
Cybertruck apparently shipped with motor control software that does not include "lockers" that mimic locking differentials like actual, mechanically linked drivetrains have.
Which is hilarious.
Which is hilarious.
January 8, 2024 at 2:56 AM
Cybertruck apparently shipped with motor control software that does not include "lockers" that mimic locking differentials like actual, mechanically linked drivetrains have.
Which is hilarious.
Which is hilarious.