James Scoltock
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jamesscoltock.bsky.social
James Scoltock
@jamesscoltock.bsky.social
Automotive Engineering Insight editor, freelance automotive and technology writer for magazines, websites, OEMs, and suppliers. Need something written? james_scoltock@yahoo.co.uk

Read AEI on Substack: https://automotiveengineeringinsight.substack.com/
New driving phenomenon witnessed twice last night. Slip road down to a three lane road. Car leaves slip road and heads straight into the middle lane and just sits there. Barely any traffic, left lane completely empty. Why?
March 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Time to crack out the study books again. Signed up for the JLPT N4 exam at the beginning of July, so need to put my head down for the next few weeks.
March 17, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Pick a lane Goggle
February 14, 2025 at 8:36 AM
£400 increase if I renew my car insurance with Hastings. Checked yesterday, £200 cheaper compared to my current policy if I switch to Aviva. So a £600 swing. We all know it’s a broken system, but it never ceases to amaze just how broken.
January 25, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Birthday’s, even middle-aged ones, are better when the cake looks like a rainbow inside 🌈
January 23, 2025 at 9:26 PM
January 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
It'll soon be time to publish the first edition of Automotive Engineering Insight in 2025, but before I do (heads up, it'll be next week), here's the final issue from last year...

#Substack: automotiveengineeringinsight.substack.com/p/silicon-dr...

#LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pulse/silico...
January 16, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Can’t argue, if you don’t plug a PHEV in they can be terribly inefficient. But, used properly and they’re an amazing bit of kit that can suit a lot of people, especially as a used purchase.

www.autoexpress.co.uk/exclusive/36...
Plug-in hybrid cars are essentially pointless and in 2025 it’s high time we all accepted that | Auto Express
Alex Ingram explains why he believes that PHEVs aren't all they're cracked up to be
www.autoexpress.co.uk
January 12, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Stepmom and Daughter Blues was a tale of two halves, and personally I wasn’t as taken by the second act. That said it was a bit of fun and ‘kiseki’ was used so often it’s now embedded in my brain…
January 9, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I find it incredibly difficult to get words to stick, so I’ve started watching more Japanese TV to try and help. And it has, a bit. I picked up ‘kouhei’ from the drama Unnatural (something I needed the subtitles 95% of the time for) and it’s remembered…
January 1, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Two things I want to do more of in 2025, cycling and Japanese. A bit difficult to pedal on social media but I can put some Japanese in my timeline (it might help me remember things too). So, the first word is ‘ikigai’ or your reason/purpose for living, but it’s also about doing what makes you happy.
December 26, 2024 at 3:46 PM
Should you be in Brixton and fancy some Caribbean food: fishwingsandtings.co.uk
Fish Wings & Tings – The highest standard food from the Caribbean
fishwingsandtings.co.uk
December 20, 2024 at 11:03 PM
Had a week’s trial of Duolingo Max. Being able to interact, even with AI, is a great feature and should help a lot of people. I wonder how many people will pay the subscription though.
December 18, 2024 at 10:50 PM
Thought I'd take a look at semiconductors for the latest Automotive Engineering Insight Newsletter. Fill your boots with AMD, NXP, Nvidia, Arm and Rapidus...

www.linkedin.com/pulse/silico...
December 18, 2024 at 2:21 PM
Such a good programme. Shame there are only two series, but it works beautifully.
December 18, 2024 at 12:47 PM
Sunshine. Bloody missed it. Made the most of the brightness with a mammoth dog walk.
December 14, 2024 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by James Scoltock
If you work with freelancers before you have your Xmas party or down tools for the holidays pls pls pls make sure that they are getting paid too - talk to your finance team process that invoice pretty pls #freelancers
a cartoon of a man and woman behind a podium with the words pay me
ALT: a cartoon of a man and woman behind a podium with the words pay me
media.tenor.com
December 12, 2024 at 8:37 AM
Cars, they’ve confounded us for decades

youtu.be/JxM8vxS_yLs?...
1975: FYFE ROBERTSON - Has the CAR Gone TOO FAR? | Robbie | Retro Transport | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
youtu.be
December 6, 2024 at 7:47 PM
A piece on Audi's product development restructuring in the latest issue of Automotive Testing Technology International

automotivetesting.mydigitalpublication.com/november-iss...
Automotive Testing Technology International November Issue Page 52
automotivetesting.mydigitalpublication.com
December 5, 2024 at 12:48 PM
I had wondered if having a home charger installed could affect house prices, and I guess as EV numbers increase (but before they become the norm) they could.

news.sky.com/story/money-...
December 5, 2024 at 8:45 AM
If you can’t beat them, join them. My slightly less shouty, ranty and completely reactionary thoughts on Jaguar…

www.linkedin.com/pulse/rechar...
Recharging the cat: Inside Jaguar’s EV engineering
It’s been a hectic few weeks for the Jaguar brand. It hit the headlines when its teaser video for the company’s new look caught the attention of a lot of people.
www.linkedin.com
December 4, 2024 at 12:12 PM
Audi in 2015. Seems like a lifetime ago.
December 2, 2024 at 5:17 PM
I’m sure there are reasons businesses don’t include salaries in job ads, but… if you’re looking at roles and it isn’t included surely it’s off-putting. You know how much you need to pay the bills, and it wastes everyone’s time if you apply and it turns out the money on offer doesn’t meet that need.
December 1, 2024 at 11:24 AM
Something I’ve had on the list for a very long time. One day.

youtu.be/RpH8vt5WLV0?...
Can We Cycle the Length of Japan? | 27 Days Exploring Japan By Bike | Long Way North
YouTube video by Oscar Boyd
youtu.be
November 23, 2024 at 9:36 PM
Ripping up everything that came before is a bold move by JLR for its Jaguar brand. Brave? Stupid? Time will tell, but there will no doubt be a lot of debate until the next vehicle rolls off the production line. I'm interested in how the engineers and designers use this apparent new found freedom...
November 19, 2024 at 3:17 PM