Stephen McLaren
@spinachconvention.bsky.social
Engineering a better future... At least I hope that's what I'm doing!
I knew someone would reference this! Bravo!
November 28, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I knew someone would reference this! Bravo!
Day 1 and 2 weren't that appealing either to be fair...
November 24, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Day 1 and 2 weren't that appealing either to be fair...
My cable car had the proud sign "this cable car was used by British Prime Minister John Major"
November 24, 2025 at 2:23 PM
My cable car had the proud sign "this cable car was used by British Prime Minister John Major"
I'm old enough to have done both, and I'm going to agree with the OP
November 24, 2025 at 10:47 AM
I'm old enough to have done both, and I'm going to agree with the OP
So many congratulations!
November 23, 2025 at 8:29 PM
So many congratulations!
That driver will likely treasure that moment for a long time. I know I would.
You should never stop being yourself, if you are this kind and caring
You should never stop being yourself, if you are this kind and caring
November 22, 2025 at 10:44 PM
That driver will likely treasure that moment for a long time. I know I would.
You should never stop being yourself, if you are this kind and caring
You should never stop being yourself, if you are this kind and caring
Yep relative cost of fuel and electricity is a massive factor. Also really hard for vehicle manufacturers to predict!
November 20, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Yep relative cost of fuel and electricity is a massive factor. Also really hard for vehicle manufacturers to predict!
These could all happen! And as I said I want combustion to disappear.
It's just not easy and it's not cheap. You likely need massive government intervention on both push / pull factors. China are willing to do that. Everyone else 🤷 but evidence to date suggests they're not!
We'll see!
🧵Fin
It's just not easy and it's not cheap. You likely need massive government intervention on both push / pull factors. China are willing to do that. Everyone else 🤷 but evidence to date suggests they're not!
We'll see!
🧵Fin
November 20, 2025 at 5:02 PM
These could all happen! And as I said I want combustion to disappear.
It's just not easy and it's not cheap. You likely need massive government intervention on both push / pull factors. China are willing to do that. Everyone else 🤷 but evidence to date suggests they're not!
We'll see!
🧵Fin
It's just not easy and it's not cheap. You likely need massive government intervention on both push / pull factors. China are willing to do that. Everyone else 🤷 but evidence to date suggests they're not!
We'll see!
🧵Fin
So, you need some or all the following to happen to make it profitable for everyone:
Battery cost/energy density gets much better
Willingness to pay more for base truck
Electricity getting cheaper relative to fuel
Massive funding for battery swap rollouts
Cont.
Battery cost/energy density gets much better
Willingness to pay more for base truck
Electricity getting cheaper relative to fuel
Massive funding for battery swap rollouts
Cont.
November 20, 2025 at 4:59 PM
So, you need some or all the following to happen to make it profitable for everyone:
Battery cost/energy density gets much better
Willingness to pay more for base truck
Electricity getting cheaper relative to fuel
Massive funding for battery swap rollouts
Cont.
Battery cost/energy density gets much better
Willingness to pay more for base truck
Electricity getting cheaper relative to fuel
Massive funding for battery swap rollouts
Cont.
You outlined another benefit of battery swap by having slower constant charge of the swapped batteries rather than very large peaks and troughs of on demand charging. I agree that this is a massive plus, but not sure of the tradeoff against having to own lots of batteries.
Cont.
Cont.
November 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM
You outlined another benefit of battery swap by having slower constant charge of the swapped batteries rather than very large peaks and troughs of on demand charging. I agree that this is a massive plus, but not sure of the tradeoff against having to own lots of batteries.
Cont.
Cont.
The battery swap gets around the time lost to charging but the investment costs are really high. Much higher than just putting chargers in.
You need to have a large number of batteries at each exchange point to ensure that users always have a fresh battery when they arrive.
Cont.
You need to have a large number of batteries at each exchange point to ensure that users always have a fresh battery when they arrive.
Cont.
November 20, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The battery swap gets around the time lost to charging but the investment costs are really high. Much higher than just putting chargers in.
You need to have a large number of batteries at each exchange point to ensure that users always have a fresh battery when they arrive.
Cont.
You need to have a large number of batteries at each exchange point to ensure that users always have a fresh battery when they arrive.
Cont.
These trucks are releasing in a very different technical environment when compared to the Prius. The batteries are already (relatively) cheap and energy dense so whilst the cost per kWh will drop, it's very unlikely to go down enough for diesel truck purchase parity.
Cont.
Cont.
November 20, 2025 at 4:50 PM
These trucks are releasing in a very different technical environment when compared to the Prius. The batteries are already (relatively) cheap and energy dense so whilst the cost per kWh will drop, it's very unlikely to go down enough for diesel truck purchase parity.
Cont.
Cont.
I want BEV trucks so bad. I want combustion to die in a ditch.
This is a short thread based on my own knowledge/experience. I work in the sector so I'm at least somewhat informed.
Cont. 🧵
This is a short thread based on my own knowledge/experience. I work in the sector so I'm at least somewhat informed.
Cont. 🧵
November 20, 2025 at 4:47 PM
I want BEV trucks so bad. I want combustion to die in a ditch.
This is a short thread based on my own knowledge/experience. I work in the sector so I'm at least somewhat informed.
Cont. 🧵
This is a short thread based on my own knowledge/experience. I work in the sector so I'm at least somewhat informed.
Cont. 🧵
So a few caveats to this graph.
Firstly, the only people making money from that truck is the battery manufacturer. The OEM i.e. the truck manufacturer, is losing $10ks with every one. So this is not sustainable.
Secondly, a lot of these are operating on battery swap every 200km or so
Firstly, the only people making money from that truck is the battery manufacturer. The OEM i.e. the truck manufacturer, is losing $10ks with every one. So this is not sustainable.
Secondly, a lot of these are operating on battery swap every 200km or so
November 20, 2025 at 1:54 PM
So a few caveats to this graph.
Firstly, the only people making money from that truck is the battery manufacturer. The OEM i.e. the truck manufacturer, is losing $10ks with every one. So this is not sustainable.
Secondly, a lot of these are operating on battery swap every 200km or so
Firstly, the only people making money from that truck is the battery manufacturer. The OEM i.e. the truck manufacturer, is losing $10ks with every one. So this is not sustainable.
Secondly, a lot of these are operating on battery swap every 200km or so
If you're screwed anyway, why not put in place policies that will improve as many people's life as possible.
It should always be preferable to lose for doing the right thing.
Alas... based on how Labour seem to keep trying to appease the worst people I'm not expecting good things
It should always be preferable to lose for doing the right thing.
Alas... based on how Labour seem to keep trying to appease the worst people I'm not expecting good things
November 14, 2025 at 4:25 PM
If you're screwed anyway, why not put in place policies that will improve as many people's life as possible.
It should always be preferable to lose for doing the right thing.
Alas... based on how Labour seem to keep trying to appease the worst people I'm not expecting good things
It should always be preferable to lose for doing the right thing.
Alas... based on how Labour seem to keep trying to appease the worst people I'm not expecting good things
I would like it to be #1 (I'm happy to pay more taxes for public services)
I expect it to be a real mess where they raise some taxes, but not the big three (Income, National Insurance, VAT) which will annoy everyone, but will also not raise enough to sustain/improve public services
I expect it to be a real mess where they raise some taxes, but not the big three (Income, National Insurance, VAT) which will annoy everyone, but will also not raise enough to sustain/improve public services
November 14, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I would like it to be #1 (I'm happy to pay more taxes for public services)
I expect it to be a real mess where they raise some taxes, but not the big three (Income, National Insurance, VAT) which will annoy everyone, but will also not raise enough to sustain/improve public services
I expect it to be a real mess where they raise some taxes, but not the big three (Income, National Insurance, VAT) which will annoy everyone, but will also not raise enough to sustain/improve public services
It would have happened somewhere else. Not saying it couldn't have been better/different but it would have happened.
November 7, 2025 at 6:14 PM
It would have happened somewhere else. Not saying it couldn't have been better/different but it would have happened.
Are there things that are said about Dark Angels players? I'm a little worried about what my chapter choice says about me!
November 2, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Are there things that are said about Dark Angels players? I'm a little worried about what my chapter choice says about me!
Time for a rewatch I think. Maybe on Wednesday?
November 2, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Time for a rewatch I think. Maybe on Wednesday?