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The recent video from Mark Rober comparing a Tesla on Autopilot and a LiDAR equipped Luminar vehicle has led to a lot of comments online about Tesla's camera only system being unsafe, or alternatively shouts of "fake news" from Tesla fans.

So today we're going to dig deep into camera based semi-autonomous systems, look at what Rober's video did -- and didn't -- test. And whether LiDAR is a requirement for fully autonomous driving systems.

The Mark Rober Video - Can you fool a self-driving car - is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQJL3htsDyQ

Transport Evolved would like to extend thanks to the multiple autonomous driving engineers and programmers we've talked to both over the years and specifically for this video. You all helped make this coverage possible.

00:00 - Introduction

Script: Kate Walton-Elliott, Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield

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We were asked by y'all to give some more depth on the recent study that came out examining the comparative performance of monocrystalline and polycrystalline battery cells. So Kate sat down for a while with the paper, digested the details and is now able to bring you the highlights to why the future may well be monocrystalline batteries.

00:00 - Introduction

Script: Kate Walton-Elliott, Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield

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Today’s video is sponsored by EnergySage - Start your journey to a cleaner, greener future by heading to https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-101290941-16952262

The above link is an affiliate link. We will earn income from sales made using our affiliate link.

With the electrical grid in some parts of the world facing an uncertain future due to increased demand, and years of low investment - not to mention an increase in natural disasters from anthropogenic climate change - it makes more sense than at any point in history to try and build your own emergency back up power system for your home.

00:00 - Start

Presenter: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield.

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Watch our previous videos on V2G tech: https://youtu.be/ihIVnCCgeyo

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Things in the EV World have been a little heated of late, and that's led to an increase in comments on our channel.

Rather than try and respond to them individually, we decided it was time for us to make another one of our semi-regular response videos, tackling some of the icky situations that are currently going on involving one of the world's most prominent EV CEOs, the U.S. Government and some attempted hateful activity aimed at our team.

The short version? We're not going anywhere. The long version? Well, just watch the video below.

00:00 - Introduction

Presenter: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield.

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There's a bit of a battle raging in the electric vehicle world - and it's not over NACS and CCS - it's about which battery technology should be the dominant one: 400 Volt or 800 Volt?

But what's the differences between 400 V and 800 V vehicles? Which are which? And are there any advantages or disadvantages in the ultimate choice you make?

Nikki is here to explain some things... along with a little extra help.

00:00 - Introduction

Presenter: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield.

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It's a little later than our planting last year, but we've just finished putting our first seeds in of the year (other than our garlic bulbs) - our Parsnip seeds.

And they've gone in where the Potatoes were last year!

Presenter: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield

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This video was made possible thanks to the kind donations of our supporters on Patreon and Ko-fi. Join them in supporting us.

Buy the team a coffee -- or a meal!

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Nikki's Vectrix VX-1 bike project is starting to pick up some serious steam as the weather starts to warm and she tackles the broken bits piece by piece.

Thanks to some of you amazing folk, she found a good replacement transistor to fix her broken tail light - then picked up some Nissan LEAF 3rd-Gen battery modules to replace the bike's original NiMH cells.

But while these are AESC cells from a Nissan LEAF, they've never ACTUALLY been in a Nissan Leaf - and the story of where they can from is a little different!

00:00 - Introduction

Links:

@BenjaminNelsonX 's YouTube channel - complete with his own Vectrix VX-1 work.

Vectrix VX-1 luggage rack - stage 2 - http://vectrixpro.wordpress.com

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This time last year, Nikki's first Ford F150 Lightning was written off after a low-speed impact with a light pole in extreme weather.

Her replacement was another F150 Lighting Lariat - this time missing some of the features of the original model (and a slightly different paint finish) - but after one year and 10,000 miles, how is the truck faring?

Was it a good buy? Has she any regrets? And what's next?

00:00 - Introduction

Presenter: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield.

Links:

Forscan thread on F150 Lightning owners forum: https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/f150-lightning-forscan-thread.11406/

@StateOfChargeWithTomMoloughney - Watch Tom replace his charge port door: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZotKDxPQIgk

@MartinRebuilds-fz1ep - Watch Martin tweak the Putco emblem here:

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We're getting something of a reputation for covering the current destruction of the EV industry at the hands of President Donald Trump (and his co-president Elon Musk).

So far, we've seen attempts made to end all EV tax incentives for citizens purchasing a new car. We've seen a halt to promised Federal funding for automakers looking to expand EV production, charging networks trying to expand EV provision, and a move to stop California from enacting already-approved fuel standards that would have helped accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles.

All of this so far has been done under the guise of saving money - but the news late last week that the Federal Government had instructed its Government Services Agency to not only turn off all existing EV charging infrastructure, but rip it out at a cost of up to $1 billion - made no sense at all if that narrative is applied.

Instead, it shows us what's really going on - a massive vendetta, backed by the oil industry and Elon Musk's own interests.

Here's what we know, what we think is going to happen, and how you can get involved.

00:00 - Unscripted Editorial

Links:

The Verge: The GSA is shutting down EV charging stations: https://www.theverge.com/news/617235/the-gsa-is-shutting-down-its-ev-chargers-calling-them-not-mission-critical

E&E News by Politico: Trump's reversal of EV program could carry a hefty price tag https://www.eenews.net/articles/trumps-reversal-of-ev-program-could-carry-a-hefty-price-tag/

The New York Times - DODGE Quietly removes the 5 biggest savings it heralded last week: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/25/upshot/doge-spending-cuts-changed.html

GSA blog post celebrating NDEW - https://www.gsa.gov/blog/2023/09/22/gsa-is-driving-federal-fleet-electrification

Missing charging stations at Ft. Knox: https://afdc.energy.gov/stations#/find/nearest?location=Ft.+Knox

PlugShare Ft.Knox location: https://www.plugshare.com/location/523196

GSA blog post from last year about expanding EV provisions: https://www.gsa.gov/blog/2024/02/27/charging-ahead-making-evs-a-reality-across-the-federal-government

Missing GSA post on EV charging provision: https://www.gsa.gov/buy-through-us/products-and-services/transportation-and-logistics-services/fleet-management/fleet-electrification

Politico: White House seizes control of its press pool : https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/25/trump-white-house-press-pool-access-00206001

NREL: Grid Resiliency and EVS :https://www.nrel.gov/news/program/2023/evs-play-surprising-role-in-supporting-grid-resiliency.html

NREL: Financial benefits from driving an EV: https://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2020/research-determines-financial-benefit-from-driving-electric-vehicles.html

American Lung Association: Benefits of EVs - https://www.lung.org/blog/electric-vehicles-report

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Last month, Nikki made a trip up to Seattle for a medical appointment and suffered a lot of problems finding working, non-vandalized charging stations.

Many of you were upset she didn't film the experience - and even went as far as to accuse her of lying. So when she had to make another long distance trip, she decided to bring the cameras along for the ride.

Here's what it was like traveling by F150 Lightning from Portland, Oregon to Sacramento, California and back over two days.

00:00 - Introduction

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