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Rash of parts thefts is leaving Freightliner trucks inoperable

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Re: Rash of parts thefts is leaving Freightliner trucks inoperable

#91

Post by janekm »

prmoustache wrote: post #89
r00fus wrote: post #31

"The rip-offs of common powertrain control module 4 units relate to the ongoing shortage of microchips" So how long does the microchip shortage continue?

> So how long does the microchip shortage continue? In my humble opinion, there is no shortage. There is however a huge priorization and a control of the production to elevate the prices. I guess some people in far east asia figured out they have power the same way as the founders of OPEP did in the 70's. Look at all the microchips based shit you can buy on aliexpress. Doesn't seem they are affected much by shortage.

From what I've seen Chinese manufacturers and component distributors built up big stocks when the tariffs/sanctions against China were announced a few years ago. Then when the recent events affected supply chains, they were sitting on decent stocks of popular chips and were able to sell them at 10x original price.

Since then the industry has been in a cycle of: - Manufacturer finishes a batch of popular chip - Everybody who uses that chip tries to buy next 3-5 year demand - Popular chip is out of stock again

Re: Rash of parts thefts is leaving Freightliner trucks inoperable

#92

Post by vfclists »

There is a reason why truck operators in Africa prefer the older trucks which don't have these fancy electronics. Servicing and parts are not a problem.

This whole business about semiconductors shortages affecting vehicle manufacturing is just ridiculous. Humanity has survived without these advanced electronics for ages.

What difference doesn't make if you don't have electronic geegaws in your vehicle?

Re: Rash of parts thefts is leaving Freightliner trucks inoperable

#93

Post by mitjam »

gambiting wrote: post #85
b112 wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Solar panels on my car roof might be good to charge my laptop. Or, keep a car from losing charge while idle. I think you'd have to leave the car in the sun for days, just to drive to the 5 minutes away store and back.

It just doesn't make any sense if you know anything about physics. Sun provides about 1kW of power per square meter.....at noon, at the equator, with no clouds. Automotive solar panels like they use are about 20% efficient. Your average car roof is....let's be super forgiving and say 2sqm. So in the middle of the day, at the equator, you are generating about 400W of power. The average EV battery is 50kWh. So you'd ne…

This illustrates how inefficient cars are for individual transportation. An eBike takes between 10 and 20 Wh per mile. Gas is so inexpensive and energy dense that we just got unware how ridiculous it is to drive by car even on short distances.

Re: Rash of parts thefts is leaving Freightliner trucks inoperable

#94

Post by yakak »

tlb wrote: post #81
Karellen wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Scribbling all over a book and rearranging the pages isn't copyright infringement, no matter whether you stole it, so rearranging or modifying sections of copyrightable material in any other physical item shouldn't be either.

No, but if you made photocopies of all the pages, rearranged and sold them it would be. Modifying software almost always involves copying. Some (older) technologies like punched cards allow modification without any copying. But if you're loading firmware from a device onto your laptop and using an editor, there are plenty of copies being made throughout the process.

I think that is far more literal a focus on copying than the courts have, they tend to think in terms of whether you are expanding the number of copies.

I think courts sided with an artist that destroyed an original in transfers making one new work. I think they would also tend to side with firmware users that move/modify copies but don't expand the number of production units running derived copies of the code.

Re: Rash of parts thefts is leaving Freightliner trucks inoperable

#95

Post by maxerickson »

Thorrez wrote: post #67

>The company will consider civil actions for software infringement against those involved in CPC theft and mismanagement. What is software infringement? Does it mean copyright infringement? Stealing a piece of hardware isn't copyright infringment, although maybe some types of reprogramming it would be. Kind of funny. I've heard people call copyright infringement theft before, but I've never heard anyone call theft co…

The software for a given vehicle will be specialized for the engine and other powertrain components. It's likely that manufacturer tools and licenses are being used to change the programming on the stolen components.

Re: Rash of parts thefts is leaving Freightliner trucks inoperable

#96

Post by maxerickson »

vfclists wrote: post #92

There is a reason why truck operators in Africa prefer the older trucks which don't have these fancy electronics. Servicing and parts are not a problem. This whole business about semiconductors shortages affecting vehicle manufacturing is just ridiculous. Humanity has survived without these advanced electronics for ages. What difference doesn't make if you don't have electronic geegaws in your vehicle?

Electronic powertrain controllers make vehicles more efficient and more reliable, it isn't just the power mirrors that need chips.

Re: Rash of parts thefts is leaving Freightliner trucks inoperable

#97

Post by gambiting »

prmoustache wrote: post #90
gambiting wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It just doesn't make any sense if you know anything about physics. Sun provides about 1kW of power per square meter.....at noon, at the equator, with no clouds. Automotive solar panels like they use are about 20% efficient. Your average car roof is....let's be super forgiving and say 2sqm. So in the middle of the day, at the equator, you are generating about 400W of power. The average EV battery is 50kWh. So you'd ne…

You seem to forget that bar exceptions (people working on the road all day), most passenger cars are staying parked 99% of the time and use for small errands. The aptera is also built to provide up to 1000miles in its highest spec out of one complete charge.

Right and how long does it take to charge that 1000 mile range in an average British city? A full year?

And I'm not forgetting it - I'm just saying that the overall gain doesn't seem to be worth it. The cost of solar panels integrated into the car would pay for a lot of electricity from the grid instead.

Re: Rash of parts thefts is leaving Freightliner trucks inoperable

#98

Post by maxerickson »

gambiting wrote: post #85
b112 wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Solar panels on my car roof might be good to charge my laptop. Or, keep a car from losing charge while idle. I think you'd have to leave the car in the sun for days, just to drive to the 5 minutes away store and back.

It just doesn't make any sense if you know anything about physics. Sun provides about 1kW of power per square meter.....at noon, at the equator, with no clouds. Automotive solar panels like they use are about 20% efficient. Your average car roof is....let's be super forgiving and say 2sqm. So in the middle of the day, at the equator, you are generating about 400W of power. The average EV battery is 50kWh. So you'd ne…

The first poster is clearly talking about local power generation when they say roof, so a building, not the freaking vehicle.

Re: Rash of parts thefts is leaving Freightliner trucks inoperable

#99

Post by gambiting »

maxerickson wrote: post #98
gambiting wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It just doesn't make any sense if you know anything about physics. Sun provides about 1kW of power per square meter.....at noon, at the equator, with no clouds. Automotive solar panels like they use are about 20% efficient. Your average car roof is....let's be super forgiving and say 2sqm. So in the middle of the day, at the equator, you are generating about 400W of power. The average EV battery is 50kWh. So you'd ne…

The first poster is clearly talking about local power generation when they say roof, so a building, not the freaking vehicle.

I'm literally replying to a comment that is talking about solar panels on a car, did you reply to the wrong person maybe?

Re: Rash of parts thefts is leaving Freightliner trucks inoperable

#100

Post by pirate787 »

b112 wrote: post #68
sokoloff wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The average age of vehicles is trending up because cars are more reliable and just last longer. It used to be an event to roll over a 5-digit odometer. Now, 250K miles is just getting broken in.

What? You can repair parts that fail on cars. And I grew up driving 70s, 80s cars , and 100k was completely normal.

No this is survivor bias, most cars in the 70s and 80s did not make it to 100k.
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