A big sticking point in contract talks between Detroit automakers and the United Auto Workers union is the popular assertion that it takes fewer workers to manufacture electric vehicles (EVs) than conventional cars.
A big sticking point in contract talks between Detroit automakers and the United Auto Workers union is the popular assertion that it takes fewer workers to manufacture electric vehicles (EVs) than conventional cars.
This is partly true, but the comparison to motorcycles is a little off.
What will be effected is jobs on the drivetrain. A motorcycle is almost entirely drivetrain, so you would have seen the most extreme version of this change. Cars have a lot more in them: climate, seats, soundproofing, doors.
Those jobs wouldn’t be impacted by electrification. Its the automation part that is at play there.
I’m of the opinion that the computer/electronics nerd community is probably more suited to adding seats, doors, and climate control than the car building community is to adding battery arrays, BMS, and all the other gizmos and gadgets…
I understand what you mean, but I’m speaking more to the infrastructure. The infrastructure of the phone repair kiosk guy is closer to EVs than Detroit is. It’s mindset, ya know? It’s sending an email every 3 months offering oil changes vs knowing that the “gas station” of the future should include tables, chairs, snacks, and overpriced coffee ;)
The livewire is a great example of what I mean… its like it was built to support the service department more than the rider. It’s got a transmission full of fluid that needs serviced that only has one gear. It’s got a service required coolant system that other electrics don’t have. It has requirements to visit the shop baked into the design, and it’s silly. As soon as they parted from HD, the bike radically changed, because gearheads aren’t calling the shots anymore. The bike has 10% of the service requirements at half the cost, because nerds (and I mean that endearingly… Im a nerd that turned gearhead, ironically) are designing them now :)
Any time there are moving parts, there is wear. Thats how phones and vehicles will stay different? Is this example, since they determined they needed a gearbox, it makes sense to use fluid. It keeps it lubricated and cooled, extending the lifespan. Probably makes it quiter, too