#40 (EN): In-Depth Development Update, Fully Charged, Power2Drive
Have a nice Sunday. Let's jump right in with a little unofficial news from the Sono world, there's a lot to report.
+++ HIGHLIGHT +++
Last week was a personal highlight, a "Youtube-Live" interview with the engineers from development. For me it was exciting to sit on the "other" side of the screen. If you're interested in what that's like:
There is a rehearsal before, so you know how long it takes to present the individual slides. This was at 08:00 in the morning.
I had planned to ask all the questions that come really in order and not to skip anything - because often the reproach was to read "the critical questions are not asked at all". Besides that, I also had the Youtube channel up to see if the questions in the slido coincided with the questions from the chat.
The delay at the beginning was because the streaming software at headquarters wasn't quite playing along. Lots of speakers, everyone was streaming from somewhere else. I would have presented the agenda too, but my audio was gone - that's when Markus "saved" me and took over. Probably nobody noticed.
After the event, I did a bulk purchase at Musikhaus Thomann, new mic and a decent camera (much to the delight of my daughter, who is already dreaming of a future as a professional Youtuber).
To the content: The Freeze as an important milestone was not held to 100% by all to the "deadline" - but it goes anch plan further. For all remaining gaps, measures were defined to close them. Actually this is normal in a project of this size. The overall schedule is unchanged, SOP in the first half of 2023 is set. What is still missing is known and will be worked through.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIRhwVTx9w4
Afterwards, I took the time to answer ALL (!) questions from the survey tool, so that no one can say that anything was left out. There are over 100 questions!
+++ DEVELOPMENT STATUS IN DETAIL +++
The end of September was an important date: the concept phase of the Sion is coming to an end, the components have to be released. "Feature requests" are then no longer possible. Of course, you can continue to improve, it just won't flow into the first version anymore. In the podcast with Jona, which is linked below, it was said that there will also be a facelift during the 7-year production of the planned Sions. For now, though, it's all about the "Ur-Sion", and it's fixed with the Freeze dan - and even if it would be nice to have an interior socket. The date and the target price comes first.
Not all components have kept the date exactly to complete the work. Therefore, there is now a "freeze phase" until November/December to complete the missing items yet. The SOP - "Start of Production" is explicitly not affected by this, it remains the schedule.
On the overview page you can see which areas are not yet finished. Strictly speaking, only infotainment has met the deadline 100%. Everyone still has homework to do, but are positive about getting it done in the rework by November.
A few insights:
Markus and some from Sono were at NEVS talking on the spot about next steps on the prototype line and also Evergrande's financial problems. 11 test Sions (SVC3) are to be created there first and not as formerly (and in the podcast with Jona) said 40 at once, that's how fast moving it is.
There's only one USB port in the front for charging cell phones, but you can also access the rear one from the front,
A 250 watt music system with a total of 6 speakers is installed; Android 11 and Wireless Carplay and Android Auto are in use,
Long runner parts: some body shop machines take 54-65 weeks to make, these are now being ordered.
And there is a new matrix on the overview page:
https://sonomotors.com/en/state-of-development/
+++ SPRINT REPORT +++
Sprint Report 54 is going one more step into detail, this time on 54 pages.
Page 31: "Production Team: results from NEVS site visit shared with teams".
"Exterior" is still fine-tuning how far you can open the tailgate. Might have to raise the roof 2 millimeters to get more glue under the solar panels, again affecting how far you can open the tailgate. But then it seems to fit.
Infotainment seems to be on time, Sibros and L7 have delivered their stuff.
The high-voltage battery actually looks good in the plan, currently it is still a matter of communicating (warning) messages into the infotainment and properly including the recuperation in the energy consumption. In the Youtube Live also came the question of whether the Sion can still recuperate when the battery was charged to the brim on a mountain. This is not possible, a battery can not be fuller than full. The software in the car then uses the normal brakes, but in such a way that the driver does not notice any difference.
https://sonomotors.com/site/assets/files/7229/sono-motors-dev-sprint-review-cw34-21-1.pdf
+++ VIDEOS +++
During the IAA, numerous journalists and Youtubers visited the Sonos. "Fully Charged" brought a very positive video about the Sion and already has over 105,000 views:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5LKU6bWScc
Nico Rosberg also took a seat and did a lap:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js2JXv0LT_o
The Economist brings info from the Sion starting at second 400:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4OmtyaBHFE&t=401s
And also "Trash-Talk" Kyle has taken a look and published a complete report on “Inside EVs”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39zhPGL7CfA
+++ STATE OF AFFAIRS WITH JONA +++
Jona informs in a comprehensive interview about the state of affairs. Special mention was also made of the community and advisory board work, the Facebook community and the "community crew". At this point, I would like to pass on my thanks again.
https://www.elektroauto-news.net/2021/folge-147-jona-christians-stand-der-dinge-sono-motors-sion
+++ INTERSOLAR / POWER 2 DRIVE +++
The Power2Drive in October was and is always a small insider tip in Munich, to discuss in detail and in peace about specialized topics.
Sono will be at Power2Drive next week with a small booth, hall A6.551. The theme of the hall is PV cell and module manufacturers. So the focus will be solar integration and sales to other customers.
Sono will also be on various panels on V2G, car sharing and e-mobility.
https://www.powertodrive.de/ausstellerliste/sono-motors-de
+++ CONGRESS +++
Henrik Mitsch from Sono Digital was at the AutomotiveIT Congress with a presentation on "Sustainable mobility for all: rethinking vehicles through solar and digital technology".
+++ CLIMATHON +++
Here's something to participate in. Initiated by the district of Munich, a "climate marathon" will take place starting Monday. The aim is to collect points for climate-friendly actions, either alone or in a team. The very first week is dedicated to the topic of mobility. "Predestined for a group like this" thought Andreas and without further ado registered a team at the district office - us here :-)
The action code for participation is: 29++-ush-sonomotors
You have to install an app (which can also be used without Klimathon to track your climate data or to learn about consumer goods) the "Climate Compass" (at Apple in the Appstore or Google in the Playstore).
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.twigbit.klimakompass
https://apps.apple.com/de/app/klimakompass-von-worldwatchers/id1458584431
All further information can be found here:
Everyone can register and participate, even if you don't live in the district of Munich.
Thanks Andreas for putting this up!
+++ FUN FACT +++
Life-Hack stickers: I also received the stickers now. Somehow I am not a friend of stickers on the car, but nevertheless I wanted to participate somehow. The solution: magnetic foil! A DIN A4 sheet of self-adhesive magnetic foil costs about 1 €. They are intended, for example, to stick a photo on it and thus make refrigerator magnets. Of course, you can also stick the Sion sticker on it. Important: of course, this works only on metal parts and not on a plastic part. And you should not do it for too long. But advantage - it holds also at the refrigerator or at walls one with metal color painted. We don't think about the ecological balance of the action ;-), but you can pass on the sticker if you already have your Sion.
Have a nice week, stay healthy.