Zoom Conference, Blanket Test, Jobs
+++ HIGHLIGHT: COMMUNITY UPDATE +++
Sono invited its reservation holders to a Zoom conference next monday: “We would like to inform you about the updated schedule, the current state of development and our latest progress”. Several sessions in German and English are planned - as usual free of charge. For those who can't join, there will certainly be live information from the event later on
As a test, I signed up for a Zoom online performance last weekend to see how it works, a conference call with hundreds of users. Currently, many artists are badly shaken by Corona and can only perform via Skype or Zoom, that was an interesting experience. Tip: microphone off, camera off.
(by email to reservation holders)
+++ SOLAR VIDEOS +++
The solar roof works. The functionality was confirmed in several videos and live values were shown. Gladys “Hello engineers, I came all the way from the headquarter to support you” from Sono Marketing conducted a funny test with several blankets to put the solar charging to the test. Lessons learned: a) the solar roof works b) the engineers are left puzzled - “what just happened?”.
https://youtu.be/UT2QSa7kjoM?t=585
+++ ON YOUR EARS +++
If you need some inspiration in English, there is an interview with Jona about the future of solar and sharing, ideal for the commute to the office or just to listen to on a relaxed sunday with a cup of tea: “A Solar-Powered Drive Into A Co-Owned Future”
+++FROM THE ONBOARD-CHARGER +++
There were many rumors on the internet about the size and specs of the bidiretional onboard charger. New pictures have emerged. My offer to Sono is still valid: charge my Tesla for 60 seconds with 11kW and I will upgrade my reservation to full pricel. Just to build up pressure on the development team a little...
https://twitter.com/SonoMotors/status/1369966102806208513
+++ JOBS +++
Sono is now massively looking out for employees. With over 50 open positions, I can currently only pick some highlights.
Android Automotive Developer
If Sono is serious about this, this is an ingenious step. Background: 15 years ago there were a lot of cell phone systems: Nokia / Symbian, Blackberry, Siemens, Meego, and and and ... and then came Google and Apple with open systems for which everyone could write apps. The result: only two players remain (Google & Apple), even Microsoft, Blackberry and Nokia couldn't succeed.
Now history is repeating: BMW (BMW OS 7), Mercedes (MB / UX) all have their own car operating systems - and they had to develop all apps themselves for the last 20 years - there simply are no tools for the worldwide developer community. The result? Customers buy a 10-inch navigation system for € 3,000- only so that they have a screen to mirror their cell phone.
“Android Automotive” from Google is the first operating system with access to vehicle data (not to be confused with “Android Auto”, which is the predecessor from 2016 without access to the car).
If Sono really uses it, that alone would be an argument in favor of the Sion. For me it was the reason to switch to the Polestar 2, which is the first car with Android Automotive. I've already written an app for it myself and now get 100,000 data points per day from users around the world, it's unbelievable.
In 2023 there will be 10 million vehicles on the street with Android Automotive (Renault, Ford, Volvo, PSA have commited to do the switch), Silicon Valley can currently hardly wait.
It will start with parcels delivered to the trunk. And it will end with the TÜV test every two years being a thing of the past because the car monitors itself.
Android Automotive is available in two versions:
free of charge as AOSP (Open Source), which sends little or no data to Google, but comes without Google Maps,
and as a version with “GAS” (Google Automotive Services), with Google Maps, Google Pay, Google Appstore. It costs a lot of money,
I don't think Sono would use the latter, especially since all the data is also sent to Google here.
Wikipedia explains quite well what Android Automotive enables. https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_Automotive
https://sonomotors.jobs.personio.de/job/331950
Patent engineer:
“You look for and recognize inventions within the company that are worthy of protection”. There seems to be a lot going on in the solar sector in particular and patents always help.
https://sonomotors.jobs.personio.de/job/312403
+++ ASOM +++
Sono has joined the ASOM - Alliance for Solar Mobility. Also there is Lightyear and the very active University of Eindhoven (NL). The website has no legal notice and not even an https certificate, so I'm a little cautious about ASOM. But not every initiative fell from the sky as an IT professional.
+++ SION PARTS FOR FUTURE +++
“Parts for Future” - the small community project for “Open Source Accessories” - is currently in “Production Hell”. Right now it feels like a mixture of “Hunger Games” and the landing of the “X-Force” in Deadpool (the scene where everyone dies when jumping from the plane). The first teams have set sail, other teams are working together. This week's picture is from the project - test 3D sample print of a small Sion accessory from the project. But it’s a lot of fun. As the saying goes: arguing with an engineer is like werstlng with a pig in the mud. You do it for half an hour, and then realize: the pig likes it.
https://wikifactory.com/+sonomotors/sion-parts-for-future/files
+++ MAP OF RESERVATION HOLDERS +++
Last week, we revitalized the community map in which everyone can register, so that you can see where Sions will drive later. Almost 250 entries were added in less than a week. Noice!
https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=4046307#
+++ FUN FACT +++
Monday it's all about electric driving. At 1:00 p.m. VW kicks of the show with its very own “Battery Day”, at 3:00 p.m. Sono starts updating the community. With two such “cliffhangers”, I can't think of any additional fun fact at the point. So, prepare the popcorn, charge your laptop or tablet. Show time.
https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/events/2021/Volkswagen_Power_Day.html