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Comment by postit | Hacker News Reader

There’s a huge opportunity for the manufacturer that could streamline an hypothetical chassis with integrated electronics and batteries.

We could be looking for a future resembling what we have today in some formula categories that are basically a power unit paired with a dallara or lolla chassis.

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Lots of EV manufacturers are investigating the "skateboard" model where you drop a chassis on a unified battery platform.

VW has invested monumental amounts in this but I imagine will keep it all locked down to the VAG family. Perhaps they're open to licensing opportunities. Canoo ($GOEV) on the other hand is in the news for their skateboard platform being adopted by Hyundai/Kia and potentially being the base of the new Apple car.

In theory DMC could build upon a Canoo skateboard, or license another EV startups skateboard.

What are the biggest cost centers and differentiators for EVs? I have heard that a big reason why traditional automobile manufacturers are behind is because they don't have the software foundation that Tesla does. I imagine the "skateboard" integrates software, electronics, batteries and motors in a single platform, but will that be enough to counter Tesla's competitive advantage, while being able to differentiate the product enough from other folks using the same platform?

I wonder if an Android like fragmentation of the market makes sense here - a company like Google developing and maintaining the software, another customizing it to fit inside custom hardware.

Software isn't particularly important (at least the kind that Tesla's most visibly writing). The key is getting to low cost motor control electronics and batteries (along with accompanying electronics and safety systems). The battery especially is the current barrier to an affordable EV with the range of a typical IC car.

I see the skateboard as a stopgap measure for companies playing catch-up. Not everyone wants to dethrone Tesla, and even fewer are resourced to do so. VW has spent billions upon billions, in part as a mea culpa for dieselgate. How many others are willing (or even able) to invest in these massive battery factories, retrain ICE teams vs. making the pragmatic choice to slap your chassis on a licensed skateboard?

I guess there are further software parallels in the build vs buy debate.

Look at Tesla structural battery for this. Basically they will be using a honeycomb structure and stick the batteries directly into it, weld the connection on top and then put thin cover over and under it.

The front and back part of the car, Tesla creates them in a single peace casting, is directly connected to the battery.

The finished product:

https://i2.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/202...

With batteries:

https://www.thedrive.com/content-b/message-editor%2F16008149...

Here is the first leaked picture of what it will look like inside:

https://preview.redd.it/99vbj85b0jc61.png?width=664&format=p...

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