Drop me a text and let me know what you think of this episode!
Hyundai Mobis has revolutionized EV safety with a breakthrough battery fire suppression system that doesn't just delay thermal runaway fires—it prevents them entirely. The technology utilizes real-time temperature and voltage monitoring to command fire suppressant within five minutes of ignition, stopping fires before they spread to adjacent cells. This innovation comes at a pivotal moment when global regulatory bodies are mandating stronger EV safety measures, with China leading since 2021 and the US implementing requirements this past March.
What makes this development particularly fascinating is its timing alongside the transition toward solid-state batteries. Mercedes-Benz and Toyota are pioneering these advanced power sources that eliminate the liquid slurry responsible for fire risks in conventional lithium-ion batteries. Toyota's ambitious roadmap projects 600-mile range vehicles by 2026 and an astounding 1,000-mile range by decade's end—suggesting Hyundai's technology bridges a critical safety gap during this transitional period.
The Genesis GV80 Coupe exemplifies Korean luxury's impressive evolution, challenging European stalwarts in the premium SUV coupe segment. With twin-turbo power delivering up to 409 horsepower and thoughtful touches like heated center armrests, the GV80 Coupe delivers exceptional value starting from $79,950. Meanwhile, the underground running phenomenon known as "The Speed Project" pushes human limits through an unsanctioned 340-mile relay race from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, attracting global participants despite offering no prize money, spectators, or legal permits. The episode concludes with an examination of the contradictory legal landscape corporations face regarding climate action—potentially facing litigation in Europe for doing too little while simultaneously risking lawsuits in America for doing too much.
Subscribe to the TechMobility Show on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social media to stay updated on the latest innovations at the intersection of technology and mobility.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the Tech Mobility Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
I'm Ken Chester On the docket my review of the 2025
Genesis GV80 Coupe.
No rules, no route, all passionand the liability of climate
change.
To join the conversation, be itto ask a question, share an
opinion or even suggest a topicfor future discussion, call or
(00:33):
text the TechMobility hotline,that number, 872-222-9793.
Or you can email the showdirectly.
Talk at techmobilityshow.
Also, be sure to subscribe,like and follow us on social
media our youtube channel forthose of you that subscribe to
(00:56):
substack.
You can find me there too, atken the letter cW-A.
So that's Ken C Iowa.
I am there as a proud member ofthe Iowa Writers Collaborative
and you definitely want to checkthat out because there's a lot
of esteemed writers from aroundthe country that are a part of
it award winners, a number ofthem, definitely awesome reading
(01:20):
, no matter what your interest.
From the TechMobility News Desk.
I want to get a little technicalhere.
In everything we've talkedabout EVs, one of the scarecrows
maybe was true in early days,is less true now.
Oh, evs catch fire.
Oh, my God, what are you goingto do?
Evs catch fire.
They're unsafe.
They catch fire.
Internal combustion enginescatch fire too people and burn
(01:49):
cars.
But to your point, a division.
A subsidiary of Hyundai calledHyundai Mobis has developed an
EV battery with built-in firesuppression.
The company says the technologyprevents thermal runaway
battery fires rather than simplydelaying them.
And Hyundai Mobis is the partsmanufacturing arm of Hyundai
(02:12):
Motor and they've developed thistechnology that can extinguish
an electric vehicle battery cellfire and prevent thermal
runaway.
The company announced that lastmonth.
Let me explain why that's majorRight now.
As you well know, most EVbattery configurations are
configured of a slurry oflithium metal.
(02:35):
It's not solid state, it'sactually a slurry over the
cycles of charging, discharging,recharging that the battery
actually grows or accumulates incertain spots within the
battery.
Problem is when it does that itlends itself in some of those
(02:55):
cells to be at risk of a thermalrunaway by shorting out the
battery cell.
What makes an EV battery fireso difficult is they are hard to
extinguish.
The conventional ways ofextinguishing a fire aren't as
effective in an EV battery fire.
(03:15):
They're very stubborn toextinguish from the outside.
So Hyundai, hyundai Mobis saidthe system works by spraying a
fire suppressant to extinguish afire within five minutes of
ignition before it can move toan adjacent cell and spark
thermal runaway.
Thermal runaway being it getsto a temperature, where it just
(03:40):
feeds on itself and continues onand becomes at that point
almost impossible to put out.
Just feeds on itself andcontinues on and becomes at that
point almost impossible to putout.
Because the average EV batteryis actually a number of separate
cells, you have somethingcalled a battery management
system.
That battery management systemis designed to manage the health
and situation of each of thecells, what condition it's in,
(04:03):
what level of charge ordischarge it's in, and it
manages all these.
What it did not have was anability to respond to a cell
that was at risk, and Hyundaihas developed a way to do that.
Hyundai said the new technologyis the first to prevent thermal
runaway, not just to lay it,with the use of heat-resistant
(04:27):
materials.
Sensors monitor batterytemperature and voltage in real
time and software commands thewhere and when the fire
extinguisher should be sprayed.
Thermal runaway is one of theprimary risks of lithium-ion
batteries used in EVs and canlead to deadly fires and
(04:48):
explosions.
So, as they're looking at suchthings these days, as the
technology evolves, as rangeincreases, faster charging
increases, automakers and partsmanufacturers are addressing the
safety risks of storing a largeamount of energy.
Now the other thing going onthat will mitigate this and
(05:08):
Mercedes-Benz is leading that,and they're not the only ones.
Toyota's doing it too is whatthey call solid-state lithium
batteries.
They eliminate the slurry,which eliminates the risk of the
shorting it out in the cellsand lowers the fire risk
significantly.
Countries around the world havemandated safety measures to
(05:31):
prevent thermal runaway.
China was one of the first,back in 2021, that EVs contain
early battery failure detectionsystems.
Here in the United States, theNational Highway Traffic Safety
Administration published a finalrule effective this past March,
requiring car manufacturers todocument steps they have taken
(05:52):
to test and implement EV safetyfeatures, including thermal
develop a warning system.
They developed a proactivesystem to stop the fire in its
tracks in the battery before itspreads to other cells, before
it gets to critical mass tobecome a thermal runaway, before
(06:15):
anybody else theoretically hasto get involved.
The vehicle and the batterymanagement systems already
handled the problem.
That is the magic in this, butthe bigger question that I have
typical lithium ion as we knowit, ev batteries and battery
cells are on the way out anyway.
(06:36):
The automakers are looking atdifferent chemistries which
comprise of less lithium.
Some battery chemistries haveno lithium.
Companies like Mercedes-Benzand Toyota are developing
solid-state lithium without theslurry, which means thermal
runaway, tire and fire.
All of that goes away becausethe risk is eliminated.
(06:59):
In how the battery chemistry isput together and what kind of
form it's in, it's in a dry,solid-state form as opposed to a
liquid form.
That is a bigger differencethan you may realize.
That difference alone makes thedifference in a lithium-ion EV
battery.
(07:20):
Toyota is expecting to havetheirs on the road in the next
few years, even as they expandthe mileage between charging.
You know they're expecting bythe end of 2026, a 600 mile
range for the solid statebatteries, with a thousand miles
by the end of the decade.
And this is Toyota saying this.
So for Hyundai to do that, thequestion is I think this will
(07:50):
become more of a thing as theytake solid state upmarket and
probably some of the lessexpensive EVs may still use
liquid lithium metal in theirbattery configurations and this
becomes more of a thing.
But I think in due time, maybe15 years, they won't need it
because the batteries will bedramatically different.
So for that note, I wanted toshare that with you first.
(08:12):
So here's a question IsCadillac ready to break the
pinnacle of aspiration that youlived your whole life?
(08:34):
The pinnacle of arrival, thepinnacle of making it, the
pinnacle of success was aCadillac in your driveway and
for most of Cadillac's historythat was true Right up until
about 30, almost 40 years ago,when a certain name plate
started turning things upsidedown and inside out.
(08:56):
You may have heard of it.
Lexus, mercedes and BMWsharpened their message and got
better, and Cadillac started tohave to fight their way back.
Mercedes and BMW sharpened theirmessage and got better, and
Cadillac started to have tofight their way back.
I mean, they had brandrecognition with older drivers,
but their numbers were dying outand, as a result, in 2015,
(09:19):
their average age of theircustomer was 58.
And today, because of theirprogress, it's closer to 54, 56.
That doesn't sound like a bigdeal, but it is.
And if you're looking at aspecific Cadillac, the Cadillac
IQ, which is their brand newfull-size, luxurious EV SUV, the
(09:40):
average age for that vehicle is48.
The average age for thatvehicle is 48.
Boy, do I have questions.
And at 48 years old, they stillhave a lot of buying years left
to Cadillac and figure out howto keep them, because this is
maybe.
They're probably two to threecars away from their last car,
(10:02):
genesis.
Looks to Europe for inspirationfor its first ever GV80 Coupe.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
You are listening to the Tech Mobility Show, A
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Speaker 2 (10:43):
Social media is the main place to be these days, and
we are no exception.
I'm Ken Chester of the TechMobility Show.
If you enjoy my program, thenyou will also enjoy my weekly
Facebook videos, from my latestvehicle reviews to timely
commentary of a variety ofmobility and technology-related
topics.
These short features aredesigned to inform and delight
you.
Be sure to watch, like andfollow us on Facebook.
(11:05):
You can find us by typing theTech Mobility Show in the search
bar.
Be sure to subscribe to ourFacebook page.
Social media is the place to bethese days, and we're no
exception.
I'm Ken Chester of the TechMobility Show.
If you enjoy my program, thenyou will also enjoy my weekly
Instagram videos, from thelatest vehicle reviews to timely
(11:27):
commentary on a variety ofmobility and technology-related
topics.
These short features aredesigned to inform and delight
you.
Be sure to watch, like andfollow us on Instagram.
You can find us by typing theTech Mobility Show in the search
bar.
For those of you that listen topodcasts, we have just the one
for you.
Hi, I'm Ken Chester.
(11:47):
Tech Mobility Topics is apodcast where I upload
topic-specific videos each week.
Shorter than a full show.
These bite-sized programs arejust the thing, particularly if
you're interested in aparticular topic covered on the
weekly radio show From ApplePodcasts, iheart Radio and many
podcast platforms in between.
We got you covered.
Just enter Tech Mobility Topicsin the search bar, wherever you
(12:10):
listen to podcasts.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
The new 375-horsepower Hyundai Genesis
has a more effective brakingperformance than the BMW 550i,
so you can avoid the obstaclesyou expect.
It also has an extraordinarysystem of safety features, so
you can deal with the ones youdon't.
Find out more atHyundaiGenesiscom.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Commercial was from 2009.
And in case you didn't know,let me bring you up to speed
Genesis, before it became astandalone luxury brand, was
actually a Hyundai upscale sedan.
Probably the only otherautomaker that would show you
one of their cars being wreckedin a commercial would be Subaru.
(13:10):
In its TV commercial it showedthe fancy car avoiding an
obstacle because of its goodbrakes and sensors, but to catch
you completely off guard whenit gets rear-ended, and hard too
.
And that's the whole point that, no matter what happens, you
are safe in this car for thestuff you see and, more
(13:30):
importantly, the stuff youdidn't see, and I thought that
was awful cool.
But I also wanted to make apoint that the Genesis brand
grew out of a luxury upscalemodel in the Hyundai line, and
it broke it out 10 years ago,and that's important to know.
(13:51):
It all started at the 2017 NewYork International Auto Show.
I was there.
Genesis introduced a conceptfor its first SUV and it
literally broke the show.
Everybody wanted to get a firstlook at this amazing and
impressive concept.
It was unlike anything theautomotive press had seen up to
(14:12):
that time.
The concept was powered by anelectric drivetrain and a
hydrogen fuel cell.
It was an impressive firstattempt from Genesis, kind of a
peek at what was to follow inlater years.
And I'm just talking abouttheir SUVs.
Their cars are amazing, but I'mjust calling it the SUVs the
GV70.
The GV70 Electrified mypersonal favorite, and the GV60
(14:34):
EV An amazing ride.
And all of those reimagineluxury.
They don't copy anybody.
The all-new Genesis GV80production models went on sale
in November 2020 in the UnitedStates as 2021 models.
The upmarket Korean nameplateunveiled the GV80 Coupe in
(14:58):
September of 2023.
Based on a refreshed GV80 SUVfor that same year, unique
styling cues included acoupe-inspired roofline, a
redesigned front bumper andgrille, flat-bottom steering
wheel and carbon fiber interiortrims.
(15:19):
Design and performance of thebase model with a dynism of a
coop, with a dynamic how shall Isay it?
No-transcript.
With the introduction of theGV80 Coupe, genesis now enters
what I consider the rarefied airthat is shared by such
(15:41):
remarkable machines as the BMWX6 Coupe and both the Mercedes
GLC and GLE Coupes, which areSUV with a coupe silhouette.
So, definitely following insome very rarefied air with some
very well-regarded vehiclesAvailable in two trim levels,
(16:02):
base power for the GV80 Coupe isprovided by a 3.5-liter
gasoline twin-turbo six-cylinderengine that produces 375
horsepower and 391 foot-poundsof torque.
The upmarket model adds a48-volt electric supercharger
that delivers 409 horsepower and405 foot-pounds of torque.
(16:22):
Energy is communicated to allfour wheels via an 8-speed
shift-by-wire automatictransmission with steering
wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
Drivers also have theconvenience of on-demand drive
mode, select comfort smart ecosport and custom mode, select
comfort smart eco sport andcustom Hill descent control, and
a center locking differentialfacilitates the ability to
(16:43):
modify vehicle performance toroad conditions and or driver
preference.
Epa fuel economy numbers are16-city 22-highway for the base
power train and 18-city22-highway for the electric
supercharged model.
Cargo capacity is 61.1 cubicfeet.
Towing capacity is 6,000 pounds.
(17:07):
Here's what I liked about thecoupe.
The GV80 coupe is inspiredperformance luxury.
While it seems that Genesis haslooked to Germany for
inspiration for it, it'ssportier than the stock GV80 SUV
and certainly no less elegant,and I've always been a fan of
the GV80.
The coupe has become one moremodel to love, being able to
(17:28):
hold its own in the city or atthe country club.
Large but not heavy, cumbersome, awkward, or, I'm sorry, large
but not heavy, cumbersome orawkward when underway.
The GV80 Coupe offers drivers awonderfully elevated view of
the road and outsidesurroundings, with opulent
seating for four adults.
Yeah, you could fit five in apinch if you had to Build.
(17:51):
Quality is what I've come toexpect from Genesis Solid, as if
it was carved from one piece ofmetal, very tectonic, if you
ask me.
Underway, the GV80 Coupe issmooth like glass, with the kind
of driver responsiveness thatwill put a smile on your face
and a speeding ticket on yourrecord At speed.
Performance, handling andcontrol are effortless,
(18:14):
inspiring driver confidence.
Inside the passenger cabin,displays, control and some
switch gear are generally easyto read and use.
Front seat passengers enjoy anadded bonus.
The center armrest is heated.
When the heated seats areactivated, let me tell you I
loved that.
Head-up display, fog lights anda panoramic sunroof All
(18:37):
standard.
Add to that the automaker'siconic SmartPak and I'm sorry I
had to go into the Boston accent.
I just love that.
Commercial Remote engines startand it's easy to see how quickly
you can be spoiled by thisvehicle.
For rear seat passengers thereare dual USB ports, an
electrical plug and climatecontrols.
Outboard heated and cooledseats are a plus.
(19:00):
The split fold-down rear seatfolds flat yay, with the cargo
floor and cargo area, space isgood.
In the midst of all thismagical goodness.
Yeah, I got beef.
Here's what I didn't like aboutthe coupe One there's no spare
tire and no indication, fromwhat I could find out, that the
(19:21):
22-inch Michelin Primacy Tourtires are run-flats,
self-sealing orpuncture-resistant.
That's a problem.
Ironically enough, while theGV80 coupe bristles with
technology and I can't evenbelieve this it lacks retained
accessory power.
Are you kidding me Really?
Are you kidding me?
(19:42):
The placement of the menu dialfor the infotainment system in
the center console can be easilyconfused with the gear
selection dial located in frontof it.
If you're going by, feel youneed to be real careful.
Now here's one thing.
I found that the radio displaysfor the infotainment system to
be a bit fussy, especially whenit comes to replaying a song.
(20:03):
Oh, I had a fit.
A final note about tires andrims.
Remember I said they were22-inch.
Those large tire and rim setsare expensive to replace should
they be damaged.
Bottom line.
I love the Genesis GV80 CoupeWith the lack of a spare gives
me pause and radio controls area bit fussy.
(20:23):
The vehicle is perfect in everyother way.
If you aspire to true luxury,then you must.
I said you must add thisvehicle to your short list.
You won't regret it.
The base manufacturer suggestedretail price for the 2025
Genesis GV80 Coupe SUV startsfrom $47,950.
(20:44):
The e-supercharger model startsfrom $85,750.
Destination charges add $1,350.
I love this vehicle.
New Route, no rules, allpassion.
It's a speed project and wetalk about it next.
(21:06):
This is the Tech Mobility Show.
Do you listen to podcasts?
Seems that most people do.
Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host ofthe Tech Mobility Show.
If you missed any of our weeklyepisodes on the radio, our
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You can find the Tech MobilityPodcast just about anywhere.
(21:29):
You can enjoy podcasts.
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to be.
We're no exception.
Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host ofthe TechMobility show.
(21:52):
Several times a week, I post toTikTok several of the topics
that I cover on my weekly radioshow.
It's another way to keep up onmobility, technology news and
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I've built quite a library ofshort videos for your viewing
pleasure, so be sure to watch,like and subscribe.
That's the Tech Mobility Showon TikTok.
Check it out.
It's unsanctioned, dangerousand not exactly legal.
(22:20):
It's called the Speed Projectand guess what?
It has nothing to do withwheeled vehicles.
No, cars, trucks, suvs,off-road no, nothing.
This is a unique running eventthat takes participants to the
brink and beyond.
So the big question why do it?
This is topic B.
(22:41):
I'm eclectic enough that everynow and then I find something
that's just far enough off thebeaten path where it's worth
sharing it with you, and it'sbeen a while since we've been in
the weeds.
We're going to go in the weedsa little bit, and I stumbled
across this and I got way morepages than we're going to have
(23:02):
time to talk about.
This event is actually called,actually nicknamed, running man
or Burning man for Runners.
It is an unsanctioned race fromLos Angeles to Las Vegas, 340
(23:22):
miles.
It's not sanctioned, it's notlegal, it has no support, it's
not promoted.
The only way you get to run itis if you are invited to run.
It's 30 hours straight up inrelay format.
People who want to pushthemselves are looking for that
next thrill.
(23:43):
And remember I said running,not driving, running Streets,
paths, having to deal withtraffic and truckers and law
enforcement, because, again,it's not legal, it's not
sanctioned, it is not somethingthat is planned in the typical
way that you would think of anIronman race or a typical five K
(24:05):
.
Uh, no, no, no, no, no, no.
They say that the speed projectfor runners who land a coveted
invite, it's everything.
Land a coveted invite, it'severything.
They just had it back in Marchthis year.
(24:27):
And let me take this a littlefurther.
In addition to no rules,there's no spectators and no
prize money.
There's not even a website oran entry form.
There's nothing.
The only way in was through thefounder, the fellow who founded
this, his WhatsApp, and heinvited runners by word of mouth
, screening them through aninterview form that centered on
(24:50):
one question what motivates youto participate in this race?
It is very much the opposite ofany kind of sanctioned racing
that you may be familiar with.
So you would think, okay,unsanctioned, 340 miles, 30
hours plus, being up in a relayformat with no support
(25:11):
whatsoever.
Obviously obviously, he couldonly attract a handful of folk
Runners from more than 30countries arrived this year Last
week of March to participate.
It included elite marathoners,popular influences and social
activists, and their motivationswere all different, but it came
(25:33):
down to this for most of themMany of the athletes wanted to
test themselves with unbridledfreedom and raw adventure that
most competitive distant runningevent could not offer.
This gives folks an opportunityto rebel against the nine to
five grind of life for a fewdays by pushing their minds and
bodies to the limit in thedesert.
(25:56):
Okay, this would be bad enoughin decent climate In the desert,
340 miles from Los Angeles toLas Vegas.
In the desert, no prize money,no bragging rights, no
spectators, nobody to cheer youon.
You the path, the methodologyto get there, any kind of way
you can get there, but you gotto run it Again.
(26:18):
But then again, I'm the kind ofway you can get there, but you
got to run it Again.
But then again I'm the kind ofguy who asks hard questions of
people, of anybody that'srunning 800 meters or more.
I've seen it.
They get to the end, they makeit 800, 1600, plus.
They do it, they accomplish it.
They get to the end of the lineand they throw up.
Why do you do it?
(26:38):
Why accomplish it?
They get to the end of the lineand they throw up.
Why do you do it?
Why?
Why?
I still don't get it.
The runners would face ruggedterrain and unforgiving
temperatures.
Imagine the desert You'relooking at extreme heat and cold
at night.
They would have to dodgeaggressive truck drivers and
outrun wild dogs.
And remember I said about thepolice they could be detained by
(26:59):
the police.
The race was unsanctioned.
It had no zero zip zilchpermits.
But here's what they get.
If they made it to the end,they would celebrate in a casino
alongside Las Vegas tourists,unaware of what the exhausted
runners had just accomplished.
(27:20):
This has been going on for 10years and, needless to say, the
fella, emanated from Germany,didn't speak much English when
he got here but loved to run,and he ran around Los Angeles to
learn the city and eventuallyhe wanted to go on his own
(27:41):
adventure.
So he convinced five of hisfriends to run the more than 41
hours from the Santa Monica Pierto the Welcome Fabulous Las
Vegas sign.
41 hours, 41.
That is seven hours short oftwo days.
Two full days Let that sink infor a minute.
(28:05):
No sleep in there.
Two full days being up andrunning, punishing your body for
that long.
The next year, bear in mind thisstarted 10 years ago.
They invited a few more teamsto join them.
Before long, the annualgathering had turned into a
pilgrimage for many runners whoknew the founder.
So you know what happens.
(28:30):
Well, like anything For 2025,the runners came from Zealand
and New York and Seoul, and theyhad 83 relay teams and they all
had different ideas of the racethey wanted to run.
Some had trained for months,others were sponsored by major
brands and we're going to talkabout that in a minute that aim
(28:50):
to capture content I'm sorry,aim to capture content or test
new products, and some, hey, I'mhere for the ride, I'm going to
go on my own pace and do my ownthing.
One guy, sam Robbins, a runnerfrom Washington whose team was
invited to run this year, saidthere's a lore to it, because a
(29:11):
lot of people don't know whatSpeed Project is.
It's a different kind of raceand it builds on who you are,
because a lot of people don'tknow who they are on 30 hours
with no sleep.
Let me tell you something I'mone who does, unfortunately,
know exactly where I'm at 30hours with no sleep.
Been there, done that, starteddoing it right now.
(29:33):
My schedule's a little crazy.
Schedule's a little crazy.
So think about this for aminute.
This is not a mountain, this isnot some exotic climb or exotic
adventure.
It's a bunch of people invitedon something that's not promoted
no TV, no coverage, no, nothing.
(29:56):
No prize money, nothing, justthe privilege of going through
it, of getting invited to punishyourself for over 30 hours in a
relay in the desert, day andnight, to see just how far you
can push yourself.
People go for different kindsof adventures and different
(30:20):
kinds of challenges, and Iunderstand I get it For runners,
it's a different kind of high.
But remember 340 miles, 30hours plus, no prize money, no
rules, no sanctions.
You are on your own in and outof those towns to get there.
(30:42):
Would you do it?
Is it worth it for you to learnsomething about yourself?
Would you go that far?
Or is that something that?
No way, no, how?
Uh-uh?
No, thank you, that would kindof be me.
I know how to push this, ain'tit?
Hey, can you be sued for nottaking action on climate change?
(31:03):
It depends.
We are the Tech Mobility Show.
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Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host ofthe Tech Mobility Show.
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(31:23):
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(31:47):
Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host ofthe TechMobility show.
Each week I upload a few shortvideos of some of the hot topics
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news and information.
Be sure to watch, like andsubscribe to my channel.
That's the Tech Mobility Showon YouTube.
(32:09):
Check it out.
Speaker 4 (32:12):
Are you tired of juggling multiple apps and
platforms for meetings, webinarsand staying connected?
Look no further thanAONMeetingscom, the all-in-one
browser-based platform that doesit all.
With AONMeetings, you caneffortlessly communicate with
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with family and friends all inone place and for one price.
Here's the best part you canenjoy a 30-day free trial.
(32:33):
It's time to simplify your lifeand boost your productivity.
Aonmeetingscom, whereinnovation meets connection.
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communicate.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Social media is the place to be these days, and
we're no exception.
I'm Ken Chester of the TechMobility Show.
If you enjoy my program, thenyou will also enjoy my weekly
Instagram videos, from thelatest vehicle reviews to timely
commentary on a variety ofmobility and technology-related
topics.
These short features aredesigned to inform and delight
you.
Be sure to watch, like andfollow us on Instagram.
(33:07):
You can find us by typing theTech Mobility Show in the search
bar.
Can you be sued for not takingstrong enough action to tackle
climate change?
Can you be sued for taking toomuch action to change climate
(33:27):
change?
And, if you can, who decideswhat that is and believe it or
not?
No, I'm not talking aboutCalifornia, but it's a valid
question to ponder.
This is topic C.
Here is the world we're in, andthis is a little different spin
For those of you that say Italk too much about climate
(33:50):
change.
Let me feed this to you foryour consideration, for your
consideration.
In Europe, it is possible for amajor corporation to be sued for
not doing enough to combatclimate change in their
corporate operations.
In the United States of America, it is possible to be sued for
(34:15):
doing too much to battle climatechange in your corporate
operations.
If you are a global company,like many large companies are,
what do you do?
If you don't do enough, you canbe sued in Europe.
If you do too much, you can besued in America.
What do you do?
(34:36):
You got to do business, butthis is the world we're in now.
We are in this world.
I don't know what a businesswould do, because obviously they
have to take some kind of standand at the end of the day,
whether they get sued for doingit or not, it has to make
financial sense, because theaverage corporation has many
(35:00):
different stakeholders.
You have management, you havelocal government, the country
government, state government,depending on the state you
operate in or the provinces youoperate in.
Your employees, yourshareholders, the communities
that you operate in are allstakeholders in whatever it is
you do.
(35:20):
Now, to be fair, the UnitedStates business community and
pollution have had anevolutionary relationship over
these last 150 years.
Back in the day, wherever theywanted to dump it, wherever they
(35:40):
wanted to put it no big deal,no big whoop, do it, move on and
that was from processingcompanies to mining companies.
Didn't matter.
We don't do that anymore, forthe most part In Europe.
They took another tact.
They said look, here we have anorganization called the
(36:02):
Science-Based Targets Initiative, which is considered the
world's most influentialcorporate climate targets group.
They're the ones that do thereview in Europe and determine
whether or not largeorganizations are doing enough,
and what they're holding as thestandard is doing or adapting
(36:24):
policies and procedures withinyour line staff and operations
to meet the Paris Accord ofreducing temperatures or keeping
temperatures to 1.5 degreesCelsius in order to battle
climate change, or what we usedto call global warming.
Even banks are a subject and infact, tells the story of a
(36:51):
financial organization gettingsued in Europe.
Even though the targetorganization said we're going to
certify you, you're doingenough, another organization
said no, you're not, we're suingyou.
This same company does businessin the United States and US
(37:11):
companies have been taken tocourt by shareholders saying
you're putting too much effortinto this thing and messing with
my money.
In fact, the Attorney Generalof the state of Texas was taking
companies to court to showcause of why you are doing this
(37:32):
at the risk of fossil fuels.
Now understand, texas is amajor oil producing state, but
the irony about Texas is they'realso one of the top three
producers of wind and solarenergy in the United States.
How do you square that?
(37:52):
The state of Texas, led by theAttorney General, says we're
going to divest of any fundsthat invest in companies that
are turning their back on fossilfuels.
Well, in the case of Texas, onthe one hand that's kind of
looking out for their interests.
I mean, if you are a crude oilstate that is a major part of
your economy, then aren't yougoing to want to do everything
(38:14):
you can to protect that part ofthe infrastructure?
The problem is, even while it'sbeing proven that it's not the
best interest of the world, butit's short-sighted because for
short term it may be the bestinterest of your state.
You might remember news piecesin the last five years,
(38:36):
particularly Shell Oil, amoco,exxon, where they've been
challenged, at least in theUnited States, for not doing
enough to battle climate change,in fact hiding, otherwise,
burying reports that showed theimpact of climate change for
real, burying reports thatshowed the impact of climate
(38:59):
change for real.
They knew what it was doing andchose to do nothing or chose to
keep their lobbyists peddled tothe metal.
In the end it always gets downto a matter of money.
If you're a shareholder and youare an investor in an oil
company and that oil company isdoing things not to pump oil and
maximize profit, but to dothings that will improve climate
(39:21):
change, which actually may costthem money diminishing profits,
diminishing their investment intheir core business Then as a
shareholder, you might have somebeef because your money's not
working the way you intended andyou go into court.
Europe doesn't quite see it thatway.
They say that being a goodglobal citizen is way more
(39:42):
important than any profit youcould make in the short term
doing what you're doing.
That it's actually better allthe way around, if you care.
And back in the day, despitetheir woefully horrible
environmental record, a lot ofcompanies used to care about the
communities they were in tosome degree.
(40:04):
But here we are.
You know you can.
If you go here and you do it,you get sued.
You go over there, you don't doit, you get sued.
And I'm not talking a nuisancesuit, I'm talking a lot of money
and Europe has always kind ofbeen, on at least these topics,
a little bit more forwardthinking.
(40:26):
We've got a lot of specialinterest groups that are at odds
with each other.
In the United States You've gotfolks that at least in Iowa,
you've got ethanol.
You've got crude oil.
In the south, you've got windenergy and solar energy.
Up here too.
What do you do if you're acompany?
What do you embrace?
Where do you go?
Our energy company is mostlybut not 100% mostly renewable
(40:51):
energy generation.
They do have one remaining coalplant.
But what do you do?
What statements do you make andhow do you explain to your
investors and all yourconstituents and stakeholders
that this is the right way?
And do they agree?
Or do you end up spending timein court fighting lawsuits on
(41:12):
either side?
This is where the rubber meetsthe road for climate change.
If you're a corporation in theworld today the year 2025.
Depends where you do businessand how you do it.
Sometimes it's just best tokeep your head down and your
mouth shut and do what you'regoing to do, but at the end of
(41:47):
the day, we have just the onefor you.
Hi, I'm Ken Chester.
Tech Mobility Topics is apodcast where I upload
topic-specific videos each week,shorter than a full show.
These bite-sized programs arejust the thing, particularly if
you're interested in aparticular topic covered on the
weekly radio show.
From Apple Podcasts toiHeartRadio and many podcast
platforms in between, we got youcovered.
(42:09):
Just enter Tech Mobility Topicsin the search bar.
Wherever you listen to podcasts, social media, it's the place
to be where, no exception.
Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host ofthe Tech Mobility Show.
Several times a week, I post toTikTok several of the topics
that I cover on my weekly radioshow.
It's another way to keep up onmobility, technology news and
(42:32):
information.
I've built quite a library ofshort videos for your viewing
pleasure, so be sure to watch,like and subscribe.
That's the Tech Mobility Showon TikTok.
Check it out.
To learn more about the TechMobility Show, start by visiting
our website.
Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host ofthe Tech Mobility Show.
(42:52):
The website is a treasure troveof information about me and the
show, as well as where to findit on the radio across the
country.
Keep up with the happenings atthe Tech Mobility Show by
visiting techmobilityshow.
That's techmobilityshow.
You can also drop us a line attalk at techmobilityshow.
(43:15):
Do you listen to podcasts?
Seems that most people do.
Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host ofthe Tech Mobility Show.
If you've missed any of ourweekly episodes on the radio,
our podcast is a great way tolisten.
You can find the Tech MobilityPodcast just about anywhere.
You can enjoy podcasts.
Be sure to follow us from ApplePodcasts, iheartio and many
platforms in between.
(43:36):
We are there.
Just enter the Tech MobilityPodcast in the search bar,
wherever you listen to podcasts.
Welcome to the Tech Mobility Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
I'm Ken Chester On the docket my review of the 2025
Genesis GV80 Coupe.
No rules, no route, all passionand the liability of climate
change.
To join the conversation, be itto ask a question, share an
opinion or even suggest a topicfor future discussion, call or
(00:33):
text the TechMobility hotline,that number, 872-222-9793.
Or you can email the showdirectly.
Talk at techmobilityshow.
Also, be sure to subscribe,like and follow us on social
media our youtube channel forthose of you that subscribe to
(00:56):
substack.
You can find me there too, atken the letter cW-A.
So that's Ken C Iowa.
I am there as a proud member ofthe Iowa Writers Collaborative
and you definitely want to checkthat out because there's a lot
of esteemed writers from aroundthe country that are a part of
it award winners, a number ofthem, definitely awesome reading
(01:20):
, no matter what your interest.
From the TechMobility News Desk.
I want to get a little technicalhere.
In everything we've talkedabout EVs, one of the scarecrows
maybe was true in early days,is less true now.
Oh, evs catch fire.
Oh, my God, what are you goingto do?
Evs catch fire.
They're unsafe.
They catch fire.
Internal combustion enginescatch fire too people and burn
(01:49):
cars.
But to your point, a division.
A subsidiary of Hyundai calledHyundai Mobis has developed an
EV battery with built-in firesuppression.
The company says the technologyprevents thermal runaway
battery fires rather than simplydelaying them.
And Hyundai Mobis is the partsmanufacturing arm of Hyundai
(02:12):
Motor and they've developed thistechnology that can extinguish
an electric vehicle battery cellfire and prevent thermal
runaway.
The company announced that lastmonth.
Let me explain why that's majorRight now.
As you well know, most EVbattery configurations are
configured of a slurry oflithium metal.
(02:35):
It's not solid state, it'sactually a slurry over the
cycles of charging, discharging,recharging that the battery
actually grows or accumulates incertain spots within the
battery.
Problem is when it does that itlends itself in some of those
(02:55):
cells to be at risk of a thermalrunaway by shorting out the
battery cell.
What makes an EV battery fireso difficult is they are hard to
extinguish.
The conventional ways ofextinguishing a fire aren't as
effective in an EV battery fire.
(03:15):
They're very stubborn toextinguish from the outside.
So Hyundai, hyundai Mobis saidthe system works by spraying a
fire suppressant to extinguish afire within five minutes of
ignition before it can move toan adjacent cell and spark
thermal runaway.
Thermal runaway being it getsto a temperature, where it just
(03:40):
feeds on itself and continues onand becomes at that point
almost impossible to put out.
Just feeds on itself andcontinues on and becomes at that
point almost impossible to putout.
Because the average EV batteryis actually a number of separate
cells, you have somethingcalled a battery management
system.
That battery management systemis designed to manage the health
and situation of each of thecells, what condition it's in,
(04:03):
what level of charge ordischarge it's in, and it
manages all these.
What it did not have was anability to respond to a cell
that was at risk, and Hyundaihas developed a way to do that.
Hyundai said the new technologyis the first to prevent thermal
runaway, not just to lay it,with the use of heat-resistant
(04:27):
materials.
Sensors monitor batterytemperature and voltage in real
time and software commands thewhere and when the fire
extinguisher should be sprayed.
Thermal runaway is one of theprimary risks of lithium-ion
batteries used in EVs and canlead to deadly fires and
(04:48):
explosions.
So, as they're looking at suchthings these days, as the
technology evolves, as rangeincreases, faster charging
increases, automakers and partsmanufacturers are addressing the
safety risks of storing a largeamount of energy.
Now the other thing going onthat will mitigate this and
(05:08):
Mercedes-Benz is leading that,and they're not the only ones.
Toyota's doing it too is whatthey call solid-state lithium
batteries.
They eliminate the slurry,which eliminates the risk of the
shorting it out in the cellsand lowers the fire risk
significantly.
Countries around the world havemandated safety measures to
(05:31):
prevent thermal runaway.
China was one of the first,back in 2021, that EVs contain
early battery failure detectionsystems.
Here in the United States, theNational Highway Traffic Safety
Administration published a finalrule effective this past March,
requiring car manufacturers todocument steps they have taken
(05:52):
to test and implement EV safetyfeatures, including thermal
develop a warning system.
They developed a proactivesystem to stop the fire in its
tracks in the battery before itspreads to other cells, before
it gets to critical mass tobecome a thermal runaway, before
(06:15):
anybody else theoretically hasto get involved.
The vehicle and the batterymanagement systems already
handled the problem.
That is the magic in this, butthe bigger question that I have
typical lithium ion as we knowit, ev batteries and battery
cells are on the way out anyway.
(06:36):
The automakers are looking atdifferent chemistries which
comprise of less lithium.
Some battery chemistries haveno lithium.
Companies like Mercedes-Benzand Toyota are developing
solid-state lithium without theslurry, which means thermal
runaway, tire and fire.
All of that goes away becausethe risk is eliminated.
(06:59):
In how the battery chemistry isput together and what kind of
form it's in, it's in a dry,solid-state form as opposed to a
liquid form.
That is a bigger differencethan you may realize.
That difference alone makes thedifference in a lithium-ion EV
battery.
(07:20):
Toyota is expecting to havetheirs on the road in the next
few years, even as they expandthe mileage between charging.
You know they're expecting bythe end of 2026, a 600 mile
range for the solid statebatteries, with a thousand miles
by the end of the decade.
And this is Toyota saying this.
So for Hyundai to do that, thequestion is I think this will
(07:50):
become more of a thing as theytake solid state upmarket and
probably some of the lessexpensive EVs may still use
liquid lithium metal in theirbattery configurations and this
becomes more of a thing.
But I think in due time, maybe15 years, they won't need it
because the batteries will bedramatically different.
So for that note, I wanted toshare that with you first.
(08:12):
So here's a question IsCadillac ready to break the
pinnacle of aspiration that youlived your whole life?
(08:34):
The pinnacle of arrival, thepinnacle of making it, the
pinnacle of success was aCadillac in your driveway and
for most of Cadillac's historythat was true Right up until
about 30, almost 40 years ago,when a certain name plate
started turning things upsidedown and inside out.
(08:56):
You may have heard of it.
Lexus, mercedes and BMWsharpened their message and got
better, and Cadillac started tohave to fight their way back.
Mercedes and BMW sharpened theirmessage and got better, and
Cadillac started to have tofight their way back.
I mean, they had brandrecognition with older drivers,
but their numbers were dying outand, as a result, in 2015,
(09:19):
their average age of theircustomer was 58.
And today, because of theirprogress, it's closer to 54, 56.
That doesn't sound like a bigdeal, but it is.
And if you're looking at aspecific Cadillac, the Cadillac
IQ, which is their brand newfull-size, luxurious EV SUV, the
(09:40):
average age for that vehicle is48.
The average age for thatvehicle is 48.
Boy, do I have questions.
And at 48 years old, they stillhave a lot of buying years left
to Cadillac and figure out howto keep them, because this is
maybe.
They're probably two to threecars away from their last car,
(10:02):
genesis.
Looks to Europe for inspirationfor its first ever GV80 Coupe.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
You are listening to the Tech Mobility Show, A
browser-based platform that doesit all.
With AON Meetings, you caneffortlessly communicate with
clients, host virtual meetingsand webinars and stay in touch
with family and friends, all inone place and for one price.
Here's the best part you canendure a 30-day free trial.
It's time to simplify your lifeand boost your productivity.
Aonmeetingscom, whereinnovation meets connection.
(10:39):
Get started today andrevolutionize the way you
communicate.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Social media is the main place to be these days, and
we are no exception.
I'm Ken Chester of the TechMobility Show.
If you enjoy my program, thenyou will also enjoy my weekly
Facebook videos, from my latestvehicle reviews to timely
commentary of a variety ofmobility and technology-related
topics.
These short features aredesigned to inform and delight
you.
Be sure to watch, like andfollow us on Facebook.
(11:05):
You can find us by typing theTech Mobility Show in the search
bar.
Be sure to subscribe to ourFacebook page.
Social media is the place to bethese days, and we're no
exception.
I'm Ken Chester of the TechMobility Show.
If you enjoy my program, thenyou will also enjoy my weekly
Instagram videos, from thelatest vehicle reviews to timely
(11:27):
commentary on a variety ofmobility and technology-related
topics.
These short features aredesigned to inform and delight
you.
Be sure to watch, like andfollow us on Instagram.
You can find us by typing theTech Mobility Show in the search
bar.
For those of you that listen topodcasts, we have just the one
for you.
Hi, I'm Ken Chester.
(11:47):
Tech Mobility Topics is apodcast where I upload
topic-specific videos each week.
Shorter than a full show.
These bite-sized programs arejust the thing, particularly if
you're interested in aparticular topic covered on the
weekly radio show From ApplePodcasts, iheart Radio and many
podcast platforms in between.
We got you covered.
Just enter Tech Mobility Topicsin the search bar, wherever you
(12:10):
listen to podcasts.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
The new 375-horsepower Hyundai Genesis
has a more effective brakingperformance than the BMW 550i,
so you can avoid the obstaclesyou expect.
It also has an extraordinarysystem of safety features, so
you can deal with the ones youdon't.
Find out more atHyundaiGenesiscom.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Commercial was from 2009.
And in case you didn't know,let me bring you up to speed
Genesis, before it became astandalone luxury brand, was
actually a Hyundai upscale sedan.
Probably the only otherautomaker that would show you
one of their cars being wreckedin a commercial would be Subaru.
(13:10):
In its TV commercial it showedthe fancy car avoiding an
obstacle because of its goodbrakes and sensors, but to catch
you completely off guard whenit gets rear-ended, and hard too
.
And that's the whole point that, no matter what happens, you
are safe in this car for thestuff you see and, more
(13:30):
importantly, the stuff youdidn't see, and I thought that
was awful cool.
But I also wanted to make apoint that the Genesis brand
grew out of a luxury upscalemodel in the Hyundai line, and
it broke it out 10 years ago,and that's important to know.
(13:51):
It all started at the 2017 NewYork International Auto Show.
I was there.
Genesis introduced a conceptfor its first SUV and it
literally broke the show.
Everybody wanted to get a firstlook at this amazing and
impressive concept.
It was unlike anything theautomotive press had seen up to
(14:12):
that time.
The concept was powered by anelectric drivetrain and a
hydrogen fuel cell.
It was an impressive firstattempt from Genesis, kind of a
peek at what was to follow inlater years.
And I'm just talking abouttheir SUVs.
Their cars are amazing, but I'mjust calling it the SUVs the
GV70.
The GV70 Electrified mypersonal favorite, and the GV60
(14:34):
EV An amazing ride.
And all of those reimagineluxury.
They don't copy anybody.
The all-new Genesis GV80production models went on sale
in November 2020 in the UnitedStates as 2021 models.
The upmarket Korean nameplateunveiled the GV80 Coupe in
(14:58):
September of 2023.
Based on a refreshed GV80 SUVfor that same year, unique
styling cues included acoupe-inspired roofline, a
redesigned front bumper andgrille, flat-bottom steering
wheel and carbon fiber interiortrims.
(15:19):
Design and performance of thebase model with a dynism of a
coop, with a dynamic how shall Isay it?
No-transcript.
With the introduction of theGV80 Coupe, genesis now enters
what I consider the rarefied airthat is shared by such
(15:41):
remarkable machines as the BMWX6 Coupe and both the Mercedes
GLC and GLE Coupes, which areSUV with a coupe silhouette.
So, definitely following insome very rarefied air with some
very well-regarded vehiclesAvailable in two trim levels,
(16:02):
base power for the GV80 Coupe isprovided by a 3.5-liter
gasoline twin-turbo six-cylinderengine that produces 375
horsepower and 391 foot-poundsof torque.
The upmarket model adds a48-volt electric supercharger
that delivers 409 horsepower and405 foot-pounds of torque.
(16:22):
Energy is communicated to allfour wheels via an 8-speed
shift-by-wire automatictransmission with steering
wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
Drivers also have theconvenience of on-demand drive
mode, select comfort smart ecosport and custom mode, select
comfort smart eco sport andcustom Hill descent control, and
a center locking differentialfacilitates the ability to
(16:43):
modify vehicle performance toroad conditions and or driver
preference.
Epa fuel economy numbers are16-city 22-highway for the base
power train and 18-city22-highway for the electric
supercharged model.
Cargo capacity is 61.1 cubicfeet.
Towing capacity is 6,000 pounds.
(17:07):
Here's what I liked about thecoupe.
The GV80 coupe is inspiredperformance luxury.
While it seems that Genesis haslooked to Germany for
inspiration for it, it'ssportier than the stock GV80 SUV
and certainly no less elegant,and I've always been a fan of
the GV80.
The coupe has become one moremodel to love, being able to
(17:28):
hold its own in the city or atthe country club.
Large but not heavy, cumbersome, awkward, or, I'm sorry, large
but not heavy, cumbersome orawkward when underway.
The GV80 Coupe offers drivers awonderfully elevated view of
the road and outsidesurroundings, with opulent
seating for four adults.
Yeah, you could fit five in apinch if you had to Build.
(17:51):
Quality is what I've come toexpect from Genesis Solid, as if
it was carved from one piece ofmetal, very tectonic, if you
ask me.
Underway, the GV80 Coupe issmooth like glass, with the kind
of driver responsiveness thatwill put a smile on your face
and a speeding ticket on yourrecord At speed.
Performance, handling andcontrol are effortless,
(18:14):
inspiring driver confidence.
Inside the passenger cabin,displays, control and some
switch gear are generally easyto read and use.
Front seat passengers enjoy anadded bonus.
The center armrest is heated.
When the heated seats areactivated, let me tell you I
loved that.
Head-up display, fog lights anda panoramic sunroof All
(18:37):
standard.
Add to that the automaker'siconic SmartPak and I'm sorry I
had to go into the Boston accent.
I just love that.
Commercial Remote engines startand it's easy to see how quickly
you can be spoiled by thisvehicle.
For rear seat passengers thereare dual USB ports, an
electrical plug and climatecontrols.
Outboard heated and cooledseats are a plus.
(19:00):
The split fold-down rear seatfolds flat yay, with the cargo
floor and cargo area, space isgood.
In the midst of all thismagical goodness.
Yeah, I got beef.
Here's what I didn't like aboutthe coupe One there's no spare
tire and no indication, fromwhat I could find out, that the
(19:21):
22-inch Michelin Primacy Tourtires are run-flats,
self-sealing orpuncture-resistant.
That's a problem.
Ironically enough, while theGV80 coupe bristles with
technology and I can't evenbelieve this it lacks retained
accessory power.
Are you kidding me Really?
Are you kidding me?
(19:42):
The placement of the menu dialfor the infotainment system in
the center console can be easilyconfused with the gear
selection dial located in frontof it.
If you're going by, feel youneed to be real careful.
Now here's one thing.
I found that the radio displaysfor the infotainment system to
be a bit fussy, especially whenit comes to replaying a song.
(20:03):
Oh, I had a fit.
A final note about tires andrims.
Remember I said they were22-inch.
Those large tire and rim setsare expensive to replace should
they be damaged.
Bottom line.
I love the Genesis GV80 CoupeWith the lack of a spare gives
me pause and radio controls area bit fussy.
(20:23):
The vehicle is perfect in everyother way.
If you aspire to true luxury,then you must.
I said you must add thisvehicle to your short list.
You won't regret it.
The base manufacturer suggestedretail price for the 2025
Genesis GV80 Coupe SUV startsfrom $47,950.
(20:44):
The e-supercharger model startsfrom $85,750.
Destination charges add $1,350.
I love this vehicle.
New Route, no rules, allpassion.
It's a speed project and wetalk about it next.
(21:06):
This is the Tech Mobility Show.
Do you listen to podcasts?
Seems that most people do.
Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host ofthe Tech Mobility Show.
If you missed any of our weeklyepisodes on the radio, our
podcast is a great way to listen.
You can find the Tech MobilityPodcast just about anywhere.
(21:29):
You can enjoy podcasts.
Be sure to follow us from ApplePodcasts, iheart Radio and many
platforms in between.
We are there.
Just enter the Tech MobilityPodcast in the search bar.
Wherever you listen to podcasts, social media, it's the place
to be.
We're no exception.
Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host ofthe TechMobility show.
(21:52):
Several times a week, I post toTikTok several of the topics
that I cover on my weekly radioshow.
It's another way to keep up onmobility, technology news and
information.
I've built quite a library ofshort videos for your viewing
pleasure, so be sure to watch,like and subscribe.
That's the Tech Mobility Showon TikTok.
Check it out.
It's unsanctioned, dangerousand not exactly legal.
(22:20):
It's called the Speed Projectand guess what?
It has nothing to do withwheeled vehicles.
No, cars, trucks, suvs,off-road no, nothing.
This is a unique running eventthat takes participants to the
brink and beyond.
So the big question why do it?
This is topic B.
(22:41):
I'm eclectic enough that everynow and then I find something
that's just far enough off thebeaten path where it's worth
sharing it with you, and it'sbeen a while since we've been in
the weeds.
We're going to go in the weedsa little bit, and I stumbled
across this and I got way morepages than we're going to have
(23:02):
time to talk about.
This event is actually called,actually nicknamed, running man
or Burning man for Runners.
It is an unsanctioned race fromLos Angeles to Las Vegas, 340
(23:22):
miles.
It's not sanctioned, it's notlegal, it has no support, it's
not promoted.
The only way you get to run itis if you are invited to run.
It's 30 hours straight up inrelay format.
People who want to pushthemselves are looking for that
next thrill.
(23:43):
And remember I said running,not driving, running Streets,
paths, having to deal withtraffic and truckers and law
enforcement, because, again,it's not legal, it's not
sanctioned, it is not somethingthat is planned in the typical
way that you would think of anIronman race or a typical five K
(24:05):
.
Uh, no, no, no, no, no, no.
They say that the speed projectfor runners who land a coveted
invite, it's everything.
Land a coveted invite, it'severything.
They just had it back in Marchthis year.
(24:27):
And let me take this a littlefurther.
In addition to no rules,there's no spectators and no
prize money.
There's not even a website oran entry form.
There's nothing.
The only way in was through thefounder, the fellow who founded
this, his WhatsApp, and heinvited runners by word of mouth
, screening them through aninterview form that centered on
(24:50):
one question what motivates youto participate in this race?
It is very much the opposite ofany kind of sanctioned racing
that you may be familiar with.
So you would think, okay,unsanctioned, 340 miles, 30
hours plus, being up in a relayformat with no support
(25:11):
whatsoever.
Obviously obviously, he couldonly attract a handful of folk
Runners from more than 30countries arrived this year Last
week of March to participate.
It included elite marathoners,popular influences and social
activists, and their motivationswere all different, but it came
(25:33):
down to this for most of themMany of the athletes wanted to
test themselves with unbridledfreedom and raw adventure that
most competitive distant runningevent could not offer.
This gives folks an opportunityto rebel against the nine to
five grind of life for a fewdays by pushing their minds and
bodies to the limit in thedesert.
(25:56):
Okay, this would be bad enoughin decent climate In the desert,
340 miles from Los Angeles toLas Vegas.
In the desert, no prize money,no bragging rights, no
spectators, nobody to cheer youon.
You the path, the methodologyto get there, any kind of way
you can get there, but you gotto run it Again.
(26:18):
But then again, I'm the kind ofway you can get there, but you
got to run it Again.
But then again I'm the kind ofguy who asks hard questions of
people, of anybody that'srunning 800 meters or more.
I've seen it.
They get to the end, they makeit 800, 1600, plus.
They do it, they accomplish it.
They get to the end of the lineand they throw up.
Why do you do it?
(26:38):
Why accomplish it?
They get to the end of the lineand they throw up.
Why do you do it?
Why?
Why?
I still don't get it.
The runners would face ruggedterrain and unforgiving
temperatures.
Imagine the desert You'relooking at extreme heat and cold
at night.
They would have to dodgeaggressive truck drivers and
outrun wild dogs.
And remember I said about thepolice they could be detained by
(26:59):
the police.
The race was unsanctioned.
It had no zero zip zilchpermits.
But here's what they get.
If they made it to the end,they would celebrate in a casino
alongside Las Vegas tourists,unaware of what the exhausted
runners had just accomplished.
(27:20):
This has been going on for 10years and, needless to say, the
fella, emanated from Germany,didn't speak much English when
he got here but loved to run,and he ran around Los Angeles to
learn the city and eventuallyhe wanted to go on his own
(27:41):
adventure.
So he convinced five of hisfriends to run the more than 41
hours from the Santa Monica Pierto the Welcome Fabulous Las
Vegas sign.
41 hours, 41.
That is seven hours short oftwo days.
Two full days Let that sink infor a minute.
(28:05):
No sleep in there.
Two full days being up andrunning, punishing your body for
that long.
The next year, bear in mind thisstarted 10 years ago.
They invited a few more teamsto join them.
Before long, the annualgathering had turned into a
pilgrimage for many runners whoknew the founder.
So you know what happens.
(28:30):
Well, like anything For 2025,the runners came from Zealand
and New York and Seoul, and theyhad 83 relay teams and they all
had different ideas of the racethey wanted to run.
Some had trained for months,others were sponsored by major
brands and we're going to talkabout that in a minute that aim
(28:50):
to capture content I'm sorry,aim to capture content or test
new products, and some, hey, I'mhere for the ride, I'm going to
go on my own pace and do my ownthing.
One guy, sam Robbins, a runnerfrom Washington whose team was
invited to run this year, saidthere's a lore to it, because a
(29:11):
lot of people don't know whatSpeed Project is.
It's a different kind of raceand it builds on who you are,
because a lot of people don'tknow who they are on 30 hours
with no sleep.
Let me tell you something I'mone who does, unfortunately,
know exactly where I'm at 30hours with no sleep.
Been there, done that, starteddoing it right now.
(29:33):
My schedule's a little crazy.
Schedule's a little crazy.
So think about this for aminute.
This is not a mountain, this isnot some exotic climb or exotic
adventure.
It's a bunch of people invitedon something that's not promoted
no TV, no coverage, no, nothing.
(29:56):
No prize money, nothing, justthe privilege of going through
it, of getting invited to punishyourself for over 30 hours in a
relay in the desert, day andnight, to see just how far you
can push yourself.
People go for different kindsof adventures and different
(30:20):
kinds of challenges, and Iunderstand I get it For runners,
it's a different kind of high.
But remember 340 miles, 30hours plus, no prize money, no
rules, no sanctions.
You are on your own in and outof those towns to get there.
(30:42):
Would you do it?
Is it worth it for you to learnsomething about yourself?
Would you go that far?
Or is that something that?
No way, no, how?
Uh-uh?
No, thank you, that would kindof be me.
I know how to push this, ain'tit?
Hey, can you be sued for nottaking action on climate change?
(31:03):
It depends.
We are the Tech Mobility Show.
To learn more about the TechMobility Show, start by visiting
our website.
Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host ofthe Tech Mobility Show.
The website is a treasure troveof information about me and the
(31:23):
show, as well as where to findit on the radio across the
country.
Keep up with the happenings ofthe Tech Mobility Show by
visiting techmobilityshow.
That's techmobilityshow.
You can also drop us a line attalk at techmobility dot show.
Did you know that TechMobilityhas a YouTube channel?
(31:47):
Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host ofthe TechMobility show.
Each week I upload a few shortvideos of some of the hot topics
that I cover during my weeklyradio program.
I've designed these videos tobe informative and entertaining.
It's another way to keep up oncurrent mobility and technology
news and information.
Be sure to watch, like andsubscribe to my channel.
That's the Tech Mobility Showon YouTube.
(32:09):
Check it out.
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Speaker 2 (32:45):
Social media is the place to be these days, and
we're no exception.
I'm Ken Chester of the TechMobility Show.
If you enjoy my program, thenyou will also enjoy my weekly
Instagram videos, from thelatest vehicle reviews to timely
commentary on a variety ofmobility and technology-related
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These short features aredesigned to inform and delight
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Be sure to watch, like andfollow us on Instagram.
(33:07):
You can find us by typing theTech Mobility Show in the search
bar.
Can you be sued for not takingstrong enough action to tackle
climate change?
Can you be sued for taking toomuch action to change climate
(33:27):
change?
And, if you can, who decideswhat that is and believe it or
not?
No, I'm not talking aboutCalifornia, but it's a valid
question to ponder.
This is topic C.
Here is the world we're in, andthis is a little different spin
For those of you that say Italk too much about climate
(33:50):
change.
Let me feed this to you foryour consideration, for your
consideration.
In Europe, it is possible for amajor corporation to be sued for
not doing enough to combatclimate change in their
corporate operations.
In the United States of America, it is possible to be sued for
(34:15):
doing too much to battle climatechange in your corporate
operations.
If you are a global company,like many large companies are,
what do you do?
If you don't do enough, you canbe sued in Europe.
If you do too much, you can besued in America.
What do you do?
(34:36):
You got to do business, butthis is the world we're in now.
We are in this world.
I don't know what a businesswould do, because obviously they
have to take some kind of standand at the end of the day,
whether they get sued for doingit or not, it has to make
financial sense, because theaverage corporation has many
(35:00):
different stakeholders.
You have management, you havelocal government, the country
government, state government,depending on the state you
operate in or the provinces youoperate in.
Your employees, yourshareholders, the communities
that you operate in are allstakeholders in whatever it is
you do.
(35:20):
Now, to be fair, the UnitedStates business community and
pollution have had anevolutionary relationship over
these last 150 years.
Back in the day, wherever theywanted to dump it, wherever they
(35:40):
wanted to put it no big deal,no big whoop, do it, move on and
that was from processingcompanies to mining companies.
Didn't matter.
We don't do that anymore, forthe most part In Europe.
They took another tact.
They said look, here we have anorganization called the
(36:02):
Science-Based Targets Initiative, which is considered the
world's most influentialcorporate climate targets group.
They're the ones that do thereview in Europe and determine
whether or not largeorganizations are doing enough,
and what they're holding as thestandard is doing or adapting
(36:24):
policies and procedures withinyour line staff and operations
to meet the Paris Accord ofreducing temperatures or keeping
temperatures to 1.5 degreesCelsius in order to battle
climate change, or what we usedto call global warming.
Even banks are a subject and infact, tells the story of a
(36:51):
financial organization gettingsued in Europe.
Even though the targetorganization said we're going to
certify you, you're doingenough, another organization
said no, you're not, we're suingyou.
This same company does businessin the United States and US
(37:11):
companies have been taken tocourt by shareholders saying
you're putting too much effortinto this thing and messing with
my money.
In fact, the Attorney Generalof the state of Texas was taking
companies to court to showcause of why you are doing this
(37:32):
at the risk of fossil fuels.
Now understand, texas is amajor oil producing state, but
the irony about Texas is they'realso one of the top three
producers of wind and solarenergy in the United States.
How do you square that?
(37:52):
The state of Texas, led by theAttorney General, says we're
going to divest of any fundsthat invest in companies that
are turning their back on fossilfuels.
Well, in the case of Texas, onthe one hand that's kind of
looking out for their interests.
I mean, if you are a crude oilstate that is a major part of
your economy, then aren't yougoing to want to do everything
(38:14):
you can to protect that part ofthe infrastructure?
The problem is, even while it'sbeing proven that it's not the
best interest of the world, butit's short-sighted because for
short term it may be the bestinterest of your state.
You might remember news piecesin the last five years,
(38:36):
particularly Shell Oil, amoco,exxon, where they've been
challenged, at least in theUnited States, for not doing
enough to battle climate change,in fact hiding, otherwise,
burying reports that showed theimpact of climate change for
real, burying reports thatshowed the impact of climate
(38:59):
change for real.
They knew what it was doing andchose to do nothing or chose to
keep their lobbyists peddled tothe metal.
In the end it always gets downto a matter of money.
If you're a shareholder and youare an investor in an oil
company and that oil company isdoing things not to pump oil and
maximize profit, but to dothings that will improve climate
(39:21):
change, which actually may costthem money diminishing profits,
diminishing their investment intheir core business Then as a
shareholder, you might have somebeef because your money's not
working the way you intended andyou go into court.
Europe doesn't quite see it thatway.
They say that being a goodglobal citizen is way more
(39:42):
important than any profit youcould make in the short term
doing what you're doing.
That it's actually better allthe way around, if you care.
And back in the day, despitetheir woefully horrible
environmental record, a lot ofcompanies used to care about the
communities they were in tosome degree.
(40:04):
But here we are.
You know you can.
If you go here and you do it,you get sued.
You go over there, you don't doit, you get sued.
And I'm not talking a nuisancesuit, I'm talking a lot of money
and Europe has always kind ofbeen, on at least these topics,
a little bit more forwardthinking.
(40:26):
We've got a lot of specialinterest groups that are at odds
with each other.
In the United States You've gotfolks that at least in Iowa,
you've got ethanol.
You've got crude oil.
In the south, you've got windenergy and solar energy.
Up here too.
What do you do if you're acompany?
What do you embrace?
Where do you go?
Our energy company is mostlybut not 100% mostly renewable
(40:51):
energy generation.
They do have one remaining coalplant.
But what do you do?
What statements do you make andhow do you explain to your
investors and all yourconstituents and stakeholders
that this is the right way?
And do they agree?
Or do you end up spending timein court fighting lawsuits on
(41:12):
either side?
This is where the rubber meetsthe road for climate change.
If you're a corporation in theworld today the year 2025.
Depends where you do businessand how you do it.
Sometimes it's just best tokeep your head down and your
mouth shut and do what you'regoing to do, but at the end of
(41:47):
the day, we have just the onefor you.
Hi, I'm Ken Chester.
Tech Mobility Topics is apodcast where I upload
topic-specific videos each week,shorter than a full show.
These bite-sized programs arejust the thing, particularly if
you're interested in aparticular topic covered on the
weekly radio show.
From Apple Podcasts toiHeartRadio and many podcast
platforms in between, we got youcovered.
(42:09):
Just enter Tech Mobility Topicsin the search bar.
Wherever you listen to podcasts, social media, it's the place
to be where, no exception.
Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host ofthe Tech Mobility Show.
Several times a week, I post toTikTok several of the topics
that I cover on my weekly radioshow.
It's another way to keep up onmobility, technology news and
(42:32):
information.
I've built quite a library ofshort videos for your viewing
pleasure, so be sure to watch,like and subscribe.
That's the Tech Mobility Showon TikTok.
Check it out.
To learn more about the TechMobility Show, start by visiting
our website.
Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host ofthe Tech Mobility Show.
(42:52):
The website is a treasure troveof information about me and the
show, as well as where to findit on the radio across the
country.
Keep up with the happenings atthe Tech Mobility Show by
visiting techmobilityshow.
That's techmobilityshow.
You can also drop us a line attalk at techmobilityshow.
(43:15):
Do you listen to podcasts?
Seems that most people do.
Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host ofthe Tech Mobility Show.
If you've missed any of ourweekly episodes on the radio,
our podcast is a great way tolisten.
You can find the Tech MobilityPodcast just about anywhere.
You can enjoy podcasts.
Be sure to follow us from ApplePodcasts, iheartio and many
platforms in between.
(43:36):
We are there.
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