Electric cars?

Value Collector said:

Do you have some examples ?

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Andrew Robb.

Managed to get the Port of Darwin sold then got a job on the Board of the company that bought ( sorry leased it for 99 years).

SirRumpole said:

Andrew Robb.

Managed to get the Port of Darwin sold then got a job on the Board of the company that bought ( sorry leased it for 99 years).

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What role exactly did he play in leasing the port?

Value Collector said:

What role exactly did he play in leasing the port?

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He was the responsible Federal Minister at the time.'

"While he was Minister for Trade and Investment, Robb approved Chinese company Shandong Landbridge Group to lease Port Darwin for 99 years. As soon as he left politics, Robb was hired by Shandong Landbridge on a $880,000 per year salary.[1] In 2019, Robb left the position, shortly before a new foreign-interference law took effect.[2]

SirRumpole said:

He was the responsible Federal Minister at the time.'

"

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That’s a bit of a stretch isn’t it. The deal was organised by the NT state government, Robb is a federal minister, he was the minister for trade, but he wasn’t part of the Foreign Investment review board that approved it.

Are you saying that the State and federal government bodies that organized and approved it, and all the members that voted on it were doing him a favor?

Value Collector said:

That’s a bit of a stretch isn’t it. The deal was organised by the NT state government, Robb is a federal minister, he was the minister for trade, but he wasn’t part of the Foreign Investment review board that approved it.

Are you saying that the State and federal government bodies that organized and approved it, and all the members that voted on it were doing him a favor?

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The Federal Minister had to approve it and that was him.

You see nothing strange about going straight from politics into a private company that benefited from a deal he approved?

Value Collector said:

Do you have some examples ?

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SirRumpole said:

The Federal Minister had to approve it and that was him.

You see nothing strange about going straight from politics into a private company that benefited from a deal he approved?

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It was the foreign investment review board that had to do the main approval, and the deal done at the state level, it was the state government that wanted to lease it out.

I can’t see how he could have initiated it to the point where he got a kick back, if anything maybe he blackmailed them, but I think that’s unlikely.

countrylad said:

The Mayne Report - Former pollies on ASX-listed boards

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I asked for examples where politicians had made decisions purely to get elected to board positions, it just a list of politicians that have board positions.

Value Collector said:

It was the foreign investment review board that had to do the main approval, and the deal done at the state level, it was the state government that wanted to lease it out.

I can’t see how he could have initiated it to the point where he got a kick back, if anything maybe he blackmailed them, but I think that’s unlikely.

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If you say so.

Value Collector said:

I asked for examples where politicians had made decisions purely to get elected to board positions, it just a list of politicians that have board positions.

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Ok you win the internet today

countrylad said:

Ok you win the internet today

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I am sorry, I thought because you said that politicians make decisions purely to ensure board seats you would have a bunch of examples showing that.

SirRumpole said:

If you say so.

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Well it’s just hard to believe that a guy that wasn’t sitting in the level of government that actually had the original idea to sell, and wasn’t part of the board that actually approved it. Some how held enough sway to be singled out and paid off.

However, I can see why people that know the insides and outs of the political structure with connections are valuable on certain boards. But that doesn’t automatically mean that the way we’re corrupt during their time in office.

Value Collector said:

Well it’s just hard to believe that a guy that wasn’t sitting in the level of government that actually had the original idea to sell, and wasn’t part of the board that actually approved it. Some how held enough sway to be singled out and paid off.

However, I can see why people that know the insides and outs of the political structure with connections are valuable on certain boards. But that doesn’t automatically mean that the way we’re corrupt during their time in office.

Click to expand...

The issue of Government Ministers going from being in positions of power one year and then when retired sitting on Boards of companies related to their political experience goes back for decades.

The Defence Department is notorious for ex politicians ending up on Boards that have dealings with them. Whether it reflects giving special favours to people who supported previous decisions OR having these ex pollies on Board because they know the ropes and who to influence is much the same.

There have been calls to prohibit ex politicians sitting on Boards with companies that could have dealings with the Government for 5 years after they retire. I don't believe that has got traction becasue frankly politicians on all sides look to jumping on Boards directly after retirement and using their political contacts.

countrylad said:

The Mayne Report - Former pollies on ASX-listed boards

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Stephen Mayne has worked for almost 30 years as a shareholder activist . Essentially he challenges companies on their treatment of shareholders and the behavior of CEO's in terms of ethical business practice.

That also includes questioning the relationships between business and government.

He has many excellent reports on his website. He has been particularly interested in the influence of the gambling lobby on Government politcies

Back to Thread Topic.
I came across a really cool article on a Mercedes Benz - AMG concept electric car .
Copied it in full. One for the cars buffs and engineers.
Some quite spectacular engine and battery specs in this beast


Some extra pics including inside the car




"Concept AMG GT XX from Mercedes-AMG

AMG with incredible super sports car of the future

Mercedes-AMG is showing the study for a four-door, electric hypercar with 1,360 hp, retractable rims and an insane cockpit – but without a rear window. Everything about the Concept AMG GT XX.

Even if this AMG is initially only a concept car – if this flat four-door car hits the road like this, it would probably be the most spectacular of all electric cars to date. In any case, the Affalterbach-based company has put everything the Mercedes Group has to offer in terms of technology and innovations into the Concept AMG GT XX. Whether it's extendable airblades on the wheels, three axial flux motors with a total of 1,000 kW or the latest battery technology with directly cooled round cells and extremely short charging times – the list of superlatives is long. But first things first.

"The best minds of all development departments"​

The chief engineer of Mercedes-Benz, Markus Schäfer, describes the project as follows: "The best minds in our global development departments have contributed their extensive know-how – from Mercedes-Benz in Sindelfingen and Untertürkheim to Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach and YASA in England to our Formula 1 powertrain experts at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth."

"Together, they have developed the CONCEPT AMG GT XX and provide a glimpse of groundbreaking drive technology and the future of performance. The technology program will continue to push the boundaries of what is feasible and break new ground. The Concept AMG GT XX with its three axial flux motors takes performance and endurance to a completely new level."

The key data of the Concept AMG GT XX​

The bright orange Hypercar flounder stands on the new electric AMG. EA platform, is 5.20 meters long and 1.95 meters wide (2.13 meters with mirrors). The height of the four-door is 1.31 meters. This makes the GT XX slightly flatter than a Porsche Taycan, which was certainly a strong focus during development as a direct competitor. Despite the imposing appearance, the Cd value of the study is said to be 0.198 – a sensationally low value. By comparison, a Porsche Taycan comes in at 0.22, as does the new Mercedes CLA.

Mercedes has not yet revealed how heavy the AMG GT XX is. On the other hand, we know that three axial flux motors from the Mercedes subsidiary Yasa are used (see below). With a combined peak output of 1,000 kW – i.e. 1,360 hp – the AMG GT XX is expected to reach speeds of over 360 km/h. Continuous load should not be a problem for machines and battery, nor should extremely fast recharging. Mercedes-AMG promises that the concept car can recharge the energy for around 400 kilometres of WLTP range in around five minutes. The new battery technology is said to be able to withstand average charging capacities of an incredible 850 kW. We explain exactly how all this works in the following paragraphs.

The design of the Concept AMG GT XX​

Functionality and aerodynamics were the focus of development. The body is therefore designed as a hatchback with a low front hood, a flat-sloping windshield and actually without a rear window. The front shows a radiator grille with vertical struts, integrated auxiliary headlights and air outlets on the hood for heat dissipation. The front splitter, the long rear, the double-bubble roof and the covered underside are supposed to improve air flow.

The side view is defined by flared fenders, a flat roof and recessed door handles. At the rear, a large diffuser, six round taillights and an integrated airbrake provide stability at high speed. The design is complemented by luminous paint segments and active aero wheels with adjustable air deflectors to optimise brake cooling and drag.

Active aero wheels as "extendable rims"​

The brake cooling of the Concept AMG GT XX is supported by an active, aerodynamically designed rim system. The 21-inch aero wheels are equipped with five movable plastic elements ("aeroblades") that open when needed. In normal operation, they fit snugly to minimize drag. If the vehicle detects an increased need for cooling – for example during a sporty driving style or intensive deceleration – the blades open automatically. This creates an annular gap on the outer edge of the wheel, through which air is directed to the brake and out again.





This effect is supported by internal slats that increase the airflow. The system works completely autonomously: Each wheel actuator (directly on the wheel hub) generates its own energy via the rotary movement and communicates wirelessly with the central control unit. This enables effective, needs-based brake cooling while at the same time optimising aerodynamics.

Interior of the Concept AMG GT XX​

The interior design is clearly based on a racing car cockpit, where technical functionality and weight efficiency are paramount. Even the steering wheel could come from a Formula 1 racer. However, the double control system with its mini touch surfaces, which has now been established at Mercedes, would probably distract the F1 drivers too much. The entire interior is initially in black, with many orange and silver accents standing out. For this purpose, there are visible structural elements, such as exposed structural beams or cables. The center console consists of an open aluminum extrusion structure with glowing tubes reminiscent of high-voltage cables.

The two front bucket seats are integrated into the car structure and are made of carbon. Their seat cushions are individually adaptable and are manufactured using 3D printing based on a body scan of the driver and front passenger. They are upholstered in a leather alternative made from recycled GT3 racing tyres. This biotechnologically produced material solution is said to offer a similar feel and look to real leather, but is significantly lighter and fully recyclable. An equally newly developed silk alternative is used for the door loops and is based on silk proteins produced by genetically modified bacteria.

Displays without big surprises​

Two large displays take over the display and control functions. The instrument cluster measures 10.25 inches, the central touchscreen 14 inches. Both are embedded in a continuous glass surface and oriented towards the driver's side. We already know this area from current production models. The cockpit is complemented by an LED system on the steering wheel that displays performance and charging information in colour.

The door panels are reduced over the surface and have integrated lighting elements. The headliner is missing in favor of the view of the carbon structure. The flooring also picks up on the motorsport theme: it looks unspectacularly technical relative to the rest of the car. The topic of battery technology is more exciting.

Completely new high-voltage battery with round cells​

The battery technology of the Concept AMG GT XX has been completely redeveloped and is designed for high continuous output and fast charging capability. A high-voltage battery with a nominal voltage of more than 800 volts is used, which is based on cylindrical cells with a particularly high and narrow format. This cell format is intended to allow efficient heat dissipation, as the heat path from the inside of the cell to the surface is short. Each cell is directly surrounded by an electrically non-conductive coolant, which enables precise temperature control – even under heavy loads. The cells are housed in laser-welded plastic modules in which the cooling channels are already integrated.

Another feature is the laser-welded aluminum housing of the cells, which is lighter than conventional steel variants and has better thermal conductivity. Cell chemistry combines an NCMA cathode (nickel, cobalt, manganese, aluminum) with a silicon-containing anode. As a result, the battery achieves an energy density of over 300 Wh/kg at the cell level. Thanks to so-called full-tab technology with full-surface connection to the cell poles, the internal resistance is reduced, which allows high charging and discharging currents.





The intelligent thermal management enables rapid adjustments of the cell temperature depending on the driving situation. This means that charging can be resumed immediately even after driving at high speeds, and vice versa, full power is immediately available after charging. Energy for a range of around 400 kilometres (according to WLTP) can be recharged in around five minutes. The battery is housed in the middle of the vehicle floor and is part of the load-bearing structure. In addition to mechanical tasks, the battery housing also fulfils safety-related tasks and is integrated into the crash concept.

Electric power packages from Yasa​

The drive concept of the CONCEPT AMG GT XX is based on three newly developed axial-flux electric motors. Two of these motors are integrated into a compact unit with a planetary gearbox and inverter on the rear axle, while another motor is located on the front axle and acts as an additional "boost" drive. This arrangement enables a fully variable torque distribution between the front and rear axles. The axial flux technology allows a particularly high power density with a small installation space and weight. The total output is over 1,000 kW (more than 1,360 hp), and the top speed is over 360 km/h.

Technical data: Concept AMG GT XX

The electric motors are characterized by an electromagnetic flux along the motor axis, which favors their compact design. They are around two-thirds lighter and require only one-third of the installation space of conventional electric motors. This results in advantages in terms of cooling, packaging and continuous performance. For maximum efficiency, the front electric motor can be decoupled via a mechanical unit when it is not needed.

The entire drive strategy as well as the thermal management are designed to provide constant power under repeated heavy loads – a property that has so far only been feasible to a limited extent in the electromobility sector. The engines and battery were developed with the participation of Formula 1 technical experts, which is said to be reflected in the performance characteristics and endurance. AMG CEO Michael Schniebe calls this "pitstop capability".

Chances of series production in 2026​

Whether and how exactly a possible AMG opponent for the Porsche Taycan could come onto the market is still left open by Mercedes. What is certain, however, is that at least Yasa's extremely powerful axial flux motors will go into series production in 2026. By then, it should also be clear what the two-door hypercar, which has also been announced, is all about.

Result​

The Concept AMG GT XX is a four-door high-performance electric sports car that is intended to show what the Swabians want to be capable of in the future. It combines an aerodynamically optimised body with three compact axial flow motors (1,360 hp), a newly developed high-voltage battery and a purist, functional interior. The vehicle serves as a technology platform for the future electric AMG-EA platform."

AMG Concept GT XX mit 1.360 PS: Supersportwagen der Zukunft ​

Mercedes-AMG zeigt die Studie für ein viertüriges, elektrisches Hypercar mit 1.360 PS, ausfahrbaren Felgen und Wahnsinns-Cockpit – aber ohne Heckscheibe. Alles zum Concept AMG GT XX.

www.auto-motor-und-sport.de

basilio said:

The issue of Government Ministers going from being in positions of power one year and then when retired sitting on Boards of companies related to their political experience goes back for decades.

The Defence Department is notorious for ex politicians ending up on Boards that have dealings with them. Whether it reflects giving special favours to people who supported previous decisions OR having these ex pollies on Board because they know the ropes and who to influence is much the same.

There have been calls to prohibit ex politicians sitting on Boards with companies that could have dealings with the Government for 5 years after they retire. I don't believe that has got traction becasue frankly politicians on all sides look to jumping on Boards directly after retirement and using their political contacts.

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I know it can seem like there must be dodgy business happening, but it is also just the fact that people tend to work in industries they have experience in.

Eg, a chef that has alot of experience in ordering supplies for a big kitchen, probably also has valuable skills that can be used by a company selling those supplies to other kitchens.

I have seen many people move from positions inside the military to positions at military contractors, no dodgy business before or after, just similar skill sets.

Value Collector said:

I know it can seem like there must be dodgy business happening, but it is also just the fact that people tend to work in industries they have experience in.

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Fine if they have technical expertise in the area, but a politician's association with a portfolio doesn't make them an expert in that particular field.

The value of an ex-politician to a company is usually in the contacts within government that they have.

It's almost like insider trading, it's not what you know it's who you know that's important , and that could lead to inferiority being preferred on the basis of an old mates relationship.

SirRumpole said:

The value of an ex-politician to a company is usually in the contacts within government that they have.

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which is a value asset in itself even without any corruption happening, not to mention the many other aspects of knowledge on how the system works, and what are likely to be road blocks, ins and outs of various red tape etc etc.

Boards generally have professionals from a wide array of fields, eg financing, law, media, etc etc on top of technical expertise in the actual business. It would be crazy to think that some one with a long background in politics can’t add value to some boards.

Value Collector said:

Boards generally have professionals from a wide array of fields, eg financing, law, media, etc etc on top of technical expertise in the actual business. It would be crazy to think that some one with a long background in politics can’t add value to some boards.

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Well yes, for the company that's fine, but in the public interest having token politicians on boards just for the purposes of "insider trading" adds no value for the taxpayer as the company itself may be shite and better companies overlooked if they don't have influential mates.

SirRumpole said:

Well yes, for the company that's fine, but in the public interest having token politicians on boards just for the purposes of "insider trading" adds no value for the taxpayer as the company itself may be shite and better companies overlooked if they don't have influential mates.

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I didn’t mention anything about insider trading, I am talking about them assisting the board with navigating aspects of their businesses that involve government or regulation, or lobbying etc etc or even just aspects to do with areas of expertise that ex Polly has.