# 79: Not as Efficient as the Borg

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2014-12-04
- Length: 1h 01m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-12-04-79-not-as-efficient-as-the-borg
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/embedded-ep79mp3

## Summary

Vicky Tuite, engineering manager at EVAOS, explains how her company upgrades Ford F-150 and F-250 trucks into plug-in hybrids using a parallel hybrid architecture with a mid-mounted motor and battery pack in the bed. She details the battery monitoring system using Texas Instruments chips, the challenges of state-of-charge estimation, and the company's current focus on a 32-truck government contract before moving to consumer kits. Tuite also discusses her transition from engineering to management, her work with Python/Django, and the community impact of the 'Feminist Hacker Barbie' project created by her daughter.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-12-04-79-not-as-efficient-as-the-borg#t=6) Introduction and Vicky Tuite's Background
- [3:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-12-04-79-not-as-efficient-as-the-borg#t=199) EVAOS Hybrid Truck Conversion Technology
- [11:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-12-04-79-not-as-efficient-as-the-borg#t=717) Battery Management and TI Chips
- [14:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-12-04-79-not-as-efficient-as-the-borg#t=851) Management Role and Tesla History
- [35:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-12-04-79-not-as-efficient-as-the-borg#t=2137) Feminist Hacker Barbie and Daughter's Project
- [45:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-12-04-79-not-as-efficient-as-the-borg#t=2721) Python, Django, and Community
- [55:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-12-04-79-not-as-efficient-as-the-borg#t=3346) Microcontroller Selection and Future Plans

## Topics

- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- EVAOS (company)
- Ford (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Texas Instruments (chip)
- Microchip (chip)
- Django (tool)
- Python (tool)
- Electric Imp (chip)
- Leap Motion (tool)
- Twilio (tool)
- NumPy (tool)
- SciPy (tool)
- Feminist Hacker Barbie (product)
- BayPIGgies (other)
- Cheeky Geeky (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Seeing the Big Picture of Vehicle Electrification with Texas Instrument's Fern Yoon](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2023-03-21-seeing-the-big-picture-of-vehicle-electrification-with-texas-instruments-fern-yo) (Moore's Lobby)
- [85. The Future of EVs: Hydrogen Hybrids and Plug & Play Platform](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-08-30-85-the-future-of-evs-hydrogen-hybrids-and-plug-play-platform) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [The non-Stinky Car](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-03-20-the-non-stinky-car) (The Amp Hour)
- [Retrofitting a Billion Cars to Hybrid EVs to Impact Climate Change with Tom Gurski, Founder and CEO of Blue Dot Motorworks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-02-02-retrofitting-a-billion-cars-to-hybrid-evs-to-impact-climate-change-with-tom-gurs) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Ep 137: Maximum Power Point, Electric Car Hacking, Commodore Drive Confidential, and Tesla Handles](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-09-24-ep-137-maximum-power-point-electric-car-hacking-commodore-drive-confidential-and) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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