# Ep 137: Maximum Power Point, Electric Car Hacking, Commodore Drive Confidential, and Tesla Handles

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2021-09-24
- Length: 51m
- Episode: 137
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-09-24-ep-137-maximum-power-point-electric-car-hacking-commodore-drive-confidential-and
- Listen: https://hackaday.libsyn.com/ep-137-maximum-power-point-electric-car-hacking-commodore-drive-confidential-and-tesla-handles

## Summary

Hackaday editors Mike Szczys and Elliot Williams discuss a range of hardware hacks, including a deep dive into Michael Style's technical talk on the Commodore 1541 floppy drive and Daniel Uster's open-source project to swap inverters in a Nissan Leaf. They also cover the evolution of Tesla's self-hiding door handles, a high-power Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) solar charger by Azkaz, and the complexities of USB Power Delivery standards.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-09-24-ep-137-maximum-power-point-electric-car-hacking-commodore-drive-confidential-and#t=2) Introduction and Clive Sinclair Obituary
- [4:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-09-24-ep-137-maximum-power-point-electric-car-hacking-commodore-drive-confidential-and#t=253) Interactive Clips for Game Boys
- [8:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-09-24-ep-137-maximum-power-point-electric-car-hacking-commodore-drive-confidential-and#t=517) Commodore 1541 Drive Deep Dive
- [15:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-09-24-ep-137-maximum-power-point-electric-car-hacking-commodore-drive-confidential-and#t=913) Electric Radial RC Aircraft Motor
- [19:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-09-24-ep-137-maximum-power-point-electric-car-hacking-commodore-drive-confidential-and#t=1183) Nissan Leaf Inverter Swap Hack
- [25:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-09-24-ep-137-maximum-power-point-electric-car-hacking-commodore-drive-confidential-and#t=1531) Tesla Door Handle Evolution
- [28:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-09-24-ep-137-maximum-power-point-electric-car-hacking-commodore-drive-confidential-and#t=1730) Maximum Power Point Tracking Build
- [32:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-09-24-ep-137-maximum-power-point-electric-car-hacking-commodore-drive-confidential-and#t=1976) Quick Hacks and USB Power Delivery
- [45:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-09-24-ep-137-maximum-power-point-electric-car-hacking-commodore-drive-confidential-and#t=2721) Medieval Surgery and Conclusion

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Commodore 1541 (product)
- Nissan Leaf (product)
- Tesla Model S (product)
- USB Power Delivery (other)
- Game Boy (product)
- Jetson Xavier (chip)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The non-Stinky Car](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-03-20-the-non-stinky-car) (The Amp Hour)
- [It Works With Option Number 5](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-06-19-it-works-with-option-number-5) (The Amp Hour)
- [Solar, FPGAs and Maxim Integrated - Solar Shopper Sickness](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-06-19-solar-fpgas-and-maxim-integrated-solar-shopper-sickness) (The Amp Hour)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-05-06-the-spark-gap-episode-32) (The Spark Gap)
- [CES 2020, Day 1: The Best of the Best | Byton’s Big Dashboard | The Compactest Multi-Meter Ever](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-01-07-ces-2020-day-1-the-best-of-the-best-bytons-big-dashboard-the-compactest-multi-me) (EE Times Current)

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