# An Interview with Bob Simpson - Ardent Automotive Artisan

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2012-09-10
- Length: 1h 36m
- Episode: 112
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-10-an-interview-with-bob-simpson-ardent-automotive-artisan
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-112-ardent-automotive-artisan/

## Summary

Bob Simpson, founder of EVDrive, discusses his journey converting a BMW 325 into an electric vehicle and building high-performance EV drive systems. He details the engineering of a custom 700-volt battery pack using A123 26650 cells, focusing on low-impedance design, thermal management, and a redundant BMS architecture. Simpson also explains his integration of a Wankel rotary range extender to extend the car's range and shares data on the environmental benefits of EVs powered by solar energy.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-10-an-interview-with-bob-simpson-ardent-automotive-artisan#t=0) Introduction and Tesla Inspiration
- [2:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-10-an-interview-with-bob-simpson-ardent-automotive-artisan#t=129) The BMW Conversion and Motocross Proof-of-Concept
- [11:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-10-an-interview-with-bob-simpson-ardent-automotive-artisan#t=692) Battery Pack Design: A123 Cells and BMS
- [24:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-10-an-interview-with-bob-simpson-ardent-automotive-artisan#t=1455) Thermal Management and Inverter Efficiency
- [35:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-10-an-interview-with-bob-simpson-ardent-automotive-artisan#t=2104) Solar Power and Environmental Impact Analysis
- [46:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-10-an-interview-with-bob-simpson-ardent-automotive-artisan#t=2769) Battery Longevity, Recycling, and Future Tech
- [56:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-10-an-interview-with-bob-simpson-ardent-automotive-artisan#t=3386) Charging Standards and Fast Charging Physics
- [1:07:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-10-an-interview-with-bob-simpson-ardent-automotive-artisan#t=4066) Range Extender: Wankel Rotary Engine Integration
- [1:14:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-10-an-interview-with-bob-simpson-ardent-automotive-artisan#t=4459) Business Strategy and Future of EVs

## Topics

- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- EVDrive (company)
- Tesla (company)
- A123 (chip)
- Remy (company)
- Sunrun (company)
- Chevy Volt (product)
- Fisker (product)
- Metric Mind (company)
- Hissen (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Innovation Under the Hood - Part 2](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-10-innovation-under-the-hood-part-2) (EE Times Current)
- [Driving Towards Sustainability with Electric RVs: Insights from Ben Parker, Co-Founder at Lightship](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-14-driving-towards-sustainability-with-electric-rvs-insights-from-ben-parker-co-fou) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Powering cars with solar energy with Steve Fambro of Aptera Motors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-08-03-powering-cars-with-solar-energy-with-steve-fambro-of-aptera-motors) (How I Built This)
- [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)
- [52: Maximize the Sonic Boom](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-05-21-52-maximize-the-sonic-boom) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-10-an-interview-with-bob-simpson-ardent-automotive-artisan. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Amp Hour.