Daymak founder has big dreams for his EV
Much has been made of the amount of energy it takes to mine bitcoin. Aldo Baiocchi has an idea. He’s the CEO and founder of Daymak, a company that makes scooters and e-bikes but now has plans for an electric vehicle called Spiritus launching in 2023. Sure, it will have an autopilot feature. But if you think that’s interesting, wait until you hear about the solar panel on the roof that powers cryptocurrency mining.
“We have the equipment in the car. We figure we might as well mine and make some money for the rider,” Baiocchi told Wired.
He has a point. The amount of hardware and software going into cars now basically makes them supercomputers (when there’s not a shortage of semiconductors, at least). TV commercial characters even playfully debate whether they’re in a Buick or an Alexa. Drivers would not be able to mine while driving. The car would have to be in park.
But Baiocchi sees the plan as a way to provide added value for his customers. “Through what we are building, imagine Spiritus owners greeted by their cars telling them, ‘I have just deposited $10 cash and 20 doge coins in your Nebula wallet. Have a nice day!’” he said. “Daymak is launching this 24/7 channel to showcase and educate the market on the many potential uses of crypto. Many people still have no idea what cryptocurrencies are or how you mine them. The potential is infinite, and we want to show everyone how much one car could make.”
It could prove a security hazard, though. The more AI vehicles have, the more they’re vulnerable to cyberattack, an E.U. study found.
We’re assuming a push-button crypto mining feature would be available only on the $149,000 Spiritus Ultimate (0 to 60 in 1.8 seconds, Daymak claims) and not the $19,995 Spiritus Deluxe (top speed 85 mph). Probably if you’re spending $149,000 on a car, you don’t need the ability to mine a few dollars’ worth of crypto while it charges overnight; certainly not more than you need cybersecurity. But it might be a nice feature, and just maybe you’ll make enough to pay for your next Daymak. Yes, they accept payment in crypto.
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