Home › Topics › Engineering, Transport & Making
Cars, EVs & motorcycles: videos Hacker News recommends
Automotive: car engineering, electric vehicles, Tesla, engines, hybrids, thermal management, factory tours, car repair, motorcycles, safety gear, car design, racing, Munro teardowns. Below: every video in this topic that at least three HN users linked with real commentary, in at least three different months (47 explainers, 39 demos, 13 documentarys), best-scored first, with the comments on each video page.
- Aviation & aerospace engineering 124
- Transit, cities & urban planning 174
- Civil engineering & construction 70
- Mechanical & precision engineering 141
- Manufacturing & industrial processes 69
- Woodworking, metalworking & workshop skills 34
- 3D printing, CNC & maker projects 58
- Home, DIY & practical skills 61
- Cooking & food 41
- Ships, submarines & maritime 24
- Engineering & making (other) 27
- 17 HN recommenders 15 months 2013–2024Held up as a marvel of pedagogy and the best explanation of differentials, recommended again and again.
- 10 HN recommenders 9 months 2021–2025HN cites it constantly in threads on noise, EVs and car-free cities as the source that cars, not cities, are loud.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2013–2020C ConceptVBS · tutorialHN loves it as an example of old-school instructional film that makes how a differential works fully understandable in clear, simple language.
- 4 HN recommenders 6 months 2017–2023M Matthaeus Krenn · demoRepeatedly cited in car touchscreen debates as an elegant, sensible alternative to distracting automotive UIs.
- 11 HN recommenders 5 months 2023–2026It is HN's default link whenever vehicle size comes up, with commenters recommending it for the history of the light-truck loophole and the safety effects of tall bumpers.
- 3 HN recommenders 5 months 2018–2026P Porsche · videoHN cites it as the benchmark lap record and recommends it even to non-car fans for its sheer speed and precision.
- 5 HN recommenders 6 months 2021–2025Cited repeatedly in e-bike threads as a well-argued safety counterpoint from someone who rides both.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2018–2026It is held up as a model of clear, well-paced educational film and of the old-era instructional style.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2018–2023HN commenters link it repeatedly as a clear, number-based rebuttal to the claim that EVs are worse for the climate than gas cars.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2014–2026The go-to demonstration in car-safety debates that old cars were not better, showing crumple zones and a rigid passenger cell at work.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2024–2026HN people cite it in threads on vehicle size and safety as a clear explanation tying grille height to deaths.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2016–2021C c90adventures · documentaryRecommended for its heartwarming picture of Iranian hospitality toward a foreign rider.
- 3 HN recommenders 4 months 2018–2023L lbtv · tutorialHN considers it an outstanding explanation of why drivers miss motorcycles and cyclists, linked in threads on visibility and junction crashes.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2018–2021HN links it in hydrogen threads as a clear breakdown of why compounded inefficiencies make hydrogen a poor fit for cars, though one commenter calls it outdated.
- 6 HN recommenders 4 months 2015–2018HN recommends it as a fascinating look at the i3's revolutionary materials and production methods, and as a contrast point for Tesla.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2023–2026A Aging Wheels · commentaryHN cites it as a clear side-by-side showing the papercuts of non-Tesla fast charging in EV debates.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2020–2025Recommended as an entertaining overview of Harley's decline and as a case study in selling a lifestyle rather than a product.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2023–2025A AngeTheGreat · demoHN points to it as a standout example of physics-based sound synthesis and engine simulation.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2021–2024HN recommends it as the clearest introduction to what is inside an AC EV charging station and why it is much simpler than people assume.
- 3 HN recommenders 4 months 2022–2024HN uses it as the go-to explanation of why hydrogen internal combustion engines do not make sense.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2020–2023HN cites it for the systems-over-blame view of road safety and for Dutch infrastructure design.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2021Treated as the essential primary source for Tesla's battery and cost-reduction plans, and a feast for engineering nerds.
- 3 HN recommenders 4 months 2021–2025Recommended in urbanism threads as a well-sourced account of how car dependency was manufactured.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2023F Friday Adventure Club · commentaryHN points to it as a rare review from an actual delivery driver rather than a car reviewer, showing how the van's design suits the job.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2025G Goodwood Road & Racing · demoHN points to it as a striking demonstration of fan-downforce EVs, with a run that looks glued to the track and almost sped up.
- 5 HN recommenders 3 months 2018–2026Commenters link it in Tesla threads as an informed, hands-on engineering view of the Model 3 and its manufacturing.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2024N Niels Blaauw · explainerHN recommends it as the clearest visual explanation of how the Prius power-split hybrid actually works.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2026Recommended as an entertaining, in-depth beginner's guide that persuades skeptics that a wall outlet often suffices.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2016–2018T Tony Seba · talkCited as a well-argued case that solar plus batteries and EVs will reach a tipping point sooner than mainstream forecasts expect.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2023–2026W WeberAuto · lectureHN points to it as the clearest hands-on explanation of how Toyota hybrids work.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2023Recommended as a clear explanation of why old headlights looked as they did, and as a case study in mandating requirements versus solutions.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2024Offered as a well-researched counterpoint in threads complaining about car dealerships and direct sales.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2026S SuperfastMatt · explainerRecommended whenever door handles or car reliability engineering come up, as an enjoyable look at design iteration.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2025–2026A Aging Wheels · explainerHN cites it as data-backed evidence that weight has little effect on EV range while air resistance from trailers does.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2021–2023HN uses it as a primary source on Tesla manufacturing and engineering decisions and Musk's grasp of product detail.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2026Cited in threads on motorcycle and cyclist safety to explain why drivers look and still miss them.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2011–2026HN uses it as the go-to evidence for Toyota pickup durability, and as a benchmark in discussions of truck toughness.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2023A Automotive Mike · news clipShared as a striking example of a fan car using powered ground effect, with an eye-popping launch, in EV and motorsport threads.
- 3 HN recommenders 2 months 2023–2024D Doug DeMuro · demoHN points to it as the most thorough walkthrough of the Amazon Rivian van, useful for seeing its real size and delivery-specific design.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2018–2025Shared in threads about the Nurburgring and after Schmitz's death as a charming showcase of her skill.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2022–2023H Hagerty Drivers Foundation · documentaryRecommended as a history-rich look at the Cannonball Run and the rebellious philosophy behind it.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2025Linked in self-driving and car-dependence threads as an example of small vehicles that help disabled and elderly people without full-size cars.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2024–2025W WeberAuto · explainerHN recommends it as a clear explanation of a mind-blowingly simple power-split hybrid design.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2019R Rich Rebuilds · documentaryHN recommends the series as a cautionary tale about buying used Teslas and dealing with Tesla service.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2022S superbikeschool · demoHN recommends it as an eye-opening demonstration of why countersteering matters on two wheels.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2015–2017W Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology · lectureHN recommends it as a detailed look at battery degradation, in threads on EV and grid storage lifetimes.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2022–2023Cited as an accessible summary of evidence that corn ethanol is no better than gasoline for emissions.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2025HN commenters cite it in EV and emissions debates for its numbers on when replacing a car pays off.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2022HN cites it for reasonable estimates comparing the emissions of EVs, hybrids and ICE cars.
- 3 HN recommenders 2 months 2021Recommended in threads about airbag vests as a solid overview when shopping for a motorcycle airbag.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2024HN points to it as the informative explanation of US turn signal quirks whenever signal design comes up.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2024HN points to it as a solid analysis of EV towing range in truck and highway threads.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2024–2026Brought up in Tesla auto-wiper threads as the clear explanation of how simple conventional rain sensors work.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2022–2025Cited as an expert's account of why gigacasting works and how Tesla manufacturing has changed.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2015–2024C Chris Billett · demoTreated as a favorite hack and a go-to example in threads about machines playing music.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2023–2024A All Cars with Jon · explainerCited in threads on vehicle bloat as the explanation for why small pickups disappeared in the US.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2022S Sabin Civil Engineering · explainerHN recommends it as a clear explanation of the Model 3 motor and reluctance rotor design.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2016–2017E europeanautosource · documentaryCited as a vivid example of modern, highly automated manufacturing with few workers, and of carmakers as robotics companies.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2015–2024J Jay Leno's Garage · demoCited in steam car threads as a well-produced view of how a Doble works and how it solved startup in 1925.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2023–2025J JerryRigEverything · explainerHN points to it as evidence that battery recycling is more advanced and practical than people assume.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2024Referenced as a typical example of the channel's hacker-eye view of everyday technology, and for its flasher explanation.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2015–2019HN finds it fascinating as a window into 1930s factory work, often contrasting its hand labor with modern assembly ergonomics.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2026W Wesley Kagan · demoHN commenters cite it as an impressive hobbyist project and as an example of open-source engine control enabling freevalve retrofits.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2011–2021Mostly cited as a joke in threads on three-wheeled cars, and occasionally as a demonstration of the stability problem of a high center of gravity on three wheels.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2017–2020HN cites it for Orkney's surplus renewable energy, hydrogen facilities and EV uptake.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2023Cited in cycling and helmet discussions as the standard explanation of the Dutch bike and its safety benefits.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2017–2019D Doug DeMuro · commentaryCited as a thorough, candid review of the Bolt, particularly for its uncomfortable seats and uncool image.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2017–2019C Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) · talkHN commenters cite it as a big-picture case for exponential solar and EV adoption, usually with caveats about whether his predictions will hold.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2022Cited in car-safety threads as evidence that Tesla optimizes for real-world crash data rather than just standardized crash tests.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2022–2023HN uses it as a widely seen, fairly balanced real-world appraisal of FSD, both for its impressive moments and for its manual takeovers.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2024–2025R Red Bull · demoCited in discussions of drone performance and of how drone footage conveys the real speed of an F1 car.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2022–2025B Bjørn Nyland · demoHN cites it as the evidence that inductive EV charging can match wired charging in efficiency.
- 2 HN recommenders 1 months 2022–2023Cited in hydrogen threads as a clear explanation of why burning hydrogen in engines is a poor idea.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2014–2018T The Drive · documentaryCited in threads on camless, digital valve and free-piston engines as a look at Koenigsegg's freevalve work.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2020–2024A AutoPilot Review · talkCited in self-driving threads as the source of Tesla's vision-only stance, usually to discuss or push back on it.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2020–2022Cited as a balanced engineering view of improvements in both ICE and EV technology.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2016–2018HN cites it as a detailed technical reference on Tesla's security design, especially the firewalling of infotainment from the CAN bus.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2019–2023N Nürburgring · demoHN uses it to show what a skilled human driver can do in a car, for example in self-driving and motorsport threads.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2023–2026H Hydrogen Societies · demoHN cites it in hydrogen car debates, with some seeing it as evidence of relative safety and others finding it unconvincing.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2018–2022M MyClassicCarTV · demoHN brings it up in electric vehicle threads as proof that electric cars date back over a century, with Leno an entertaining guide.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2023S Simone Giertz · comedy videoHN mentions it as a favorite homemade EV pickup, often as an honorable mention in electric truck discussions.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2022–2023C carwow · demoHN cites it as the example of an extremely fast production electric car that uses ground suction fans.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2023H Hagerty · commentaryHN cites it in threads on touchscreens versus physical buttons in cars, as an example of an enthusiast's critique of VW's UX.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2016–2018HN points to it in electric aviation threads for how small electric motors enable contra-rotating props.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021HN recommends it as a fair, technical comparison and cites it when discussing why legacy automakers have more boxes and complexity than Tesla.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2019HN links it as an expert teardown perspective on Tesla engineering, used to back up claims about motors and electronics quality.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2023–2024HN points to it to explain how steer-by-wire is implemented and why variable steering ratio is its benefit.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2022C Common Sense Skeptic · commentaryHN mentions it mostly as critical commentary on Musk, with one commenter saying it tempered their view.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2020–2021HN cites it as a deeper look at Tesla's integrated thermal management system, from a commentator respected for auto industry knowledge.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2014–2023C Consumer Reports · demoHN uses it as shorthand for how compounding engineering improvements, crumple zones especially, made things safer, applied to analogies well beyond cars.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2020–2024Linked as concrete evidence that automated battery swapping already works in practice, especially in China.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2018–2026Used as a short explainer when people need to illustrate why speed matters so much in braking and crash severity.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2023–2026O Oracle Red Bull Racing · documentaryHN commenters cite it as an illustration of the extreme effort Formula One teams put into safety, performance and reliability for a single part.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2024–2025HN commenters cite it as a concrete teardown-style explanation of how BYD builds a cheap EV and why Western automakers are worried.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2015–2019R RepublicansSuckDlCK · commentaryHN uses it as an example of cost-benefit reasoning about product safety in threads on recalls, security spending and Boeing.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2011–2017F firedemon101 · demoCommenters cite it as stark evidence that modern cars are far safer than older ones, countering nostalgia for 'built like they used to'.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2023–2024D David Patience · explainerHN people link it in hybrid versus EV debates as a clear view of how simple the hybrid drivetrain really is.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2023Cited as engineering evidence that Tesla's integrated thermal design is far simpler than Ford's, in EV and quality debates.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2024E EveryAmp · demoHN cites it in threads about Teslas trapping occupants to show how the manual release is located and used.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2019–2024HN commenters cite it as a concrete, working example of large-battery electric shipping with fast automated charging.
Showing the 100 best-scored of 150. Use search to find the rest.
Questions
What is the most recommended cars, evs & motorcycles video on Hacker News?
Around The Corner - How Differential Steering Works (1937) by US Auto Industry: Held up as a marvel of pedagogy and the best explanation of differentials, recommended again and again.
How is this cars, evs & motorcycles list ranked?
By HackerTube's score: the number of distinct months in which an HN comment recommended the video, plus half a point for every month with a strong recommendation. One viral thread counts less than steady recommendations over years.
Where do the videos come from?
From every Hacker News comment between 2007 and 2026 that linked a YouTube video, labeled by an AI model as a recommendation, a citation, a joke or a criticism. The list is published by HackerTube under ODC-By 1.0; this edition adds indexable pages and the comment context.
Video list and Hacker News comment labels from HackerTube (prompted by @karpathy), released under ODC-By 1.0, built on the open-index/hacker-news archive. Hacker News data is provided by Y Combinator; comments remain the work of their authors. Video titles, channel names and thumbnails belong to their creators and are shown via YouTube. HackerTube Watch is an unofficial edition. Data export of 2026-10-31.