Clean Technica Online News – Page 211 – I wish I had more to offer

Tesla, GM, & Other EV Companies Seek US Tax Credit Expansion

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Published on December 13th, 2019 |

by Johnna Crider

Tesla, GM, & Other EV Companies Seek US Tax Credit Expansion

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December 13th, 2019 by Johnna Crider

MarketWatch reports that Tesla, General Motors, and others in the electric vehicle ecosystem are seeking expansion of the US federal tax credit for EVs.

The tax credit currently starts phasing out when an automaker reaches 200,000 plug-in vehicle sales in the US (something Tesla achieved multiple quarters before any other automaker, and GM achieved second). Tesla buyers will no longer be eligible for any tax credits starting January 1, 2020, under the current system.

The proposal, under the Driving America Forward Act, raises the sales limit to 600,000 instead of 200,000 for each automaker, and the tax credit for buyers changed to $7,000. The Tesla tax credit phaseout under the current system was as follows:

The MarketWatch article shares with us that Tesla, GM, and other electric vehicle manufacturers “have a role in the scramble around a possible tax package with so-called ‘tax extenders,’ as they could score an expansion for a key EV credit. If Tesla and the other EV makers land this credit, it would be a win for anyone purchasing an EV.”

The Driving America Forward Act was introduced by Senator Debbie Stabenow [D-MI]. Some Republicans (known for ties to the oil industry), such as Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, contend that “it’s time to pull the plug” on EV subsidies (despite over a century of subsidies for oil). He is pushing the Fairness for Every Driver Act instead.

This “fairness” act isn’t really all that fair toward EV drivers since it proposes a user fee on alternative fuel vehicles used in the United States. Why should people have to be punished for being early adopters of EVs and this leaders in cutting pollution and CO2 emissions? If this act was truly fair, it would charge a user fee for gasoline vehicles and perhaps some type of carbon tax that would fund initiatives that help clean up pollution not just in the air but also in rivers, oceans, and other areas that are commonly affected. Or the fund could help those with health problems caused by air pollution.

What do you think? Are you ready to call your senator to push for an EV tax credit expansion?
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Johnna Crider Johnna Crider is a Baton Rouge artist, gem and mineral collector, and Tesla shareholder who believes in Elon Musk and Tesla. Elon Musk advised her in 2018 to “Believe in Good.”

Tesla is one of many good things to believe in. You can find Johnna on Twitter

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2 Tesla Powerwalls + Solar Power + Tesla Model 3 = True Energy Freedom

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Published on December 13th, 2019 |

by Jake Richardson

2 Tesla Powerwalls + Solar Power + Tesla Model 3 = True Energy Freedom

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December 13th, 2019 by Jake Richardson

Fully Charged just released another very informative video about sustainable living. They make many videos about electric vehicles and this one includes an EV, a Tesla Model 3, but it’s more about how Tesla’s Powerwalls operate when paired with a rooftop solar system. Robert Llewellyn, the founder of Fully Charged, explains that he received a free Founders Series Powerwall 2 for participating in the Tesla referral program.

Image courtesy: Tesla

Robert’s home has been equipped with:

5.5 kW rooftop photovoltaic solar system
2 Tesla Powerwalls with a total of 26.8 kWh of storage capacity
Tesla Backup Gateway 2
Zappi2 Smart EV charger

He charges his Tesla Model 3 at home the with Zappi.

To integrate the new Powerwall into his home electrical system, including working with the EV charger, he needed to have a his grid connection upgrade to 3-phase. With the upgraded grid connection and the new Powerwall, the automatic transfer switch in the Tesla Backup Gateway 2 disconnects the home from the grid in the event of an outage, so electricity from the batteries can be used to safely power the home.

As a homeowner and an electricity consumer, Robert makes a great point when he says he tries to be very careful about using power between 4 pm and 8 pm. This is the peak time when electricity is not only expensive, it’s the dirtiest. Being able to avoid consumption during these key hours provides a new kind of freedom for homeowners — freedom from high electricity costs and the dirtiest fossil fuels.

Homeowners with batteries can charge them at night when electricity rates are very low and then use the electricity during the peak cost period to save money. It’s also possible, in some cases, to send some of your stored or self-generated electricity back to the grid to receive a small payment or credit. In the future, this ability may impact the energy marketplace.

Editor’s Note: Tesla is using this very capability to provide aggregated grid services through its Virtual Powerplant (VPP) program in South Australia. The program has demonstrated the ability to save homeowners with rooftop solar and storage money while providing valuable grid services to the local utility.

Robert’s 5.5 kW rooftop solar system is not huge, but seems to meet his needs. Depending on their electricity consumption, other homeowners may prefer to install a 10 kW or larger system to generate enough electricity through every season of the year, especially if they are charging an EV at home.

Solar power systems can be expanded after the initial installation and with solar panels having never been more affordable, upgrading from a smaller system to a larger solar system may be worth considering for many homeowners.

Imagine how much you would save by being able to generate all of your own electricity, or most of it, right from your own roof. Never paying for gas or electricity ever again sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

Installations like Roberts show that a fully electric future is no longer a future possibility, it is possible today. The future is now.
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Jake Richardson Hello, I have been writing online for some time, and enjoy the outdoors. If you like, you can follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JakeRsol

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Rumor: Tesla Gigafactory 4 Slated To Produce 500,000 Cars A Year & Employ 10,000

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Published on December 12th, 2019 |

by Steve Hanley

Rumor: Tesla Gigafactory 4 Slated To Produce 500,000 Cars A Year & Employ 10,000

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December 12th, 2019 by Steve Hanley

The following information is categorized as rumor because it has not been confirmed by Tesla, but German newspaper Bild (subscription required) is reporting that when fully completed, the new Tesla factory in Germany, known as either Gigafactory 4 or Gigafactory Berlin, will be capable of manufacturing up to half a million vehicles a year and employ as many as 10,000 workers. That information comes from the German Press Agency, according to the Bild report.

Credit: Tesla

Teslarati reports that annual production for both the existing factory in Fremont and Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai is expected to also be on the order of 500,000 cars per year for each facility, meaning until Tesla builds another factory somewhere, its global manufacturing capability will be 1.5 million vehicles.

The finished factory will cost $4.4 billion according to a report by Frankfurter Allgemeine and cover an area larger than 420 soccer fields, which can be up to 110 meters long and 73 meters wide. Bild claims to have seen the proposed building plans for the finished factory.

The factory, like the one in Shanghai, China, will be built in stages. It is unclear at this time whether Tesla has submitted plans for the entire factory to local authorities for approval or submitted only preliminary drawings for future expansion. We do know the initial stage of the factory is expected to employ 3,000 workers and begin production of the Model Y SUV sometime in early 2021. Production of the Model 3 sedan is expected to begin sometime later, perhaps after the second phase of the factory is completed.

The decision to build its newest factory in Germany came as a surprise to some. In an interview with Auto Express in November, Elon Musk said, “Brexit [uncertainty] made it too risky to put a Gigafactory in the UK,” something British voters might want to keep in mind as they head to the polls this week. Musk hinted in 2014 that he was considering a design and tech center in the UK, but those plans have also been shelved. That facility will now be built in Berlin.
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Steve Hanley Steve writes about the interface between technology and sustainability from his homes in Florida and Connecticut or anywhere else the Singularity may lead him. You can follow him on Twitter but not on any social media platforms run by evil overlords like Facebook.

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Tesla Begins Rolling Out Its Sexy New “Mini-Powerwall” Backup Gateway 2 Hardware

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Published on December 12th, 2019 |

by Kyle Field

Tesla Begins Rolling Out Its Sexy New “Mini-Powerwall” Backup Gateway 2 Hardware

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December 12th, 2019 by Kyle Field

Tesla has started rolling out its new Backup Gateway 2 hardware with its Powerwalls, resulting in a much cleaner look for the overall installation. Instead of installing its communication hardware in standard grey electrical enclosures, the new Gateways come packaged up in a beautiful new enclosure that mimics the look of the Tesla Powerwall 2s themselves.

Image courtesy: Fully Charged

We spied the new Backup Gateway 2 hardware in a new episode of Fully Charged as host Robert Llewellyn walked through the installation process of his new Tesla Founders Series Powerwall 2. Ironically, his signature edition came without Elon Musk’s signature (which it was supposed to include). I’m betting it’s because Elon is planning to make the trip out to the UK to chat with Robert and sign it in person, but time will tell whether that comes to pass or not. In the meantime, Robert signed it for Elon as a placeholder.

We discovered that Tesla would be updating the look of the Powerwall Gateways late last year when Tesla recalibrated its Powerwall product family, raising prices just over 10% at the same time. The new look raises the bar for the aesthetics on perhaps the most critical piece of hardware in the installation of a Powerwall. Check out the 3 minute video at the bottom of this article for a unique look at how to connect to the Backup Gateway.

That’s because the Powerwall Gateway is much more than just an LTE connection to the world — though, it does provide a communications link to the outside world. On the recent Powerwall installation at my new home, Tesla came out to commission the new system and one of the first steps after everything was bolted in and wired up was to get the communications set up. Unfortunately, our system did not come with the new Powerwall Gateway, but everything inside it is effectively the same and provides the same functionality.

The primary connection for the system to the world is an integrated cellular connection. The Gateway is also typically paired up to the home’s WiFi connection for a lower-cost, higher-bitrate connection to the internet. Finally, for folks with a nearby ethernet connection (remember those clunky old wired things?), the Tesla Powerwall Gateway offers an ethernet connection.

The old form factor of the Gateway had two antennas up top, one for cellular and one for WiFi to keep everything humming along nicely in today’s connected world. Those have since been integrated seamlessly into the new design. Our system was brought online with the cellular connection first, followed by the WiFi connection. We aren’t going to run ethernet to the garage (at least not yet), so we will just keep the system running on WiFi with a cellular backup for the time being.

Image courtesy: Tesla

Tesla’s new Gateway is more than just a data connection, though. Using that data connection, the Gateway serves as the brain for the Powerwalls, telling them what mode to operating in, sending data to and from the owner’s smartphone app, and triggering automatic overrides to standard protocols under special circumstances like in the event of an incoming storm. The Backup Gateway 2’s monitoring of energy usage is revenue grade, meaning it is accurate to within +/- 0.2%.

Finally, the Backup Gateway 2 provides critical safety functionality to the system as the automatic transfer switch. This switch monitors the incoming power from the grid, looking for any issue that would indicate unstable grid power. This could be a full disconnect of grid power, low voltage, fluctuations in the power, or something else. It’s Tesla’s way of putting its finger on the pulse of the grid. The incoming grid power into the house runs through the Backup Gateway 2 and, if an issue is detected, the relay in the automatic transfer switch flips, disconnecting grid power from the home.

When this happens, the Powerwalls are called on to power the now-isolated home and, after a few seconds, for the systems to cut over — everything in the home will then be powered off of the Powerwalls. On the grid side of things, the relay is a key to maintaining the safety of the power system. If the home was to remain connected to the grid when the Powerwalls started pumping power to the house (and the grid) when grid power was down, that power would feed out into the grid, potentially creating an unsafe condition for others working on the grid.

According to its product data sheet, the Backup Gateway 2 can support single-phase or three-phase 220 volt or 440 volt connections, making it an extremely useful piece of hardware.

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Kyle Field I'm a tech geek passionately in search of actionable ways to reduce the negative impact my life has on the planet, save money and reduce stress. Live intentionally, make conscious decisions, love more, act responsibly, play. The more you know, the less you need. TSLA investor.

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Tesla’s Competitive Advantage Under A Magnifying Glass — The Netherlands

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Published on December 12th, 2019 |

by Maarten Vinkhuyzen

Tesla’s Competitive Advantage Under A Magnifying Glass — The Netherlands

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December 12th, 2019 by Maarten Vinkhuyzen

It’s easy to ignore Tesla’s Dutch sales success as just a temporary fluke created by an incentive change. And it is, but that is not the interesting thing about it.

What’s interesting is how the other cars that are subject to the same change react, and how different that is from how Tesla’s vehicles react. It illustrates the competitive advantage of Tesla under a magnifying glass.

Dutch electric vehicle sales in the first 9 days of December:

Perhaps over 90% of these cars are company cars made available for private use as a “Benefit in Kind” to employees. With this kind of company-provided vehicle, the employees have a large amount of freedom to choose the car they like the best within a budget allocated to them. The incentive for electric vehicles is that they provide a lower addition to the person’s taxable income compared to gas burners. This incentive will be smaller next year, which will make the upfront cost competition with fossil fuel addicts more difficult.

Another challenge in 2020 is the start of new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations. Carmakers will be fined for every gram they exceed the 95 grams of CO2/km limit. They are all well above that line at the moment. The best way to lower the average is to sell more zero-emissions vehicles. Over a dozen new fully electric models will go onto the market as a result. These December sales, however, will be a lot harder to match in the new year.

All of these models are fighting for customers on equal terms. All can get the same incentives. All are subject to the same regulations. Some have large dealer networks, some have fewer sales locations. That is the biggest difference. As we can see, though, the one with the least sales locations sells the most. That is not logical.

There is no home turf advantage for any of them, like the Detroit Dwindling Three have in the USA or French and German carmakers have in their home countries. This is a pure beauty pageant comparing the cars and dealer networks on equal terms. With the whole industry trying to deliver as much as possible before the deadline, we have a unique opportunity to compare their popularity.

I can only speculate about why Tesla is winning so many more sales than the competition. According to José Pontes in his recent report on November sales in the Netherlands, there are a number of reasons. Some carmakers, like Volkswagen Group, are just not that interested in a few dozen extra sales. Others were late in realizing what was happening, like Renault and Nissan, or were just starting production of a refreshed model, also Renault and Nissan.

But this is not the real explanation I am looking for. Why is Tesla delivering about 10 times as many as the next guy?

Okay, it is a better product at a better price for many people. But is that it? (Personally, I am waiting for my Renault ZOE in two weeks.) The Tesla Model 3 is getting nearly three times as many sales as the rest combined, while almost everyone is pushing to get as many cars out the door as possible in this end-of-year rush. That is a big difference. Is it just the cool factor? All the hype, Twitter wars, fanboys, and media attention? Is it something else?

Perhaps only the Ford Model T has been this dominant.

Please share your experience.

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Maarten Vinkhuyzen Grumpy old man. The best thing I did with my life was raising two kids. Only finished primary education, but when you don’t go to school, you have lots of time to read. I switched from accounting to software development and ended my career as system integrator and architect. My 2007 boss got two electric Lotus Elise cars to show policymakers the future direction of energy and transportation. And I have been looking to replace my diesel cars with electric vehicles ever since.

And putting my money where my mouth is, I have bought Tesla shares. Intend to keep them until I can trade them for a Tesla car.

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Tesla Model S Has Almost Twice The EPA Range Of Porsche Taycan — 373 Miles vs 201 Miles

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Published on December 12th, 2019 |

by Dr. Maximilian Holland

Tesla Model S Has Almost Twice The EPA Range Of Porsche Taycan — 373 Miles vs 201 Miles

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December 12th, 2019 by Dr. Maximilian Holland

The Porsche Taycan Turbo has received its official EPA range rating, achieving a very disappointing 201 miles. This is a significantly lower range than EVs costing a quarter of the price, and just over half the range of the base Tesla Model S. It’s yet more proof that engineering prowess in the era of gas vehicles is no guarantee of success in the age of EVs.

Let’s compare the Taycan’s EPA range with the figures achieved by popular EVs in the US market:

Click to Enlarge

Click on the chart to enlarge. We can see that the Taycan Turbo, priced from $150,900, has the lowest driving range of any new EV released in the last couple of years. It’s even substantially lower than many already-on-the-road EVs priced under $40,000 (Model 3 SR+, LEAF, Kona, and Bolt).

Let’s look at the Taycan’s performance comparison in terms of the cost (in US$ MSRP) per mile of EPA range:

Click to Enlarge

The Taycan Turbo is nowhere near as competitive as any other EV on cost per mile, being over double that of even the 2nd worst performer (the 2020 Audi e-tron). It’s also not far off triple the price per mile range of the (higher performing) Tesla Model S Performance, and over 4× that of the Tesla Model 3 Performance.

Porsche will argue that their buyers are not too concerned about pricing, instead value the sporty driving characteristics of the Taycan. Let’s hope they are right.

Porsche will also point to the “fast charging speeds” of the Taycan as a compensation for the relatively poor range. However, the only charging performance that matters in practice is miles gained over a given period of time, and with such modest overall range, the Taycan is somewhat hampered here.

Since the Taycan is not yet in any customers’ hands, we don’t have any real-world data on charging performance, but at the launch event, Porsche said that 5% to 80% charge can be recovered in 22½ minutes (in optimum conditions, on the optimum DC chargers). Calibrating to the new EPA data, that translates into ~151 miles added in 22½ minutes.

That’s decent, but not much more compelling than the considerably more affordable and slightly longer range Audi e-tron, which can add 138 miles in 25 minutes. It’s also substantially less compelling than the Tesla Model 3 Performance, which — even when starting from 10% rather than 5% — can regain ~210 miles (65% of EPA range) in just 20 minutes.

We don’t yet have good real-world charging data for the 2020 Tesla Model S Performance on optimal V3 Superchargers, but it will also very likely equal or exceed the Taycan’s miles-per-time charging performance.

Bear in mind that the Model S Performance also has nearly twice the range of the Taycan. In practical terms, you can drive for over 4 hours at highway speeds (70 ~ 75 mph) before any charging break is required. The Taycan can only manage around 2 hours and 25 minutes initial driving at these speeds before needing a break. Overall, that means that the Model S (and indeed any 2020 Tesla) is a significantly more capable long-distance vehicle than the Taycan Turbo.

In short, due to the poor efficiency of the powertrain, the Taycan’s charging performance is only “decent,” and not in fact outstanding. It is certainly not so compelling as to make up for the poor range that the Taycan gets per charge.

The Taycan does have undoubted strengths in the “driver’s car” feel that Porsche prides itself on, and that’s welcome. But, with just 201 miles of EPA range from a 93.4 kWh battery, the overall efficiency of the powertrain is undoubtedly disappointing and this will need to improve dramatically to become a compelling all-round vehicle. After all, that’s what Porsche’s EVs must ultimately become in the long run.

EV powertrains are a completely different beast to combustion powertrains, and so far we are not seeing any evidence that legacy automakers that have great engineering expertise in the older technology are necessarily able to transfer that prowess to the new technology. None are even close to the newcomer Tesla on powertrain efficiency.

Recent reports put the Taycan’s planned volume at around 20,000 units globally in 2020, which will be around 8% of Porsche’s overall annual sales volume (2018 global sales of 256,000). That’s still a higher EV share of their output than all or almost all other legacy automakers, for which Porsche deserves merit.

Have you ordered a Taycan, or are you thinking of ordering one? How do you feel about the 201 mile EPA range? Let us know in the comments.

Article images courtesy of respective brands, author’s charts.

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Dr. Maximilian Holland Max is an anthropologist, social theorist and international political economist, trying to ask questions and encourage critical thinking about social and environmental justice, sustainability and the human condition. He has lived and worked in Europe and Asia, and is currently based in Barcelona. Follow Max on twitter @Dr_Maximilian and at MaximilianHolland.com, or contact him via LinkedIn.

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Tesla Model Y Is Touring In Europe For Tesla’s European Technicians

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Published on December 12th, 2019 |

by Cynthia Shahan

Tesla Model Y Is Touring In Europe For Tesla’s European Technicians

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December 12th, 2019 by Cynthia Shahan

With so much fascination around the eclectic, massive Cybertruck superhero, we almost forget that what some of us truly want is the now seemingly peaceful and placid Tesla Model Y. Softer around the corners, the Model Y offers the same high-tech software updates and is perfect for the growing green family — or, say, an interior designer who increasingly needs to walk the stylish-and-green tightrope while transporting bulky items for installations and shows.

As others have pointed out, the Tesla Model Y will be world’s safest crossover, and the quickest affordable crossover or SUV. It is a perfect family transporter.

Not long after news that Tesla Model Y production might start in Q1 2020 (really) — and following earlier news from Tesla that the Model Y is ahead of schedule — Morten Groves adds another useful news nugget:

Image Kyle Field | CleanTechnica

If you’re considering the Model 3 vs. Model Y instead of the Model Y vs. the Cybertruck, read that link from Vijay and this one on Iqtidar Ali’s insights.

Tesla Model 3 morphing into a Tesla Model Y for visual comparison, by Iqtidar Ali | @IqtidarAlii

Hat tip and thanks once again to our valued friend Iqtidar Ali at X Auto.

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Cynthia Shahan Cynthia Shahan started writing by doing research as a social cultural and sometimes medical anthropology thinker. She studied and practiced both Waldorf education, and Montessori education. Eventually becoming an organic farmer, licensed AP, and mother of four unconditionally loving spirits, teachers, and environmentally conscious beings born with spiritual insights and ethics beyond this world. (She was able to advance more in this way led by her children.)

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28,000 Tweets Helped Elon Musk Develop Tesla Cybertruck

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Published on December 9th, 2019 |

by Johnna Crider

28,000 Tweets Helped Elon Musk Develop Tesla Cybertruck

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December 9th, 2019 by Johnna Crider

In a heartfelt article written by Kristen Netten on Medium, she explains why the Cybertruck is the truck for a hero. When one thinks of a hero, we may think of police or firefighters or even our own personal heroes who have impacted our lives. Elon Musk is one of mine and is a hero to millions of people around the world for all the good he has done through his companies.

The article explains how 26,000 comments from the Twitter community about the Cybertruck helped Tesla create a truck that is fit for a hero.

It all started in June of 2018 when Elon Musk asked his followers what they would like to see in a truck. Kristen’s article also shows evidence that Elon Musk engaged in a bit of market research with this tweet.

You ask your customers what they want, and they tell you. This is exactly what happened in the case of the Cybertruck. Mike Maat replied to Elon saying that they wanted a flatbed with no wheel well humps. R-Dub said that a built-in bed cover that could roll out when needed would be great, and also that it would be “next level to have solar panels built into the bed cover.” Jeff Mueller brought up air suspension and suggested a heavy-duty air compressor to run air tools. Elon loved that idea and even replied saying that it was a great idea and that it made sense to add a utility port. He also said the truck would have a Tesla pneumatics system (which is why that makes sense).

NocturnusAnime created a list of features that Elon Musk implemented into the Cybertruck (look at the photo above). That list is:

300–500 mile range,
bed or camper shell lined with solar cells to help with regen,
front trunk alongside long bed option,
comfy/spacious crew cab for those in the back,
toolbox compartment in the bed that doubles as an ice chest, like the Nissan Frontier Titan has.

In her Medium article, Kristen sums up other things like off-road capabilities, on-road performance, the price, and how Elon saw the request to make it reasonably priced like the Model 3. Kristen also shows that the 2018 tweet asking for truck comments and recommendations wasn’t the first time Elon mentioned the truck. He also brought it up in 2017: “I promise that we will make a pickup truck right after the Model Y” — a promise that he, despite what critics have said about Elon keeping his promises, has kept.

Not only does Elon Musk keep his promises, but he listens to his customers. This shows that he values his customers. As an artist who sells jewelry made with minerals, I often get people who have entire stories to tell about a stone, or as to why a mineral means so much to them. My job in that aspect isn’t to make them jewelry, but to listen to their story. Stories are what keep us connected. Stories are part of what make us human. They help us learn, communicate, and be better people. People who listen to their customers show that they care. This is why so many people (including myself) admire Elon Musk.

Who is the hero Kristen was talking about in her article? It was definitely Elon Musk, a guy who happens to be a billionaire but isn’t shy about using his funds to help humanity. Whether it’s dropping everything because he was asked to help save lives or helping an American city upgrade their water system while our government sits back takes its time.

Even though Elon Musk was the hero Kristen had in mind when writing her article, Elon Musk isn’t the only hero. Many members of the Tesla community are also heroes. Whether it’s a group of people raising funds to send a care package to someone in need, donating toys to the Salvation Army, or pledging to plant millions of seed and trees, this community is a network of people to admire. It’s no wonder why we are all “obsessed with Tesla,” as Viv explains well in the tweet above.
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About the Author

Johnna Crider Johnna Crider is a Baton Rouge artist, gem and mineral collector, and Tesla shareholder who believes in Elon Musk and Tesla. Elon Musk advised her in 2018 to “Believe in Good.”

Tesla is one of many good things to believe in. You can find Johnna on Twitter

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Tesla Reps Give Out Water To Those In Long Supercharger Lines During Thanksgiving Weekend

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Clean Transport

Published on December 9th, 2019 |

by Johnna Crider

Tesla Reps Give Out Water To Those In Long Supercharger Lines During Thanksgiving Weekend

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December 9th, 2019 by Johnna Crider

Long Tesla Supercharger lines are just like long lines anywhere: frustrating. Especially if you have to wait in line longer than it takes to charge. This problem came around the Thanksgiving holiday season and may pop up again around Christmas and New Year’s. After all, many people travel for the holidays.

In part, this issue is due to the massive numbers of Model 3s being sold, and as more people drive electric, they will storm Superchargers instead of gas stations. Business Insider and Daily Mail were talking about the photos and videos of people in line and even stranded at Superchargers. Tesla seems to know this, and yes, it is a problem in which the best solution is just more Supercharging stations. However, Tesla isn’t only about solving problems for its customers — Tesla staff also want to make sure customers know they care.

Image courtesy Wendy Lewis

One Tesla owner reached out to me and told me that Tesla is aware of this issue and has even sent representatives to give out water to those in long Supercharger lines. She told me there were at least 25 cars waiting at around 3:00 pm that day. Water may seem trivial to some, but when you are frustrated and upset, a cool drink of water is refreshing and can help your body cope with the physical side effects of emotions such as anger and frustration.

Image courtesy Wendy Lewis

One of the main issues when it comes to Supercharging is speed. People have often told me that they would rather buy gas at a gas station where they can be “in and out” rather than sit around and wait for 45 minutes at a Supercharger. Tesla is already working on solving these problems with its V3 Superchargers, which significantly cut the charging times for its vehicles.

Image courtesy Wendy Lewis

Other complaints were about broken Superchargers. I have heard from several Tesla owners here that stalls 2A and 2B have been down for quite a while and have recently been repaired. Broken or not working charging stations would definitely contribute to longer lines during a holiday travel rush. However, Tesla Superchargers typically have a very high rate of uptime from research we’ve has seen over the years. You can read more about that in our 2018 EV driver report and 2019 EV driver report.
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Johnna Crider Johnna Crider is a Baton Rouge artist, gem and mineral collector, and Tesla shareholder who believes in Elon Musk and Tesla. Elon Musk advised her in 2018 to “Believe in Good.”

Tesla is one of many good things to believe in. You can find Johnna on Twitter

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It’s Wrong To Value Tesla [TSLA] As An Auto Business

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Autonomous Vehicles

Published on December 11th, 2019 |

by Johnna Crider

It’s Wrong To Value Tesla [TSLA] As An Auto Business

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December 11th, 2019 by Johnna Crider

Tesla is an auto business, but at the same time, it’s not. It has grown from that into something else and investors need to look at Tesla not from any single angle, but need to see it as the whole it is. The Spring recently published an article on the potential of Tesla services, and it challenges one to look at Tesla in a different light.

The article points out that Tesla has always been valued from the same perspectives that investors use to value auto businesses. This is great for any normal car company — they build factories, have high upfront expenses, and sell a new car to a customer every 10 years or so. Tesla looks like your typical auto company at a glance, and this is what investors seem to go by. Take a quick look, slap a value on it based on certain metrics, and move along.

I agree with the author of the article, Kevin Rooke, who believes it is “becoming increasingly wrong to value Tesla’s auto business like an auto business.” This is because Tesla is so much more than that. Tesla is also a tech business, an energy business, and is taking a few pages from Apple as it starts to become a services business, which is what the article focuses on.

Another point the author makes is that most of the time, automakers don’t even know who exactly their customers are. Tesla CEO Elon Musk keeps a close eye on customer feedback on Twitter, often interacting with Tesla owners, investors, and supporters.

The article also highlights that Tesla has a different approach to selling its cars. It has a direct-to-consumer business model, which means there are no dealers. Unlike Ford or other automakers that sell to dealerships once the cars are off the line, Tesla sells to the customers directly.

Regarding services, the article points out that Tesla’s services look a lot like Apple’s. Some quick comparisons include trade-ins, insurance, service centers, Premium connectivity, and Supercharging. This is actually a smart way to bring in recurring revenue. Some may complain about having to pay for something that was once free, such as WiFi, but $10 a month for the internet is likely to cover costs plus a small premium and is not that expensive. Still, an important point is the option is there to make more money on this down the road.

Rooke illustrates how quickly the services could become a core part of Tesla’s business by providing an example: imagine 2 years from now that Tesla has a fleet of 2 million vehicles with $1,000 per vehicle in services revenue per quarter. If Tesla achieves a 10% gross margin on these services, then that is an additional $800 million of profit per year just from these services. Rooke shows other examples as well and also demonstrates just how Tesla can turn its services into those big businesses by comparing what Tesla does with other automakers. You can read more about his thoughts here.

By embracing the services potential with its technology, Tesla is positioning itself to become even more profitable despite what critics, who only see it as a basic auto company, have to say or argue.
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About the Author

Johnna Crider Johnna Crider is a Baton Rouge artist, gem and mineral collector, and Tesla shareholder who believes in Elon Musk and Tesla. Elon Musk advised her in 2018 to “Believe in Good.”

Tesla is one of many good things to believe in. You can find Johnna on Twitter

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