Author: Clean Technica Online News

My First Tesla Shareholder Call As A Tesla Investor

InvestElectric CarsElectric Car BenefitsElectric Car SalesSolar Energy RocksRSSAdvertisePrivacy Policy
Cars Published on February 1st, 2019 | by Carolyn Fortuna
My First Tesla Shareholder Call As A Tesla InvestorTwitterLinkedInFacebookFebruary 1st, 2019 by Carolyn Fortuna
For most people, you buy a stock because someone you know is excited about it. Maybe that person is a day trader or has a track record of choosing a solid portfolio of growth stocks. That person’s energy and enthusiasm is contagious: you want to jump in and take a teeny portion of your net worth, just a snip of your meager life savings, to a whole new level. And, if that stock is Tesla [TSLA], the thought of becoming a Tesla investor is doubly thrilling, as you’ll be joining a group of visionaries who feel a positive shift toward the future.

I’m one of those new Tesla investors. A longtime educator who apportioned a small amount of my biweekly paycheck into a 403(b) account, I saw my first Tesla in 2013 while traveling through an upscale hippie town in western Connecticut on the way to Lime Rock Raceway. I thought of Tesla at the time as little more than another new car on the market.
Tesla, as the first EV with long enough range to serve as a replacement for a gasoline car, was soon seen as different. It was an EV that was also a practical everyday car. The company created a Supercharger network that had been missing with prior EVs (and other non-Tesla EVs since), making charging options fast and convenient. The company’s CEO, Elon Musk, took good ideas and made them a reality — “the point of all this was, and remains, accelerating the advent of sustainable energy, so that we can imagine far into the future and life is still good.”
Since then, I’ve been writing about environmental issues for CleanTechnica and other EV websites, and I’ve come to understand the special place that Tesla holds in the marketplace. It’s more than an automobile company: it’s a movement, a mission, a disruptor. It’s leading the energy industry toward advanced technologies for a sustainable economy.

No, I don’t own a Tesla automobile. I’d love to own a Model 3, of course! But I’m one of those people to whom Musk referred to in the Q4 2018 earnings call:
“The demand for — the demand for Model 3 is insanely high. The inhibitor is affordability. It’s just like people literally don’t have the money to buy the car. It’s got nothing to do with desire. They just don’t have enough money in their bank account. If the car can be made more affordable, the demand is extraordinary.”
But what I could do was buy Tesla stock. The climate crisis and related growth had already led me to divest from fossil fuel stocks in my existing portfolio. Like many others, I lean toward mission-driven investment strategies, and the trend seems to be pointing in that direction for many others similarly.
In late summer 2018, after Musk announced via Twitter that he had secured enough funding for a massive private buyout of Tesla, the SEC stepped in with sanctions. When Tesla stock dropped in value, I saw an opportunity and made my first purchase. Since then, the stock has risen and, while it is fluctuating, I’m pleased with my decision. I do plan on staying “long,” putting my money into the Tesla movement and feeling like I’m part of something important and rare.
I’ve bet on the future, after all.

Listening to the Investor’s Call with a New PerspectiveAs a writer for CleanTechnica, I generally tune into the quarterly Tesla shareholder communications. I take notes, read the shareholder letter, listen to the earnings call, and study the subsequent transcript. The late January 2019 communications felt different to me, however. I was one of the people to whom Tesla was speaking!
Several points during the earnings call caught my attention and confirmed my confidence in my Tesla stock.
Tesla achieved an 80% market share of US EV sales last year.The company began construction of the Gigafactory in Shanghai, and by the end of this year, they expect to be producing Model 3s using a complete vehicle production line. Musk acknowledged that the company is getting a lot of support from the Shanghai government as well as the national government.With the combination of cells produced at the Gigafactory in Nevada, cells produced in Japan, and cells produced locally in China, Tesla is confident it has a sufficient supply to hit its productions targets there.Tesla predicts strong growth in its battery and stationary storage businesses.With concern about a 2019 recession looming and possible scenarios of lower volumes and tight pricing, Tesla anticipates a good shot of being profitable and generating free cash flow nonetheless. If such a recession does come, Elon plans to manage the business adequately through frugality.Elon continued to refer to Tesla’s relevance in regard to the acceleration of sustainable energy, which is absolutely fundamental due to its importance for humanity.Yes, I realize that Tesla stock was off a bit at the beginning of January, partially due to total sales numbers not being what some shareholders expected and partly due to the 50% cut in the federal tax credit for buying a Tesla. But the Tesla board is more robust than ever, with the addition of 2 veteran business people: Oracle founder Larry Ellison and Walgreens’ executive vice-president and global chief human resources officer Kathleen Wilson-Thompson. And lots of investor advisors are telling their clients that they believe Tesla is on track to post one of the market’s most robust year-over-year earnings increases in 2019.

Final ThoughtsLike many others, I will likely add to my shares of the company over time as I have more free capital to invest.
After all, Tesla is on the frontlines of climate action. One of the best things I can do for the environment is support the company. As more people end up buying a share of Tesla, or 2+, we can show how are investing in the company as another way to do our part in climate action. I do intend to stick with the stock through most anything, because I see its survival and growth as critical to getting the climate under control. This is a narrative that we should see playing out more and more, which makes Tesla stock a rather unique case.
I feel that Tesla will continue to see massive sales growth in the coming years, as Teslas become more common on the streets around us. As other people outside the sustainability community begin to gain awareness as to the role Tesla has taken in the push toward renewable energy, and as more people start to recognize Teslas in their own neighborhoods, the stock will certainly rise in value.

About the AuthorCarolyn Fortuna Carolyn Fortuna, Ph.D. is a writer, researcher, and educator with a lifelong dedication to ecojustice. She's won awards from the Anti-Defamation League, The International Literacy Association, and The Leavy Foundation. She’s molds scholarship into digital media literacy and learning to spread the word about sustainability issues. Please follow me on Twitter and Facebook and Google+

Back to Top ↑AdvertisementAdvertise with CleanTechnica to get your company in front of our readers.
CleanTechnica Clothing & Cups Top News On CleanTechnica Join CleanTechnica Today!
AdvertisementAdvertisementFollow CleanTechnicaFollow @cleantechnica
Our New Electric Car Driver Report Read & share our new report on “electric car drivers, what they desire, and what the demand.”The EV Safety Advantage

Read & share our free report on EV safety, “The EV Safety Advantage.”EV Charging Guidelines for Cities

Share our free report on EV charging guidelines for cities, “Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure: Guidelines For Cities.”30 Electric Car Benefits Our Electric Vehicle Reviews
Tesla News
Cleantech Press Releases New Research Shows That Only Two Large Petroleum Companies Have Meaningful Emission Reduction Targets Koben Announces EVOLVE EVSF —Grid-Friendly Modular EV Store & Forward System The New Danish Climate Plan — Together For A Greener Future38 Anti-Cleantech Myths Wind & Solar Prices Beat Fossils Cost of Solar Panels Collapses
© 2018 Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc.
InvestElectric CarsElectric Car BenefitsElectric Car SalesSolar Energy RocksRSSAdvertisePrivacy Policy

This site uses cookies: Find out more.Okay, thanks

Electric Car Tipping Point Is At Hand

InvestElectric CarsElectric Car BenefitsElectric Car SalesSolar Energy RocksRSSAdvertisePrivacy Policy
Batteries Published on February 1st, 2019 | by Guest Contributor
Electric Car Tipping Point Is At HandTwitterLinkedInFacebookFebruary 1st, 2019 by Guest Contributor
Originally published on EVANNEX.
By Charles Morris

Could 2018 go down in history as the beginning of the end for fossil-powered vehicles? Several auto industry analysts quoted in a recent Financial Times article (via The Drive) think it’s a possibility. “We will probably see the peak of combustion engine car sales in 2018,” Felipe Munoz, an automotive analyst for Jato Dynamics, told FT, adding that his company’s ‘optimistic’ forecast for the global auto market had changed in the last six months.”
EVs like the Tesla Model S are changing car buyers’ impressions of driving electric. Photo via Tesla ShuttleAfter several years of record growth, auto sales in China, Europe, and the US are leveling off. “When you look at 2018 since the summer, new car sales in all of the important markets are going down,” Axel Schmidt, global automotive lead for Accenture, told FT. “Selling combustion engine cars to customers — this will not grow in the future.”
Selling electric cars to customers, however, is expected to grow. Moody’s forecasts that the market share of EVs will rise to 1.6 percent, offsetting the decline in ICE vehicle sales. Most of the growth in EV adoption, at least in the near term, will happen in China, where automakers are investing huge sums in electrification as the government is making it almost impossible for them to expand production of gas-burning cars.
Of course, the US and European automakers have been producing EVs for years — and selling very few (except for a certain California company). Fossil fuel-burning cars won’t be going away if consumers continue to demand them. However, there’s good news on this front as well. Last May, a survey by AAA found that 20% of respondents said their next vehicle would be an EV, up from 15% in 2017, when AAA first posed the question.
Photo via EVmatch
More recently, a survey conducted by the popular video series Fully Charged found existing EV owners to be overwhelmingly happy with their choice to go electric. Out of some 7,700 responses to the audience survey, 88 percent of plug-in car drivers said they would never go back to driving an ICE vehicle. (See Motor1 or Renewable Energy Magazine for more details about the Fully Charged survey results.)
As savvy observers of the scene know, most consumers won’t buy EVs to save money, or for their environmental benefits, but because they are better vehicles. “We’ve always maintained that, simply because they are better technologies, electric vehicles and renewables will become mainstream, and this is borne out by our survey,” said Fully Charged host Robert Llewellyn. “It’s the cars in particular that are starting to turn heads, and having driven all of them from the Tesla Model 3 to VW’s hotly-anticipated I.D., I can honestly say that there’s a really cool choice of electric cars for almost every budget.”
As any Tesla owner can attest, it’s the test drive that sells an electric car. “Having experienced how impressive electric cars are, we were not surprised to see so many other drivers saying that they won’t go back to the combustion engine, but it might shock those that have yet to switch,” said Llewellyn. “Perhaps more surprising was that the two-thirds of our audience who are yet to buy an EV intend to do so in the next couple of years.”
Related story: The Economist: Global Tipping Point For Electric Cars In 2018 (Video)

About the AuthorGuest Contributor is many, many people. We publish a number of guest posts from experts in a large variety of fields. This is our contributor account for those special people. 😀

Back to Top ↑AdvertisementAdvertise with CleanTechnica to get your company in front of our readers.
CleanTechnica Clothing & Cups Top News On CleanTechnica Join CleanTechnica Today!
AdvertisementAdvertisementFollow CleanTechnicaFollow @cleantechnica
Our New Electric Car Driver Report Read & share our new report on “electric car drivers, what they desire, and what the demand.”The EV Safety Advantage

Read & share our free report on EV safety, “The EV Safety Advantage.”EV Charging Guidelines for Cities

Share our free report on EV charging guidelines for cities, “Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure: Guidelines For Cities.”30 Electric Car Benefits Our Electric Vehicle Reviews
Tesla News
Cleantech Press Releases New Research Shows That Only Two Large Petroleum Companies Have Meaningful Emission Reduction Targets Koben Announces EVOLVE EVSF —Grid-Friendly Modular EV Store & Forward System The New Danish Climate Plan — Together For A Greener Future38 Anti-Cleantech Myths Wind & Solar Prices Beat Fossils Cost of Solar Panels Collapses
© 2018 Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc.
InvestElectric CarsElectric Car BenefitsElectric Car SalesSolar Energy RocksRSSAdvertisePrivacy Policy

This site uses cookies: Find out more.Okay, thanks

Tesla: Model S & Model X Production, AR Production Improvements, And Model Y Rumors

Electric CarsElectric Car BenefitsElectric Car SalesSolar Energy RocksRSSAdvertisePrivacy Policy
Cars Published on January 24th, 2019 | by Steve Hanley
Tesla: Model S & Model X Production, AR Production Improvements, And Model Y RumorsTwitterLinkedInFacebookJanuary 24th, 2019 by Steve Hanley
It takes a lot to keep up with everything that’s happening at Tesla these days. After the company announced it was laying off 3,000 production workers last week, the media has been filled with scary headlines about how the company is fighting for survival. Now, to stir the pot even further, comes news that changes are taking place in the production of the Model S and Model X.

CNBC reports it has been told by several recently laid off workers that the company has suspended nighttime production of the Model S and Model X at the factory in Fremont. Is there a connection between that and the decision to stop selling the 75 kWh battery version of those cars? Possibly. Both cars now cost nearly $20,000 more than they did when the 75 kWh battery was available. It’s no surprise such a significant price increase might have an impact on demand.
A former Tesla engineer tells CNBC the company is debating whether to “sunset” either the Model S or the Model X, although what that means exactly was not explained and a key note there is that it was a former Tesla engineer. Also, we’ve never heard before that the Model S or Model X would be pulled at some point — quite the opposite, that they’d always be Tesla’s top-tier offerings. Who is this former engineer? We don’t know, but she or he also said there was no upgrade team for the S or X working on a vehicle refresh.
Tesla has learned a lot about manufacturing automobiles since the first Model S rolled off the line in June of 2012. There is surely some potential improvement to the production process if tackled comprehensively. Also, with the lower-cost Model 3 now at steady, high-volume production, there is less need (and probably less demand) for the lower-range Model S 75D.
In a statement to CNBC, Tesla said, “We recently announced that we are no longer taking orders for the 75 kWh version of Model S and X in order to streamline production and provide even more differentiation with Model 3. As a result of this change and because of improving efficiencies in our production lines, we have reduced Model S and X production hours accordingly. At the same time, these changes, along with continuing improvements, give us the flexibility to increase our production capacity in the future as needed. We’ll be providing more details on our earnings call next week.”
There is a bit of confusion here. Some outlets are claiming that Tesla Model S and X production output is being cut significantly. The statement from Tesla indicates production hours are being cut and improved efficiencies on the production lines actually provide “the flexibility to increase our production capacity.” Hmm, which way are the sales going — up or down?

Augmented Reality Comes To ManufacturingTesla has a passion for robotic assembly techniques as it races to create “the machine that builds the machine.” But just a short while ago, Elon Musk admitted that robots have their limitations and that there is no substitute for human workers when it comes to getting the job done. “Yes, excessive automation at Tesla was a mistake. To be precise, my mistake. Humans are underrated,” he tweeted last April. Tesla hired a lot of new workers last year, then trimmed many of those new hires from its payroll last week.
On a related note, Tesla recently filed a patent application for new augmented reality technology it says will speed up production while improving the accuracy of the assembly process. According to Teslarati, the patent application has the following explanation:
“There are many practical applications for the augmented reality (AR) manufacturing techniques discussed herein. In some embodiments, the AR device is used to program a robot to assemble one or more parts including identifying and marking the precise location and order of welds, self-pierced rivets, laser welds, adhesives, sealers, holes, fasteners, or other mechanical joints, etc. As another example, the AR device can be used to inspect the quality of the assembly for a vehicle such as whether the locations of welds are correct, whether the interfaces between parts such as body panels are within tolerances, whether holes are drilled or punched at the correct location, whether the fit and finish of assembly is correct, etc.
“In some embodiments, vision recognition is utilized. Individual sheet metal components and/or assemblies that are or will be part of the body-in-white (also known as the structural frame or body) are recognized. Once the component/system has been identified, computer-aided design (CAD) information (e.g., information and/or symbols associated with the mechanical joints) is aligned/scaled and rendered on corresponding identified physical model components. The application of the disclosed techniques applies to many different contexts of manufacturing.
“For example, the AR device can be used to map the quality of a coating on an automotive part such as determining the thickness of an e-coating on a vehicle body and identifying problem areas that are difficult to coat. In some embodiments, the AR device is used to map out a factory floor and to identify the precise location and orientation robots should be installed at to build out an assembly line. The robots are positioned based on the AR device such that the installed robots will not interfere with each other or other obstructions in the environment.”
Credit: US Patent Office
Tesla has set very aggressive goals for its Shanghai factory, which it hopes to have up and running just over a year from now. Could AR technology play a role in bringing the new facility online quicker and turning out high quality cars sooner than many think possible?
Tesla Model Y TimelineThere is much speculation at the Model 3 Owners Club about the Model Y, based on a story on Seeking Alpha that suggests Tesla may not begin taking reservations for it until it is close to the time of production — a reversal of the hoopla that preceded the Model 3 launch. Keep in mind that everything that follows is little more than unsubstantiated rumors. The official reveal is widely expected in March, although the company has not said anything on that subject. [Editor’s note: I asked Elon Musk about the reservation and rollout plan for the Model Y on Tesla’s 3rd quarter financials call, specifically hoping that Tesla would delay reservations until close to production time. We’ll see. —Zach]
Model 3 Owners Club member LoveSword added this on the forum last month: “Here is a ‘I heard from a guy who heard from a guy…’ addition (grains of salt and all that): One of the Rangers that’s been out to work on my car has been with Tesla since Roadster days. He went through orientation and is friends with a guy who has risen within the company. According to the Ranger, when he talked with this guy about the Y he was told, ‘You wouldn’t believe how far along we are already on the Y.’ That was in September when the Ranger was out for my headlight replacement. So… there’s that.”
One topic of discussion is whether the Model Y will have falcon-wing doors like its Model X big brother. Elon tweeted 3½ years ago that it would, but he deleted that tweet the next day and, since then, he has been quiet about the details of the Model Y. On the Q2 Tesla earnings call in 2017, he said his engineers had brought him back from the “cliffs of insanity,” and then added: “After talking to my executive team, the Model Y will use a significant amount of Model 3 components.”
On the falcon-wing door subject, Model 3 Owners Club member 11thIndian offered this opinion: “If you want them, then I guess you can point to [Musk’s statement from 2017] and be hopeful. From my perspective as someone who does not want them, that tweet was made so long ago in terms of the Model Y’s development, I give it no credence whatsoever now. And honestly, if the Model Y is the budget Model X, then the Falcon Wing Doors are the first thing to go in terms of complexity and cost.”
When will the Model Y get here and what will it look like? Hopefully the car that is supposed to break the back of the internal combustion car industry will be revealed in March and all our questions will be answered.

About the AuthorSteve Hanley Steve writes about the interface between technology and sustainability from his home in Rhode Island and anywhere else the Singularity may lead him. His motto is, “Life is not measured by how many breaths we take but by the number of moments that take our breath away!” You can follow him on Google + and on Twitter.

Back to Top ↑AdvertisementAdvertise with CleanTechnica to get your company in front of our readers.
CleanTechnica Clothing & Cups Top News On CleanTechnica Join CleanTechnica Today!
AdvertisementAdvertisementFollow CleanTechnicaFollow @cleantechnica
Our New Electric Car Driver Report Read & share our new report on “electric car drivers, what they desire, and what the demand.”The EV Safety Advantage

Read & share our free report on EV safety, “The EV Safety Advantage.”EV Charging Guidelines for Cities

Share our free report on EV charging guidelines for cities, “Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure: Guidelines For Cities.”30 Electric Car Benefits Our Electric Vehicle Reviews
Tesla News
Cleantech Press Releases New Research Shows That Only Two Large Petroleum Companies Have Meaningful Emission Reduction Targets Koben Announces EVOLVE EVSF —Grid-Friendly Modular EV Store & Forward System The New Danish Climate Plan — Together For A Greener Future38 Anti-Cleantech Myths Wind & Solar Prices Beat Fossils Cost of Solar Panels Collapses
© 2018 Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc.
Electric CarsElectric Car BenefitsElectric Car SalesSolar Energy RocksRSSAdvertisePrivacy Po..

Own Tesla Stock? Want To Ask Elon A Question On Shareholder Call?

Editor's note: CleanTechnica, EVANNEX, and surely others were given a sneak preview of some Tesla investment news from Galileo Russell. The TSLA YouTuber has been working on a way to give retail investors a bigger voice on Tesla (and other) financials calls. Read on below to learn more and participate

Tesla vs. Clayton Christensen’s Idea of Tech Disruption

Electric CarsElectric Car BenefitsElectric Car SalesSolar Energy RocksRSSAdvertisePrivacy Policy
Batteries Published on January 26th, 2019 | by Guest Contributor
Tesla vs. Clayton Christensen’s Idea of Tech DisruptionTwitterLinkedInFacebookJanuary 26th, 2019 by Guest Contributor
Originally published on EVANNEX.
By Charles Morris
The words “innovation” and “disruption” have been casually tossed around in the press so much that, like “awesome,” they’ve lost most of their meaning for the average reader. However, there’s a whole community of people who study these phenomena in minute detail, and Dr. Clayton Christensen is one of their prophets. Recently, a doctrinal difference between Christensen and Elon Musk has catalyzed a lively theological debate.
Two iconic figures in the realm of business disruption, Elon Musk and Dr. Clayton Christensen (Images: Wired UK / Nieman Reports)To simplify for the layman, Dr. Christensen is an exponent of “low-end disruption,” whereas Tesla is an object lesson in “high-end disruption,” the concept that innovation can begin at the high end of a market and later trickle down to the mainstream. In December, Elon Musk tweeted, “Clayton is wrong. New tech is always expensive. Tech disruption occurs at *high end*, eg computers & cell phones. It takes many iterations & vast economies of scale to achieve mass market affordability.”
Far from being offended, Dr. Christensen replied, “We’re all rooting for you!” and invited Musk to join him for a chat on innovation.
Jay Gerhart, a practitioner of disruptive innovation theory and “a huge fan of both of these brilliant men,” set out to reconcile their conflicting positions in an article published in Medium.
Apparently the current debate was sparked by an article in TechCrunch in which Chandrasekar Iyer of the Clayton Christensen Institute argued that Tesla’s entry into China represents a “sustaining innovation” (as opposed to a “disruptive innovation”), and that Tesla “will enter an established market to compete along existing measures of performance, like acceleration, style and luxury.”
Elon Musk argues that Christensen has it backwards when it comes to disruption in the tech sector. (Twitter: Elon Musk)As Gerhart points out, many have written about the phenomenon of high-end disruption, citing Uber, Tesla, Apple, Garmin, and Dyson as examples of transformative technologies and business models that started at the high end of the market and worked their way down. However, Shaye Roseman of the Harvard Business School recently argued that high-end disruption is “unlikely to occur,” because struggles for the high ground favor deep-pocketed incumbents, and it’s difficult to move down-market once you start at the top.
Much of the disagreement among these theologians may have more to do with terminology than with real-world results. As Gerhart puts it, “I find many debates these days to be framed a bit too black and white. Dr. Christensen’s theory has certainly sparked decades of debate since its introduction more than twenty years ago [and] the digital era has introduced new, complex dynamics.” In a 2015 article, Dr. Christensen argued that Tesla should be classified as a “sustaining innovation” rather than a “high-end disruption.” But could it be that the distinction is not so clear-cut? “Is it possible that under specific circumstances, a sustaining innovation could have characteristics that have a transformative impact on incumbents?” Gerhart asks.
Gerhart believes that the uniqueness of Tesla’s business model (and of its CEO) may enable it to have a transformative effect on the automotive industry while still fitting the definition of a sustaining innovation. He points out that Tesla’s highly integrated approach, which has many similarities to that of Apple, gives it a significant near-term advantage over incumbents that are struggling to manage the transition to electrification.
Will the legacy automakers rise to the challenge? Ford, VW and others are currently making the right noises, but it remains to be seen whether the promises in their press releases will lead to volume production of compelling electric vehicles. Gerhart suggests that automakers may need to set up separate divisions to compete effectively with Tesla.

Touching on an experience at BMW, Christensen discusses some of the disruption dilemmas facing companies (YouTube: Implement Consulting Group)
Regardless of which side you take in the sectarian schism in the religion of disruption, there’s one thing everyone can agree on: “This will be a fascinating market to watch over the next few years.”

About the AuthorGuest Contributor is many, many people. We publish a number of guest posts from experts in a large variety of fields. This is our contributor account for those special people. 😀

Back to Top ↑AdvertisementAdvertise with CleanTechnica to get your company in front of our readers.
CleanTechnica Clothing & Cups Top News On CleanTechnica Join CleanTechnica Today!
AdvertisementAdvertisementFollow CleanTechnicaFollow @cleantechnica
Our New Electric Car Driver Report Read & share our new report on “electric car drivers, what they desire, and what the demand.”The EV Safety Advantage

Read & share our free report on EV safety, “The EV Safety Advantage.”EV Charging Guidelines for Cities

Share our free report on EV charging guidelines for cities, “Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure: Guidelines For Cities.”30 Electric Car Benefits Our Electric Vehicle Reviews
Tesla News
Cleantech Press Releases New Research Shows That Only Two Large Petroleum Companies Have Meaningful Emission Reduction Targets Koben Announces EVOLVE EVSF —Grid-Friendly Modular EV Store & Forward System The New Danish Climate Plan — Together For A Greener Future38 Anti-Cleantech Myths Wind & Solar Prices Beat Fossils Cost of Solar Panels Collapses
© 2018 Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc.
Electric CarsElectric Car BenefitsElectric Car SalesSolar Energy RocksRSSAdvertisePrivacy Policy

This site uses cookies: Find out more.Okay, thanks

Tesla Model Y To Share 76% Of Parts With Model 3, Be Built At Gigafactories

Electric CarsElectric Car BenefitsElectric Car SalesSolar Energy RocksRSSAdvertisePrivacy Policy
Autonomous Vehicles Published on January 31st, 2019 | by Kyle Field
Tesla Model Y To Share 76% Of Parts With Model 3, Be Built At GigafactoriesTwitterLinkedInFacebookJanuary 31st, 2019 by Kyle Field
On its Q4 2018 earnings call last night, Tesla confirmed that the Model Y will be the first vehicle it will build at its Gigafactory 1 in Sparks, Nevada. In parallel, it plans to build the crossover (CUV) at its new Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai, China. The latter was shared previously and the former was long suspected. We actually got intel recently that the Model Y would be built at Gigafactory 1, but for some reason decided to not break the news. We do have other exclusive info coming about Gigafactory 1, though.
The Tesla automotive family. Image credit: Tesla
Shared DNAThe Model Y is expected to be received warmly and will have more demand than any of Tesla’s other vehicles, since customers across the world continue to move away from cars to crossovers. Tesla plans to build the Model Y off of the Model 3 platform, with the two sharing 76% of the same parts, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk. This shared DNA between Model 3 and Model Y will allow Tesla to leverage even greater economies of scale in its supply chain and demand even lower prices from its suppliers, in addition to improving its downstream efficiencies with the supply of parts to its service centers and approved body shops.
Parts sharing was the premise for the design of Tesla’s full-sized Model S and Model X, but that promise did not play out as planned. Instead, Tesla pushed to include an ever-increasing list of new features in the Model X as it evolved into the “faberge egg” of cars, according to CEO Elon Musk. When all was said and done, the two vehicles only ended up sharing about 30% common parts. Elon shared on the Q4 2018 earnings call that the Model X is a work of art and that nothing like it will probably ever be made again.
The production design of the Model Y has been completed and parts orders are already going out to suppliers in advance of the official unveiling of the vehicle, which could be as early as March, if vague tweets from Elon are taken literally.
Cars From The GigafactoriesThe Model Y will be the first of Tesla’s vehicles that will be produced at Tesla’s Gigafactories, as Musk announced that the company plans to build the Model Y completely at its Gigafactory 1 in Sparks, Nevada. (The Model S, Model X, and Model 3 are produced at its factory in Fremont, California, with some parts coming from the Gigafactory.)
In parallel, the company will ramp up production at Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai, China, where Tesla plans to go from a muddy lot to cars rolling out the door in less than a year. Model 3 will be the first vehicle produced there, with Model Y following not long after in high volume in 2020, if all goes well.
The Tesla Fremont Factory. Image credit: Tesla
“Tesla has the first wholly owned manufacturing facility in China of any automotive company. This is profound,” Musk said. Tesla pulled the trigger on the location of the Shanghai Gigafactory within a few days of China removing the requirement to have local partners for manufacturing plants in the country. That gives Tesla full control over the factory and a leg up on its foreign automotive competition in the Chinese market.

Tesla shared on the earnings call that, thanks to government support and “extremely compelling interest rates,” Tesla expected to bring the new factory online in record time, and at a significantly lower cost. “As a ballpark figure, it’s probably about a half a billion dollars capex” to get Gigafactory 3 up and running at a 3,000 vehicle per week rate by the end of 2019.
Building batteries and cars from a single factory is not a new vision for Tesla, which makes the prospect of building cars effectively from raw material up through the finished product at a single factory that much more exciting. Clearly tons of materials and parts still need to be shipped in, but minimizing non-value add transportation and logistics expenses helps Tesla to optimize its cost picture and, ultimately, keep the price of its products as low as possible for as many customers as possible.
Have a read of our live blog summary of the Tesla Q4 2018 call (and letter) or head over to Tesla’s Investor Relations site to read Tesla’s Q4 2018 earnings letter and listen to the webcast recording for more juicy details from an exciting quarter for Tesla.

About the AuthorKyle 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. Tesla referral code: http://ts.la/kyle623

Back to Top ↑AdvertisementAdvertise with CleanTechnica to get your company in front of our readers.
CleanTechnica Clothing & Cups Top News On CleanTechnica Join CleanTechnica Today!
AdvertisementAdvertisementFollow CleanTechnicaFollow @cleantechnica
Our New Electric Car Driver Report Read & share our new report on “electric car drivers, what they desire, and what the demand.”The EV Safety Advantage

Read & share our free report on EV safety, “The EV Safety Advantage.”EV Charging Guidelines for Cities

Share our free report on EV charging guidelines for cities, “Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure: Guidelines For Cities.”30 Electric Car Benefits Our Electric Vehicle Reviews
Tesla News
Cleantech Press Releases New Research Shows That Only Two Large Petroleum Companies Have Meaningful Emission Reduction Targets Koben Announces EVOLVE EVSF —Grid-Friendly Modular EV Store & Forward System The New Danish Climate Plan — Together For A Greener Future38 Anti-Cleantech Myths Wind & Solar Prices Beat Fossils Cost of Solar Panels Collapses
© 2018 Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc.
Electric CarsElectric Car BenefitsElectric Car SalesSolar Energy RocksRSSAdvertisePrivacy Policy

This site uses cookies: Find out more.Okay, thanks

Tesla & Elon Musk’s #1 Priority For 1st Quarter Is Improving Service

Tesla is refocusing on service as its top priority now that it has stabilized production and delivery for Model 3, CEO Elon Musk said yesterday on the company's Q4 2018 earnings call. Elon said on the call, “One of our major priorities for this quarter is improving service operations,” with a specific focus on North America, which is home to the majority of Tesla's vehicles

Nikola Motors Targets Laid Off Tesla Workers

Electric CarsElectric Car BenefitsElectric Car SalesSolar Energy RocksRSSAdvertisePrivacy Policy
Clean Transport Published on January 29th, 2019 | by Steve Hanley
Nikola Motors Targets Laid Off Tesla WorkersTwitterLinkedInFacebookJanuary 29th, 2019 by Steve Hanley
Trevor Milton, CEO of Nikola Motors, is using LinkedIn to invite workers laid off recently by Tesla to apply for work at his company. “Forward this on to all Tesla workers,” the message says. “Anyone who was affected by the #tesla layoffs, please let me know and I’ll try to get you in front of our HR to be reviewed. We have hired as many as fit our positions from the #faraday and #gm layoffs so this is not a bash on Tesla. We are hiring hundreds of positions and have large cash reserves with a great company culture.” (h/t The Drive)

Tesla and Nikola have not had the most cordial of relationships in the past. As we’ve reported before, Nikola has sued Tesla, claiming Tesla’s all-electric Semi is a thinly disguised knockoff of its own proposed vehicle, which will be powered by electricity from hydrogen fuel cells. Nikola says Tesla has copied its idea for a central opening and wraparound windshield, among other things.
If Nikola’s claims are accurate, it has taken reservations worth $8 billion for its truck — enough to cover the cost of 7,000 vehicles. By contrast, Tesla is believed to have received about 650 pre-orders for its Semi. Neither company has announced when production is expected to begin.
Milton is at pains to make it clear this latest move is not a knock on Tesla but simply an attempt to help talented people who suddenly find themselves out of a job. “I feel for everyone that goes through that especially with financial obligations. If #tesla could they would keep everyone but it’s the result in growing in a competitive market. I hope I can help all those affected.”

To be clear, Milton is not saying his company will hire all former Tesla employees who apply. His offer is only to expedite the application process if they choose to come work at Nikola. One clear advantage is that Nikola Motors is based near Salt Lake City, Utah, where the cost of housing is considerably less than in the superheated real estate market of Silicon Valley.
One unanswered question about Nikola’s business plan is where its customers will be able to refuel their trucks once they are produced and on the road. Hydrogen refueling stations can cost $2 million or more while EV charging equipment runs a few hundred thousand at most, even for the Megachargers Tesla will need to recharge its own electric trucks.
Then there is the question of where to obtain a supply of hydrogen. In the United States, most hydrogen comes from natural gas and most natural gas comes from fracking — one of the dirtiest energy technologies of all. Between the harm caused to the environment by injecting water loaded with chemicals deep underground and the damage caused by methane emissions from fracking operations, the natural gas that results has a carbon footprint equivalent to coal.
It’s hard to see how Nikola’s fuel cell powered trucks can claim to have the same environmental benefits of the Tesla Semi. Which is important, since the whole point of electric trucks is to reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector. Nikola Motors may have 7,000 reservations for its truck, but if so, the companies who placed those orders are being very quiet about their commitments.

About the AuthorSteve Hanley Steve writes about the interface between technology and sustainability from his home in Rhode Island and anywhere else the Singularity may lead him. His motto is, “Life is not measured by how many breaths we take but by the number of moments that take our breath away!” You can follow him on Google + and on Twitter.

Back to Top ↑AdvertisementAdvertise with CleanTechnica to get your company in front of our readers.
CleanTechnica Clothing & Cups Top News On CleanTechnica Join CleanTechnica Today!
AdvertisementAdvertisementFollow CleanTechnicaFollow @cleantechnica
Our New Electric Car Driver Report Read & share our new report on “electric car drivers, what they desire, and what the demand.”The EV Safety Advantage

Read & share our free report on EV safety, “The EV Safety Advantage.”EV Charging Guidelines for Cities

Share our free report on EV charging guidelines for cities, “Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure: Guidelines For Cities.”30 Electric Car Benefits Our Electric Vehicle Reviews
Tesla News
Cleantech Press Releases New Research Shows That Only Two Large Petroleum Companies Have Meaningful Emission Reduction Targets Koben Announces EVOLVE EVSF —Grid-Friendly Modular EV Store & Forward System The New Danish Climate Plan — Together For A Greener Future38 Anti-Cleantech Myths Wind & Solar Prices Beat Fossils Cost of Solar Panels Collapses
© 2018 Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc.
Electric CarsElectric Car BenefitsElectric Car SalesSolar Energy RocksRSSAdvertisePrivacy Policy

This site uses cookies: Find out more.Okay, thanks

Tesla Changes Model S & X Trims & Pricing, Drops Names Based On Battery Sizes

Electric CarsElectric Car BenefitsElectric Car SalesSolar Energy RocksRSSAdvertisePrivacy Policy
Autonomous Vehicles Published on January 29th, 2019 | by Kyle Field
Tesla Changes Model S & X Trims & Pricing, Drops Names Based On Battery SizesTwitterLinkedInFacebookJanuary 29th, 2019 by Kyle Field
Tesla moments ago rolled out a change to its online vehicle configuration tool for the Model S and Model X. As Tesla CEO Elon Musk implied last year, the company has done away with any mention of the battery size in the vehicle name or description. Instead, they are describing the vehicle options in terms of the thing we care about — range. As a special bonus, the pricing on every build in the lineup has been dropped a bit, giving buyers a bit more bang for their buck across the board.

The change has been rumored ever since the company dropped mention of battery capacity when it first took the wraps off the Model 3, announcing its Standard Range and Long Range configurations and listing the miles but not the battery capacity in kilowatt-hours.
However, Tesla has opted for a slightly different approach now with Model S and X. There are no longer batteries of different sizes put in these vehicles based on the trim you pick. The two range options are simply controlled by software.
Model S UpdatesThe base build of the Model S, which has no special name, is now $85,000 in the US for a dual-motor build that can travel 310 miles on a charge. Remember, though, since that’s a software-limited range, an owner who decides they want more range can, at any time, opt to bump the range up from there. All that’s needed is a bit more cash and some over-the-air magic.

The Model S Extended Range bumps the price up $8,000 for an 8% increase in range, up to 335 miles per charge. Neither the top speed of 155 miles per hour or the 0–60 mph time of 4.1 seconds changes with the Extended Range software update, so all that cash is going straight to extra range in the battery.
For those who need a bit of adrenaline with their morning coffee, the Model S Performance tips the scales at a clean $112,000 for a car that will travel 315 miles per charge. That comes with the same battery pack as its less spritely siblings, but it sports upgraded performance hardware in the car that allows it to go from 0–60 mph in just 3.0 seconds.
For those looking for the proverbial nitrous boost, Ludicrous Mode can still be stacked on top of that for an extra $20,000, which translates to a mind boggling 20% more performance — perhaps that’s where the $20K figure comes from. In terms of hard data, you’ll fly from 0–60 mph in just 2.4 seconds, which gives me flashbacks just thinking about. Not to shy away from the numbers, the Ludicrous Tesla Model S Performance will set buyers back $132,000 for the whole platform, and that’s not including any of the other options downstream, like paint, rims, and the like.

Model X UpdatesThe Tesla Model X nomenclature has also been recalibrated based on a standard battery pack for all configurations. Its new base price is $88,000 in the US. That configuration provides 270 miles of range on a full charge.
For those who like pushing the boundaries, an Extended Range build unlocks an additional 25 miles, boosting the range per charge up to 295 miles for an extra $8,000, or a total price of $96,000. Because it’s just a software update that unlocks the extra capacity, the Extended Range option can again be purchased with the car or after the fact as a simple update.

The Model X is no sports car, but it is the fastest and safest SUV out there. However, that speed comes at a price. Bumping the car up to the Performance build drops the 0–60 mph time from 4.7 seconds in the base configuration to 3.5 seconds. Getting to the grocery store for a gallon of milk that much faster might be fun, but it comes at the expense of efficiency as well, as the range of the Model X Performance drops from 295 miles to 289 miles per charge. (I know — 6 miles makes all the difference in the world … almost never.)
Finally, we have the peel-your-eyeballs-off-the-seat Ludicrous Model X Performance. Just like on the S, the Ludicrous upgrade will set buyers back $20,000 for 20% more performance. The real question at this point is not the money — it’s about going 0–60 mph in 2.8 seconds — because let’s be real, buyers who are dropping $137,000 on a Model X aren’t really worried about efficiency. They just want to go fast and look good doing it.
SummaryThese naming recalibrations come as no surprise and put Tesla’s two premium vehicles back at price points that give buyers more options for balancing range and price. Either way, speed is still going to cost you, but at least you can get into a Model S or X at more approachable prices than last week. These changes are live in the Model S and Model X configurators right now, so head on over and configure your dream car. Whether you click that little blue order button or not at the end of the build is up to you.
If this article has helped you make a decision to purchase a Tesla vehicle, you can use our referral code to get 6 months of free Supercharging.

About the AuthorKyle 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. Tesla referral code: http://ts.la/kyle623

Back to Top ↑AdvertisementAdvertise with CleanTechnica to get your company in front of our readers.
CleanTechnica Clothing & Cups Top News On CleanTechnica Join CleanTechnica Today!
AdvertisementAdvertisementFollow CleanTechnicaFollow @cleantechnica
Our New Electric Car Driver Report Read & share our new report on “electric car drivers, what they desire, and what the demand.”The EV Safety Advantage

Read & share our free report on EV safety, “The EV Safety Advantage.”EV Charging Guidelines for Cities

Share our free report on EV charging guidelines for cities, “Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure: Guidelines For Cities.”30 Electric Car Benefits Our Electric Vehicle Reviews
Tesla News
Cleantech Press Releases New Research Shows That Only Two Large Petroleum Companies Have Meaningful Emission Reduction Targets Koben Announces EVOLVE EVSF —Grid-Friendly Modular EV Store & Forward System The New Danish Climate Plan — Together For A Greener Future38 Anti-Cleantech Myths Wind & Solar Prices Beat Fossils Cost of Solar Panels Collapses
© 2018 Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc.
Electric CarsElectric Car BenefitsElectric Car SalesSolar Energy RocksRSSAdvertisePrivacy Policy

This site uses cookies: Find out more.Okay, thanks