Tesla – Page 2309 – I wish I had more to offer

Volkswagen ID.3 Has Encountered ‘Massive Software Problems’

Rumors: Volkswagen produces ID.3 with incomplete software and stores the cars until the update is ready. German media reports of worrying “massive software problems” that Volkswagen is having with the Volkswagen ID.3, which has been produced on a limited scale in the ramp-up phase since November 4. The nature of the issue is not described, but… Continue reading Volkswagen ID.3 Has Encountered ‘Massive Software Problems’

Musk: Holiday Tesla update adds ‘Stardew Valley,’ self-driving preview

Sponsored Links Tesla It’s been a few months since Tesla’s 10.0 update brought Cuphead, Netflix and YouTube to some of its in-car systems, and it appears more options are around the corner. Elon Musk tweeted tonight that a “holiday” update will add farming RPG Stardew Valley as a playable game, and include a Full Self-Driving… Continue reading Musk: Holiday Tesla update adds ‘Stardew Valley,’ self-driving preview

EVgo To Add Tesla Connectors At Fast Charging Stations

The plan is to add the Tesla connectors nationwide, but it all starts in San Francisco. Tesla and EVgo just announced a rather shocking decision to team up to allow Teslas to fast-charge at EVgo sites. EVgo will install Tesla connectors to its fast chargers so that Teslas can plug right in. More From EVgo… Continue reading EVgo To Add Tesla Connectors At Fast Charging Stations

30-40% Of Tesla Owners Buy Autopilot – Forbes

Full self-driving capability is just three years away, according to one Silicon Valley expert. “We’ve probably spent $100 billion in the past four or five years developing technology for fully autonomous go-anywhere cars,” says Blair LaCorte, president of AEye. “That … can now be used in more intelligent ways, in more intelligent business models.” Quite… Continue reading 30-40% Of Tesla Owners Buy Autopilot – Forbes

Tesla Supercharger network reaches 15,000 chargers — still one of its best assets

Tesla’s Supercharger network has reached 15,000 chargers — a new milestone for what is still one of the automaker’s best assets. Over the last few years, Tesla has made several grand promises about expanding the Supercharger network, but it has been falling short. The delay appeared to be at least partly related to the deployment… Continue reading Tesla Supercharger network reaches 15,000 chargers — still one of its best assets

Sandy Munro Talks Tesla Cybertruck, Exoskeleton, SpaceX, Big 3, & More

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Published on December 19th, 2019 |

by Johnna Crider

Sandy Munro Talks Tesla Cybertruck, Exoskeleton, SpaceX, Big 3, & More

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December 19th, 2019 by Johnna Crider

In an interview with an advisor to some of the world’s top manufacturing executives, Sandy Munro, Sean Mitchell dives right in with this burning question: “Did you get one?” One, being a Cybertruck. This isn’t the only question Sean asked Sandy in the video, and Sandy, who was busy and didn’t see the live unveiling, confirmed that three of his guys at Munro did order a Tesla Cybertruck. Sandy explains that one of his guys told him to look at the pictures, and when he did he asked if they ordered one. The guy said yes, and Sandy said, “Okay, good.” That was it.

“I’m pretty keen on that look. It’s very masculine. To me, it looks like the ultimate in off-roading.”
—Sandy Murno.

Sandy also likes to go hunting and his Jeep isn’t quite like a Cybertruck would be, which answers Sean’s second question about stealth properties.

Body-on-Frame vs. Exoskeleton
Munro lists a few things that he likes about the Cybertruck, including the stainless steel exoskeleton. He compares the way the Model 3 is built with the Cybertruck and points out that the exoskeleton is definitely a good thing that will protect the inside or soft areas of the vehicle.

Sean Mitchell asked, “Why is the body-on-frame such a popular way to build trucks?” Body-on-frame refers to a type of auto construction method in which a separate body is attached to a rigid frame or chassis that carries the powertrain. This is the main method used to build pickup trucks and SUVs. Munro explains that the body-on-frame creates a ruggedness or toughness and points out how convenient it is. However, when it comes to high volumes, it becomes expensive.

One question that caught my interest was, “How can Tesla pull from SpaceX technology?” One reason this catches interest is because Tesla is pretty much the only automaker that has ties (meaning that Elon Musk is the CEO of both companies) to an aerospace company known for being on the cutting edge of aerospace technology.

Munro points out that NASA engineers that got laid off when Obama took over in 2008 didn’t “go sell shoes.” Elon Musk snatched up some of these “wicked smart” people. What Elon Musk does, is sees an opportunity, grabs it, and runs with it. “If you stack the deck with geniuses, you’re going to win.” Sean adds to the question by asking, in a material science aspect, is there some “cross-pollination there?” He points out that the exoskeleton appears to have been taken as an idea from SpaceX, and some of the materials are used to build a rocket. Has this ever been done before in the automotive industry?

“Not that I can think of,” Munro replies, while reminding us that he is making his own version of stainless steel.

Munro’s Thoughts on the Broken Windows

Munro also says that breaking the windows wasn’t a failure to him. Munro knows that it’s better than anything else and points out this is another one of Elon’s inventions.

“If I would have done that with a standard window with a ball that heavy made of steel, it would have gone right through and into the passenger seat.”
— Sandy Munro.

What are the Big 3 Talking about in Their Boardrooms Regarding the Cybertruck?
We all know the Big 3 (other US automakers) probably don’t like the Tesla Cybertruck — many people were scratching their heads while looking at it, thinking it might be a joke as it first rolled onto the stage that warm November night. Munro says he doesn’t know what they are saying but assumes that they don’t like it. (That makes sense — they are the competitors and their trucks have just been made a complete fool of by something new.)

Munro points out the big mistakes of these big three automakers. That mistake is their attitudes of “That’ll never go anywhere.”

Munro used to be at one of the OEMs and he attended quite a few board meetings. “It would be about a three-second conversation: ‘That’ll never go anywhere,’ and okay, fine, let’s go. And that’s how they lost the small car market, the luxury market, and now they are losing the pickup truck market.”

Sean Mitchell and Sandy Munro also cover other things, such as the magic behind a $40,000 Cybertruck, how well the Cybertruck would do in a crash, and the new manufacturing approach. You can view the full video here.

Prediction: Tesla Cybertruck Will Have 1 Million-Mile Battery
28,000 Tweets Helped Elon Musk Develop Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla Cybertruck: “Society can kiss my behind!”
Who Is *Actually* Going To Buy A Tesla Cybertruck?
The Tesla Cybertruck Isn’t A Pickup — It’s Much, Much More

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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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Elon Musk: Tesla MCU computer upgrade going to be $2,000, but don’t recommend it

Elon Musk has been promising to offer early Tesla owners a media computer upgrade to improve performance, but it has yet to happen. The CEO now says that it could still happen in the future and cost $2,000, but he doesn’t recommend it – raising some doubts. Last year, Tesla introduce a new media computer… Continue reading Elon Musk: Tesla MCU computer upgrade going to be $2,000, but don’t recommend it

Tesla To Provide 93 MWh Grid-Scale Storage Battery For Electricity Co-Op In Alaska

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Published on December 18th, 2019 |

by Steve Hanley

Tesla To Provide 93 MWh Grid-Scale Storage Battery For Electricity Co-Op In Alaska

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December 18th, 2019 by Steve Hanley

Homer Electric Association is an energy cooperative that serves the needs of some 50,000 people living on the Kenai Peninsular south of Anchorage, Alaska. It announced this week that it has agreed to the purchase and installation of a 93 MWh battery energy storage system supplied by Tesla “to increase grid stability, electric power reliability and system efficiency for its members,” according to an online post on HEA’s website. Installation of the Tesla battery is expected to be completed by the fall of 2021. No information about the cost of the project is being released by HEA or Tesla at this time.

Soldatna Generating Plant. Credit: Homer Electric Association

The battery will be located at HEA’s Soldatna Generating Plant, a gas turbine facility with a capacity of 47 megawatts. It can normally power up in about 15 minutes to meet a surge in the demand for electricity but will be called upon to do so less frequently once the Tesla battery is in operation. 15 minutes is a pretty good response time for a turbine but a battery like the one Tesla is providing can react in milliseconds. That’s the difference between 20th and 21st century technology.

The new battery will allow HEA to meet its reliability requirements without having to burn additional fuel, resulting in greater system efficiencies, lower greenhouse gas production, and reduced power outages. But it will have an additional benefit as well. It will open the door for the co-op to include more solar or wind energy in its portfolio in the future. Without battery storage in place, the co-op’s thermal generation resources could be strained due to the intermittency of renewable energy.

HEA has a relatively modest renewable energy goal of 18% within the next few years. At the present time, it gets about 10% of its electricity from the Bradley Lake hydroelectric facility owned by the Alaska Energy Authority. It has recently committed to a new hydroelectric initiative known as the Battle Creek Diversion Project, which involves the installation of 9,100 feet of Steel Reinforced Poly Ethylene 6 feet in diameter. It will add about 36,160 MWh of electricity to HEA’s supply each year. Completion of that project is scheduled for the summer of next year.

It is encouraging that Alaska, which prides itself on its fossil fuel reserves, is beginning to look to battery storage and renewables to meet the demand for electricity in its future — further proof that lower costs are the best way to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for future energy needs.
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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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Mercedes EQC Deliveries Delayed Until 2021

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Published on December 15th, 2019 |

by Johnna Crider

Mercedes EQC Deliveries Delayed Until 2021

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December 15th, 2019 by Johnna Crider

Mercedes has announced they it will delay the US launch of its first electric vehicle, the EQC, which starts at $68,895. Those who call Tesla a “vaporware” company should take note. Mercedes was expected to bring the EQC to its US dealerships in the first quarter of 2020, but it looks like we will have to wait another whole year for one of those “Tesla killers.” The reason for the wait? Mercedes says demand is too high in Europe for the company to bring it to the US.

Demand may be high in Europe for the Mercedes EQC, but as Maarten Vinkhuyzen has explained for us before, automakers have a much easier time selling EVs in Europe due to both its stronger vehicle emission regulations (forcing automakers to start selling EVs in higher quantities or face fines) and a better dealership system (customers are accustomed to ordering their cars in advance rather than going onto a dealership lot and choosing from the options on hand). The need to increase a good flow of EV sales in Europe is only growing, too. The EU Parliament is now mandating a 37.5% cut in new vehicle emissions by 2030.

Naturally, people who are reservation holders of the EQC may cancel and decide to purchase a Tesla for either a similar or even a lower price. They may conclude that while they previously thought it was wiser and “safer” to go with a conventional automaker, Tesla is in fact leading the industry for a reason.

This delay means that Mercedes, which is owned by Daimler, may suffer some financial consequences as Tesla and other EV makers — such as Audi, BMW, and Jaguar — pass it up on the road to meeting US EV demands. Daimler just announced plans last month to cut thousands of jobs. Perhaps being late to the electric party was not a good idea.

The EQC was once termed a “Tesla killer,” which means an EV that would ultimately destroy Tesla. I used to think that term was very negative, but I’ve had second thoughts. It’s inspiring in a sense — it’s about this urge or need to destroy a competitor by making something better. It inherently compels automakers to make better EVs.

The irony is that, if a “Tesla killer” was to exist, it would be fulfilling Tesla’s mission. I don’t think that will happen for a very long time since Tesla is the star of the 21st century automotive industry and everyone else seems far behind. But it would be good if other automakers genuinely tried to make Tesla killers.
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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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Cars Are Secretly Spying on Us

Spy Car Your car is likely capturing hundreds of data points about you and your driving, and secretly sending it to the manufacturer. Hacking into a 2017 Chevrolet for The Washington Post, tech writer Geoffrey Fowler learned that the car had been tracking his location, monitoring activity on the cell phone he had connected, and… Continue reading Cars Are Secretly Spying on Us