Tesla – Page 2426 – I wish I had more to offer

Tesla is barring customers from buying the same version of the model they returned for 12 months (TSLA)

Tesla customers who return their vehicle will not be able to order an identical vehicle for a year, the electric-car maker said in a recent addition to its return policy. Tesla has also replaced a $2,500 refundable order fee with a nonrefundable $100 one. The changes are significant because Tesla customers have complained about quality… Continue reading Tesla is barring customers from buying the same version of the model they returned for 12 months (TSLA)

Lincoln’s Corsair feels like Navigator luxury in a smaller package

Sponsored Links Lincoln’s goal of filling its lineup with luxury SUVs continues. With the Corsair (starting at $36,940, it’s the newest and tiniest SUV in the automaker’s lineup), Lincoln has entered the small SUV market as a vehicle that cares more about the occupants being comfortable than trying to be sporting. Gallery: 2020 Lincoln Corsair… Continue reading Lincoln’s Corsair feels like Navigator luxury in a smaller package

California plug-in hybrid maker Karma Automotive now accepts Bitcoin

Karma Automotive announced Tuesday that it will now accept Bitcoin at its flagship Newport Beach location.

In addition to dabbling in cryptocurrency for simple transactions, Karma will also explore theoretical blockchain applications outside of the that space, the electric-car manufacturer said in its announcement.

This move signals Karma's intent to expand its role as a tech incubator as well as an automaker. Many large-scale manufacturers have entered partnerships or established their own tech incubators to study green energy, mobility and other items outside of the traditional automotive sphere.

It also serves to further differentiate the new Karma brand from its roots in Fisker Automotive, from whose ashes the new company was formed. The Revero GT is the only carry-over product; two more models are planned along with a forthcoming in-house EV platform.

The next model expected to be unveiled is the Pininfarina GT coupe, which is a two-door riff on the Revero GT developed in partnership with its namesake design firm. The third model teased so far is simply called the SC1 Vision Concept, and it will be Karma's take on the Tesla Roadster.

Now located adjacent to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif., Karma touts that it is the only automaker designing, engineering, marketing, and hand-crafting cars exclusively in Southern California.

A number of dealerships, especially in the exotic-car realm, have accepted Bitcoin for years. But it may be the first automaker openly boasting, with a press release, that it is now accepting it.

It's not by any means green, however. One report last year alleged that the cryptocurrency is used as much energy as all of Ireland—mostly because of currency mining.

Karma plans to launch a new performance variant of its existing Revero GT sedan and give a more detailed road map of its future product plans during its November 19 presentation at the LA auto show. Get ready to spend that cryptocurrency.

From The Mud Field To The Plug — Tesla Gigafactory 3

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Published on October 18th, 2019 |

by Johnna Crider

From The Mud Field To The Plug — Tesla Gigafactory 3

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October 18th, 2019 by Johnna Crider

From the mud field to the plug, there is a story of growth, determination, and persistence despite opposition. The plug is when the first car built at Tesla’s Shanghai gigafactory plugs in, and it symbolizes success and another major milestone achieved. The message is clear, keep on doing and ignore the haters.

Once upon a time, there were people pointing to an empty field of mud, with claims that Tesla was faking it. Actually, those people are still doing the same thing, despite being so wrong on this story. They change up their criticisms based on Tesla’s narrative of the moment, but the message is always that Tesla is faking something and is about to fail. Never mind history.

Regarding the groundbreaking in China, the haters claimed that Tesla isn’t going to be in China, and if you believe it, then you are a stupid, gullible, weak person who has no life.

Now, after the Gigafactory 3 has been built, the lights are coming on, and the first cars are approved for production, the saying is more along the lines of Tesla is losing money because no one will buy Tesla’s cars in China, and if you believe they will, then you are a stupid, gullible weak person. You have been conned.

If you believe the narratives of the Tesla [TSLA] short sellers, then you have been conned, but not by Elon Musk or Tesla.

You can easily observe the narrative of the loudest advocates for Tesla’s failure. While they scream and taunt Elon on Twitter, Elon replies back with his actions, or rather with Tesla’s actions. For every tweet, every negatively photoshopped image of Elon, and every chant that “Elon is a fraud” (with no real evidence to back up these claims), Tesla’s response has been that of progress.

This speaks volumes of how well Tesla is actually doing, and for those of us in America, we should be not only proud but also in awe of what Tesla has achieved, especially with China. Coupled with the taunts and chants of short sellers and a few in the media who consistently support the short thesis, the Gigafactory 3 is something beautiful. It is extra special.

Interestingly, the ugliest tweets bring out those who not only support Tesla, but who believe in Elon Musk — people like Chao Zhou, who has superbly documented the transition of this mud field; Vincent, who also keeps us updated on the progress of Gigafactory 3 with pics, videos, and inside information.

No Longer A Mud Field

A US Company Embraced By China During A Trade War Between Both Countries

Right now, the US and China are in a trade war. Tariffs have made almost everything go up in price, and we are seeing the effects of it here — things that were once $15 (small appliances, for example) are now $23 and up. However, this aside, we have to understand one thing:

Tesla is the only foreign company that has its own factory in China — it was approved in a watershed moment by China to operate and sell electric vehicles to Chinese citizens. The fact that China’s government has fully embraced Tesla is nothing to overlook, especially since our own government made Elon pay millions for a tweet certain people didn’t like.

Tesla Granted Manufacturing License in China

Earlier this morning, Reuters announced that, according to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Tesla now has the green light to start production. Tesla, Inc. was added to the government’s list of approved automotive manufacturers and was granted the certificate it needs to start production.

Gigafactory 3 Gets Plugged Into State Grid Power Supply

Bloomberg reported yesterday that the State Grid Corp of China has turned on the lights, so to speak, in the Shanghai Gigafactory. The transmission line will increase electricity supply to the plant at the required level for preliminary production. Shanghai Grid also plans to increase the power supply by 8 times so the factory can run at capacity. This project involves 55 kilometers of cables (34 miles for those of us in the USA) and 17 kilometers of ducts (10 miles). The State Grid also said this was among the quickest it had completed and only took 6 months.

Instead of following the hype of the critics, look at the monumental successes Tesla has had, and not just in China. The reason why short sellers are short Tesla is that they have made money betting against Tesla. I think this will soon change for them, and like all who face the daunting challenge of a big change, they refuse to accept it. They fight it and struggle with all they have. This is why they troll Tesla owners, fans, and shareholders (like me) online. This is why they create their echo chamber and convince some journalists to write negative headlines.

They don’t want their luck to change, but as Prince EA says,

“You can ignore this, but the thing about truth is, it can be denied — not avoided.” — Prince EA

Tesla’s success can be denied, but it won’t be avoided.
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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 is planning a ‘Track Mode Package’ with sport tires, front brakes, and more

Tesla is planning a “Track Mode Package” with sport tires, front brakes, and more features, according to a leak in its parts catalog. Last year, Tesla started to roll out a new update with “Track Mode” for the Model 3 Performance. The automaker claims that they have developed their own in-house vehicle dynamic controls (VDC)… Continue reading Tesla is planning a ‘Track Mode Package’ with sport tires, front brakes, and more

Swedish startup Uniti debuts city-sized electric car in the UK for less than $19,000

Uniti will sell its debut One city car in the UK for 15,100 pounds (approximately $19,000) after government subsidies starting next year, the Swedish startup announced Monday.

The Uniti One is meant to be a budget alternative to the new crop of premium EVs coming from Tesla and the European luxury brands. In that sense, it's a very traditional electric, built to be an urban runabout, with all of the advantages and disadvantages inherent to its three-seater form factor.

This is a homecoming for the Uniti One in a way, as the Swedish-designed EV was actually engineered in the UK. While its small size and emissions-free operation make it a solid choice for crowded London streets, its approximately 170-mile maximum range (with the optional 24 kwh battery) gives it some added versatility.

Its range will likely exceed that of several upcoming EVs, like the Honda E and possibly the replacement for Fiat's 500e, but its size will be a disadvantage for those who don't absolutely need something so tiny.

Those who only need the basic 12-kwh battery get to take advantage of lightning-fast charging times; juicing up from 20 to 80 percent charger takes only nine minutes at a 50-kw charging station.

Sadly, one of the best perks of owning a Uniti One in Sweden will not make the trip across the channel when the tiny EV goes on sale: free charging. Buyers in Sweden get five years of free home charging powered by a solar panel array; those in the UK are not so lucky, at least for now.

Uniti calls it a “smartphone car,” and we think that sums it up. While some EV customers may be comfortable with the idea of a car that is likened to a quasi-disposable consumer appliance, that notion, along with the aforementioned tiny footprint, will likely preclude any introduction in the U.S., where the private vehicle fleet is more than a decade old, on average.

Phase 2 Of Tesla Gigafactory 3 Will House Battery Manufacturing Facility

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Published on October 16th, 2019 |

by Steve Hanley

Phase 2 Of Tesla Gigafactory 3 Will House Battery Manufacturing Facility

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October 16th, 2019 by Steve Hanley

According to a report by China’s Global Times, Tesla has completed construction of the parts of its Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai that will be dedicated to producing automobiles. Now it has begun work on “phase 2” of the factory, which will house a battery manufacturing facility. The report does not make clear whether this space will be used to make battery packs from cells sourced from outside suppliers or whether it is intended for cell production as well.

Last summer, Tesla announced it would use battery cells sourced from LG Chem for the battery packs used in the Model 3 sedans built in Shanghai. It also indicated it was open to using battery cells made by CATL or Panasonic in the future as well. The implication is the company does not intend to manufacture its own battery cells but will be responsible for making its own battery packs, presumably in the part of the new factory that is now under construction. Global Times visited the Gigafactory 3 (GF3) site this week and reports the area where phase two will be located has already been paved and the installation of pillars and roof trusses has already begun.

Feng Shiming, a veteran analyst for the Chinese auto industry analyst, tells the Global Times he has heard from Tesla employees at GF3 that the first batch of vehicle batteries for the Model 3 will be fully assembled as of October 30. He predicts that mass production at the Shanghai factory will not start until after the Spring Festival holidays in January next year. The factory built in the first phase will merely assemble parts shipped from the US, Feng says. On Monday, a Tesla sales person told the Global Times on Monday that a Chinese customer who places an order for a Model 3 today will take delivery of the car in 6 to 10 months.

We’ve also seen a report that Model 3 production will now start in GF3 on October 20.

A Need For Urgency
Feng suggests the push to get the Model 3 into production at the new Shanghai factory is tied in with a desire to reassure investors that the company can achieve profitability and deliver its cars in a timely fashion. “The price of the Model 3 is relatively low, so Tesla needs to start sales in China as quickly as it can and sell the car in large volumes to recoup its capital investment,” Feng says.

Some industry observers believe mainstream customers for the lower cost Model 3 may be less inclined to overlook quality concerns than the more affluent buyers of the Model S and Model X who are focused primarily on the advanced technology Tesla brings to the table. Model 3 buyers, on the other hand, are replacing conventional cars with internal combustion engines and are more interested in utility than technology, presumably.

Feng suggests Tesla may have to offer incentives to get Chinese customers to make the switch, which could depress earnings, at least to start with. Confirmed Tesla supporters, like those who read CleanTechnica, see things differently. We tend to think that once Chinese customers get to experience the goodness of the Model 3, it will be traditional manufacturers who will be juicing their sales incentives in an effort to convince shoppers not to buy every Model 3 Tesla can weld, screw, and glue together at its Shanghai factory.

Hat tip to Teslarati.
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Steve 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.

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Every angle of Volvo’s first electric vehicle, the XC40 Recharge

Volvo Cars introduced Wednesday the XC40 Recharge, an all-electric vehicle that CTO Henrik Green described as “a car of firsts and a car of the future.” The XC40 Recharge is hardly the first electric vehicle on the market. But for Volvo, the XC40 is a “car of firsts.” This is the company’s first all-electric vehicle.… Continue reading Every angle of Volvo’s first electric vehicle, the XC40 Recharge

Volvo unveils its first electric car, the XC40 Recharge

Volvo Cars introduced Wednesday the XC40 Recharge, its first electric car under a new EV-focused brand that kicks off a company-wide shift toward electrification. “It’s a car of firsts and it’s a car of the future,” CTO Henrik Green said. The Volvo XC40 Recharge is the first electric vehicle in the automaker’s portfolio. It’s also… Continue reading Volvo unveils its first electric car, the XC40 Recharge

Tesla Model Y: “Limited Production” ≠ Customer Deliveries

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Published on October 15th, 2019 |

by Zachary Shahan

Tesla Model Y: “Limited Production” ≠ Customer Deliveries

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October 15th, 2019 by Zachary Shahan

We published an article earlier today about leaked info we received from a historically reliable source inside Tesla who indicated there’s a target to start limited production of the Tesla Model Y in Tesla’s Fremont factory sometime around Q1 2020. Our main source has previously shared detailed information of various sorts that proved to be accurate, some of which we published and some of which we didn’t. Our source is not a top executive at Tesla, and we all know that Tesla is a nimble company that can change plans (or run into challenging bottlenecks) as the seasons change, so first and foremost I do think it’s wise to be cautious about leaked expectations for limited Model Y production anywhere from 3 months from now to 6 months from now.

More importantly, though — and the reason for this article — I think people should be cautious about conflating production (er, limited production) and customer deliveries. Even if production starts rolling at a slow pace in 3–6 months, customer deliveries may not start for another several months after that. We don’t have any insight into this matter.

In fact, even though Model Y production commencing in or near Q1 2020 may seem far in advance of Tesla’s stated plans to start shipping Model Y to customers in “fall 2020,” there may not be much (or any) discrepancy at all. This leaked information may simply mean that Tesla is on track with its stated Model Y development and production plans.

Of course, we know that some Model Ys are already in testing on the road:

However, Tesla has previously tested prototypes of new models several months before customer deliveries began.

Another contributor of ours, Maarten Vinkhuyzen, offered some useful comments on this topic underneath the article earlier today. His comments are based on previous Tesla announcements, how precise or careful the company has been about Model Y production statements, and his own deduction:

What was notable was that it was more careful this time around. Tesla talked about start of production, start of volume production, start of deliveries to public, all with different moments in time. That made me thinking.

The time line as I see it:

2020Q1
— start of the production line,
— end-to-end system testing,
— programming, configuring, debugging, and tuning.

2020Q2
— start of trial production,
— product QA, panel gaps, paint job, fit and finish,
— production of test vehicles for collision, safety, cold & hot climates, endurance.

2020Q3
— start building Model Y production line in Shanghai GF3
— start of production,
— vehicles for showroom and test-drives at USA dealers,
— first deliveries to employees.

2020Q4
— start of volume production,
— deliveries to employees Tesla and SpaceX,
— deliveries to first, preferred customers around Fremont.

2021Q1
— start of deliveries to public at large.

As you can see, Maarten’s forecast fits both the leaked information we received regarding “limited production” as well as Tesla’s official “fall 2020“* commencement of deliveries target. I don’t know enough about manufacturing to know if this timeline is realistic, but it looks logical to me.

The key summary note that I’ll repeat is: “limited production” ≠ customer deliveries. We did not receive information on when initial customer deliveries are expected, and we did not receive enough insight into what is underway or planned to know if Model Y development and production is moving along faster than initially expected. We also have not heard from Tesla on this matter despite reaching out for commentary on the topic.

We will update you if we learn more. In the meantime, it seems safe to say that 1) Tesla Model Y production is still on track (as Elon Musk has stated every time he’s been asked about it), 2) it seems clear that it will occur in Fremont, and 3) there’s a chance that it’s ahead of schedule — but our information does not prove that. If you hear more, feel free to drop us a note.

*h/t Fact Checking
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About the Author

Zachary Shahan Zach is tryin' to help society help itself one word at a time. He spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as its director and chief editor. He's also the CEO of Important Media. Zach is recognized globally as an electric vehicle, solar energy, and energy storage expert. He has presented about cleantech at conferences in India, the UAE, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, Canada, and Curaçao.

Zach has long-term investments in Tesla [TSLA] — after years of covering solar and EVs, he simply has a lot of faith in this company and feels like it is a good cleantech company to invest in. But he offers no investment advice and does not recommend investing in Tesla or any other company.

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