I fully support the attempt to make E-vehicles and hybrids more mainstream.

The prices are just outrageous.

In case anyone cares, the $45k version of the Model 3 is now available. No sign of the $35k version yet.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/18/tesl...ase-model.html

That is a good article, Mr. DaFace. (Slow reader, here.) Thanks. (Answers my question without raising additional issues such as aids or ebola.)

I thought it was interesting to learn about the amount of Earth destroying emissions generated when actually manufacturing automobiles. (Seems like a lot, to me.) Now I find myself concerned about the total environmental impact of trains.

FAX

Looks like Tesla is going to have some competition.

https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/p...ember-2850462/


Porsche’s newest model, the 2020 all-electric Taycan sedan, will make its showroom debut later this year to an expectant general audience and, likely, a nervous Tesla boardroom. The Taycan has the Model S squarely in its sights, promising a more than competitive range of 310 miles and offering 600 lithium-ion-generated horsepower providing a reported 3.5-seconds-to-60-mph thrust. Other six-figure Tesla challengers are in the works, including Porsche’s sister-company effort, the Audi e-tron GT.

Since Sentry Mode came out on Tesla's recently, many unknowing vandals have been caught in the act. Tons of videos on youtube now of the Tesla "security footage" of these idiots vandalizing Teslas now

https://futurism.com/the-byte/sentry...-tesla-vandals

I didn't quite realize how advanced these things are, but a friend of mine said that her brother bought one. It autodrives him to work, drops him off at the entrance, and then goes and finds a parking spot by itself. At the end of the day, he calls it and it comes back from the parking lot to pick him up. That's really cool.

There is going to be more competition for Tesla in the next few years. I think most consumers are going to think “Tesla” when it comes to electric vehicles on the forefront of technology. Tesla’s auto pilot is the most advanced available and they recently made a big jump in improvements.

Think how consumers think. Would you buy an iPhone 6 for the same price of of an iPhone X? Both are great products but if you were spending your own $$ you would choose the X.

Tesla future is kinda blurry though as they don’t have the history of a manufacturer like Porsche. Also Tesla is not turning a profit and lost 770 million in the 1st quarter this year. I think they just turned their first profit the end of last year (22million).

The problem with the way most of the media seems to interpret "competition with Tesla" is that they act like the EV market is a zero sum game. New entrants aren't competing with Tesla as much as you think. Tesla's biggest competitors are gas cars - not other EVs.

Will be interesting to see how this plays out since Porsche has been developing the use of electric cars in its flagship cars for years and typically a great engineering company. Porsche is impeccable in the areas like build quality and reliability but likely going to lag on tech stuff inside the car.

Last night I was driving home from granddaughters softball games. I started thinking about looking into a Tesla.

Murphy's law Fax,

Tesla is going to die a relatively short, ignominious death, probably in less than ten years. Due entirely on the ridiculously inefficient method Tesla is using to manufacture their vehicles. Once the Japanese/Korean car makers go full dipstick on Ecars, Tesla will be left in the weeds.

Ecars, on the other hand, are probably here to stay. Unless fuel cell tech becomes widely available in the near future.

That would be great. Because then it might make my car a long lasting classic vehicle that will start to appreciate in price.

I don't like Tesla because they might fail or might not be profitable. I like them because they make a great quality and safe product. I don't even give a shit about helping the environment one way or another, either.

Eh, worst case for Tesla is another company buys them out. Their tech (both autopilot and batteries) is way too good to just get wiped off the face of the planet.

Tesla just announced a draconian cost-cutting business model. We'll see where this goes.

The truth.

This man speaks it.

Their autopilot stuff is really fascinating. (From the outside)

Can’t wait until they make a 2500/3500 full electric pickup.

The torque and braking from the electric drive will be amazing for hauling.

Wait until you see the price tag.

Yeah, that's really the crux of the issue still. All these cars are nice, but 90% of people can't afford them. My Leaf is about as cheap as they come for EVs right now, though some of the new entrants may change that. I'm guessing the first EV trucks are gonna be insanely pricey for what they are, though trucks in general are priced crazy from my perspective.

If we can get someone to offer these things at a price normal people can afford, it's gonna spread like wildfire.

Can they get more expensive?

A company called Rivian(spl?) is making an electric truck. Looks weird but has some cool tech, if they call actually make it work.

Musk is a shit human being.

I was watching a Rivian video earlier today about their truck and SUV.

I love the looks, and wouldn't mind owning either one, but both will cost over $60K each before adding any options.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QMfxJEfb4lw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Looks like a glorified electric Avalanche.


Fail. I need a real pickup. One that hauls shit and pulls shit, not brags about trunk space.

Wat?

Why

I run Deere shit.

The answer is a resounding yes.

80-100+ hour work weeks expected. Temper tantrums when he doesn’t get his way.

Acts like a child.

Maybe he should get into politics. It works for some people.

Not saying working overboard is remotely a good thing, but if an employee doesn’t like the expectations of their employer then they have every right to leave and find work elsewhere.

Maybe Musk can be an ass, but sometimes the world needs an ass.

LMAO

You could always switch to Case. Better product and somewhat cheaper.

(The above post is made in jest. My grandfather owned a John Deere dealership and I grew up running Deere equipment. I currently manage a Case/New Holland manufacturing plant and I’m sure my grandfather would rollover in his grave if he knew that.)

Right on. My grandpa and uncle ran the Deere dealership here too once upon a time. But they can get bent as far as I’m concerned. I’m about what makes my farm money.

Dad and I considered going case a few years back because the local manager was a Pioli-level twat. We ended up not though because were 5 miles from Deere and 45 miles from a Case dealer everyone that runs case bitches about. 60 from one that is better.

Should have been thumbs up NOT thumbs down...

I’m very close to pulling the trigger on a Model 3. My wife and I both have 3rd row SUVs; this seems to make sense.

By all accounts, they're great cars. I personally thinking that any two-car household should seriously consider an EV unless you have an insane commute. Despite the marketing, EVs still suck a bit for road trips, but using one car for around town while having a ICE car for road trips works fantastically.

Some of you guys might get a kick out of this. Simone Giertz (Queen of Shitty Robots) apparently wanted a truck, but she refuses to buy a gas car. So she bought a Model 3 and turned it into a truck (or perhaps more accurately, a ute).

"Commercial" for it:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R35gWBtLCYg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In depth build:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jKv_N0IDS2A" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

As the downside is long trips I’m starting to second guess upgrading to the long range model.

Eh, my Leaf only gets 150 miles per charge, so it's a MAJOR pain for me. It'd be less so in a Model 3 LR. I still generally think it's an inconvenience, but you can make it work.

Price goes up $10k to go from the standard 240 miles to 310 miles.

There are some alternative companies that are way cheaper than Tesla.

You might want to watch this first.

<iframe width="956" height="538" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QlJ7lPdazyw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>