I think another issue with predicting what Tesla will do is they do not have the corporate inertia that someone like GM or Ford does. Ford and GM are frequently predictable and move purposely from point to point.
Tesla can and does change directions at the drop of a pin. So what they say today is subject to rapid change due to changes in tech, markets, and the whim of EM.
In reply to AClockworkGarage :
"Everything this guy does is a disaster and people suck him off for it. He's not a genius, he just has a rich dad and a complete lack of decency."
I think that you've lost your objectivity on the subject. Certainly he has done a lot of marginal things, but he's also had some amazing successes. If you think that he's a moron...... well that's kinda like saying that all BMWs sucked once they started using plastic radiators.
I'm quite critical of the Cybertruck, but one thing that I didn't mention is that its a shame that so much money is being put into the frivolous end of the market. Where I live Ford electric trucks are the hot vehicle du jour for bosses, estimators, engineers and such. Are the actual workers using them? No, because the double cab configuration isn't utilitarian enough (Not to mention things like range and towing capacity). The Tesla is even less practical, what with it's tapered bed sides, and it doesn't look to be modification-friendly at all.
Kreb (Forum Supporter) said:Where I live Ford electric trucks are the hot vehicle du jour for bosses, estimators, engineers and such. Are the actual workers using them? No, because the double cab configuration isn't utilitarian enough (Not to mention things like range and towing capacity).
It's not even the cab configuration, it's just about production capacity and money. Ford has limited production capacity for EVs and they make more money by applying that capacity to high end models than they would if they applied it to work trucks. That's not going to change until they get the production capacity up to the point that they can make 20-30% of their trucks EVs vs the 2% it was last year.
This is the way it is with new automotive tech. It shows up in the high end models where people are willing to pay a premium for it, and over time it works its way down to the low end models as the tech becomes more of a commodity.
In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :
That makes sense. It also has something to do with how Mavericks are still hard to come by. Ford doesn't make money on them. Neither I nor my company has any use for the current crop of electric trucks - Tesla included. I need utilitarian for my company vehicles, and I need smaller for my personal one.
In reply to Kreb (Forum Supporter) :
My wife's company (heavy highway construction) is experimenting with a couple of Lightnings right now. One's a parts runner that ricochets all over the state. The other one is being used for in-town use, I forget exactly what the use is. They're looking at total cost of ownership, I'm interested to hear how it turns out.
They generally like the double cab configuration because you can put more people in them, and other than the mechanics you're not fitting your tools in the bed of a pickup truck when you're paving roads.
Keith Tanner said:You simply can't believe anything you read in the press about Tesla, good or bad. There's just too much money to be made publishing Tesla articles. The only valid sources seem to be Tesla's dry investor day presentations (just what's actually in them, not extrapolation from such) and actual stock on hand. I know you can buy a Model 3 for $38,030 because that car is in SLC right now. Add in the rebates available to me and the destination fee and it's a $26,920 vehicle. OK, that I can depend on.
But I can't do that with a Model 2 (which is likely not even the name of the small car) or a Cybertruck. So all we really know is a few tidbits about the drivetrain and production techniques of the new small car. Everything else is fabricated.
Well said. To those who feel I'm too much a cheerleader for Musk and his products
You are right. I'm an old Geezer and I enjoy seeing things in a positive light. Especially things that I believe will improve the world for future generations.
I keep talking about the money aspect of cars. But I understand ( at least I think I do ) how some things will go in the future.
Transportation costs will change from the #2 expense in most people's life to something much lower .
While it's still a ways off I can see people calling a robocab for their transportation need rather than owning a car. The cost of a robo cab ( without a driver) will be low enough that bus fare will look expensive. A computer will eliminate delays so as calls come in the nearest available robocab will quickly arrive and if one frees up closer that will be sent instead.
I also see renewables replacing most energy sources. Houses will still be connected to a network so if your power wall fails for some reason or you generate more power than you can store a nearby neighbor will use it.
Any surplus will go to a nearby Megapac ( or equivalent) to be stored for future use.
That power will then be used when wnd is calm and skies are cloudy.
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