Messages

1

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 20, 2018, 10:43:20 PM »

Re #4732 above:  Dan Neil, of the Wall Street Journal (WSJ’s pro-business stance often makes it anti-environment and anti-Tesla):  so his positive review of the Model 3 apparently earned him the wrath of shorts on Twitter; his account, while not deleted, looks to be closed/blocked. 

Tesla has announced that their Q2 earnings report and conference call are scheduled for August 1.  http://ir.tesla.com  

The FUD from shorts lately has been at a fever pitch.  Two of the most strident anti-Tesla Twitter accounts have been revealed to be: 1) a VW employee, and 2) a guy managing million$ in oil drilling investments.  Perhaps such folks are finally starting to accept that their lives are about to become very, very difficult?

2

Policy and solutions / Re: Legal Approach to Climate Change Resolutions

« on: July 20, 2018, 09:45:19 PM »

“BREAKING: A district court just dismissed New York's climate lawsuit against five big oil companies.
"Global warming and solutions thereto must be addressed by the two other branches of government."
https://mobile.twitter.com/zhirji28/status/1020041565874647058
Images below.

3

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 20, 2018, 01:38:53 PM »

HAGERTY: THIS DECADE’S ‘GREATEST CAR’ IS THE TESLA MODEL S

If you’re a collector of classic cars, you’re probably familiar with Hagerty. Started in 1984, this industry leader protects over one million vehicles — insuring some of the world’s finest collector cars. With real-world expertise valuing the classics, Hagerty decided to put together a comprehensive list which includes: “the greatest vehicle of each decade, from the earliest days of the automobile to the present.”

Hagerty notes that their “final list, which spans everything from pre-War luxury to hot rods… highlights some of the brightest moments in automotive history.” What unites most cars on this list? Hagerty’s Andrew Newton explains, “cars still work pretty much the same way they always have, powered by a piston engine that’s fueled by the black goop that we pump out of the ground. Only one car of the 2010s has lit a different path.”

Newton concludes, “Tesla [Model S] has gone in a more radically different direction than any other car in recent memory. More importantly, it has done so with great success, because instead of coming out with an all-electric car that people felt that they should drive or that they had to drive, Tesla came out with an electric car that people really want to drive. It will always be remembered as the one that made electric cars truly desirable, and that’s why it is one of the greats.”

https://insideevs.com/tesla-model-s-car-of-the-decade/

4

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 20, 2018, 01:36:09 PM »

July 19, 2018
CNBC had this headline yesterday :  "Short Tesla, long internal combustion engine" !

This was the headline of a Barrons' story yesterday:  "Tesla Could Be Doomed by Earning Money"
Nothing Tesla does will please Wall Street.


They’re an unprofitable automaker with too much profit per car that has no demand but too much forecasted cash inflow and may go bankrupt on Saturday
https://twitter.com/gwestr/status/1019674990235570179


Touring Tesla’s Model 3 production line, ‘the machine to build the machine’
Robots from suppliers Kuka and Fanuc — 1,028 machines in all — spin parts, screw in bolts and weld, sparks flying behind the plexiglass. Flashing red and yellow lights at each work station will signal when a particular robot requires maintenance, while a green light indicates smooth operation. Meanwhile, there’s almost as much activity — again, automated — happening overhead as there is on the floor.
“You pay for space in cubic feet — you might as well use it,” Mwangi said.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/amp/Touring-Tesla-s-Model-3-production-line-the-13089341.php


Wall Street Journal (!):

The Tesla brand has its share of haters, but none have yet driven the new Model 3 Performance—until now. Dan Neil takes a first turn behind the wheel of the dual-motor dynamo

I’m no financial analyst, but I do know cars. If you were hoping Tesla would fail on account of the Model 3 I’ve got bad news: This thing is magnificent, a little rainbow-farting space ship, so obviously representative of the next step in the history of autos. I know there are a lot of Tesla bears, haters and cynics out there. Tesla boss Elon Musk makes it easy. But in the spirit of charity I think we can all agree many brilliant people are putzes.

Show me another car with an all-glass roof and five-star rollover crash rating. Point out another $80,000 sedan that out-clouds a Rolls-Royce, out-punches a Porsche Boxster and gets an electric equivalent of 116 mpg. You can’t, unless you’re building something in your garage we don’t know about.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/first-ever-review-of-the-tesla-model-3-performance-a-thrilling-modern-marvel-1532022533?redirect=amp#click=https://t.co/jwq5NMmVzi

Elon Musk:  Thanks Dan, you are a tough reviewer, so this means a lot coming from you. Please lmk even smallest nuance that can be improved.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1020067893222858752
—
<<@Danneilwsj, who up until now has been crowing about how $TSLA's Model 3 would be a mass market miracle, test drives a version costing $78K. What's the addressable market at that price, Dan?>>

“about 300,000 cars a year.”
https://twitter.com/danneilwsj/status/1020038003350212608


At some point someone’s going to clue in that the Model 3 is now outselling the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the BMW 3 Series, and Audi A4. And it’s on the verge of outselling the entire Volvo lineup. And the entire Acura lineup. And the entire Cadillac lineup, and...
https://twitter.com/mtndrew1/status/1020067391470907392

—-
Tesla spokesperson, regarding the earlier Needham downgrade note, says "The Notion That Model 3 Cancellations Are Outpacing Orders Is Unequivocally False”

Elon Musk: Dunno where this bs is coming from. Who knows about the future, but last week we had over 2000 S/X and 5000 Model 3 *new* net orders.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1020108713061855233

5

Consequences / Re: Health Effects of Climate Change

« on: July 20, 2018, 01:10:51 AM »

Japan Heat Wave Kills at Least 12 Just Days After Deadly Floods

https://weather.com/safety/heat/news/2018-07-18-japan-deadly-heat-wave

At least 12 people died and as many as 10,000 were hospitalized during an ongoing heat wave in Japan.
Temperatures have soared as high as 105 degrees as the dangerous heat persisted.
The sweltering heat has impacted some of the same areas as last week's deadly flood.

I don't know where else to put it. Perhaps we need a "Heatwaves" Thread.

I agree!  Feel free to re-post here:  https://forum.arctic-sea-ice.net/index.php/topic,2352.0.html

6

Consequences / Heatwaves

« on: July 20, 2018, 01:09:14 AM »

Need a thread for heat waves and their effects.  So here we go.

UPDATE 2-Texas power demand hits all-time peak during heat wave -ERCOT

July 18 (Reuters) - Texas homes and businesses set an all-time power consumption record on Wednesday as consumers crank up air conditioners to escape a brutal heat wave, according to the operator of most of the state's power grid.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) said demand reached 71,438 megawatts (MW) on Wednesday, topping the grid's August 2016 high of 71,110 MW. One megawatt can power about 1,000 U.S. homes.

To keep air conditioners humming, Texas utilities bought electricity from all sources, boosting power prices to their highest in almost seven years. ...

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/18/reuters-america-update-2-texas-power-demand-hits-all-time-peak-during-heat-wave-ercot.html

7

Consequences / Re: Weird Weather and anecdotal stories about climate change

« on: July 20, 2018, 01:01:16 AM »

NWS Podunk: We could predict the exact path of tornadoes 24 hours in advance and half the people in its way would wait until the sky gets dark to leave.

Rick Smith: I disagree with this. Half is too low!

Gary Szatkowski: Did you factor in how many people would come from miles away to gather on the 'edge' of the path and see the tornado?

https://twitter.com/garyszatkowski/status/887387484023345152

8

Policy and solutions / Re: Recycling to Reduce Oil Consumption

« on: July 19, 2018, 09:51:45 PM »

Goodwill in New York gathers its fanciest donations to sell in its upscale clothing store.

Located on Manhattan's Upper West Side, the new boutique store is designed to appeal to millennials with a curated assortment of fashion-conscious clothing, accessories, and homeware.

"We designed Curated as a distinct shopping experience to introduce shoppers concerned with the waste and pollution that fast fashion causes, to a stylish, affordable alternative," Katy Gaul-Stigge, the CEO of Goodwill NYNJ, said in a statement to the press this month.

Stylists hand-pick the clothing and accessories from donations made to stores around the New York metro area, a spokesperson told Business Insider.

The resale and thrift-store market has thrived in recent years. These stores align perfectly with millennials' shopping preferences for bargains and environmentally conscious practices. ...

http://www.businessinsider.com/goodwill-new-store-targets-millennials-photos-2018-7

9

Consequences / Re: Weird Weather and anecdotal stories about climate change

« on: July 19, 2018, 08:25:28 PM »

This may or may not not be “weird,” and it’s certainly not “anecdotal” — but it has one freaky-looking GIF.  Differences in tornado locations from year to year do not seem random.

“Annual tornado occurrences (start locations by EF rating) using @thomasp85 gganimate, @hadleywickham ggplot, and @edzerpebesma sf.”
https://twitter.com/JBElsner/status/1020002736996265984
Image below; GIF at the link.

10

Consequences / Re: Global Surface Air Temperatures

« on: July 19, 2018, 01:48:52 AM »

I'm more of a lurker than a poster, but the CO2 overlay on nullschool.net seems particularly concerning. Moderately high concentrations in the southern hemisphere make since, as it is winter there and less CO2 is absorbed in colder temperatures. Nonetheless the high readings banding around the upper and middle latitudes in the northern hemisphere seem unusual. Anyone with greater expertise is welcome to chip in here with a logical explanation, but I've not seen this before.
https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/chem/surface/level/overlay=co2sc/orthographic=-164.03,52.77,553

Hi, northsylvania.  Good catch.  I’m just posting an image of your nullschool link here, to preserve it for posterity, since live links change. 

11

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 19, 2018, 01:35:31 AM »

Nissan found guilty of using diesel emissions cheat device in South Korea

The South Korean government however ruled that the so-called device lowered nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions under testing, leading to excess NOx emissions when the system deactivated under normal driving conditions.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/nissan-found-guilty-using-diesel-emissions-cheat-device-south-korea

Nissan looking desperate to sell the LEAF in U.S. — but it’s only trying in CARB/ZEV states
Nissan Offering $2,000 Cash Back On 2018 LEAF (In ZEV States)
https://insideevs.com/nissan-offering-2000-cash-back-on-2018-leaf-in-zev-states/amp/


Porsche will be building more expensive versions of the Taycan first, and cheaper ones later! Shocker!   /sarc
(But because every electric version will cannibalize the vastly more profitable maintenance profits on ICE Porsches, they can’t move too fast.  Production launch planned for late 2019.)

“[Porsche Taycan] is expected to be released with all-wheel drive initially, with talks of later vehicles having the option for a rear-wheel drive build.”

Ultimately, the Porsche executive stated that the warm reception to the Taycan is indicative of how keen car buyers are about zero-emissions vehicles. Pollich also acknowledged the importance of Tesla, its biggest rival in the electric car industry, for helping make EVs as viable and even preferable alternatives to gas-powered vehicles. The Porche exec further noted that it would be adopting a similar strategy as Tesla by creating a fast charger network for the Taycan and its future electric car offerings like the Mission E Cross Turismo.

https://cleantechnica.com/2018/07/16/porsche-taycan-hits-nurburgring-for-more-pre-production-testing/


Toyota/Lexus still clings to an “all of the above” approach, including fuel cells:
All-electric vehicles not yet ready for primetime, says Lexus CEO as the luxury brand falls behind in electrification

As part of Toyota, Lexus has been following the lead of its parent company and hasn’t pushed hard for the electrification of its lineup.
Lexus has yet to release an all-electric vehicle despite virtually all premium brands, like its top German competitors Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, going electric with new vehicles.
The head of the brand, Yoshihiro Sawa, now says that he believes that it is still too soon for EVs and therefore, they are not falling behind but having a better approach to alternative powertrains.
…
Nonetheless, Lexus has recently unveiled a new crossover concept supporting an all-electric powertrain and the automaker says it plans to launch its first all-electric vehicle in 2020 – around the same time Toyota plans its own rollout of electric vehicles.

https://electrek.co/2018/07/18/all-electric-vehicles-not-yet-ready-for-primetime-lexus-ceo/

12

Policy and solutions / Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond

« on: July 18, 2018, 09:18:39 PM »

Palau is in the middle of a new experiment: Over the next year and a half, the country will shift to 100% renewable energy, at no cost to the government, in what is likely to be the fastest national transition to renewable energy ever to occur.

This island nation is making the fastest-ever shift to renewables
The island nation of Palau plans to stop buying diesel and go 100% solar by the end of 2019–and offer a blueprint for other island nations to do the same.
https://amp.fastcompany.com/90203041/this-island-nation-is-making-the-fastest-ever-shift-to-renewables

Cross post from Renewables thread.

13

Policy and solutions / Re: Renewable Energy

« on: July 18, 2018, 09:17:11 PM »

Palau is in the middle of a new experiment: Over the next year and a half, the country will shift to 100% renewable energy, at no cost to the government, in what is likely to be the fastest national transition to renewable energy ever to occur.

This island nation is making the fastest-ever shift to renewables
The island nation of Palau plans to stop buying diesel and go 100% solar by the end of 2019–and offer a blueprint for other island nations to do the same.
https://amp.fastcompany.com/90203041/this-island-nation-is-making-the-fastest-ever-shift-to-renewables

Cross post in Paris 2015 Agreement thread.

14

Consequences / Re: Wildfires

« on: July 18, 2018, 03:22:31 PM »

”The Copernicus Earth observation programme, which gives daily updates of fires in Europe, shows more than 60 fires burning across Sweden, with sites also ablaze in Norway, Finland and Russia, including in the Arctic Circle.”

Wildfires rage in Arctic Circle as Sweden calls for help
Sweden worst hit as hot, dry summer sparks unusual number of fires, with at least 11 in the far north
https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/18/sweden-calls-for-help-as-arctic-circle-hit-by-wildfires

15

Policy and solutions / Re: Solar Roadways

« on: July 18, 2018, 02:16:13 PM »

Exciting news: Today Solar Roadways was selected as one of 25 semi-finalists out of over 800 entries from all over the world in the Postcard Lottery Green Challenge!

The Postcode Lottery Green Challenge is one of the world's largest competitions in the field of sustainable entrepreneurship.

Five finalists will be invited to present in Amsterdam in September.

"The results are in! These 25 start-ups are in the running to win €500k to develop their innovative plans to save the planet."

https://m.facebook.com/41869107125/posts/10155239930737126/

https://greenchallenge.info/info/946-25-green-start-ups-that-are-changing-the-world

16

Consequences / Re: Wildfires

« on: July 18, 2018, 02:11:10 PM »

New evacuations ordered as fire raging near Yosemite National Park grows to 12,525 acres

A wildfire burning outside Yosemite National Park continued its push south toward nearby rural communities as hundreds of firefighters flooded into the area Tuesday.

Amid high temperatures, low humidity and light winds, the Ferguson fire has scorched 12,525 acres south of Highway 140 west of the park and was 5% contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

The blaze has killed one firefighter and is threatening more than 100 homes as it marches southeast along a fork of the Merced River toward Jerseydale, Mariposa Pines and Yosemite West, Cal Fire said. ...

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-ferguson-fire-spread-20180717-story.html

17

Consequences / Re: Climate change, the ocean, agriculture, and FOOD

« on: July 18, 2018, 02:08:13 PM »

The Flash Drought Brought Misery, but Did It Change Minds on Climate Change?
Ranchers in Divide County, North Dakota, rely on the rain. Last year the rains failed, and the temperature shot up. ‘The crops just didn’t come out of the ground.’

Drought is an especially wily adversary. As an officer of the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services told me recently, "You can't put up a sandbag wall to stop a drought."

In Divide County, agricultural producers are especially vulnerable to the effects of drought, since they depend on dryland methods. Dryland farmers use no irrigation. Instead, they rely wholly on rain: to initiate the lush growth of little bluestem and other pastureland grasses that will sustain their herds through the summer, and to secure the hay harvest that will get the herd through the winter. Not to mention the rain they need for their wheat, barley and pea cash crops.

In 2017, ranchers were optimistic when they put their cattle out to graze in late spring. There'd been record snowfall over the winter, and regional forecasts weren't calling for any drought conditions in their northwest region of the Great Plains. By May, though, concerns were rising. Rain failed to come, and the good winter moisture evaporated into a cloudless sky. By July, two-thirds of the pastureland in the Dakotas was in poor condition, and across the High Plains, from Kansas up to Canada, temperatures were above normal while precipitation was low—perfect conditions for what's known as a "flash drought," sudden and severe.

By the first of August, the USDA reported that nearly three-quarters of North Dakota's topsoil was desperately bereft of moisture. Part of Divide County was at the most severe drought level, and 60 percent of the state was facing some level of drought. It was the state's fourth-driest summer since record-keeping started in 1895. Ranchers hauled water to their herds and vied for hay donations that flowed in from other regions after the state opened a hay lottery. Anything to supplement the feed of the hungry cattle.

What happened? How had it happened so fast? And would it happen again? ...

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/17072018/flash-drought-north-dakota-cattle-ranchers-auction-hay-shortage-climate-change

18

Consequences / Re: Health Effects of Climate Change

« on: July 18, 2018, 02:03:53 PM »

U.S.:  Heat Wave Safety: 130 Groups Call for Protections for Farm, Construction Workers
As outdoor workers labor in extreme temperatures, they are vulnerable to heat-related illnesses that can be fatal. Climate change raises the risks.

Parts of the country are expecting another round of searing, potentially record-shattering heat in the coming days, and many farm and construction workers will be out in it—with no federal heat stress standards directing their employers to offer them water, rest or shade.

Despite recommendations going back more than 40 years, the federal government has repeatedly failed to set a heat stress standard for American workers.

On Tuesday, the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, along with United Farm Workers Foundation and Farmworker Justice, joined more than 130 public health and environmental groups in submitting a petition to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration calling for the agency to require employers to protect their workers from heat by imposing mandatory rest breaks, hydration and access to shade or cooled spaces, among other measures.

"This is a public health issue. This is a justice issue. The people who feed us, who feed America, deserve strong protections from the effects of climate change," said Jeannie Economos, a project coordinator with the Farmworker Association of Florida. "We're calling on OSHA not to delay anymore."

As global warming continues, extreme heat is expected to become more common, and the plight of outdoor workers will get more extreme along with the weather, making stronger standards more critical.  From 1992 to 2016, heat killed 783 workers in the U.S. and seriously injured nearly 70,000, according to the group's new analysis of working conditions in high temperatures.

Those numbers, the report said, understate the total. In 2011, Public Citizen petitioned the agency for a heat stress standard, and in response, OSHA acknowledged that heat-induced "deaths are most likely underreported, and therefore the true mortality rate is likely higher."

Farmworker advocacy groups have noted that migrant workers are especially reluctant to insist on breaks or water, and that illnesses and deaths from heat are likely underestimated because undocumented workers fear retaliation or deportation. ...

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/17072018/heat-wave-workplace-safety-illness-stress-climate-change-construction-farm-workers-osha

19

Policy and solutions / Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action

« on: July 18, 2018, 01:50:58 PM »

It seems many people rushed to criticize Musk without realizing what was happening behind the scenes (and in the open, on Twitter).  Important background on the requests for help is here:

What's the full story behind Elon Musk's involvement with the Thai cave rescue effort? - Quora
https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-full-story-behind-Elon-Musks-involvement-with-the-Thai-cave-rescue-effort


“And mostly nobody mentioned the letter Elon got from Richard "Rick" Stanton, who IS a very experienced RESCUE DIVER.

Stanton to Elon: "We're worried about the smallest lad please keep working on he capsule details
...”
https://twitter.com/martinengwicht/status/1019383244104568832
Text image of the email at the link.

20

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 18, 2018, 01:39:08 PM »

Finally, definitive data:

Teslas Are Not More Prone To Fire Than Other Cars, Says NTSB Investigator

...statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, which stated that there were roughly 173,000 reported vehicle fires in the United States in 2016, the most recent year for which figures are available, according to Statista.com. Practically all of these incidents are from gas-powered cars, which translates to one ICE vehicle catching fire every 2-3 minutes, or 55 fires per 1 billion miles driven.

According to Tesla, the best comparison between its electric cars is the number of fires reported per 1 billion miles driven. There are currently 300,000 Teslas on the road today, and they have driven 7.5 billion miles. So far, about 40 fires have been reported, translating to 5 fires for every 1 billion miles traveled.

https://www.inquisitr.com/4987033/teslas-are-not-more-prone-to-fire-than-other-cars-says-ntsb-investigator/

21

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 18, 2018, 01:36:56 PM »

Nissan Leaf becomes best-selling EV in Europe as new gen gets 37,000 orders, 18,000 deliveries

Nissan is finding a market for the next-gen Leaf in Europe where it has become the best-selling all-electric vehicle with now 18,000 deliveries and 37,0000 orders, according to the automaker.

It makes the Leaf a production constrained vehicle – joining the ranks of other EVs that can’t be produced fast enough for consumers, like the Tesla Model 3 and Chevy Bolt EV.
...
It shows the market in Europe for the new Leaf is way stronger than in the US where the vehicle has accumulated just over 6,000 sales during the first half of the year, which makes it the 5th best-selling vehicles behind all 3 of Tesla’s models and the Chevy Bolt EV.

https://electrek.co/2018/07/18/nissan-leaf-best-selling-ev-europe/


Germany’s on-again, off-again ‘no EV rebates for Teslas’ argument is on again:
Tesla buyers are asked to pay back €4,000 EV incentive in Germany, Tesla says it will cover cost and fight decision
https://electrek.co/2018/07/17/tesla-pay-back-ev-incentive-germany-loophole-fails/


Tesla’s fleet has accumulated over 1.2 billion miles on Autopilot and even more in ‘shadow mode’, report says

Automakers and tech companies are rushing to bring autonomous driving systems to market and accumulating mileage with their test vehicles.

Tesla is taking a different approach by accumulating mileage with its customer fleet through its Autopilot driver assist program.

A new report now estimates that Tesla has accumulated over 1.2 billion miles on Autopilot and more than twice that when accounting for mileage in ‘shadow mode’.

https://electrek.co/2018/07/17/tesla-autopilot-miles-shadow-mode-report/

22

Consequences / Re: Weird Weather and anecdotal stories about climate change

« on: July 17, 2018, 08:32:43 PM »

Hot spots.

23

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 17, 2018, 08:21:16 PM »

SH wrote @#4722:

We put nearly 85 million new ICE vehicles on the road in 2017. We will put a similar number on the road in 2018. And these new car buyers will not be trading these cars in for EV's anytime soon. Lets assume EV sales doubles annually. In 2019, sales will be 4 million and another 82 million ICE vehicles will hit the road. In 2020, EV sales will hit 8 million and another 78 million ICE vehicles will hit the road. In 2021, another 70 million ICE vehicles hit the road although I have my doubts that EV sales will be 16 million in 2021 as it takes at least 2 years to design and bring a new car to market.

You are assuming that total annual car sales remain steady, which may not be valid, for reasons such as the rise of car sharing, autonomous vehicles, new mass transit solutions, and an impending economic recession — all of which may depress new car sales substantially.

“And these new car buyers will not be trading these cars in for EV's anytime soon.”
Again, you are using a historical paradigm, this time of keeping one ICE vehicle until you are ready to buy another ICE vehicle.  There are marked benefits to owning an EV over an ICE car, so it makes sense that many ICE owners will switch over to an EV earlier than usual.  Or, that they ditch their ICE car and make use of other transportation entirely.

24

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 17, 2018, 07:04:08 PM »

“Spotted: @NetZeroMN's striped Tesla, inspired by @ed_hawkins' stunning climate visualization.“
https://twitter.com/EricHolthaus/status/1018517799981985793
...

Now I know I hit the big time, I’ve been posted to the Arctic Sea Ice forum 

I wish, instead of stenciling on the CO2 graphs I had used the historical temperature graphs.
Great conversation starter though!

Zythryn,
Wow, so beautiful, eye-catching — and so meaningful!  I can’t think of a better way to entice people to engage in a discussion about climate change.  Thank you for your efforts!

25

Policy and solutions / Re: Oil and Gas Issues

« on: July 17, 2018, 06:53:04 PM »

ExxonMobile:  “We’re advancing auto efficiency with technology like the Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition. This mechanism can help increase fuel economy by 30% while lowering emissions. #TechTuesday”
https://twitter.com/exxonmobil/status/1019235548052025345

No_Dumbies: “lowering emissions by 30% leaves 70% emmissions in an era that is demanding negative emissions via uptake systems that heal and upcycle .. get with the future. #greennewdeal”
https://twitter.com/_touch_update_/status/1019236219828436992


(Honestly, posted the above mostly for this GIF:  pic.twitter.com/lTaN0tggO0  ) 
Or here:  https://twitter.com/teslabull/status/1019249321366077440

26

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 17, 2018, 01:45:41 AM »

“Spotted: @NetZeroMN's striped Tesla, inspired by @ed_hawkins' stunning climate visualization.“
https://twitter.com/EricHolthaus/status/1018517799981985793
Photos below, more at the link. 

“The original graphics are online if anyone else wants to use them for creative projects!”
http://www.climate-lab-book.ac.uk/2018/warming-stripes/
             https://twitter.com/ed_hawkins/status/1018730983657533440

27

Policy and solutions / Re: Batteries: Today's Energy Solution

« on: July 17, 2018, 01:37:09 AM »

Another article on the SA VPP, with a Tesla video.  Powerwall production must be ramping up!

Tesla deploys first 100 Powerwalls with solar for new virtual power plant in Australia – already having an impact
https://electrek.co/2018/07/16/tesla-powerwalls-new-virtual-power-plant-australia/

28

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 17, 2018, 01:02:43 AM »

Norway Tesla deliveries 1H2018 vs. 1H2017:
Model X up 43% to 2,206.  Now the biggest selling luxury car.
Model S up 115% to 1,861.   Now the third biggest seller.

Jaguar I-PACE:  1 sale

ICE:
Porsche Cayenne down 56% to 45
Jaguar F-Pace down 51% to 40

https://twitter.com/m_xalher/status/1018955417408409600


All the good news is bad news for the masses of people shorting Tesla stock:

“Shorts are already nervous about the second independent analysis [Munro] demonstrating high profit margins for #Tesla #Model3. …”
“As a short, this concerns me. The German firm found potential high profit too…”
https://twitter.com/alterviggo/status/1018975105836244992

29

Consequences / Re: Weird Weather and anecdotal stories about climate change

« on: July 16, 2018, 08:24:07 PM »

Bill McKibben (@billmckibben)
7/16/18, 2:00 PM
“Huh. We've swamped the atmosphere with so much methane that it is producing new cloud patterns. That seems a tad ominous ...”
https://twitter.com/billmckibben/status/1018918335554228227

Methane Is Giving Noctilucent Clouds a Boost
https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/Methane-Giving-Noctilucent-Clouds-Boost

30

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 16, 2018, 08:07:04 PM »

Hypermiling!  Constant speed on a track; then autopilot with a dummy in the drivers seat.

Tesla Model S, Model 3 set hypermile records: 701 mi. (1128 km) and 623 mi. (1001 km), respectively
https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-s-model-3-hypermile-world-records/

31

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 16, 2018, 07:50:01 PM »

From the above video:

“Munro Tesla Model 3 Solidly Profitable ... "rear view mirror Tesla 3 it costs about $29.5,BMW i3 $93 approx...Chevy bolt 164... that's the magic associated with using components...already on the car ... you make them work 2x or 3x duty" ...”
https://twitter.com/lordastinus/status/1018873341833285632

Edit:
“Sandy Munroe about #Tesla #Model3 new 2170 battery cell: "20% bigger than the old, it has new chemistry and quite frankly it gives you 50% more power". LG, Samsung battery tech bite the dust compared to what @Tesla @panasonic has achieved with 2170. ... “
https://twitter.com/martinengwicht/status/1018889609877577733

32

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 16, 2018, 07:17:44 PM »

Re Tesla and Monro:  not often does someone admit to eating crow (and repeatedly so).  I also liked the "30% profitability" for potential longevity of the Tesla corp.  (If I was in the market for a new car, I might say it's too high.)

This estimate was made for the rear-wheel-drive, long range battery version, right?  So the high-option versions are likely more profitable, and the base version likely will be less so.  (Which is why they are expanding the line to make the more expensive versions first, and delaying the $35k version for later.)


Edit: “Sandy says the base model can still make a double-digit gross profit.”
https://twitter.com/groggytbear/status/1018908652936269830

33

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 16, 2018, 07:09:15 PM »

Munro Teardown — update video — see Archimid’s post above for the link!

Munro Teardown Shows Tesla Model 3 Solidly Profitable …
"profitable by over 30% ... so nobody in the auto industry is getting 30% now yes they are but not in the electric field no electric car is getting 30% net nobody or 30% growth" $TSLA #tesla
https://twitter.com/lordastinus/status/1018870946478903297

Sandy Munro update --
"Mislead by first impressions." 
"A symphony of engineering"
"Very very impressed with battery"
"I have to eat crow ..."
MODEL 3 SOLIDLY PROFITABLE.  "OVER 30%"
https://twitter.com/groggytbear/status/1018869708207149058


Fridman estimates that Tesla vehicles have driven over 7.8 billion miles in the aggregate, over 1.2 billion of those miles in Autopilot mode and over 1.6 billion in shadow mode.
Autopilot-capable vehicles are operating in Autopilot mode about 25% of the time.
$TSLA twitter.com/evannex_com/st…

https://twitter.com/vgrinshpun/status/1018843096535183366

In 2017, Tesla's sales in China reached more than 2 billion US dollars, an increase of nearly 90% compared with 2016, accounting for about 50% of the total sales of the year. As of now, China is already Tesla's largest market outside the United States. $TSLA

https://twitter.com/vincent13031925/status/1018846468155641856

34

Consequences / Re: Hurricane season 2018

« on: July 16, 2018, 06:06:08 PM »

Houston, Texas

As Post-Harvey Buyout Money Rolls In, Some Have Already Given Up On The Program

After Hurricane Harvey flooded thousands of homes in Houston, a lot more homeowners became interested in government buyouts.

The federal money needed to buy and demolish all those homes has finally started rolling in, but as the months passed since the storm, some people decided they couldn’t wait on the government.

Buyouts are generally regarded as a cost-effective way to save people from flooding risks, but the glacially-slow pace is a big challenge. So far, Harris County has received about half the $164 million it’s requested from FEMA for the effort.

“We basically want to go after the houses that were impacted the most, first,” said James Wade, head of the county’s buyout program. Wade said the county targets houses that basically should have never been built.

“They’re in areas that, you know, some of these areas may be ten feet deep in the floodplain, and you’re never going to engineer your way out of that flooding threat,” he said.

Since Harvey, the county has approved applications from about 1,000 people who volunteered to let the government tear down their home and, ideally, turn the area into a green space that better absorbs floodwater. But Wade said about 200 of those people have already either sold to someone else or decided not to sell at all, and he said that’s historically been a problem.
...
Even before Harvey, Harris County’s buyout program was the largest in the U.S. Local officials are hoping to use separate pots of money for more buyouts, beyond what’s already been federally funded. But even if that’s all successful, there will still be almost 200,000 homes left in the region’s floodplains. ...

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2018/07/16/295696/as-post-harvey-buyout-money-rolls-in-some-have-already-given-up-on-the-program/

35

Policy and solutions / Re: Batteries: Today's Energy Solution

« on: July 16, 2018, 04:29:43 PM »

Distributed, residential batteries can provide grid services much like “big batteries,” report shows.  South Australia is rethinking its decision to downsize the Tesla project.

Tesla builds case for 250MW virtual power plant after first trial success

The results of those trials conducted by Tesla – obtained by RenewEconomy – show that groups of Tesla Powerwalls installed in homes can deliver much of the same services as the Tesla big battery in South Australia, such as providing rapid and accurate response to frequency changes.

This graph below shows how two Tesla Powerwalls (red and green), respond to so-called “droop settings” by autonomously and automatically injecting active power when the frequency (blue line) drops below the thresholds (dotted lines).

“This response demonstrates the ability of the SA VPP to autonomously and instantaneously provide frequency services that help maintain the stability of the grid,” the Tesla document says.

The South Australia government acknowledged this, saying that Phase 1 of the Tesla VPP (100 homes)  demonstrates that distributed Powerwall technology can increase the supply of energy during peak periods.

It says this would increase reliability and cut prices in South Australia and “when paired with solar and wind” generate clean renewable energy. ...

https://reneweconomy.com.au/tesla-builds-case-for-250mw-virtual-power-plant-after-first-trial-success-63950/


“$TSLA Investors who can see beyond the next quarter #OOTT
Please click through for key sentences from this important article, along with my interpretation with respect to each key sentence.”
https://mobile.twitter.com/valueanalyst1/status/1018591126486503424
The link’s nine-tweet thread provides commentary on the above article.

36

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 16, 2018, 04:13:06 PM »

"For now, it appears GM’s plans are to run its own transportation network company (TNC). If they can get the technology right and execute on this plan, then when we run this scenario, we see them having a fleet of ~800,000 vehicles by 2030 driving ~58 billion miles that year.

GM's self-driving car unit could be worth $43 billion — nearly 4 times the valuation it received 6 weeks ago, RBC says
https://www.yahoo.com/amphtml/finance/news/gm-apos-self-driving-car-133500602.html

37

Policy and solutions / Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action

« on: July 15, 2018, 07:52:51 PM »

Sierra Club:  There have got to be better topics of debate than whether @elonmusk is committed to climate action. He has dedicated his career to the mission of replacing fossil fuels with clean energy & has strongly backed the Sierra Club's advocacy work. We are proud to have his support.

Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson)
7/15/18, 12:11 PM
I agree. The fact is, @elonmusk donates *200 times more* to the Sierra Club than to the GOP. We progressives need to choose our damn battles. Elon Musk is imperfect, as all of us are, but he has *never* been an enemy of progress. Indeed, he's always been an *ally* of the future.
https://twitter.com/sethabramson/status/1018528421339648000

38

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 15, 2018, 07:50:20 PM »

Market forces will not cause the demise of the market for new ICE vehicles before 2030 nor the market for used ICE vehicles before 2040. The only thing that will drive ICE vehicles off the planet faster is if governments legislate them out of existence. This can be done by...

1. Put in place taxes on gasoline that triple or quadruple the cost of a gallon of gas.
2. Place a luxury tax on all ICE vehicles so as to double the price of a new ICE vehicle.
3. Legislate a large credit for owners of used ICE vehicles who trade them in for EV's and send these ICE vehicles to be scrapped.

This is not an all inclusive list but the effect of each of these is the same. They serve to increase the operating cost of an ICE vehicle when compared to an EV.

All true. But the government could do a lot more on the supply side too. What if the US government were to declare war on AGW, and move to a wartime economy where it is okay for the government to pay for new private factories? Production capacity could quadruple and the revolution would happen much faster.
In more conservative terms, the Fed could as part of its endless QE programs make a $10B loan to Tesla (and to other EV manufacturers). Ramp-up will happen much faster.
BTW, 1 and 2 on your list are already in place in Israel, but availability of pure EVs in any reasonable price range is nil.

Absolutely. This is what needs to happen. We have the technology. We need to place ourselves on a war footing, recognizing AGW as the existential crisis that it is.

Of course government incentives/punishment would help accelerate the adoption of EVs.  I would love to see more of it.  But there were no laws encouraging people to buy microwave ovens, VCRs, air conditioners, computers, or cellphones — yet most U.S. households adopted them within 10 years or less. 

Demand often grows for the weirdest of reasons, but it’s unwise to ignore market forces.  As companies learn how to make a profit selling the kind of EVs people want, the market will grow exponentially.

Don’t overlook the government help we are seeing today, at a more local level:  tax breaks, investments and real estate deals enabling the building of new vehicle manufacturing and battery factories, many claiming “biggest in the world” status.  They are a win for local economies, and, more and more, the factories themselves are being built and run sustainably — which could have been a hard sell if done under duress.  The EV market is readying its great leap forward, even in today’s uncertain environment.

39

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 15, 2018, 03:55:31 PM »

Model 3 VINs (@Model3VINs)
7/15/18, 7:08 AM
“#Tesla registered 3,424 new #Model3 VINs. ~100% estimated to be dual motor. Highest VIN is 75464. ...”
https://twitter.com/model3vins/status/1018452208478666752

That makes 19,067 July 1 through 15.

Versus 4,664 in all of June.  And 18,014 in all of May.

40

Policy and solutions / Re: Solar Roadways

« on: July 15, 2018, 02:08:35 PM »

Tokyo Announces Plan To Install Solar Roads In Time For 2020 Olympics

Some solar panelling has already been installed on a trial basis in the Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture by a Seven-Eleven. The technology was only introduced in May, but a manager at the Seven-Eleven store told the Business Times that it's starting to pay off.

"(The solar road system) can generate 16,145 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, covering about 9 per cent of the entire electricity the store consumes."

It's important that the roads begin generating power more quickly, because they are currently quite expensive to install. Both France and the Netherlands have been experimenting with solar roads, and in France, it costs about 5 million euros for ever kilometer of road.

Japan has decided to continue the introduction of solar roads on government owned property, and will more likely focus on parking lots. The wider surface area can generate more electricity and justify the cost of installation.

Installation is supposed to begin during the 2019 fiscal year, and the process is intensive.

The road is made of solar panels that are installed in the ground, then covered in a special resin that makes them durable under the weight of traffic.

If this technology were more widely used, it would greatly reduce the cost of installation, as the components could be more affordably mass produced. So implementing any usage is increasing the likelihood of solar roads everywhere.

https://www.greenmatters.com/news/2018/06/11/ZdfqoX/tokyo-solar-road-olympics

41

Policy and solutions / Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action

« on: July 15, 2018, 01:49:36 PM »

Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
7/14/18, 11:06 PM
Reports that I am a top donor to GOP are categorically false. I am not a top donor to any political party.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1018330925384458240

<<Are you ANY kind of donor to the GOP?>>

Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
7/14/18, 11:15 PM
@danielbrennan Yes, about 0.5% of what I donated to @SierraClub, which is a reasonable amount to maintain an open dialogue
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1018333202140680192


Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
7/14/18, 6:46 PM
@jack_p Thanks Jack. To be clear, I am not a conservative. Am registered independent & politically moderate. Doesn’t mean I’m moderate about all issues. Humanitarian issues are extremely important to me & I don’t understand why they are not important to everyone.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1018265614295523328

Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
7/14/18, 8:25 PM
@jack_p That said, I do not actually see the checks (changed that policy today). A nominal annual amount goes out automatically to both parties to maintain dialogue. I have given vastly more to humanitarian causes.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1018290544986845184


“I am not even American, but hey check the PUBLIC list of donations.
Elon is not the top donor to anyone neither Democratic nor Republican. It is a smooth automatic payment spinned in something outrageous. Ridiculous FUD. Pathetic lies. Nothing to much to talk about.”
https://twitter.com/teslectrics1/status/1018395441287913473
Images below.

42

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 15, 2018, 01:33:30 PM »

...
EV sales are moving rapidly up and this growth is woefully inadequate.

I say again:  “Adoption S-Curve.”  In just a few years, EV growth will astound you.

Think about everything that must have happened to go from one car in a busy NYC street in 1900... to all cars but one horse in 1913.  Growth, growth, growth!  And adoption happens even faster today than it did all those years ago.

It is illogical to assume a steady state of vehicle production or adoption, whether ICE or EV.  I don’t think this thread has discussed the possible effects of an economic recession, which we are overdue for and will likely occur in the next year or two at the latest.  In the Great Recession of 2008, car sales plummeted — but did not go to zero.  (There were three recessions between 1900 and 1913!)  Cheaper cost of EV ownership could become an important factor.  Even today’s “rich” folks might discover a reason to change their usual buying habits during a recession.  Between a recession and the EV revolution, the legacy auto industry will transform, or die, very soon now.

In short:  think exponential, not linear, EV growth.

43

Consequences / Re: Weird Weather and anecdotal stories about climate change

« on: July 15, 2018, 01:00:00 PM »

hundreds died in flooding in Japan .. worth recording it happened ?  b.c.

It was covered extensively in the Floods thread:  https://forum.arctic-sea-ice.net/index.php/topic,1951.msg162449.html#msg162449 

44

Consequences / Re: Forests: An Endangered Resource

« on: July 14, 2018, 09:37:52 PM »

Nine of the 13 oldest baobabs, aged between 1,000 and 2,500 years, have died over the past dozen years.  The sudden collapse is "an event of unprecedented magnitude."

Africa's oldest baobab trees are dying from a mysterious threat
Rising temperatures, increasing drought due to climate change is a suspected factor
https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4745548

45

Policy and solutions / Re: Renewable Energy

« on: July 14, 2018, 08:50:09 PM »

Clean energy is catching up to natural gas
The natural gas “bridge” to sustainability may be shorter than expected.

According to GTM Research, it is peakers that are going to fall first in the US. With the rate of decline in battery prices, they will be competing directly with peakers in a few years and beating them consistently by the mid-2020s.

Of the 20 GW of peakers slated for between now and 2030, GTM estimates, 10 GW or more could get beat out by batteries. “I can’t see a reason why we should ever build a gas peaker again in the US after, say, 2025,” said Shayle Kann, then a senior adviser at GTM.

https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/energy-and-environment/2018/7/13/17551878/natural-gas-markets-renewable-energy

46

Policy and solutions / Re: Oil and Gas Issues

« on: July 14, 2018, 08:36:11 PM »

‘We Will Be Waiting’: Tribe Says Keystone XL Construction Is Not Welcome
The controversial oil pipeline would cross the Cheyenne River near a reservation, and the tribe is fighting it. TransCanada plans to bring in equipment this month.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/13072018/keystone-xl-pipeline-native-american-resistance-oil-spill-cheyenne-river-sioux-dakota-access-transcanada

47

Consequences / Re: Weird Weather and anecdotal stories about climate change

« on: July 14, 2018, 08:12:25 PM »

“The first six months of the year have made it the hottest La Niña year to date on record,” said Clare Nullis of the WMO.

Heatwave sees record high temperatures around world this week
From Europe to Africa, extreme and widespread heat raises climate concerns in hottest La Niña year to date on record
https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/13/heatwave-sees-record-high-temperatures-set-around-world-this-week

48

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 14, 2018, 07:34:38 PM »

“It’s Difficult to Make Predictions, Especially About the Future”
Industry forecasts are as inaccurate as most everyone else’s.  Even Elon Musk moved up the production schedule for the Model 3 by two years when the number of reservations in March/April 2016 exceeded even Tesla’s most optimistic estimates.

All I know is that we are on the cusp of a vehicle revolution.  Its adoption S-curve is turning vertical.  We may not be able to accurately predict exactly how, when, or why that ramp happens, but the adoption S-curve means that future adoption will happen faster — much faster! — than it is happening today.


US sales of BMW 3/4 Series are plunging...
... while its stock is trading relatively okay.
https://twitter.com/valueanalyst1/status/1017158767379656704
Chart below.

Tesla On Track To Pass Porsche In Annual Vehicle Sales In 2018 | CleanTechnica
https://cleantechnica.com/2018/07/11/tesla-on-track-to-pass-porsche-in-annual-vehicle-sales-in-2018/

Please Stop Saying “EVs Are Only 1% Of Auto Sales In The US”
https://cleantechnica.com/2018/07/01/please-stop-saying-evs-are-only-1-of-auto-sales-in-the-us/
Chart below.

The world’s largest car market just announced an imminent end to gas and diesel cars
A romp through recent, remarkable news about electric vehicles in China and beyond.
https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/9/13/16293258/ev-revolution

49

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 14, 2018, 07:00:44 PM »

A Tesla production associate tweeted:
7/13/18, 3:47 AM
Over 2000 cars in 2 days, and were not slammed. Ez money.
https://twitter.com/vickisalvador/status/1017676975702302720

Those cars will be delivered in 2-3 weeks, but Tesla doesn't have to pay for the parts for another 60-90 days….
Tesla accelerates Model 3 delivery timelines on new orders

Just a few weeks after updating the delivery timelines of all Model 3 versions available to order, Tesla is updating them again to accelerate deliveries for new orders.

Some Model 3 buyers could even get their car in a month.

https://electrek.co/2018/07/14/tesla-model-3-delivery-timelines-new-orders/

Wake up old school US auto manufacturers! @Tesla sold 200,000 EVs in America while you were asleep! Most of you will not survive the EV revolution! @Tesla did this despite every roadblock from dealerships and no ability to directly sell in some states.
https://twitter.com/28delayslater/status/1017387573566754817

Tom Randall interviews Elon Musk:
The Model 3 is:  ‘The Last Bet-the-Company Situation’: Q&A With Elon Musk

TR:  Then why not reach out? Detroit was shouting, “That’s not going to work.”
EM:  Well, when have they not said that? When was the last time they said it would work? Can you recall at any point in the history of Tesla where they said it would work? Is there like some point I didn't notice? Because from my perspective, for the last 15 years that is all they have said.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-07-13/-the-last-bet-the-company-situation-q-amp-a-with-elon-musk


Chinese mainstream media massively report Tesla CEO @elonmusk signing ceremony with Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong. Shanghai Municipal Party Committee Secretary Li Qiang mentioned will fully support @Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory during the meeting. $TSLA Video….
…
-@elonmusk mention The Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory is the first super factory outside the US and will be the most advanced.
https://twitter.com/vincent13031925/status/1018133348177154048

Another Tesla production associate:

Every time I see an article like, “Tesla Employees Worked to the Bone, Treated Unfairly” and it’s all written because one person bitched online, I want to find that person and tell them to toughen up or quit. I remember one of the managers explicitly saying, day one of training…
…to expect to work 5 to 7 days a week 12 hours a day, and if that if you can’t handle that, then work somewhere else. It’s not like you aren’t compensated. OT, time and a half, double time... by day 6 you’re making at least 40 bucks an hour.
    If you bitch and complain ever single day, there’s an easy solution. Find another job. Those of us who work hard to push these cars out, don’t need lazy people like you on the line bringing the rest of us down. Yeah, it ducks being on your feet 12 hours a day, but it’s a job…
…and it pays the bills, and ever one of us in the factory is changing the world each car we ship. People love our cars and they love what we do and that should make each and every one of us proud to work here. Work hard, shut up, or get out. That simple. You hate…
…the hours and the money? Cool then. The Mcdonald across the street is always hiring.

End rant.

https://twitter.com/jotakusan/status/1018035274998210561

50

Policy and solutions / Re: Cars, cars and more cars. And trucks, and....

« on: July 14, 2018, 06:52:45 PM »

And the average sales price of these vehicles was $33,560.

The thing to keep in mind with the Model 3 is that it is being purchased not only by people who would buy a $35,000 car.  Many people waiting in line at Tesla stores in 2016 to make a reservation said that this would be the most expensive car they’ve ever purchased.  Others, as we see above, were in the market for a car much more expensive than $35k, but chose the Model 3 over other well-known, “status” car brands — because they really liked the car.

When the iPhone first came out, the common retort was, “No one will pay $400 for a smart phone.”  EVs, with their lower cost of ownership and longer potential lifespan, will up-end traditional car sales habits.  Adoption will happen much more quickly than historical trends would suggest.