Minute 53, very emotional moment by Elon Musk • Hacker News Board

Re: Minute 53, very emotional moment by Elon Musk

#131

Post by r00fus » Wed, Jun 05, 2013, 6:30 PM UTC

l33tbro wrote: post #93

krosaen wrote: post #3

Start at minute 49 to see the full context - it's about fighting the automotive dealers association for the right to sell directly to consumers.

It's a tough fight too. I mean, this association has been around for almost 100 years. A lot of bills greasing politicians hands too ('Murica!!). Tesla have their work cut out for them in disrupting this megalithic entity. Best of luck; sincerely mean that. These guys are effectively patent trolls, and will do anything to hawk their inferior wares.

Tesla has momentum, however. And most people hate dealerships. They want the Apple experience for cars - and Tesla is ready to give it to them.

It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

Re: Minute 53, very emotional moment by Elon Musk

#132

Post by eightyone » Wed, Jun 05, 2013, 7:08 PM UTC

ankitml wrote: post #87

eightyone wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think his point is that government shouldn't pick winners and losers with taxpayer money.

looking at fairness in retrospect. Musk justified the loan. He built the damn thing, an (possibly) eco friendly, not dependent on fossil fuel car that people love. back in my country we have our own electric car company, which have been able to do the thing, but they havent been able to get people support. Musk was able to do that.

I'm not saying that Musk didn't build a hell of a car. He did. What I'm saying is that government shouldn't be using my tax dollars to give out loans to private companies on the off chance that they might be successful and be able to repay the loan. Plenty haven't been.

Re: Minute 53, very emotional moment by Elon Musk

#133

Post by enraged_camel » Wed, Jun 05, 2013, 9:36 PM UTC

bob13579 wrote: post #88

enraged_camel wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Inefficient when it comes to innovating, yes. In any industry dominated by powerful incumbents and where the startup capital costs are extremely high, you do need outside intervention (I.e. a subsidy in the form of a loan) to help newcomers.

So any startup that competes in the pharmaceutical sector or biotechnology industry should be given hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded loans?

Not any startup. Only those who qualify for the stict conditions for the loan. Like Tesla did.

Re: Minute 53, very emotional moment by Elon Musk

#134

Post by simonh » Thu, Jun 06, 2013, 3:41 PM UTC

tocomment wrote: post #76

simonh wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From what he's said publicly, I don't see how it can be a launch loop or anything much like it.

From the last discussion [1] I thought launch loop was our best guess? How does a launch loop conflict with anything he's said publicly? [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5796880

He's said that any loss of power or stability would result in a safe failure mode. I can't see how that fits in with a thousand kilometre long looping supersonic cable in the sky.

Re: Minute 53, very emotional moment by Elon Musk

#135

Post by hamburglar » Sat, Jun 08, 2013, 7:00 AM UTC

samolang wrote: post #123

qwanzi77 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"he seems deeply affected that others are so much against him, especially when they aren't playing fair" How exactly is Tesla playing fair? Did all car manufacturers receive a $500 million loan to build electric cars or something?

No, but Fisker got $529 million, Ford got $5.9 BILLION, and Nissan got $1.4 BILLION. https://lpo.energy.gov/our-projects/

And GM got a $49 billion TARP bailout. Not specifically for making alt-fuel vehicles; just because they were a failure. But we should all be really incensed about those tesla guys getting a loan. Which they repaid already. Because that's not fair.

Re: Minute 53, very emotional moment by Elon Musk

#136

Post by samolang » Tue, Jun 11, 2013, 8:49 PM UTC

hamburglar wrote: post #135

samolang wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, but Fisker got $529 million, Ford got $5.9 BILLION, and Nissan got $1.4 BILLION. https://lpo.energy.gov/our-projects/

And GM got a $49 billion TARP bailout. Not specifically for making alt-fuel vehicles; just because they were a failure. But we should all be really incensed about those tesla guys getting a loan. Which they repaid already. Because that's not fair.

I am upset that the government is wasting my money like this. I don't think Tesla is being unfair by applying for and accepting the loan though. Tesla didn't tell Bush to tell the DOE to loan $25B to green automakers. They're merely taking advantage of the opportunities that are available.