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Tesla and SpaceX: Elon Musk's industrial empire [video]

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Re: Tesla and SpaceX: Elon Musk's industrial empire [video]

#141

Post by mncolinlee »

nawitus wrote: post #78
coreymgilmore wrote: post #26

Musk is thinking 8 steps ahead of almost everyone. While Tesla is a huge play with revolutionizing the car world, there are some other parts in play. First, his Gigafactory to produce batteries. When the other big automakers get into the electric car mindset, who are they going to buy batteries from? Musk who owns the single largest and high-tech battery factory (that produces on an enormous scale), or other battery…

Nissan has built far more battery producing capabilities.

They certainly won't be dependent upon Tesla.

In fact, Nissan's Tennessee plant can already manufacture 200,000 battery packs per year. They have been in the game of producing new battery chemistry technologies since 2009, when they started work on a technology partnership to bring Lithium NMC batteries to production vehicles.

Re: Tesla and SpaceX: Elon Musk's industrial empire [video]

#142

Post by toomuchtodo »

dclowd9901 wrote: post #139
toomuchtodo wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Counterpoint: I keep applying for a Linux sysadmin job at SpaceX that would have me taking a ~$80K/year paycut, so I can work at SpaceX. Substantial payoff? Mine is getting to work in launch operations, no matter what the position is.

Just remember there's lots of people you're robbing of an opportunity because you're selfish enough to value your time so little.

> because you're selfish enough to value your time so little.

You're considering money the only value of my time. Happiness > $$$ after a certain point.

I can make $100K-200K/year running infrastructure to serve ads better, or do something that actually matters (going to Mars). How I spend my experience is up to me.

Re: Tesla and SpaceX: Elon Musk's industrial empire [video]

#143

Post by dippyskoodlez »

antimagic wrote: post #94
coreymgilmore wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I very much agree with you: energy companies and other auto manufacturers will get into the charging business. They have to! But I defend my point based on this: Would you buy a car that has an established charging network, or a car with only a few chargers nationwide? Of course, the established network since there is less worry about "filling up". This is a direct mirror of today's issue with electric vehicles: ther…

I think the best way to think about this is to think of the mobile phone network. Do you sign up with AT&T or do you sign up with T-Mobile? Despite T-Mobile's (allegedly - I don't live in the US, so I'm just going on what people say) better customer service, their network is just far less prevalent compared to AT&T's which enables AT&T to maintain its hold on customers. But T-Mobile continues to build out its network…

Part of the problem with that comparison is while you can make do without cell reception, lack of charging for your car... will leave you stranded.

Re: Tesla and SpaceX: Elon Musk's industrial empire [video]

#144

Post by WalterBright »

jcdavis wrote: post #57
coreymgilmore wrote: post #26

Musk is thinking 8 steps ahead of almost everyone. While Tesla is a huge play with revolutionizing the car world, there are some other parts in play. First, his Gigafactory to produce batteries. When the other big automakers get into the electric car mindset, who are they going to buy batteries from? Musk who owns the single largest and high-tech battery factory (that produces on an enormous scale), or other battery…

> Did you think that the Tesla and Supercharger of proprietary connectors for no reason This isn't just entirely for a competitive advantage, although I'm sure they plan on licensing as you mention. The fact is none of the existing DC charging standards can handle nearly as much power as Tesla's system can. CHAdeMO can handle up to 62kW (but most are 50kW or less), and some of the new Combo chargers have demonstrated…

This reminds me of how Edison decided he needed to invent and build an electric utility system in order to sell light bulbs.

Re: Tesla and SpaceX: Elon Musk's industrial empire [video]

#145

Post by WalterBright »

camillomiller wrote: post #104
caio1982 wrote: post #10

I, for one, welcome Elon Musk's empire! He couldn't possibly be paying for all the hype, all the influence, backing a worldwide PR campaign about himself and his stunts. He's on the media simply because he's freaking awesome compared to other millionaires industrialists. Come on, look at what the guy has done so far... we need more Elons Musks. There, end of fanboyism :-)

When Steve Jobs died they said that a long time would pass since we'd have another Steve. Well, I think they were wrong. We have some great Jobs-like guy right here... One that's easy to root for and that really shares some traits with Steve Jobs. Now excuse me while I'll go buy some Tesla shares out of pure Muskboism.

I bought some TSLA this morning.

Full Disclosure: every time I buy a stock, it subsequently takes a dive.

Re: Tesla and SpaceX: Elon Musk's industrial empire [video]

#146

Post by cheald »

MimiZ wrote: post #134

Someone brought this up to me: "If Elon Musk wanted to revolutionize the car industry, why didn't he figure out how to recycle the materials of the existing cars into Tesla somehow? Instead of making more new cars? Sure, the new cars are more environmentally friendly and sustainable but that doesn't solve the existing waste problem."

Which materials in particular are being referred to? Teslas don't use any rare-earth metals in their motors or batteries, and we're not exactly short on steel and aluminum.

Re: Tesla and SpaceX: Elon Musk's industrial empire [video]

#147

Post by tempestn »

Great quote from the interview with Musk. He first said that he actually expected when he started Tesla that most likely it would fail. When asked why he did it then, he answered, "If something is important enough, you should try even if the probable outcome is failure."

Re: Tesla and SpaceX: Elon Musk's industrial empire [video]

#148

Post by snowwindwaves »

zacharypinter wrote: post #56
kome wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Public money saved him.

Kudos all around! To those within the government with the foresight to bet on Musk (or those like him) and to Musk for actually pulling off something great with the opportunity.

I would prefer the government stay out of the business of picking winners

Re: Tesla and SpaceX: Elon Musk's industrial empire [video]

#149

Post by toomuchtodo »

aryastark wrote: post #136
toomuchtodo wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Counterpoint: I keep applying for a Linux sysadmin job at SpaceX that would have me taking a ~$80K/year paycut, so I can work at SpaceX. Substantial payoff? Mine is getting to work in launch operations, no matter what the position is.

I have yet to hear anyone speak positively about their experience working at SpaceX. The common theme seems to be incredibly high turnover with intense burnout. However, looking at Glassdoor right now, it seems things may have improved. Or there has been a lot of recent astroturfing going on. The reviews were pretty negative last I looked, a year or two ago.

Yep, I know. I check their Glassdoor reviews every few weeks. I didn't expect it to be an easy-going place.

I've worked at far more grueling places (Citadel).

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