World, Writing, Wealth discussion

J. wrote: "About Elon's rant:

LMFAO.
https://youtu.be/RK91Ji6GCZ8?si=3ZI6i...

By the way, the Bob he said "Hey" to was Bob Iger, CEO of Disney."

Elon has already started moving X to a subscription model. I suspect his 'rant,' has intention behind it.

Given collapsing EV demand and an inability for the Western world to build cars at a price point competitive with ICE cars, is TESLA at its current share price the short opportunity of the century?

Graeme wrote: "Given collapsing EV demand and an inability for the Western world to build cars at a price point competitive with ICE cars, is TESLA at its current share price the short opportunity of the century?"

Possibly. Too bad I'm already invested :)

Graeme wrote: "Given collapsing EV demand and an inability for the Western world to build cars at a price point competitive with ICE cars, is TESLA at its current share price the short opportunity of the century?"

What collapsing demand - not in UK - November down yes but year on year...

https://www.whatcar.com/best/biggest-...

"Electric car sales fell by 17.1% in November, to 24,359, breaking a 42-month streak of consecutive sales growth. However, year-to-date figures show that electric cars are still 27.5% more popular overall so far this year than last."

So, the UK has spent millions of pounds and cities, like London, are finding people daily to get one third of Brits to prefer a battery to a gas tank. How much carbon does that actually keep out of the atmosphere with the UK's energy portfolio?

Energy mix: how is electricity generated in Great Britain?
https://www.theguardian.com/environme...

EVs still only account for about 3% of cars on the UK's roads. Based on income, here's who owns them:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1....

Both of the people I know who have gone down the EV route used to own huge gas-guzzling SUVs - one a Range Rover and t'other a BMW. Needless to say, both SUVs were white (perhaps that's a UK thing?).

Neither of these people think twice about flying multiple times a year and, as far as I'm aware, know little and care even less about the natural world. They are chavs with money.

Their EVs are status symbols. Nothing more and nothing less.

Beau wrote: "Their EVs are status symbols. Nothing more and nothing less...."

Indeed.

Given,

[1] The materials intensive nature of EVs (esp the batteries) and subsequent mining and refining efforts (typically fossil fuel powered) to provide the materials supply chain means EVs are ... just ... not ... very ... green ... at ... all.

(But battery manufacture does make a lot of money for companies operating coal-fired smelters in China...)

"China dominated the world's electric vehicles (EV) lithium-ion (Li-ion) manufacturing market in 2021. That year, China produced some 79 percent of all EV Li-ion batteries that entered the global market.

REF: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1..."

[2] The fragility of the batteries resulting in insurance companies scrapping EVs after a simple fender bender resulting in massive hikes in insurance costs.

"Driving an electric car should be a win-win, saving money and the planet. So David* was shocked when the insurance on his Tesla Model Y came up for renewal, and Aviva refused to cover him again, while several other brands turned him away.

When David did secure a new deal, the annual cost rocketed from £1,200 to more than £5,000.

REF: https://www.theguardian.com/money/202..."

[3] The real environmental cost of producing EV components is horrific and will only get worse if EV production increases.

"From where I'm standing, the city-sized Baogang Steel and Rare Earth complex dominates the horizon, its endless cooling towers and chimneys reaching up into grey, washed-out sky. Between it and me, stretching into the distance, lies an artificial lake filled with a black, barely-liquid, toxic sludge.

REF: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20..."

[4] The materials supply chain doesn't exist, any serious attempt to 'electrify,' our vehicle fleets will drive up demand for nickel, lithium, manganese, and cobalt much faster than supply can grow resulting in higher manufacturing cost and a higher price on the showroom floor.

In fact, the materials gap is so wide I don't believe it will be filled, hence EV production will simply wind down unless there is a major paradigm shift in battery technology to common materials that saves the EV industry. But right now the business model has 'magic happens,' in the middle of it.

"The EV battery problem is now serious enough that Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe recently warned that 90% to 95% of the battery supply chain “does not exist.” And Tesla CEO Elon Musk cautions that prices for lithium have already “gone to insane levels.”"

REF: https://www.industryweek.com/supply-c...

And finally,

[5] Exploitation of children in the supply chain.

"A landmark legal case has been launched against the world’s largest tech companies by Congolese families who say their children were killed or maimed while mining for cobalt used to power smartphones, laptops and electric cars, the Guardian can reveal."

REF: https://www.theguardian.com/global-de...

Fundamentally, EVs are sold to enable virtue and status signalling, and are modern 'blood diamonds,' encapsulating wishful thinking, environmental destruction and child slavery.

There is nothing good about an EV.

That’s probably too categoric. I think Philip driving electric and hooking it up to a solar electricity he himself produced is a good combo. Electro doesn’t pollute the air, but we need to know what the balance is as they have other problems that you mention. Cobalt production using children slave labor should be prohibited no matter where the cobalt goes and such manufacturers shouldn’t have a place in any legit biz

Graeme wrote: "Beau wrote: "Their EVs are status symbols. Nothing more and nothing less...."

Indeed.

Given,

[1] The materials intensive nature of EVs (esp the batteries) and subsequent mining and refining effo..."

Could not have sad that better....

Nik wrote: "That’s probably too categoric. I think Philip driving electric and hooking it up to a solar electricity he himself produced is a good combo. Electro doesn’t pollute the air, but we need to know wha..."


To compare apples to apples, you have to look from cradle to grave and then compare in totality. EV do not do well in comparison. I am waiting to see if there is better battery tech coming.

Graeme wrote: "Given collapsing EV demand and an inability for the Western world to build cars at a price point competitive with ICE cars, is TESLA at its current share price the short opportunity of the century?"

I seriously doubt it. I can see Tesla move over to hydrogen of another power source if the battery does not work out. It is a status car and that might keep it afloat. Right now they do not pay road tax, I wonder what happens when that moves over to mileage charge in the future.

Good post, Graeme. Some of it I knew, some I didn't.

Philip linked to some interesting tech a while back, showing how large numbers of EVs might be charged. I don't see this happening, particularly in an undeveloping country like the UK.

If ICE is banned, one of 2 things will happen:

1. Our roads will resemble a Mad Max movie.
2. Motoring will become the preserve of the few.

As I've said before, I could live without my car but only if public transport improves. That shows no sign of happening.

I like your cradle to the grave point, Papaphilly. It's a nice way of putting it.

As this is moving away from the Musk topic into the more general and ongoing EV discussion, I'll post there.

FCC insider dissents and outs that Musk is the subject of the weaponisation of federal 3-letter agencies against him by the Biden admin while ordinary americans are harmed.

"Last year, after Elon Musk acquired Twitter, President Biden gave federal agencies the green light to go after him.

And they have.

Today, the FCC adds itself to the growing list of federal agencies engaging in the regulatory harassment of Elon Musk.


REF: https://twitter.com/BrendanCarrFCC/st..."

This is just one of the many ways that the Biden Administration uses government agencies to quell free speech. WTF? (if I can also use a three-letter acronym) And by the way, did Trump ever attempt to hinder free speech? Or turn his back on the press and the country and refuse to answer questions? I'm tired of looking at Biden's back.

Still my hero, Musk.

Cybertruck totals Toyota Corolla with minimal damage to the Tesla vehicle....

REF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nol7j...

Short of going head-on with a beer can F-150, that econobox and pick-up collision would have ended the same regardless of the makes and models. That's just what happens when a crumple zone heavy unibody runs into a steel bumpered body-on-(heavy) chassis.

Ultimately, that car performed precisely as designed. It maintained the integrity of the passenger compartment while sacrificing everything else to dissipate the impact energy. Because it's a disposable car, mom, dad, the kids, and the family dog can walk away from crashes which in older models would have been bloody messes.

J. wrote: "Short of going head-on with a beer can F-150, that econobox and pick-up collision would have ended the same regardless of the makes and models. That's just what happens when a crumple zone heavy un..."

What he said.

Elon Musk Has Used Illegal Drugs, Worrying Leaders at Tesla and SpaceX
https://www.wsj.com/business/elon-mus...

Drugs are bad, mmmkay. Don't do drugs. If you do drugs, you could end up a multi-billionaire rocket industrialist and free speech activist who could date anyone you want...

"And claims were made ..."

They've voided Musk's 56 Bil package from Tesla, now they want some modest remuneration: https://www.reuters.com/legal/could-6...

I read the article, but I didn't understand it. What's the gist of it, Nik?

It's about the unprecedented fee, sued for by the lawyers maybe on par with the unprecedented package Musk wanted from Tesla, but was denied due to their efforts. Just one of those legal peculiarities, involving big money, nothing more.

So Musk can still be my hero. Nobody's knocked him off the pedestal yet. We all need heros.

Scout wrote: "So Musk can still be my hero. Nobody's knocked him off the pedestal yet. We all need heros."

C'mon....We all know your real hero is Ian...8^)

April Fools from Space Daddy
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1...

:-)

Musk in China, supposedly to promote retiring drivers: https://www.reuters.com/business/auto...

Oh, hell, that's not good.

Let's see where it goes

You have to admit he never is boring.

True. The man doesn't just sit around enjoying his billions; he acts and takes chances and takes a stand.

Musk knew, we didn't https://www.reuters.com/legal/tesla-s...
but lets see how it ends up

I don't know what he did or when. Some of it may be true and, if so, not good. What I do know is that he's a target because he revealed that the Biden administration exerted undue influence on Twitter to suppress information during Covid. And, after seeing how unfairly Trump has been treated, Elon may be at a disadvantage even if he's innocent.

Still my hero. Musk is now publicly endorsing Trump’s presidential reelection bid. And the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported Monday that Musk is now planning on supporting Trump’s presidential campaign by committing $45 million a month to a new super PAC backing the former president.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/16/busine...

What's your take on this idea?
"Former President Donald Trump said Thursday he would create a government efficiency commission to audit the entire federal government, an idea suggested by billionaire Elon Musk, who would lead it." https://apnews.com/article/donald-tru...

Auditing is a fairly customary practice. Not always good intentions have good results, but we'll judge if and when they come to fruition...

Considering that Congress ignores their own General Accounting Office...

"Following weeks of speculation, NASA finally made it official on Saturday: Two astronauts who flew to the International Space Station on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft in June will not return home on that vehicle. Instead, the agency has asked SpaceX to use its Crew Dragon spacecraft to fly astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams back to Earth."
https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/08...

Wouldn't be surprised if Musk bought Boeing.
In general, I expect Elon to fully capitalize his connections in new administration...

Back in 2021, Musk tweeted that "anyone over 70 years old should be barred from running for political office." Interesting. https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-...
He also said, "I think one of the biggest risks to civilization is the low birth rate and the rapidly declining birthrate." He didn't explain his reasoning.

Some Geopolitics for you. As you know birthrates have various names that show a society. Replacement birthrate means literally having enough babies to replace the portion of population that dies every years 1 for 1. Generally is is 2.1 per family. To keep a steady population. That covers both parents and the odd early death and for those that do not have children or less than the 2.1.

Declining birthrates literately mean less babies being born than the year prior. This should be thought of as a trend and not one year alone because rates go up and down by year. However if the declining birthrate runs long enough and falls below replacement birthrate for a long enough period, then an odd effect happens. The old outnumber the young which is not deadly until the old retires in sufficient numbers that the young cannot replace them in sufficient numbers in the work force and then it is less young supporting more old. The old take more resources toward the end of their life than early on thus placing strains on society. Oddly, it will speed up the decline of standard of living and it will speed up as time moves forward.

Tesla Just Unveiled a New Mezcal—and We Got a Taste
https://robbreport.com/food-drink/spi...

Did you get a taste? :-)

This may be given as a present to anyone purchasing Tesla. I doubt there will be many buyers...

Mysterious New Asteroid Turns Out To Be Tesla Roadster in Space
https://www.newsweek.com/new-asteroid...

:-) I was looking at the sky the other night, and I wondered how you can differentiate a star or planet from a satellite.

Scout wrote: ":-) I was looking at the sky the other night, and I wondered how you can differentiate a star or planet from a satellite."

Stars twinkle and Planets do not. Satellites move across they sky quickly.

So light that's moving is a satellite. I'd guess a drone would be moving even faster. Would a drone light blink? What color?

Scout wrote: "So light that's moving is a satellite. I'd guess a drone would be moving even faster. Would a drone light blink? What color?"

Just talking about your average drone and not one that is used in a show, the colors traditionally are red, green and white lights. Drone lights make blink or remain steady state depending on set up.

A quick clarification, the satellite looks like a planet that the light does not blink., but does move quickly across the sky.

BTW, there are guides telling you where to look and when in your area.