Maybe for a nice tip, he’ll let you drive? via
The Tesla Taxi arrives in Vienna
Author
Founder, Publisher, and Editorial Director of the 925, LLC publications.
Seth Weintraub is an award-winning engineer, journalist, and publisher who won back-to-back Neal Awards from 2007–2010 during his three-plus years covering Apple and Google at IDG’s Computerworld.
From 2010-2011, Weintraub covered all things Google for Fortune Magazine, amassing an impressive rolodex of Google contacts and a love for Silicon Valley tech culture.
It turns out that his hobby – the 9to5Mac news site – was always his favorite, and in 2011, he went full time adding his Fortune Google followers to 9to5Google, in addition to adding the style and commerce component of 9to5Toys gear and deals site. In 2013, Weintraub bought one of Tesla’s first Model S EVs off of the assembly line, which began his love affair with electric vehicles and green energy — this, in turn, became Electrek in 2014. To cover the burgeoning world of drones and UAVs led by China’s DJI, DroneDJ was born in 2018, and then more recently, Connectthewatts and SpaceExplored were launched to cover connected fitness and space.
From 1997-2007, Weintraub was a Global IT director and Web Developer for a number of companies, with stints at multimedia and branding agencies in Paris, Los Angeles, New York, Sydney, Hong Kong, Madrid, and London before becoming a publisher/writer.
Seth received a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California with a minor in Multimedia and Creative Technology in 1997. In 2004, he received a Master’s from NYU’s Tisch School of the Art’s ITP program.
Weintraub is a licensed single-engine private pilot and a certified open-water scuba diver, and he spent over a year backpacking to 60 cities in 23 countries. Whatever free time exists is now guaranteed to his wonderful girlfriend, Alana, and two amazing sons.
More: About.me. BI 2014 profile.
Tips: seth@925.co, or llsethj on Threads/BlueSky or link at top of page.
1990s interview of Elon Musk as he was starting Paypal
The hair grew back, the wife had 5 kids then split, the Mclaren got totalled and X.com turned into Paypal and set up Musk with enough money to fund Tesla, Space X and a little left over to fund Solar City.
Tesla Model S convertible
New York/SolarCity announce the largest solar manufacturing facility in Western Hemisphere at RiverBend
Big news for those who are looking to Solar to power the world’s transportation over the next century:New York’s Governor Cuomo:
Governor Cuomo Announces New SolarCity GigaFactory Complex at RiverBend
Will create nearly 5,000 jobs upstate, with over 3,000 in Buffalo
Governor breaks ground on largest solar manufacturing facility in Western Hemisphere
Albany, NY (September 23, 2014)
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a new, one million-square-foot site for the future SolarCity GigaFactory facility, which will manufacture solar panels at the RiverBend site in South Buffalo. The Governor was in Buffalo today to officially break ground on the project, which will create more than 3,000 jobs in Western New York alone and a total of nearly 5,000 jobs in the state. The SolarCity facility will be the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, with more than 1 gigawatt of annual solar capacity when it reaches full production.
“We said four years ago that we have to change the mentality of Buffalo, and every day since we have been working hard to continue this new energy and momentum in Western New York. Less than a year after announcing our original plan, one of the leading solar companies in the world is coming on board and making this the largest advancement for Buffalo’s economy in a generation,” Governor Cuomo said. “This is bigger than anything we could have imagined. It is the perfect metaphor for Buffalo, where the fundamental strength was the available hydropower. That hydropower now, that renewable energy now, will fuel the renewable energy industry for the future. I am incredibly proud that the state is playing a role in this project, because Buffalo’s future is New York’s future, and today that future is brighter than ever.”
The SolarCity GigaFactory will be located at the Buffalo High-Tech Manufacturing Innovation Hub at RiverBend, a new START-UP NY site owned by the State University of New York’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. Since RiverBend was first unveiled in November 2013 by Governor Cuomo, SolarCity purchased Silevo, one of the designated anchor RiverBend tenants, and assumed an agreement with the State to increase more than fivefold the manufacturing capability of the clean energy facility. Silevo is a company that develops and manufactures high-efficiency silicon solar cells and modules.
SolarCity, the nation’s largest solar power provider, will spend $5 billion over the next decade in connection with the creation and operation of the facility in New York, and New York State will invest a total of $750 million through the Buffalo Billion and other state resources to establish infrastructure, construct the 1.2 million square foot facility and purchase required equipment. The state investment will replicate the model created in Albany at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, in which rather than giving money directly to private companies, the State invests in core infrastructure and equipment and uses that equipment as the incentive to attract companies to establish themselves in these new high-tech facilities. The factory will be online and in high volume manufacturing as early as the first quarter of 2016.
SolarCity’s decision to invest and grow in Western New York comes on the heels of the highest-ever number of jobs in the state, with a count of 7.6 million. In August alone, Buffalo added 4,100 positions out of a statewide total of 137,100. SolarCity will create over 1,450 direct manufacturing jobs at the new facility, and employ more than 2,000 additional workers in the state to provide solar services in the next five years. The facility will create more than 1,400 manufacturing support and service provider jobs in addition to the jobs that SolarCity creates directly.
SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive said, “Governor Cuomo shares our view that the United States can return to its place atop the world in advanced technology manufacturing. Thanks to the Governor’s leadership, we will be able to quintuple the output capacity and economic impact of Silevo’s original commitment. I couldn’t be more excited to partner with the state to make Western New York a global capital for clean energy development.”
Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, Chief Executive Officer and Officer in Charge of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, said, “This is a crowning achievement for Governor Cuomo’s Buffalo Billion initiative and his strategic vision to bolster New York’s burgeoning high-tech economy. Under the Governor’s leadership, the nanotechnology boom that began at CNSE in Albany has now spread clear across the state, creating tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investments. Partnering with a global powerhouse like SolarCity on such a tremendous scale solidifies New York’s reputation as a world leader in next generation technology development and establishes Buffalo as the epicenter for solar panel manufacturing. As we have seen at our other technology hubs across the state, this will spur significant additional growth and investment. We congratulate Governor Cuomo, SolarCity and the people of Western New York, who are truly the region’s greatest resource. We look forward to building the future together.”
Howard Zemsky, Western New York Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chair and Larkin Development Group Managing Partner, said, “We have the workforce and the universities that make Buffalo a great place for advanced manufacturing. RiverBend is a definitive sign of Western New York’s transformation and resurgence.”
Western New York Regional Economic Development Council Co-chair and President of the University at Buffalo Satish K. Tripathi said, “RiverBend brings our region the jobs of the future that will provide a new generation with another great reason to move or stay in the area.
The project development is led by LP Ciminelli as Construction Management along with: EYP, Project Architect; CHA, Civil Engineer; and M+W Group, Mechanical Engineer.
State Senator Timothy M. Kennedy said, “When Governor Cuomo came to Buffalo last November to announce the Riverbend site, we were ecstatic at the prospect of the 900 jobs promised. But now, with the announcement of 3,000 good-paying jobs coming to Buffalo, more jobs than anyone thought possible, Buffalo’s future is brighter and stronger than ever before. This project teams up one of the most dynamic companies in America, SolarCity, with what is quickly becoming one of the most business-friendly states in the country, New York State. This project would not have happened without Governor Cuomo’s continued support for Western New York in conjunction with his Buffalo Billion initiative. This is a new and exciting day for Buffalo, and I am very proud to support this project.”
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said, “The excitement accompanying SolarCity’s investment in Erie County, with a $5 billion investment and 3,000 local jobs, builds on the drumbeat of positive news that’s being heard all across our region. Unemployment is down, population is up, and the word is getting out that Erie County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. After years of difficult circumstances and growing pains, Buffalo is back and ready to do business in the new world economy. Thanks to Governor Cuomo and private partners like SolarCity who are a part of this resurgence, our brightest days are ahead.”
City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said, “This is what it’s all about – putting shovels in the ground and people to work right now. This game changing project at the Buffalo High-Tech Manufacturing Hub at Riverbend will create over 1,000 new jobs, strengthening Buffalo’s economy and continuing the economic transformation taking place in our city. I’m grateful for the partnership with Governor Andrew Cuomo. By working together, we share a vision and commitment to Buffalo, providing the right resources to support critical redevelopment at this remediated site and others that will deliver new opportunities for Buffalo. Today has been a long time coming but now that it has arrived, we have SolarCity coming to Buffalo. What another great moment in Buffalo’s history.”
Consumer Reports video compares Tesla Model S vs. BMW i8 (Spoiler: No comparison)
UK drivers rate the Tesla Model S [video]
Tesla officially announces v6 Software
Although it has already leaked more than a few times, here is the official Blog post. Absent are some of the pre-announced features like music improvements:
Today, we’re announcing details about new software being delivered to Model S customers through an over-the-air update. The new features further personalize the Model S ownership experience and help make the car smarter about owners’ individual preferences. This is the latest in a series of software updates issued since we launched Model S in 2012, enabling new features such as hill start assist, smart suspension controls, and energy saving sleep mode.
The Software v6.0 update introduces traffic-based navigation and commute advice, provides an in-car view of daily schedules, enables location-based air suspension settings, and allows owners to name their Model S and start it remotely using their mobile phone.
New features include:
Traffic-Based Navigation (BETA)
The Model S navigation system will be a lot smarter. Navigation will now provide route suggestions based on real-time traffic and calculate estimated travel times accordingly. It will also update dynamically as traffic conditions change throughout your trip. This feature will also take into account traffic data shared by other Tesla vehicles on the road.Commute Advice
Navigation isn’t particularly useful when commuting between home and work because most of us usually know the way. But if traffic has an effect on a typical route, it’s helpful to know in advance. Now, Model S will monitor traffic before you even start your weekday commute and alert you with a pop-up message on the 17-inch touchscreen when a faster route is available.Calendar (BETA)
Model S will synch with your smartphone to bring you a large in-car view of your daily schedule. If you’ve already set locations for particular events, you don’t have to worry about re-entering the details into your car’s navigation system. Instead, you can just tap on the event in your calendar to bring up route directions.Remote Start
You will have the ability to start your Model S using only your smartphone. This function, which is particularly useful if you forget your key fob, will be accessible through the Tesla mobile app and requires you to input your password for each use.Location-Based Air Suspension
If you regularly drive on roads or driveways that require higher than normal clearance, your Model S will remember where you previously selected high ride heights and automatically adjust the air suspension at those locations. This feature will be especially handy for people who have steep driveways. (Model S must be equipped with air suspension for this function to work.)Name Your Car
You can now make your Model S nickname official. The car’s name will appear in the Tesla mobile app and in the About Your Tesla section on the touchscreen.Power Management Options
A new power management option will put Model S into energy saving mode at night to help maximize available energy. There’ll also be an option that allows the Tesla mobile app to always connect immediately to the car, while still saving power.This software update represents Tesla’s commitment to improving Model S for customers even long after it has left the assembly line. With each update, Model S becomes more attuned and responsive to its owner’s needs without requiring excessive user input. We will continuously fine-tune the software and work on new features in response to customer feedback.
Tesla’s new ‘Speed Assist’ and ‘Lane Departure’ features use rearview mirror camera to keep drivers safe
A TeslaMotorsForums member found some new features in the new Model S 6.0 manual. The first, Speed Assist, actually captures speed limit signs as you are driving around and then tells you via the speedometer display how fast over the speed limit you are going. it also appears to geocache these from other Model S owners into a database from which Tesla can pull and confirm the speed limits.
The ‘Lane Departure’ feature is a little bit more useful (below). Like in some other cars, it detects when you are drifting into another lane and warns you.
Both features become available when the car is travelling over 30 miles per hour.
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Formula E profiled by BBC (starts in Beijing this weekend!)
Gigafactory address revealed (Eddie Grant style)
Official Gigafactory address to be: Electric Avenue, McCarran, Nevada
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 11, 2014
Tesla is 3 years away from producing semi-autonomous driving vehicles
TOKYO — Tesla Motors plans to develop its own autonomous driving system, with part of the technology to be introduced in three years, said Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk.”Full auto-pilot capability is going to happen, probably, in the five- or six-year time frame,” the head of the U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer told The Nikkei on Monday. “The overall system and software will be programmed by Tesla, but we will certainly use sensors and subcomponents from many companies,” Musk said.
Tesla aims to get a head start by incorporating some of the technology in a new electric vehicle slated to go into production around three years from now, he added. This car is expected to be priced at around $35,000.
Saleen Tesla Model S explained [video]
Tesla gets $1.25B tax break to build their Gigafactory in Nevada
(abbreviated video below)
To be honest, I think CEO Elon Musk was always planning for Nevada. There are lithium mines there. IT is a short rail ride away from Tesla’s Fremont, CA plant. The other states and redundant ground breaking was to get a better deal and keep the politicians honest.
It would appear it worked. Tesla got a sweet $1.25B tax package to build in Nevada. Breakdown below
Some nice tips and tricks for Model S owners
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVojflgCwT4]
In this video, Nick Howe, author of ‘Owning Model S’, offers some tips and tricks for Tesla owners. Have you ever wondered how to reboot the displays, find extra storage, improve interior lighting, learn more about the key fob, fuse box, battery pack, chargeport, and moreFrom the author of
OWNING MODEL S, NICK HOWE
Reno, Nevada will be site of the Tesla Gigafactory
The Gigafactory location was the topic of discussion when I went on Bloomberg in February. A few reasons I thought it is Nevada’s to lose:
- Nevada is geographically close to Tesla’s Fremont CA plant. Northern Nevada is on a quick direct Train route.
- Northern Nevada also is the US’s only meaningful Lithium mine. Another huge deposit is located in near by Wyoming.
- Nevada’s energy prices are higher than New Mexico or Arizona but still relatively low. Tesla however plans to use Solar and wind power, both of which northern Nevada has in spades
- Texas won’t let Tesla sell cars direct to customers in the state. Arizona can’t go a year without trying to pass some crazy laws against gays, immigrants or other minorities.
- Nevada has low taxes and pro-corporate laws.
- Elon Musk likes going to nearby Burning Man
The AP Reports today:
Tesla has chosen an industrial park outside Reno to build its battery “gigafactory,” a person familiar with Tesla’s plans said Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement had been made — that was scheduled for Thursday afternoon at Nevada’s Capitol.
…
Aside from low tax rates and business-friendly workplace laws, Nevada offers plenty of sun and wind to generate “green” power, and relative proximity to the company’s car manufacturing plant in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The industrial park 15 miles east of Reno also is near a deposit of lithium, an essential element to produce the battery cells.
Formula E begins this month in Beijing and the silence is deafening
Profiled in the WSJ, the Formula E series will be an interesting series this year. Besides the lack of internal combustion sound, the biggest difference will be the pit stops which will have the driver actually hop into another car rather than getting fueled up.
This backpack has an electric skateboard built in
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBEbv7OIQ_8]
This product looks like a great product for that last kilometer of travel like at airports, train stations to home, etc. It isn’t real yet (Kickstarter obv.) but it doesn’t look that hard to do. As always, the devil is in the details.
Movpak via Techcrunch
Excellent DIY Electric Longboard tutorial
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tHmGSwrgxA]
Oh man, looks like so much fun.
Nissan Leaf to get redesign and double range for mid 2016?
Not only is the car redesigned but claimed to get more than double the current 85Mile range. The design is definitely more pleasing though I have to wonder what that huge front grill is all about.
Nissan is hard at work developing the next-generation Leaf, focusing on improving the range with new battery tech and – as our exclusive images show – a more conventional look. The new car is expected to be on sale late in 2016, with prices starting around £17,000…Nissan bosses are promising new battery technology is on the way, with better energy density for a more usable pure electric vehicle. A figure of about 186 miles is likely to be the target.
Two New Yorkers take out Palo Alto magazine ad to request features from Tesla, CEO Elon Musk responds
[tweet https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/503077090803986432]
Surely there had to be a better way? Personally, I’ve never wanted for much of this but I’ve also never had cars that had these features in the past either. Full ad pasted below:
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BMW i3s get their own solar charging point from EIGHT
[tweet https://twitter.com/arthurandpuff/status/502199076478128128]
It’s a nice design but they will need a lot more surface area to be effective.
Nevada’s Tesla Gigafactoy construction site work called ‘Biblical’ in scale
You don’t often trot out the word ‘Biblical’ when talking about a construction sites but a Reno developer saw fit:
“Building that pad in three and a half weeks was biblical,” Gilman said. “Work has not stopped. There’s still ongoing things, building catch basins, rerouting flood control, bank stabilization. But the pad is finished. It’s ready.”
Tesla Model S OS v6.0 to begin rolling out to customers with Calendar app, Traffic/navigation improvements, power savings and iPhone starting
There are some impressive new updates as part of Tesla’s long-anticipated OS 6.0 update shown in the above screenshots sent to us by a tipster. Maps/Navigation and Calendar app are probably the most important but the big surprise as you can see in slide 1 above is that Tesla will allow users to start and drive the Model S from the iPhone without a key. It appears that an Android version via app update will follow in the coming month.
Tesla V6 software upload coming soon. Need to make sure it is "awesome" – Lord Business
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 9, 2014
While the update is big, it does not include some of the bigger items that iPhone-using CEO Elon Musk has promised for the platform including Android Virtual Machine, Voice controlled song selection, additional suspension control and more.
Thanks Michael!
Funniest Vine ever?
https://vine.co/v/M3d5KmUTzq2