April 19th, 2020 by Steve Hanley

Fisker has taken the wraps off a ruggedized version of its Ocean electric SUV it calls the Force-E. According to Forbes, the Force-E is an extreme off-road package that includes a 300 horsepower all-wheel drive powertrain that offers more torque than the standard Ocean. Other than that, it has been given the full The Rubicon Trail aint got nuthin I cant handle off-road treatment a raised heavy duty suspension, big knobbly tires mounted on tough looking wheels, a scuff plate to protect the front suspension, a roof rack with integrated off road lights, and tow hooks sprouting from every corner.

Image credit: Fisker via Instagram

There are other delights as well AC outlets for plugging in power tools miles from civilization, a fresh water tank accessible from outside the vehicle, virtually indestructible upholstery and interior trim, and a full-size spare integrated into the hood in lieu of a frunk.

The company is pitching the Force-E package as more than an ultra-tough looking setup for those who like to go out into the boonies and drink lite beer on the weekends. It thinks it will appeal to search and rescue services, utility companies, and others whose daily existence requires venturing far from the nearest paved road.

In a press release, Fisker says, The Force-E package was initiated to cover market segments including rescue vehicles, military personnel movements on military bases, police vehicles, municipalities and international organizations promoting a cleaner planet. Over 22,000 people from 116 countries have shown interest in the 2022 Fisker Ocean EV, with majority of paid reservations coming from North America, the company says. The Force-E package itself has gottenan overwhelming number of inquiries, according to Fisker. No pricing information has been provided by the company at this time.

The Fisker Ocean is scheduled to start deliveries next year, with full production coming in 2022 just in time to run head on into the Tesla Cybertruck, which also will offer some sterling off-road capabilities. The Fisker Force-E looks like a bulked up conventional car, while the Cybertruck looks like something left over from the set of the last Mad Max movie with a dash of Lost In Space thrown in for good measure. Fisker says it has 22,000 expressions of interest. Tesla says it has 250,000 paid reservations.

The Fisker Ocean Force-E is actually quite appealing if you are into the off-road scene. The question now is whether the company can actually produce any vehicles. There have been years of talk, promises, hints, and hype. Now its time to put up or shut up, and may the best truck win.

Follow CleanTechnica on Google News.It will make you happy & help you live in peace for the rest of your life.

Tags: Fisker, Fisker Ocean Force-E, off road electric SUV, Tesla Cybertruck

Steve Hanley Steve writes about the interface between technology and sustainability from his homes in Florida and Connecticut or anywhere else the Singularity may lead him. You can follow him onTwitter but not on any social media platforms run by evil overlords like Facebook.

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Fisker Reveals Its Answer To The Tesla Cybertruck - CleanTechnica

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Tesla shares are at it again, rising for the ninth straight day. The stock rose 2.1% to more than $745 Thursday.

The shares (ticker: TSLA) have been on a seemingly unstoppable run. They are up roughly 65% since April 2, when the stock had the audacity to drop 5.6% to just $454 a share. The stock is now up about 80% year to date, crushing the comparable double-digit drops of the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average. Whats more, shares are up more than 30% for the week. The Dow is down for the week. The S&P is up slightly.

The gains are leaving investors wondering whats going on. In short, lots.

Tesla stock was upgraded recently to Hold from Sell by Credit Suisse. Goldman Sachs launched coverage on Wednesday with a Buy rating, further boosting shares.

(No new Street research on Tesla was published Thursday, based on data from various news-aggregation sites.)

When any stock spikes, short covering is often cited. Tesla shares are more heavily shorted than shares of other companies. About 20 million shares of Tesla, or 14% of stock available for trading, has been sold short. Shorting refers to bearish investors borrowing stock they dont own and selling it, betting on near-term price declines. Any recent short bets have turned out badly, which can generate a flurry of buying as short positions are covered.

Sometimes stocks rise just because that is what it has been doing. Traders love stocks with high volatility. Short-term trading gains feed on themselves. Trading gains, after all, are possible only when stocks move significantly. Conversely, it is impossible to make a lot of money trading a stock that barely moves. The change in daily value is too small. Big daily gains attract interest from many different kinds of stock-market denizens.

In addition to all of that, earnings are coming on April 29. The period ahead of a quarterly report can also generate more trading activity as investors position themselves for the coming event. Based on options markets, Tesla shares are expected to move between 10% and 20% when numbers are reported. It s a big range, again reflecting the recent volatility.

The stock has moved about 14% up or down, on average, the last three times quarterly results were reported.

The coming earnings report and conference call will likely focus on car productionwhich stopped in March because of the coronavirusnear-term sales and new product introductions. The Tesla Model Y is out and is expected to become the bestselling model the car company has produced. Americans especially love larger, SUV-size vehicles. SUVs, trucks and crossover vehicles account for a majority of U.S. car sales.

The rally has left Tesla shares trading for 400 times estimated 2020 earnings. It is a big multiple, but Tesla is growing fast. The stock trades for 64 times estimated 2021 earnings of almost $12 a share.

Tesla has also left its peers in the dust. Other U.S. auto makers stocks are down about 45% year to date. Car parts providers are down about 40% year to date. The Russell 3000 Auto & Auto Parts Index is down just 11% year to date, but Tesla is more than half of the Index, measured by market capitalization. In fact, Tesla is worth more, at $136 billion, than the other 23 members in the index combined.

Write to Al Root at allen.root@dowjones.com

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Tesla Stock Rose for the 9th Straight Day. Heres Whats Behind Its Run. - Barron's

By William GallagherTuesday, April 21, 2020, 07:08 am PT (10:08 am ET)

Apple will still not say that it is making a car, despite filing legally-required documentation, and also countless patents regarding the interior and exterior. Now, though, those countless patents include one that details how Apple intends to use an electrical motor that is designed for cars.

Titled "Electric motor with bar wound stator and end turn cooling," US Patent No 10,630,127, discusses the technology that Apple has chosen, and has now been granted, for a potential Apple Car.

The patent details specifically a three-phrase AC induction motor, which is only one of several possible electrical motor systems for cars. However, it uses the same squirrel cage motor technology that Tesla does.

Apple will have chosen this technology specifically for the same reasons that Tesla has. It can generate a high starting torque when the voltage/frequency is controlled, it's cheaper, and is also useful over rugged terrain. These motors can be also be expected to have a longer life, and need less maintenance, than, for instance, a permanent magnet drive.

In comparison, hybrid vehicles from Ford and Nissan use permanent magnet synchronous motors. They are more efficient than induction motors, but they also cost more and need greater maintenance. Plus their magnets tend to wear out and need replacement over time.

Three-phase induction motors are likely chosen because the technology is relatively cheap to build, requires little maintenance, and can generate a high starting torque when voltage/frequency is controlled. When properly controlled, a three-phase AC induction motor can be made to be 90% efficient. The problem is in the complexity of that control, though the patent does not explicitly detail Apple's systems for handling this.

Instead, Apple's patent concentrates on the motor technology paired with a method for dissipating heat from the engine. "[A] cooling structure [is] disposed in a thermally conductive relationship with at least one of the upper exterior ring surface or the lower exterior ring surface for receiving heat from the end turn ring," it says.

The patent is credited to five inventors, Dillon J. Thomasson, Kan Zhou, Rui Guan, Yateendra B. Deshpande, and William M. Prince. Thomasson, Zhou, and Guan are all previously credited on the related patent "Electric motor with shielded phase windings."

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Apple Car research focusing on use of Tesla-style induction motor - AppleInsider

GAIN Capital UK Limited (trading as City Index) is an execution-only service provider. This material, whether or not it states any opinions, is for general information purposes only and it does not take into account your personal circumstances or objectives. This material has been prepared using the thoughts and opinions of the author and these may change. However, City Index does not plan to provide further updates to any material once published and it is not under any obligation to keep this material up to date. This material is short term in nature and may only relate to facts and circumstances existing at a specific time or day. Nothing in this material is (or should be considered to be) financial, investment, legal, tax or other advice and no reliance should be placed on it.

No opinion given in this material constitutes a recommendation by City Index or the author that any particular investment, security, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. The material has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research. Although City Index is not specifically prevented from dealing before providing this material, City Index does not seek to take advantage of the material prior to its dissemination. This material is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.

For further details see our full non-independent research disclaimer and quarterly summary.

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What To Expect In Tesla Q1 Earnings - City Index

The Tesla Model S and Model X come standard with Bioweapon Defense Mode, which is possible due to a massive HEPA filter.If you haven't seen it or replaced it, you're likely to be shocked by its size.According to Tesla, the filter is "100 times more effective than premium automotive filters. It removes at least 99.97% of fine particulate matter and gaseous pollutants, as well as bacteria, viruses, pollen, and mold spores."Is it really necessary, though?

There's a pretty good chance that going out in your car is not going to make you highly susceptible to contracting the coronavirus, but we're not doctors. At this point, it seems even doctors and scientists aren't 100-percent sure about many details related to this new disease. We can tell you that we have seen many people walking alone outside with masks and gloves on, and just about as many people driving down the road with their windows closed and masks and gloves on.

Clearly, some people are extremely concerned about the potential for getting sick. Even when they're alone, practicing social distancing, and not touching anything except things only they've touched themselves, they're wearing gloves and masks. In a perfect world, the air inside your car should be clean, right? All cars have air filters for that purpose. However, not all air filters are created equal.

For all practical purposes, a massive HEPA filter is probably unnecessary in your car. However, if you're concerned about all those gas cars you're following, it's sure to help. If you or one of your family members has asthma or another breathing condition, the excessive filter could prove very helpful. It probably provides some peace of mind during an outbreak, too.Check out the video to see the mammoth Tesla filter and how to replace it.

What's inside Tesla Biodefense Filter?

Elon Musk made a Bio Weapon Defense Mode! We find out how to replace the Filter. This thing is huge!

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Tesla's Bioweapon Filter Is Another Line Of Defense Against COVID-19 - InsideEVs

Chinese automakers are looking for novel ways to reach customers as people in China shy away from going outdoors.

To curb the spread of Covid-19, the new flu-like virus that has rocked the country over the past few weeks, cities across the country have imposed strict rules limiting peoples movement. The epidemic has had a profound impact on Chinas auto sector, with numerous manufacturers repeatedly postponing the reopening of their production facilities. Just one-third of Chinese automakers have resumed production, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said on Feb. 13.

Beyond production issues, EV makers are struggling to sell their cars. Electric vehicle makers Tesla and its Chinese rival Nio said last week that they expect significant adverse effects on their business as a result of the virus. Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association, said that only 5% of car dealerships in China had reopened for business last week.

As a result, EV makers in China have moved the battlefield from offline stores to the virtual world in a bid for customers attention. What have these companies been doing on Chinese social media and live-streaming platforms to win the favor of potential car buyers? Are these attempts to maintain their presence and boost sales truly effective?

In a step further from traditional auto showrooms and toward contemporary Chinese retail mores, Tesla opened aTMall digital storeon April 16. On April 21, Tesla started broadcasting a car-themed EV livestream for an hour a day (one pm to two pm).

From the TechNode archives, we bring you a look at the companys awkward first steps into livestreaming, during the high lockdown of February. Originally available only as a members e-mail newsletter, were now making the piece free for all readers. Start your free trial now.

Nio, Teslas most high-profile rival in China, has joined the attention economy.

As people hunker down at home to limit potential exposure to Covid-19, the EV maker has started live-streaming an eclectic collection of shows 12 hours a day, hoping to capture the minds and wallets of the countrys upper-middle class. A team of influence peddlers host the shows, including stylish employees and influential car owners.

Nio is not the only EV maker to join the live-streaming battle. Established automakers from BMW to Chinas Geely are exploiting the format in pursuit of customers. These automakers have taken to the enormously popular short-video platforms Douyin (known internationally as TikTok) and Kuaishou. These two platforms were among the top five Chinese mobile apps with more than 200 million daily active users during this years Spring Festival holidays, according to the latest report by market research firm QuestMobile.

Live-streaming appears to be a perfect fit for auto sales at a moment when fears of the epidemic have left shops bereft of customers and trying to prop up sales during a continuing downturn in the auto market.

For Nio, the move aligns with the companys ongoing efforts to expand its community and Nio House clubhouses online.

In one live-streamed video, Nio employees can be seen taking an ES6 electric crossover out for a drive on a frigid sunny morning, giving viewers a hands-on experience on what its like to use the companys assisted driver system, Nio Pilot. In another video, a host compares a Tesla with one of the companys own cars, pointing out differences in design and workmanship.

Nio owners, who pride themselves on their loyalty to the EV maker, are participating in the companys online crusade. TechNode joined in a nighttime livestream hosted by Wang Zhengyang, a longtime Nio owner who lives in northeastern Chinas Heilongjiang province. Within the first 30 minutes of the show, Wang fielded more than a dozen questions from livestream viewers, all from within his parked car. Queries ranged from the possible price of Nios recently launched EC6 coupe to the range of electric vehicles in colder climates. Wang also presented tutorials on the basics of driving an EV.

As the first ES6 owner in one of the coldest provinces in China, Wang spent three hours addressing problems of other customers all over the country. His shows have continued for more than 10 days, according to the program lists Nio has published within its app.

What really differentiates Nio from other automakers in this online battle for customers attention is the variety of their content, essentially moving leisure activities from the offline world to online. Nio has presented dozens of different reality shows in real time this month. From teaching women about how to apply makeup to sharing secrets for brewing coffee, Nios sales officers are constantly seeking out topics of interest for their potential customers.

The move originated with Nio Houses, the companys exclusive clubhouses for customers in its flagship stores. Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, Nio owners had organized events and made connections in these spaces, which are equipped with a co-working space, a caf, and even a childcare center.

In an online network that is not subject to the restrictions of space, Nio is not only trying to draw the attention of customers with different interests and backgrounds, but also fulfilling an ambitious goal: building connections with its community using a customer-centric strategy. Nios customer loyalty is the companys strength, and it is playing to that strength to solidify its reputation.

Nio is not alone in its online crusade. Tesla has also taken to short videos and live-streaming in China, but unlike its competitor, the American EV maker has suffered from poor planning and unprofessional hosts.

On Feb. 8, just one day after Nio launched its revitalized online marketing campaign, two Tesla stores in the Pudong area of Shanghai opened accounts on Douyin. Tesla stores in other Chinese cities have also set up Douyin accounts.

In comparison to Nio, Teslas official Douyin account consistently posts swanky, yet less focused, content that ranges from videos of the Cybertruck and Roadstar 2 to goofy skits. The companys default policy has been to let its local stores determine what content they post. Tesla has yet to designate a person to develop a central content strategy, two Tesla salespeople said when contacted by TechNode last week.

In one of these livestreams, a young Tesla employee used the last 15 minutes of the show to make small talk with his dozen viewers. These conversations included urging a customer to take out a loan on a new car, adding that a RMB 40,000 (about $5,700) down payment on a car was quite cheap. The host went on to make fun of his own hair, saying that he was unhappy with the wavy hairstyle and complaining that salons have remained closed because of the outbreak.

In another livestream, a salesperson wearing a facemask walked around a Model X in a Tesla store, providing detailed information about the car. A female assistant took the camera and occasionally asked questions sent by viewers. The sales supervisor was knowledgeable about EVs and careful in the choice of his words. Faced with a hardball question about the cars wind noise, he acknowledged that the Model Xs fastback roof and frameless doors make wind noise reduction more challenging than for other cars. However, the distracting spectacle of several employees goofing off nearby spoiled the professionalism of the video. During the 20 minutes that TechNode viewed this livestream, fewer than 10 viewers were watching the show.

One possible explanation for Teslas less-focused content is less needsales have been good since the company began accepting orders for its Chinese-made Model 3. Meanwhile, Nio has warned that it expects deliveries to drop off in February.

EV makers in China have always taken an internet-first approach to their businesses. But the recent virus outbreak has made this modus operandi a matter of necessity rather than just convenience.

As the government has encouragedand constrainedpeople to stay indoors, the entire process of buying a car has moved online. Many EV companies are providing online showrooms via live-streaming, where potential buyers ask questions and interact with the host just as they would in a physical space.

Interested individuals can book a door-to-door test drive, in which the company brings the car to them and takes them back home after the drive. And if they decide to buy that electric vehicle, they can order and pay online, and have the car delivered directly to them.

A Tesla salesperson in Shanghai told TechNode that if the deposit for a China-made Model 3 is paid now, a test drive can be arranged for March. If the customer feels the vehicle isnt up to standard, the deposit will be returned.

However, the process relies on piquing the interest of customers, and so far, live-streaming has had mixed results for EV makers.

According to TechNodes investigation, vehicle-related live-streams do well in audience terms, often drawing more than 100 viewers per show. One Nio video detailing the companys self-driving capabilities attracted more than 1,000 viewers. However, the companys lifestyle livestreams typically get many fewer views.

Everyone cares more about hardcore content, an EV fan in Xiamen told TechNode, referring to videos about actual cars rather than other topics.

The diverse types of content are directed at different audiences: those who are interested in buying cars and those who are already part of the EV community. Nio in particular is clearly attempting to expand its Nio House concept to the online space by providing non-vehicle-related services and content.

Nevertheless, numerous viewers appear to be less than impressed with some of the livestreams, describing the live shows as boring and lacking in informative content. Given that these livestreams have yet to garner many viewers, its unclear how successful the format may be in converting viewers to buyers.

If EV live-streaming gains a widespread following, it could potentially allow companies to scale back their presence in brick-and-mortar stores, dramatically reducing overhead.

For now, however, this avenue of sales is all that EV companies really have, as many city governments have enforced temporary closures of nonessential stores to stop the spread of the virus.

Offline channels are basically blocked, said a user on microblogging platform Weibo. Now only those online can be used.

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Nio and Tesla turn to live stream events to boost sales - TechNode

It's almost impossible to separate the audacious reality of Tesla, elevating the EV from an unsexy commuter appliance to a powerful and luxurious statement of success, from its indomitable founder, Elon Musk. The company, like the founder, thrives on publicity that raises the profile of the whole enterprise. The Model S was tipping point, since the earlier Roadster was a niche product, providing serious real-world range and a huge network of ultra-fast chargers; accomplishments no full-line automakers have fully rivaled to date. The Model X SUV with its novel falcon doors came next, and more recently, the Model 3. As of this writing, the Model 3 is in limited production and is experiencing some quality-control hiccups. If Model 3 production can ramp up as Musk expects, Telsa is poised to perhaps secure its future. Whatever Tesla's fate, its meteoric rise as a purveyor of fast, green American sedans and SUVs has been incredible.

Select a ModelModel 3Model SModel XModel YRoadster

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Tesla Model Prices, Photos, News, Reviews and Videos | Autoblog

Loup Ventures managing partner Gene Munster discusses his outlook for Apple shares, reservations being made by for Teslas new Cybertruck, and why Lyft is a better investment than Uber.

Despite the often quirky behavior of its chief executive officer Elon Musk, Tesla is a hot brand, and thats not just the opinion of eager fans waiting to hop into the Cybertruck.

The company looks good on paper, too.

While shares of the electric carmaker fell 7 percent early this week amid coronavirus concerns, its market cap is still larger than General Motors,FordandFiat-Chryslers. Its stock is up 125 percent on the year, including a 100 percent uptick in the past 3 months.

In its 2019 annual report, Tesla said it generated $24.6 billion in revenue, and the companys Tesla Model 3 made theConsumer Reportslist oftop cars for the first time.

The Model 3 isnt the only top car the brand has, though. Heres a look at the newest car for each of its models, including the starting price, MPGe and a few standout features.

This model comes with rear-wheel drive, autopilot mode and an immersive audio system.

Starting price: $41,190.

MPGe: Up to 148 city miles or 132 highway miles.

The Model S features heated front and rear seats and a panoramic glass roof.

Starting price: $81,190.

MPGe: Up to 115 city miles or 107 highway miles.

DRIVERS WITH EXPENSIVE CARS LESS LIKELY TO STOP FOR PEDESTRIANS

This model has all-wheel drive and touts a high-tech cabin with space for up to seven.

Starting price: $86,190.

MPGe: Up to 105 city miles or 98 highway miles.

WHAT ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS DRIVING STATES?

This one touts a driving range of 300 miles and can go from zero-to-60-mph in 3.5 seconds.

Starting price: $40,200.

MPGe: Up to 129 city miles or 112 highway miles.

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The popular Cybertruck has a scratch-proof exterior and can tow up to 14,000 pounds.

Starting price: $39,900.

The EPA has not released any official ratings.

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A look at all the different Tesla models, including its Cybertruck - Fox Business

The best of the best?

Is it us or does Tesla just keep getting better? With every new vehicle launch, Tesla seems to continue to outdo itself. And we're not alone in that assessment. Andrew Erickson from the Youtube channel Tailosive EV recently posted a video explaining "Y the Model Y is the Best Tesla Yet", and we thought our readers might find in enjoyable.

With the launch of the Model Y just weeks away now, there's a lot of questions that will soon be answered.

How big of an effect will the Model Y have on Model 3 sales?

Will Model Y also cannibalize the Model X?

Will the Model Y become the number 1 selling tesla?

Is the Model Y a better Model 3, or is it just better for different uses?

Since the Model Y is basically a larger Model 3 with a hatchback instead of a trunk, will that many people defect from a Model 3 and pay the additional $4,000 for the added utility of a crossover? Erickson seems to think so. He thinks the added utility in the Model Y makes it the obvious choice as the best Tesla made to date.

Check out the video and let us know your thoughts. Is the Model Y going to be the new king of the Tesla lineup, or will the Model 3 hold off the initial wave of reservation holders and maintain the Tesla top sales crown? Well, at least until the Cybertruck hits the streets...

Price:

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Is The Model Y Truly The Best Tesla Yet? - InsideEVs

Tesla is facing heat from federal officials following another fatal accident involving Autopilot. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently found that Teslas semi-autonomous driving feature was partially to blame in a 2018 fatal car crash, adding yet another accident to the technologys already worrisome record. Whats even more concerning is that Tesla doesnt appear too interested in addressing these concerns.

That Teslas Autopilot has been implicated in a crash isnt new. In fact, after this investigation, NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt pointed out that in 2017 his agency called on Tesla and five other carmakers to limit self-driving features and to build better technology to monitor drivers in semi-autonomous cars. Tesla is the only company that hasnt formally responded to those recommendations, though it did start warning drivers more quickly when they take their hands off the wheel.

But it seems the company is unwilling to address its self-driving technologys shortcomings or to ensure that its drivers properly understand what the Autopilot feature can and cant do. The NTSBs findings serve as a stark reminder that the federal government has a role to play in regulating these technologies, and furthermore, its light-touch approach doesnt seem to be working.

We urge Tesla to continue to work on improving Autopilot technology and for NHTSA to fulfill its oversight responsibility to ensure that corrective action is taken when necessary, Sumwalt told reporters. Its time to stop enabling drivers in any partially automated vehicle to pretend that they have driverless cars.

Heres the background: Two years ago, a 2017 Model X that had its Autopilot feature engaged was driving along a highway in Mountain View, California, when it struck a concrete barrier at a speed over 70 miles an hour. The crash was ultimately fatal for the driver, who died of injuries related to blunt force trauma.

After a months-long investigation, the agency identified seven safety issues related to the crash, including limitations to Teslas crash avoidance system and driver distraction. Among them, it appears that the driver was playing a game on an iPhone provided by his employer, Apple, and that he didnt notice when the Autopilot steered the electric vehicle off-course.

The Tesla Autopilot system did not provide an effective means of monitoring the drivers level of engagement with the driving task, and the timing of alerts and warnings was insufficient to elicit the drivers response to prevent the crash or mitigate its severity, reads the report. Tesla needs to develop applications that more effectively sense the drivers level of engagement and that alert drivers who are not engaged.

The board also found that Tesla needed a better system for avoiding collisions. Like many semi-autonomous driving systems, Teslas Autopilot can only detect and respond to situations that it is programmed and trained to deal with. In this case, the Tesla Model X software never detected a crash attenuator a barrier intended to reduce impact damage that was damaged and not in use at the time of the crash causing the car to accelerate.

Tesla didnt respond to Recodes request for comment by the time of publication.

So what happens now? Tesla has argued that its cars are safer than average vehicles, but these crashes keep happening, and fatal crashes involving Autopilot seem increasingly common. Meanwhile, Consumer Reports has continued to find issues with vehicles with these autonomous abilities. Last year, the organization reported that Autopilots Navigate feature could lag far behind a human drivers skills.

Security researchers have also said that it wouldnt take too much to trick these vehicles. Researchers have shown how placing stickers on the road could coax a Tesla into dangerously switching lanes while the Autopilot system was engaged. And last week, the computer security company McAfee released findings that a Tesla using the intelligent cruise control feature could be tricked into speeding by placing a small strip of electric tape onto speed limit signs.

Shortcomings like these are why its so important for drivers to pay attention. Nearly three years ago, the NTSB called for car companies implementing these autonomous systems like Autopilot to create better mechanisms for monitoring drivers while these tools are turned on, in part to alert them when they need to take control of the vehicle. Tesla is the only auto company of six that hasnt formally responded to the federal agency.

Meanwhile, research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a nonprofit thats supported by car insurance companies, found that drivers can misunderstand the autonomous capabilities of their vehicles, including Teslas Autopilot.

And Tesla is known for overstating its vehicles abilities. On and off in recent years, the company has described its cars as having full self-driving capabilities or has advertised that the vehicles have full self-driving hardware, despite the need for drivers to stay engaged while on the road. Whenever criticism over this sort of marketing language reaches a breaking point, however, Tesla has removed the language. The Tesla website currently paints a confusing picture of its cars capabilities:

All that marketing copy aside, a Tesla using the Autopilot feature is nowhere near a fully autonomous car. The issues that have cropped up around Autopilot have raised concerns about the new safety issues that self-driving vehicles could introduce. More importantly, these issues have bolstered demands for regulators to test this technology more stringently and hold carmakers accountable when they build dangerous tech.

Whether or not that will actually happen is unclear. The Trump administration has, in fact, encouraged federal agencies not to needlessly hamper innovation in artificial intelligence-based technology, and, earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced new rules that are meant to standardize and propel the development of self-driving cars. Those rules wont do much good if companies leading the charge toward this futuristic technology, like Tesla, refuse to follow or even acknowledge them.

So its time for Tesla to do something different. At the very least, the company could answer government regulators calls to develop better ways to monitor drivers as it continues to improve its self-driving technology. Obviously, Autopilot doesnt live up to its name quite yet, so either the company fixes it, or it can risk endangering the lives of its drivers.

For now, please dont text and drive. Its dangerous. And if you own a Tesla, definitely dont text and drive or play a mobile game when youre using Autopilot. Thats potentially even more dangerous, since you might feel a false sense of security. Overestimating the abilities of technology like Autopilot puts your life and the lives of others at risk.

Open Sourced is made possible by Omidyar Network. All Open Sourced content is editorially independent and produced by our journalists.

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Teslas Autopilot keeps causing its cars to crash - Vox.com

Hello, and welcome to Power Line, a weekly clean-energy newsletter from Business Insider.

In two words: Not great.

But: Musk's firm saw a small bump in installations in the last three months of 2019.

So is the future bright for Tesla's solar business? We asked analysts for their perspective.

The good: "I think they have the opportunity to grow," Colin Rusch, an analyst at Oppenheimer & Co., said. He brought up the firm's brand strength and the potential advantage Tesla has through crossover sales (getting people who buy cars to also buy panels.)

The bad: "The likelihood that [Tesla's solar business] becomes as big as the EV business is difficult to see," Joe Osha, an analyst at JMP Securities, said. "I don't think anybody really thinks they can make a go for it in conventional panels." He also said the solar glass roof is "pie in the sky."

The worse: "The idea that they're going to explode in demand is, for lack of a better word, laughable," Gordon Johnson, an analyst at GLJ Research, said of Tesla's solar business.

Sunrun is the largest residential solar installer in the US. Sunrun

On Thursday, the rooftop solar giant Sunrun released its 2019 installation numbers, and they show the company's widening lead.

More than 90% of investors don't care about Tesla's solar business, Jeff Osborne, an analyst at Cowen, told me. They've got other interests namely, cars.

And that's good news, too, because

Who can even imagine that much money. It's larger than the GDP of Iran and Norway, for reference.

But it's coming, according to the research firm Lux Research. By 2035, the global battery market will grow to $546 billion in annual revenue.

We took a look at the six industries fueling that enormous growth.

You can see the full list here.

Shell is partnering with the Dutch gas company Gasunie and Groningen Seaports to build the world's largest green hydrogen plant. Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

The company is Shell and the hydrogen is green.

The news: On Thursday, Shell and a couple of partners announced they're planning to build the world's largest green hydrogen plant.

What's "green" hydrogen? Hydrogen gas made with an electrolyzer that's powered by renewable energy.

Why do we care? Hydrogen is a widely used industrial feedstock, and it's a clean fuel source. The problem is that most of it comes from fossil fuels.

Get all the deets here.

These are the people who are set to transform the energy sector through their company, role, or research. You can find details and the link to submit nominations here.

FYI: We're looking for individuals, not companies.

That's it! Stay safe, and have a great weekend.

- Benji

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Power Line: Tesla's solar slide, and the top battery industries - Business Insider - Business Insider

Volvo is going electric. So is every other automaker. Compliance vehicles have morphed into huge initiatives, bold promises, and enormous investments. Volvo going electric isn't surprising or novel, but as a relatively small player in the automotive world, it's interesting to see Volvo following the lead of the biggest EV makers on the planet.

Currently, the battery packs in Volvo's hybrids are custom-built by LG Chem. The company is one of the main suppliers for a large number of automakers, including Tesla. But beginning with the companys first EV, the XC40 Recharge, its taking control of the hardware and software thatll power its small electric SUV.

"Starting with [battery-electric vehicles], it's a whole different ball game. The pack becomes part of the vehicle structure," said Ulrik Persson, Volvo's battery product manager. "We felt it was a strategic decision to take ownership of the component."

The battery pack is the most expensive component of an EV. For an automaker that has built its reputation on safety, being able to integrate it in-house without relying on a third party is paramount. The XC40 started as a gas-powered vehicle, and the company had to make major changes to make it as safe as a Volvo should be. That includes re-creating some of the space in the engine bay occupied by the now-gone engine with metal framing poking out from the EV equipment that resides there now.

Going forward, electrification will become a larger part of the company's offerings, with a goal to make 50 percent of its global sales be battery-electric vehicles by 2025. To accomplish that, it needs to appeal to drivers who have become accustomed to Tesla's ability to do constant over-the-air updates that, in some cases, extend their cars' range.

To achieve that, it's taking a page out of Tesla's book and working on its own battery algorithm. Like Tesla, it'll use data shared by customers driving their cars; based on that, the automaker will tweak its software to make its vehicles more efficient and then send that updated software out to electrified Volvos.

Gone are the days when a vehicle remained static after leaving the lot. Tesla changed what people expect from their vehicles, and to compete with them in the electric world, automakers like Volvo need to adapt. Its not cheap, though.

The automaker invested $60 million on battery lab at its Gothenburg, Sweden, headquarters. Here Volvo puts its packs and modules through rigorous testing. The first portion is complete at a price of $25 million, with the second area currently under construction. And there's available room for a third if it's needed.

In the lab, Volvo engineers are putting types of batteries through the paces. It sources two different battery types for its vehicles. For the China market, CATL supplies the automaker with cylindrical cells like the ones found in Teslas, while LG Chem supplies pouches for the rest of the markets.

It's an undertaking that should work well in Europe, where EV sales are growing. It might be a tough sell in the United States, however, where electric vehicles still make up a minuscule part of total sales. Some of that probably has to do with range anxiety. Sure, we dont drive 200 miles per day on average, but Americans still want to be able to accomplish that feat as easily in an EV as in a gas vehicle.

Tesla's claims to superior range is one reason its cars are a popular choice for many looking to make the switch. Volvo wants to re-create that phenomenon. Like everyone else in the market, it's behind the house that Elon built. But it's laying a good foundation as it makes its way into the neighborhood.

Continued here:

Volvo Follows Tesla's Lead on EVs by Building Its Own Batteries - Car and Driver

Self-driving cars are sort of the holy grail of automobile manufacturing. Perhaps it's the futuristic allure of climbing into a vehicle that is able to transport you from point a to point b while you work, or take a nap, just enjoy the scenery. Or, maybe it's the idea that we'd all be more productive if we didn't have to waste time with tedious tasks like changing lanes, or navigating to an important meeting.

There's also, I suppose,an argument to be made that computers can (in theory) handle many of the functions of keeping a car safely on the road and moving in the right direction better than a human. Except, we're clearly not there yet.

The main findings of the report included the following:

The Tesla's Autopilot lane-keeping assist system steered the sport utility vehicle to the left into the neutral area of the gore, without providing an alert to the driver, due to limitations of the Tesla Autopilot vision system's processing software to accurately maintain the appropriate lane of travel.

The report also mentions that "Tesla's collision avoidance systems were not designed to, and did not, detect the crash attenuator at the end of the gore... consequently, the forward-collision warning system did not provide an alert and the automatic emergency braking did not activate."

As a result, the Model X collided with the attenuator and then crashed into two additional vehicles. The driver later died from blunt force trauma sustained in the accident.

To be fair, the problem isn't just the limitations of the autopilot capabilities. Another real problem is that drivers aren't ready to rely on those capabilities as a substitute for what they're supposed to be doing while they sit behind the wheel of a vehicle moving at more than 70 mph.

The NTSB was clear that its investigations "continue to show that the Tesla Autopilot system is being used by drivers outside the vehicle's operational design domain." Atthe same time, it criticizes Tesla for not limiting the conditions that Autopilot can be used.

Here's the problem: when you brand your driver assistance features 'Autopilot,' people assume that it's capable of more than it really is. Autopilot gives a sense that the car is able to drive itself. That's simply not true.

Tesla does offer additional features it describes as "Full Self-Driving Capability," but even those are only designed to control the vehicle in certain situations like while drivingon the highway. As a result, drivers make the mistake of believing their cars areable to handle situations the technology isn't ready for.

Or, even more importantly, we're just not yet ready for the technology.

Published on: Feb 27, 2020

The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

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Tesla's Autopilot Fatality Demonstrates That the World Isn't Ready for Self-Driving Cars - Inc.

Loup Ventures managing partner Gene Munster recently joined PreMarket Prepco-host Joel Elconin for the lastest edition of the "Frontier Tech With Gene Munster" podcast.

Munster discussed the latest on tech stocks including Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA), along with the upcoming presidential election.

Apple is set up for long-term upside given its ability to bring hardware, software, and services together better than any other company, Munster said.

The use of technology obviously is only going to increase, and there are some very obvious areas that will be more profoundly impacted that Apple will have an impact on.

The Apple Watch and other hardware- and software-based products will impact awareness of health care, the research analyst-turned-venture capitalist told Elconin.

Another large addressable market for Apple is mobility.

"I think its safe to say those two areas, specifically around health care and mobility, are gonna be some of the most profound changes in how humans engage with tech and Apple probably has one of the best seats to capitalize on that,"Munster said.

Teslas stock still has room to grow, Munster said, but he still expects a few massive drops in the future.

I think there will be somepotentially massive drops in the stock. I can see it at a certain period being down $200, for example, but then I could see it coming back and being up to $400 in a short period of time, he said.

Tesla has already hit the mark for electrification and autonomy, Munster said.

Whats important about this is if you believe electrification and ultimately autonomy is the future, you have to find ways to play that and I think Tesla, despite its massive run-up and lack of profitability, still sits at the pole position of what will be massive markets of electrification and autonomy, and ultimately renewable energy, he said.

I'm still optimistic that there is room for upside.

Munster expects Tesla to reach a market cap of $250 billion, or almostdouble the current value of the company.

After the election, there will be speculation around the tech stocks, in Munster's view.

If the current administration does not change, there could be less risk than if the occupant of the White House does change, he said.

Munster named the following as three big tech stocks that could be affected by a Trump loss:

Listen to the full interview win the clip below:

Loup Ventures founder Gene Munster, left, and PreMarket Prep co-host Joel Elconin. Benzinga file photo by Dustin Blitchok.

2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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Gene Munster On Apple's Future, Tesla's Valuation And The 2020 Election - Benzinga

February 28th, 2020 by Johnna Crider

In a new blog post, Kevin Rooke addresses the genius of Tesla Superchargers. In the last quarter of 2019, Tesla did something that many havent taken notice of. Tesla installed a lot more new Superchargers. The Lafayette one near me here in Louisiana was one of those. Another one was near the home of this articles editor, in Clearwater, Florida. Rather than being coincidence, the point is that Tesla has been installing a lot of Superchargers.

The numbers show that Tesla installed more Superchargers in the 4th quarter of 2019 than in any previous quarter in its history. Tesla is on a roll. Along with the growing number of Supercharger stations, Tesla has been adding more charging stalls per station than ever before.

In his chart above, Rooke illustrates just how big of a deal this is. In 2014, there were fewer than 500 Tesla Supercharger Stations. In 2019, there were almost 2,000. On the surface, Teslas supercharger growth looks promising and sort of obvious, he writes, while highlighting the fact that even analysts often cite the benefit of Teslas charging network in their arguments. However logical this idea is, Rooke points out something overlooked: Tesla isnt succeeding due to its excellent charging efficiency. Tesla is succeeding despite having extremely poor charging efficiency.

What does this mean? Rooke explains that the fastest EV chargers in the world are inefficient in terms of time for transporting energy. Yes, the V3 chargers are better than the older ones, but Tesla is still competing against gas cars. At most gas stations, we can pump up to 10 gallons of gas per minute. So when you compare the speed of pumping gas to charging your vehicle, this equates to temporal inefficiency when it comes to transporting energy (aka fuel).

The genius of Tesla Superchargers takes the idea of refueling and makes it into an experience rather than an inconvenience. Tesla has designed Superchargers to improve the experience of refueling instead of trying to compete with the speed of pumping gas. By integrating Superchargers with shopping centers, grocery stores, and hotels, this has actually created an experience that can be marketed as a good thing. For example, the many Tesla road trips that many Tesla owners take are supported by nearby food and shopping at their Supercharger rest stops.

This creates an experience that is actually part of a road trip, not sure an inconvenient stop. The Tesla community adds onto the Supercharging experience with friendship and a sense of community as Tesla owners get to meet their online friends in person as they drive across the country and go on adventures. When TesLatino came through Baton Rouge, not only did he use the Supercharger by my house, but he got to meet with local friends (me!) and instead of paying for food at a restaurant, I treated him and his wife to some good ole soul food. My landlady owns a small eatery (next to my apartment) and its pretty much Baton Rouges best-kept secret.

Perceptions matter, Rooke explains in his post. He brings up the words of Rory Sutherland in the bookAlchemy. The idea is that technological progress in the next 50 years will be focused on design and psychology. An example of this is Ubers use of the real-time location of a driver. This gives a small illusion or perception of speed as you can see where your driver is compared to waiting on a taxi. They are still the same thing a taxi or Uber ride coming to pick you up and take you somewhere but with Uber, you can see where your driver is and they can contact you via text if something happens in traffic.

Rooke explains how Tesla uses this type of thinking as well. Finding a Supercharger is easier than finding a gas station your car will tell you where the nearest one is and how long it will take you to get there. The benefit is that you spend less time and stress less looking for a station to refuel at.

Theres more in the article. Check it out if the things above piqued your interest.

Follow CleanTechnica on Google News.It will make you happy & help you live in peace for the rest of your life.

Tags: Kevin Rooke, Tesla, tesla superchargers, Tesla Supercharging

Johnna Crider Johnna Crider is a Baton Rouge artist, gem and mineral collector, and Tesla shareholder who believes in Elon Musk and Tesla. Elon Musk advised her in 2018 to Believe in Good.Tesla is one of many good things to believe in. You can find Johnna on Twitter

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Kevin Rooke: The Genius of Tesla Superchargers - CleanTechnica

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) and PG&E receivedthe approval from county planners to build a massive battery farm in Monterey, California.

What Happened

Tesla will work with PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), or the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, to build the worlds largest battery facility able to store energy generated by both solar and wind power.

Monterey County Planning Commission has unanimously approved the Tesla-PG&E joint venture, according to the local broadcaster KSBW8.

The Moss Landing Power Plant will serve as the base for the renewable energy facility to be developed jointly by both companies. The battery farm will utilize lithium batteries to store energy and transmit power to areas of Monterey County and parts of Silicon Valley.

Why It Matters

Californias Renewables Portfolio Standard program mandates that 60% of the energy generated in the state be from renewables by 2030, and 100% electricity be derived from carbon-free resources by 2045.

Tesla has worked with PG&E on smaller power storage projects in the Sacramento area in the past.

What Else Is There

Tesla and Panasonic Corp (OTC: PCRFY) have ended their partnership to manufacture solar energy-harvesting roof tiles in its Gigafactory 2 located in New York state.

Price Action

Tesla shares traded 3.53% lower at $655.02 in the after-hours session on Thursday. The shares had closed the regular session 12.81% lower at $679.

PG&E shares traded 2.69% lower at $15.89 in the after-hours session on Thursday. The shares had closed the regular session 2.33% lower at 16.33.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Tesla.com.

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2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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Tesla And PG&E To Build World's Largest Battery Farm - Yahoo Finance

When road rage becomes some even weirder, scarier and more extreme. This road-raging Subaru Crosstrek driver follows and attacks (in a way) a Tesla with mom and kids inside for at least several minutes.

The lengthy video description (see below) provides us with a lot of details, but our take on the situation is that the heavy stop and go traffic might've made it seem as though the Tesla attempted to brake check the Subaru. That doesn't appear to be the case though if you watch the video. It can't be embedded, but you can watch it at this link.

What we see is stop and go, stop and go and then, all of a sudden, the driver of the Subaru Crosstrek seems to get enraged. He not only tailgates the Tesla (stopping within an inch of two of the Tesla rear bumper on several occasions) but also rolls down the window (presumably to yell at the Tesla driver, which is a mom with two kids onboard), speeds up, slows down, weaves in and out of traffic to either keep up with the Tesla or to change lanes to follow it.

This is when the Subaru pulls alongside the Tesla and rolls the window down.

What starts as some form of road rage appears to evolve into something more like stalking. The Tesla driver can't shake the Subaru loose and becomes rightfully scared. She phones her husband to let him know what's going on. He advises her to head home to safety, but when she pulls into a nearby McDonald's the driver of the Subaru stops his intense pursuit.

If you're ever in a situation such as this, our advice is to drive straight to the nearest police station. You'll be safest there and chances are the pursuer will not continue to follow you.

Watch the video above and be sure to check out the description below for more on the situation.

Yesterday my wife was bullied by big-time A hole with GA Tag number XBD917. He was driving a Subaru Crosstrek. It also appears that he is Veteran, double shame for acting the way he did to a woman with two little kids in the car.

I don't know what triggered him, maybe he thought she was brake checking him but it was evening stop&go traffic on two-lane local road. He wouldn't stop following her for a while.

She called me and said :

"Crazy guy with a very mad face is following me and I don't know what to do."

I told her to come home and I will be ready for him if he tries something funny. He left her alone after she pulled to McDonald's.

We decided not to report him and give him a break in case he is suffering from PTSD or something. P

.S. I cut video to make it short. But he was at it for at least 10 min. And closer to the end of the video almost rear-ending her car twice. Was she wrong for not calling police? First time something like this happened to us. Scary stuff. Thank God he didn't do something that would scare or injure kids.

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Road-Raging Subaru Driver Attacks A Tesla With Mom And Kids Inside - InsideEVs

Tesla has reported some fully autonomous test miles for the first time in years in the California DMV disengagement report, but its nothing to get too excited about.

The California DMV makes companies who are testing autonomous vehicles in the state submit yearly disengagement reports to release details about each time their autonomous test vehicles had to be disengaged.

In its report back in 2016, Tesla reported having 4 self-driving Model X prototypes driving just over 500 autonomous miles on public roads. As we reported based on sources, the mileage was mainly for producing video demonstrations of what they could do with their newly launched hardware suite at the time.

Since then, Tesla hasnt submitted any autonomous test miles in California for its vehicles until now.

In its latest California DMV disengagement report for 2019, Tesla reported 12.2 autonomous miles and no disengagement event.

Eric C. Williams, Tesla Managing Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, confirmed that the miles were logged in relation to Teslasnewself-driving demowith new Autopilot graphics:

For Reporting Year 2019, Tesla briefly tested an autonomous vehicle in autonomous mode on public roads in California. In April, we operated one vehicle in autonomous mode to record one demo run on a 12.2-mile route around Teslas Palo Alto headquarters. The route covered surface streets and highways. We did not experience any autonomous mode disengagements during this run and, as a result, do not have any disengagements to report for Reporting Year 2019.

Like it did in previous letters regarding not reporting any autonomous miles or just a few, in this case, Tesla claims to mainly be testing its autonomous driving technology in shadow mode on its existing fleet and at other locations than California public roads, which enables them to not log those miles with the DMV.

Williams added in his letter to the DMV:

For background on how Tesla develops software capability, first, using industry best practices, we perform hardware and software in-the-loop testing, system-level and regression testing, simulations, test track and/or on-road testing (not autonomous), and a battery of cross-functional reviews, hazard analysis, risks assessments, and failure modes and effects analysis. Second, we rely heavily on fleet learning. Tesla is the only participant in the AVT program with a fleet of customer-owned vehicles in the hundreds of thousands. Virtually all customers consent to Tesla running developmental feature software, including for AV capability, in shadow mode during their normal driving operation. Features in shadow mode run silently in the background without actuating any vehicle controls whatsoever, which enables Tesla to test how features will perform in real-world driving conditions before we deploy them to the customer fleet. As a result, we are able to collect billions of miles of anonymized driving data remotely over the air, including on targeted roadways and in driving situations that we later use to train AV features to perform safely, consistently, and predictably.

Heres Teslas letter to the DMV in full:

It looks like not much has changed for Tesla in terms of its self-driving test strategy over the last 4 years. Its kind of a bummer that we finally get new autonomous miles reported and its again just to film a demo.

That said, I am a fan of Teslas approach to self-driving. Without those test miles, they are still collecting a lot of data that is helping them develop their system.

Also, I guess the good news is that they didnt have any disengagements over those 12 miles.

Last time, Tesla had to drive 500 miles for the demo because they had to do it again and again due to disengagements.

Now it looks like it was flawless based on the report.

I am also curious about where Tesla is testing its vehicles in fully autonomous mode on public roads if not in California. Unlike other automakers and self-driving companies, Teslas autonomous vehicles are hard to spot since its autonomous sensor suite is the same on any customer car.

If you know more about Teslas autonomous driving efforts or Tesla in general, dont hesitate to reach out to me at Fred@electrek.co, via Wickr: Fredev, or through my social media: TwitterandInstagram.

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Tesla reports fully autonomous miles for first time in years, but its nothing to get excited about - Electrek

There's a pickup war coming, and it's going to be electric.

Inspired by the success of Tesla's performance brand, an army of American startups and one very large legacy automaker will roll out five battery-powered trucks over the next two years.

Although we've seen only prototypes, sketches and teaser photos of the five electric titans the GMC Hummer EV, Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, Lordstown Endurance and Bollinger Motors B2 they look to be big, powerful and defiantly different. And more truck makers may join the battery-power revolution, including an electric F-150 from Ford.

The Tesla Cybertruck that debuted in November is one of five electric pickup trucks scheduled to go on sale in the next two years.

Engineers see inherent benefits in battery-powered trucks: Instant torque from batteries makes for strong acceleration and towing ability. And thanks to their "skateboard chassis" architecture that stores batteries in the floor, buckets of storage space are created.

At the same time, truck-size performance requires a lot of juice, which will test owners who use their pickups for more than trips to the golf course.

"The challenge is going to be towing," said Navigant Research analyst Sam Abuelsamid. "The Tesla Model X SUV can tow 5,000 pounds, for example, but then range drops off a cliff by 50% or more."

Still, there are a lot of applications where an electric pickup can be useful, both commercial and personal, he said. "An operator in a metro area doesn't need 500 miles of range, and he can use the vehicle to charge their tools."

All five pickup EVs are expected to be available with four-door crew cabs, four-wheel drive, 100-kWh-plus batteries and at least 200 miles of range. Although one of the trucks the Lordstown Endurance is targeted at fleets and tradespeople, others look to be largely toys for the well-off.

"Pickups aren't necessarily work trucks anymore, they're a lifestyle choice," said veteran auto analyst Rebecca Lindland of RebeccaDrives.com. "There are plenty of people these days willing to pay $65,000 to $70,000 for a pickup truck."

But charging infrastructure will be critical before there is widespread adoption. Outside of Tesla's exclusive supercharger network and owners' garages, truck makers will be dependent on third-party chargers at gas stations, Dunkin' Donuts and parking lots.

And that could present a problem in itself, Abuelsamid said: "It may be a challenge getting these pickups into parking lot charging-stalls."

Here's what we know about the five players.

Tesla is the big dog creating excitement here. The Cybertruck that debuted in November is the latest step in CEO Elon Musk's plans for world electric domination.

With more than 200,000 pre-orders in hand, the $39,900 Cybertruck (with Autopilot, naturally) follows in the footsteps of the Model 3 sedan, making it the most affordable of the EV pickup titans and the most radical.

Its exterior is a cross between a sci-fi military vehicle and a doorstop, all right angles and stainless steel. The Cybertruck's interior is simple, its infotainment tablet hanging in the middle of its wide dash.

But there's a premium to paid in order to reach maximum Cybertruck performance: a claimed 2.9-second zero-60 acceleration time, 500-mile range and 14,000-pound towing capability. To claim those bragging rights, buyers will need to option the tri-motor all-wheel drive version for $69,900.

Due date: Late 2021

GMC seeks to recast the Hummer nameplate once synonymous with gas-guzzling excess as the "woke" truck of the EV future.

All we've seen of the GMC Hummer EV is the Hummer name on a grille in a Super Bowl commercial. But GM says it will be built in Hamtramck on the same bones as Cadillac's upcoming electric SUV. It will offer with one-, two- and three-motor configurations like the Cybertruck, suggesting a similarly wide price-range.

Cigar-chomping Arnold Schwarzenegger was the original Hummer's biggest fan, and basketball star LeBron James is the pitchman for its rebirth. It's expected to be a big vehicle for big personalities.

GMC claims the silent beast will accelerate from zero-60 in just 3 seconds.

Due date: Fall 2020

For all Tesla's brand cred, many analysts see Plymouth-based Rivian as the surest bet, given its massive investment from Fortune 500 clients like Amazon and Ford. With its chiseled iPhone-simple interior and clever tricks like "tank turn" that lets it spin in place, the R1T gives off an upscale, playful vibe.

"Rivian has a lot of buzz," says Navigant's Abuelsamid. "It has really diverse and relevant business partners."

Those partners guarantee the brand income for commercial vehicles (Amazon) and contract jobs (Ford/Lincoln) while Rivian builds its own reputation with individual customers.

The midsize R1T pickup (a similar R1S will be built as an SUV) claims impressive numbers like 11,000-pound towing capacity, but is smaller than the full-size Cybertruck. There's an electric motor for each wheel.

Starting at $69,000, it's aimed at outdoors lovers.

To promote its lifestyle appeal, Rivian has tweeted photos of offroad trips to western locations with the R1T's "frunk" (where the engine normally would be) filled with beverages and a tent pitched in the bed. Rivian promises park-based electric chargers to relieve range anxiety for its wanderlust customers.

Due date: Fall 2020

If the Rivian and Tesla are aimed at weekend wanderers, then Ferndale-based Bollinger's B2 is intended for hard-core outdoorsmen.

Its roots are in founder Robert Bollinger's need for a truck on his farm in New York's Catskills. "It had to be electric," he said on Autoline last year. "We designed it the way we wanted to make it. Electric (architecture) is so much better for trucks than gasoline and diesel, anyway."

For Bollinger, pickups are all about utility. With the batteries in the basement, the full length of the B2's interior can be used for storage. The tailgate and front panels drop so you can run 16-foot plywood boards into the cab.

The 614-horsepower B2 has Cybertruck-like 15-inch ground clearance, with 10-inch suspension travel for extreme off-roading. Given its battery weight, the B2 will be classified a Class 3 truck, comparable to a Ford F-350. (The Tesla will be Class 2, like a Ford F-250.)

Compared to the Rivian and Cybertruck, the design of the B2 is utilitarian. Its body is constructed of simple aluminum sheets a carry-over from Bollinger's lack of expensive stamping dies when he built his first prototypes by hand. The B2 will start at $125,000.

Due date: Early 2021

The least is known about the $52,500 Lordstown Endurance, which will be built at GM's former Lordstown Assembly plant in northeast Ohio. Like the Rivian, the Endurance will have a motor at each wheel. With on-board electric export to power tools, the Endurance appears to be aimed at fleet customers and claims a 7,500-pound towing capability.

Due date: Late 2020

Vehicle type: 5-passenger electric pickup

Price: $39,900-$69,900

Powerplant: Lithium-ion battery pack; 1-3 electric motors

Power: NA

Performance: 0-60 mph, 2.9 seconds (3-motor); towing, 7,500-14,000 pounds

Range: 250-500 miles

Vehicle type: 5-passenger electric pickup

Price: $69,000-plus

Powerplant: 105/135/180 kWh lithium-ion battery pack; 4 electric motors

Power: Up to 754 hp, 829 pound-feet torque

Performance: 0-60 mph, 3.0 seconds; towing, up to 11,000 lbs

Range: Up to 400 miles

Vehicle type: 5-passenger electric pickup

Price: $125,000

Powerplant: 120 kWh lithium-ion battery pack; 2 electric motors

Power: 614 hp, 688 pound-feet torque

Performance: 0-60 mph, 4.5 seconds; towing, 7,500 pounds

Range: 200 miles

Vehicle type: 5-passenger electric pickup

Price: $70,000 est.

Powerplant: Up to 192 kWh lithium-ion battery pack (est.); 1-3 electric motors

Power: 1,000 hp

Performance: 0-60 mph, 3.0 seconds; towing, NA

Range: NA

Vehicle type: 5-passenger electric pickup

Price: $52,500

Powerplant: Lithium-ion battery pack; 4 electric motors

Power: NA

Performance: NA

Range: NA

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From Hummer to Tesla: Breaking down the electric truck battle - The Providence Journal

Every year companies working on autonomous cars in California have to file a report to the state, stating the number of miles they traveled during their drives and their disengagements (how many times the human behind the wheel had to take over). Recently, companies including Waymo and Cruise have balked about the disengagement data point, saying it doesnt reflect the true power of their systems. Frankly, miles aren't much of an indicator, either, since these drives take place in only certain areas.

The usefulness of these reports aside, one bit of data that was discovered during 2019's disclosure was Tesla's report of only a single autonomous drive of exactly 12.2 miles around its Palo Alto headquarters. According to Tesla, there were zero disengagements during the drive and it was meant as a demo of its system. The video (above) of the drive was published back in April 2019.

What's weird is that CEO Elon Musk has stated on a few occasions that he has used the company's FSD (Full Self Driving) mode in vehicles. There are no public details about these drives, and Tesla has pushed back the launch of FSD to customers multiple times.

With the company being so bullish about its vehicles' upcoming self-driving capabilities, its weird that it has only done one official test and that test was captured on video. Either they are testing these capabilities elsewhere or these tests are being done on the down-low.

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Tesla Reports Only 12.2 Miles of Autonomous Mode Testing in 2019 - Car and Driver