Author: Gail Alfar

Gail has a bachelor of art in film/radio/tv and a bachelor of science in nursing She has worked for years caring for all ages of people with many diagnoses in over 5 hospitals and schools around the texas hill country Originally from north dakota, she is now based in austin and writes about sustainable energy for the website she created ‘What’s up Tesla’ and 'What's up Twitter' and maintains her nursing practice
Tesla Megapacks. Image Courtesy Tesla.

Uninterrupted Power: Exploring Tesla Megapacks in 3 Remarkable Use Cases

Gail Alfar1 Comment
Tesla Megapacks. Image Courtesy Tesla.
Tesla Megapacks. Image Courtesy Tesla.

What are your plans for the summer? 

“We’re planning a trip” 

“We’re going to try to stay cool” 

Weather extremes. We’ve seen fires in California, rolling blackouts across most of the country, and hurricanes in the Southeast.  

This article is about big battery storage, specifically, Tesla Megapacks and why they are increasingly the choice for public utilities and companies. I’ll also discuss margin, or ROI (return on investment).

We will specifically look at three entities that have recently built or plan to build big battery storage.

Powering Florida’s Only Rice Mill: A Single Tesla Megapack

When the sun sets over Palm Beach County, Florida, one Tesla Megapack is helping power Florida’s only rice mill. 

Florida Crystals Corp, had the foresight to plan to generate energy with a 900 panel solar array and order a Tesla Megapack.  On May 31, they announced on Twitter that their Megapack is up and running, supplying electricity to the mill after dark and ensuring the power stays on around hurricane season to protect valuable rice.

Megapack is estimated to reduce carbon by 250 tons annually and is 1.8 MWh. 

Remarkably, this Megapack is also the first one in Florida!

Arizona’s Giant Clean Energy Storage: Strata To Build 255MW/1GWh Tesla Megapack Project 

Big projects are needed to transition our world to sustainable energy. APS or Arizona Public Service is a utility that serves more than 1.3 million homes and businesses in 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties. This requires a lot of electricity! 

Private company, Strata Build, plans to build, own and operate a huge 255MW/1GWh Tesla Megapack clean energy storage system with a value of $500M. Strata will then provide power to APS. 

Australia’s Power Revolution: Megapacks Keeping Power on Across the Continent

As sure as the sun shines and the wind blows over the splendid continent of Australia, Tesla Megapacks are keeping the power on for millions of people. 

I created a chart of Tesla Megapacks that are currently operating in Australia. There are many more Battery storage plans proposed, announced, and under construction.  Other companies are also building big battery storage for Australians. 

Information accessed from Renew Economy Big Battery Storage Map of Australia accessed on June 2, 2023.

Powering Growth: The Compelling Case for Investing in Tesla Megapacks

One of the probing questions I had from a reader of mine, was about margins. For this, I like to look at the future benefits to humanity. We can measure the value of Tesla or other big battery storage by its capability to keep the power on when the sun is not shining in the wind is not blowing. 

Let’s imagine a public utility that serves 1M people that undergoes several power outages a year. Now visualize Megapacks stepping in and keeping power on for schools, hospitals, living spaces, and companies (the rice mill in Florida). 

Speaking of the rice mill, a value can be assigned to the 90M lbs/year of rice that Florida Crystals Corp. is trusted to mill for its many clients. The volume of rice is enough for 4 million people annually. Businesses that have reliable power can thrive, grow, and expand, that’s a great ROI. 

Every person benefits, including the many people that are employed in installing and maintaining Megapacks. 

Another great value, which is hard to assign a dollar amount to, is in the essential concept that people stay safe and healthy.

Tesla’s website (accessed on June 3, 2023) allows you to reserve one Megapack to a max of 1000 Megapacks, with planned delivery in 2025.  The base cost of one is around $2,8M (including installation).

Tesla’s Master Plan 3 includes Megapacks, Lithium refining, and Tesla Energy

Tesla Lithium refining in Corpus Christi, Texas, will enable Megapacks to be built faster. (It’s much easier to build a Megapack than to build a vehicle.) Megapacks, built at a certain volume now, will increase in scale. 

Although it may seem a small step forward, Tesla Energy is putting programs together starting in Texas for charging Tesla vehicles during times when there’s excess wind production at night. 

My take is that It’s worth following Tesla Energy carefully, in my opinion, Tesla starts off with what looks like small moves, and then those moves grow exponentially. Today, for example, buyers of a new Model 3 may apply to charge at home for free for 1 year with Tesla Energy. Late December 2022, Tesla Energy began an electricity plan in Texas designed for Powerwall owners.  What will we see tomorrow? 

I hope your summer is cool, memorable, and filled with adventures led by your hearts’ desires! 

Downtown Austin, Texas. Courtesy Greg Anderson, Walkable Austin.
Downtown Austin, Texas. Courtesy Greg Anderson, Walkable Austin.

Thanks as always for supporting my writing. Article by Gail Alfar please credit accordingly.  Thanks to Tesla Energy, Arushi Sharma Frank, Tesla Megapack, and reader Darrell Park for suggesting this topic.

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Tesla Model S. Image Courtesy Tesla, Inc.

Tesla Takes #1 Spot In Global Automaker Rating 2022: Leading The Transition To Electric Vehicles

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Tesla Model S. Image Courtesy Tesla, Inc.
Tesla Model S. Image Courtesy Tesla, Inc.

Hardworking, dedicated, future-driven, committed, fearless… these are adjectives that describe the amazing Tesla team, and Elon Musk. These qualities are paying off as Tesla is ranked #1 in leading the transition to EVs.

The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) released its report on May 31 revealing Tesla and BYD at the top of ratings for leading the transition to electric vehicles.

The top 20 manufacturers in the world were analyzed for overall ratings based on 10 custom-built metrics, which identified the leaders, the transitioners, and the laggards in transitioning to zero-emission vehicles (ZEV). Tesla had the highest scores in Technology Performance, scoring a perfect 100 in Energy Consumption, Charging Speed, Driving Range, and Battery recycle/repurpose.

Tesla’s strategic vision did not go unnoticed

Tesla was the only automaker that scored a perfect 100/100 in Strategic Vision for ZEV target, Investment, and Executive Compensation.

Among the laggards are Tata headquartered in India, and Japanese automakers Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, and Suzuki.

These automakers scored in the bottom third.

Table. Overall scores, The Global Automaker Rating 2022. Credit: International Council on Clean Transportation.

My take is that Tesla has and continues to put forth extraordinary effort at building EVs at scale. Tesla continues to expand Fremont factory, Giga Shanghai, Giga Berlin, Giga Nevada and Giga Texas. This shows that Tesla has thought about how to speed up and scale production to meet the global demand for good-quality electric vehicles. Tesla furthers this strategy by building their own batteries. Soon, Tesla will be refining Lithium (in Texas) and building more affordable vehicles in Mexico.

To read the ICCT report in full click here. Many thanks to the entire Tesla team for their dedication to the mission to accelerate the world to sustainable energy and their commitment to not being complacent. This article by Gail Alfar first appeared on Twitter, please credit accordingly.

Tesla Model 3 Credit the Author

Tesla Energy Shows A Lil’ 💕 For Texas, And This Is Just The Beginning!

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Tesla Model 3 Credit the Author
Tesla Model 3 in Austin, Texas. Credit the Author

(Austin, Texas) If you’re in Texas & taking delivery of your new Model 3 between May 26 and June 30, 2023 then you are in for some good luck!

Tesla Electric has unveiled a sweet home charging plan and qualifying customers in Texas will seamlessly charge their new Model 3 at home and have their overnight charging fee waived for a year.

UNVEILING THE TESLA ELECTRIC HOME CHARGING PLAN

Tesla Electric has gone above and beyond to cater to the needs of Texas Tesla owners. With the charging plan, eligible customers can seamlessly charge their new Model 3 at home without incurring any overnight charging fees for an entire year.

This plan provides financial savings & also eliminates the hassle of locating and utilizing charging stations, giving owners freedom and convenience. I expect this plan will expand soon.

To take advantage of this remarkable opportunity right now, Texas residents must meet specific eligibility criteria. Those who are taking delivery of a new Model 3 between May 26 and June 30, 2023, fall within the qualifying window. Link on details below.

This limited offer is an amazing chance for Texas Tesla owners to save money and maximize the benefit of owning an EV while minimizing their carbon footprint

THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION

The introduction of the Tesla Electric Home Charging Plan reinforces the strong commitment Tesla has to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy. By incentivizing home charging, Tesla aims to simplify the charging process and promote the use of renewable energy sources.

I expect this plan to roll out to more Tesla owners over time.

SEIZING OPPORTUNITY

If you are a lucky Texas resident patiently awaiting the arrival of your new Model 3, do seize the opportunity. Participating in Tesla Electric Home Charging Plan means you will enjoy the convenience of charging your vehicle overnight at home, free of charge, for an entire year.

important details here:

tesla.com/support/overnight-vehicle-home-charging-plan

charging your Tesla here:

tesla.com/support/home-charging

Thank you to Tesla Energy. Mini-article by Gail Alfar. Do credit accordingly, thanks! Photo credit: me : )

Tesla Charging, Image Courtesy Tesla, Inc.

Tesla and Ford Join Forces to Accelerate EV Adoption: Supercharger Collaboration and NACS Integration

Gail Alfar1 Comment

“Telsa IS Philanthropy” – Elon Musk

(Austin, Texas) In a significant move towards accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles and supporting sustainable transportation, Tesla and Ford have announced a strategic partnership. 

Elon Musk shared his vision for the Tesla Supercharger Network on a live Twitter Space.

Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) has been described as an easily adoptable interface, positioning it as a potential public standard. This article looks at the details of this collaboration, highlighting Elon Musk’s statements and Tesla’s perspective on the NACS.

TESLA’S COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATION AND EQUAL FOOTING AT SUPERCHARGERS

Jim Farley announced that,

“In early 2024 all Ford EV existing and future customers will have access to 12,000 Tesla high speed Superchargers across the USA.”  

Farley also said one year later, Ford EVs will have the North American Charging Standard (NACS) interface.  

Ford has been working with the Tesla team and Farley thanked Elon for that.

EARLY NEXT YEAR YOU’LL SEE FORD’S EVS CHARGING ALONGSIDE TESLA VEHICLES

During the discussion with Jim Farley, CEO of  Ford, on the Twitter Space, Elon spoke regarding the Tesla Supercharger Network. Elon emphasized, 

“We don’t want the Tesla Supercharger Network to be like a walled garden, we want it to be something that is supportive of electrification and sustainable transport in general.” 

Elon expressed appreciation for Ford’s interest in partnering with Tesla on this front and affirmed the Tesla team’s intention to provide full support to Ford, ensuring that they are on equal footing at Tesla Superchargers. 

I can personally attest that in Texas there is plenty of room for more vehicles to charge at Buc-ee’s locations!

NACS: A STRAIGHTFORWARD AND POTENTIALLY PUBLIC STANDARD

Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) has gained attention for its flexibility and compatibility. Described as a purely electrical and mechanical interface, NACS remains agnostic to use case and communication protocol. 

This versatility makes it straightforward to adopt across different EV models. Notably, Tesla has made the design and specification files of the NACS available for download, actively engaging with relevant standards bodies to establish its charging connector as a potential public standard. 

This move reflects Tesla’s outstanding commitment to promoting interoperability and widespread adoption of charging infrastructure. 

Is the Tesla-Ford Partnership Revolutionizing EV Adoption and Sustainable Transport?

Yes! The partnership between Tesla and Ford signifies a huge stride towards accelerating EV adoption and promoting sustainable transport. 

Living in Texas, where pick-up trucks dominate the roads, I have firsthand experience that highlights the pressing need to accelerate the adoption of EVs.  I drive across Austin daily, and am surrounded by combustion engine cars and pick-up trucks.  Texas is known as Truck Country by some.  

I can’t help but reflect on the tremendous work required to transition to a more sustainable transportation system. In light of this, the announcement of the partnership between Tesla and Ford struck me as a brilliant move.

From my perspective, Tesla, with its exceptional engineering talent, is demonstrating philanthropy by sharing its expertise to support Ford and advance the cause of electrification. 

Tesla’s NACS offers a straightforward and potentially public standard that fosters compatibility and interoperability among different charging connectors. As these initiatives unfold, the future of electric mobility becomes increasingly promising, with shared efforts aimed at building a beautiful, greener and more sustainable economy. 

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Article by Gail Alfar, please credit accordingly. Images Courtesy Tesla, Inc. and Ford, Inc.

Elon Musk talks at Tesla 2023 Shareholder Meeting. Image by the author.

Tesla Is A Company That Wants To Do The Most Good, And Will Now Hire A 3rd Party To Examine Mining In It’s Supply Chain

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Elon Musk will hire a 3rd party organization to investigate Tesla’s supply chain for Cobalt, a rare mineral in order to assure shareholders and others that Tesla does not exploit child labor in any way. Elon was asked, during the Q/A portion of the shareholder’s meeting on May 16, 2023, to do this, and he agreed.  

I had the honor of attending the meeting in person and I saw firsthand when Elon said this from the stage.  He emphasized that the phones we all use have more Cobalt than Tesla’s batteries, and that he’s thinking of installing webcams at the mines to make sure no child is ever harmed.  

I turned to Eliza Bleu for a little more understanding on this issue, as she had been asking me recently about Tesla’s supply chain and I had referred her to some information from Tesla’s recent Investor’s Day, summed up well in a tweet by Martin Viecha, Tesla Investor Relations, 

“If you want just one takeaway from Investor Day, make it this one: A sustainable economy will result in *less* mining/extraction than we currently do. *Zero* rare earths are needed for this transition. Too many smart people I know believe the opposite.” – Martin Viecha 

In addition, Elon Musk has also emphasized how clean Tesla’s supply chain is for it’s batteries.  Tesla’s Lithium and Iron based batteries do not contain any Cobalt, while those made with Nickel use a very small amount of Cobalt as a binder.

Please watch Tesla’s videos on Investor Day and Shareholder Meeting 2023 for reference. Also, Tesla’s next gen motor will require ZERO rare earth minerals. Less mining and extraction are also needed for a clean energy future as compared to a fossil fuel based economy.  

MY INTERVIEW WITH ELIZA BLEU

Gail: Do you find that company CEOs are willing to face the challenge of creating a clean supply chain for rare earth minerals like cobalt? 

Eliza Bleu: I’ve found that there is a vast difference between what CEOs are being told and the in-depth research that has been done by folks like Siddharth Kara, author of “Cobalt Red,” on the ground. It would be incredible if CEOs sought the truth and worked aggressively to find solutions! 

Gail: When you heard that Elon Musk is going  to hire a third-party organization to do this for Tesla, what was your first reaction? 

EB: I’m a survivor advocate, so any little glimmer of hope brings a tear of joy to my eye. I take a moment to enjoy the positive progress before I think about the long road ahead. I applaud Mr. Musk for making those statements. I believe that he will follow through and continue to set the industry standard. 

Gail: What is your expectation, for companies that use a lot of rare earth minerals, like companies that produce the phones that we use every day? Do you think they will continue to use components in their products that require rare earth minerals? 

EB: The time has come for this conversation to fully see the light of day. I expect tech companies to seek the truth about their supply chains from start to finish. The entire industry will move away from cobalt eventually but between now and then there should be drastic measures to ensure that child labor and human exploitation is not used. Even when companies move away from cobalt it won’t repair the damage done to the Congolese people. It also won’t account for the labor trafficking and human exploitation in other parts of the supply chain. Apple is notoriously bad in this way. 

The tech industry is uniquely positioned to provide those that work in the mines with basic needs like electricity, water and PPE. The brightest minds in the world can prioritize these issues. I’m grateful for Tesla’s commitment. I have hope around this issue and the first step is getting everyone to admit that there is a problem industry wide. The next step is to cut through the PR nonsense and to put humans over profits. The future of technology is bright but it cannot be built on the backs of children. 

Tesla is one company among many that uses cobalt. I hope that Mr. Musk’s commitment sparks a long overdue industry wide conversation.

CONCLUSION

Despite challenges, there is hope that other CEOs will confront the issue of clean supply chains for rare earth minerals like cobalt.

Elon Musk’s decision to involve a third-party organization for Tesla sets a positive example, and it is crucial for the entire industry to engage in transparent discussions and prioritize human well-being over profits to drive meaningful change.

Elon Musk talks at Tesla 2023 Shareholder Meeting. Image by the author.
Elon Musk talks at Tesla 2023 Shareholder Meeting. Image by the author.

Article by Gail Alfar, please credit accordingly.

Tesla Shareholder Meeting 2023: Join me for the tour & to meet some awesome people

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Cybertruck, 2023 Shareholder’s Meeting. Photo Courtesy Sarah Alfar.

(May 20, 2023 Austin, Texas)

“The goal is to give people hope, realistic hope, and simply to say that there is a path to a fully sustainable global economy, that we are on that path, that we are accelerating that path, and so long as we don’t get complacent about it, it will happen.” – Elon Musk at Shareholder Meeting on Master Plan 3

At the heart of Tesla’s success lies Elon Musk, the incredible Tesla team, and a dedicated community of individuals who are passionate about the company and its mission.

For this article, you’ll get to come along with me to the shareholders meeting and we’ll start in the line of cars and then meet some awesome people!  Let’s set the time machine back to May 16, 2023, and hop in my Tesla. 

IMAGINING YOU ARE WITH ME AT THE SHAREHOLDER’S MEETING

Joining a long line of cars, we are very close to Gigafactory Texas and we see production at scale in action in front of us. Numerous deliveries on large, semi flatbeds are pouring in as we wait, car carriers leave the factory loaded with new Model Y.  The battery cathode plant and die shop are huge. The employee parking lot is overflowing. 

You get the window seat once we’re on the bus ride to the entrance.  The bus lumbers off around the Gigafactory.  I say I could do this ride over again 50 times and you tell me I’m a little extreme (I disagree, haha).  

We see a holding lot filled with Model Y as far as the eye can see. Model Y are charging at a George Jetson style charging bay shaded by solar panels.  Next up, a loading lot where inspections are being done, then cars line up to wait for their turn onto a car carrier.  There are long lines of car carriers. 

You pass several employee parking lots, they are bigger than you expected. 

The tour bus drives closer to the Gigafactory, and a cool shadow is cast over the bus as you gaze up.  We both gasp. The bus feels tiny as we crane our necks to look up to the rooftop. The roof is covered with solar panels that spell out “TESLA,”  but you already know that from when you flew into Austin.

While we wait to tour the Tesla Semi, a graffiti artist is creating Cybertruck art on the side of a shipping container. The day is perfect, 80 degree weather, a few puffy clouds, we’re lucky to be here!

You think you almost lost me after the Semi tour but then find me ogling the Cybertruck and the German-made Model Ys on the other side of the street.  The size of the truck is bigger than you expect. The Berlin Model Y paint is glamorous under the sun to say the least!

TOUR

As we enter the Gigafactory Tour, it’s apparent it’s in full production and did not shut down at all for this event, rather it looks like it’s under an even higher pace than imagined. Employees are actively working on model Y, and the production line is visible and moving along fast. We hear occasional happy beeps from Model Y under production and it sounds like they’re saying, “hey, I’m glad you came to see us.”  

We’re able to see the ground floor and then climb up stairs to the second floor and look down, which is incredible. The factory is so big and everything looks so clean and everybody working looks like they have purpose and order in what they do.

As a tour guide instructs us on the manufacturing processes in a video, you and I are more interested in listening to the sounds in the factory and watching the production line below, it’s an all inspiring vision, seeing these vehicles being brought to production at scale, and being there in person, is an experience that feels like the future. It inspires us to think about how incredible it is to be a part of Tesla’s success just by being a supporter and investor.

Reality kicks us in the face while the security guard says “hey ma’am, your tour is leaving.”

                      ༛༛ ༛ ༛༺༻༛ ༛ ༛༛

I hope this gave you a feel for if you had been at the Tesla shareholder Meeting.  For the remainder of this article, I’ll introduce you to three inspiring people I had conversations with.

FROM TESLA OWNER TO INVESTOR

Winston was wearing a Longhorn shirt and the “Don’t Mess with Tesla” belt buckle which caught my eye.  He and his daughter Anne were waiting in line at the Tesla store.

Winston told me he bought a Model 3 in 2020.  He said the minute he stepped into his Tesla, the experience was so incredible that right away, knew he needed to invest.  

He now uses FSDbeta all over Houston, and he would not travel around any other way. 

I told him I had also used FSD beta in Houston and it was flawless.  (My Podcast #14 is all in Baytown & Houston) 

WITNESSING THE NEW EVOLUTION OF NORMALCY

I always respect the confidentiality and privacy of Tesla employees, so I’ll just briefly share with you what one employee said while keeping him private. Without mentioning his position at Tesla, I can say he looked at Tesla with a blend of optimism and amazement.  He told me he loves working at Tesla and compared it to what he knew about car manufacturing before he was hired.  As a kid, he grew up in Detroit and his father worked in automotive manufacturing.  He would visit the factory and remembers it for the awful smell of toxic fumes. 

At Tesla, “you can actually walk through it and breathe clean air. It doesn’t even seem like a car factory at times. I am experiencing the new evolution of normalcy.”  

SUPPORT FOR ELON MUSK FROM NORTH CAROLINA

Just outside the Tesla Gigafactory, near some oak trees, there was a handful of food and beverage trucks.  I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich and a slushie and looked for a shady place to eat.  This is how I met the Whitley family.  Dan Whitley’s love for Elon and Tesla was evident in his commitment to being a part of the Tesla mission.  

Dan explained to me that he supports Elon Musk because, “I think he’s a believable person and I think he’s got a kind heart and I believe in his mission and believe in him and just try to support him the best I can.” Laughing, Dan said, “And I’ve got 8 Tesla’s so I’m supporting him!”  I asked if this was normal for N. Carolina, and he said. “The company spoke to me, they have a good mission and I want to support them.”  

CONCLUSION

The conversations I had with people at the shareholder meeting offer a glimpse into the passion and devotion people have for Tesla and in the vision of Elon Musk. for some, it even made them rethink their future.  William Cross from Connecticut was at the Shareholder Meeting. I caught up with him later, and he told me how the experience left an impact on him. “It really made me rethink what I’m doing here.  I fell in love with the South.  I want to learn more and one day work for Tesla or SpaceX.”  

The company Tesla as a whole inspires many people, and Elon is highly respected and supported by many. When you hear negative talk about Elon Musk, please realize that is a small minority.  A small, very vocal minority. They, in no way, represent what most people truly think.

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Article by Gail Alfar. please credit accordingly. Thanks to Tesla for being amazing.  Thanks to Elon Musk and all my subscribers and readers on Twitter who support my writing in many different ways, I appreciate you very much. Video Courtesy @Tesla Inc., Pic credits Sarah Alfar and Greggortruck.

Tesla Lithium

Tesla Lithium Construction has Begun, Texas – Style

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Tesla Lithium

In the middle of a field just outside of Corpus Christi, along Texas Route 69E in the heart of Nueces County, six flags were flying at half-staff. 

Two American flags, two Texas flags, and 2 Tesla flags. 

Texas has gone through some difficult days.  In the aftermath of a mass shooting in Allen, Texas, and tragic deaths in Brownsville, there is something bright happening to bring hope and prosperity to the state.

GOOD NEWS FOR TEXAS

Many people made the trip out to the site of Tesla’s new lithium refinery to celebrate in a ground-breaking with Elon Musk, and Tesla employees.  As people sat under the tent, a large and unexpectedly modified version of the Cybertruck slowly drove past all six flags.  The driver, curved around and parked center stage under a beautiful archway, bearing the words “Tesla Lithium.”

That driver was Elon Musk.  There will be lots of pictures of Elon exiting Cybertruck center stage as almost everybody was taking either video or a picture of this special occasion.

Earthmovers in the background, preparing the land for the new factory kept working the entire time as Elon, wearing a Don’t Mess with Tesla belt buckle, handsome suit, and black cowboy boots, took the microphone and explained that this will be one of the largest lithium refining factories in the world, producing enough lithium for 1 million vehicles.

“It will produce more battery grade lithium than the rest of all the North American lithium refining capacity combined.“

Kathleen Hogan from the US Department of Energy stated that Tesla has, 

“been a leader in the EV space for a long time and now they’re being an amazing leader by building out the clean energy supply chain here in this country, it’s amazing to see the jobs that are going to be here.  We talk in Washington DC about the muscle we need to build out US manufacturing, and where is the muscle? The muscle is in the workforce and that muscle is going to be here, with the young people that will be coming onto the training in Teslas programs.”

TEXAS GOVERNOR HONORS ELON MUSK AND TESLA

I could not take my eyes off the Cybertruck, glistening in the Texas sun and adorned with a waving Texas flag. This massive utility vehicle with custom black racks served as the backdrop when Texas Governor Abbott spoke, 

“We would not be here but for the vision, the hard work, and the commitment of Elon Musk and Tesla.  Elon brought his Gigafactory here and liked it so much that he brought

Tesla here and then the Boring Company here, SpaceX is here, Neuralink is here, in the Lonestar state!”

Abbott presented Elon Musk with a proclamation from the State of Texas in appreciation of him & all Tesla employees and in honor of the new Tesla Lithium refinery.

TECHNOKING AND TEAM GIVE A TED TALK

Some people mistake Elon Musk for a celebrity.  I agree he has that status, and I see him as a technologist or engineer first, before any other role.  

He is the Technoking of Tesla. And what follows is a short TED talk on battery refining. To an attentive audience, Elon explained, 

“We’re aiming to finish construction next year and hopefully reach full production about a year later. This is extremely fast by normal standards, but that’s how we do things.  As I said, the capability we’re aiming for is approximately 1 million vehicles worth of battery-grade lithium and the potential is there to expand beyond that number as needed.

“We intend to continue to use suppliers of lithium, so it’s not that Tesla will do all of it.  

We thought it’s important to address what we think is – as we look ahead a few years – a fundamental chokepoint in the advancement of electric vehicles… the availability of battery-grade lithium.

“Lithium for mining is actually quite common. Lithium is actually a very common element on Earth, it’s actually present, basically in every country. It’s not that there’s a shortage of lithium to mine, but there is a shortage of heavy industry refinement to battery grade.  Lithium actually has to be extremely precise and ultra-pure, because if you have any impurities in the Lithium it causes degradation of the battery

“Purity requirements are extremely high and we got a number of innovations that we think will be quite effective in the refining of Lithium that haven’t been done before.

Tesla SVP Powertrain and Energy Engineering Drew Baglino explained that the talent that is applicable in oil and gas refining is the same type of talent that is applicable in lithium refining. 

This is a reason why this area, South of Corpus Christie, was chosen as the location to build Tesla Lithium.

Another innovation with Tesla lithium is the pure process which does not produce airborne or ground waste which would affect the community in a negative way.

Following a detailed explanation of lithium refining, essentially a short interesting Ted talk which you may watch in full on Tesla’s Twitter Livestream, it was time to break ground.

EIGHTEEN PEOPLE JOIN TO BREAK GROUND. 

This groundbreaking was like none I’ve ever seen.  On a large length of ground, eighteen people lined up with silver shovels. Tesla provided shovels for everyone, and it was a happy, celebratory event full of hope for the future.  

This is a wonderful moment that is much needed in Texas.  As families heal from the recent tragedies, life goes on, people grow older, get married, have babies, and work to provide for their loved ones.  Tesla is becoming a part of modern Texas culture.  Governor Abbot said it well,   

“There is no greater entrepreneur in the entire world than Elon Musk.  We are so proud he calls Texas home.  Elon Musk and Tesla are part of the Texas economic juggernaut.”

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏ 

Article by Gail Alfar, all rights reserved. All photos Courtesy Tesla, Inc. Gratitude to Drew Baglino, Elon Musk and Ellie in Space for being present at the event. Tesla team including Rohan Patel and Kathleen Hogan.

Austin Model Y

A New Austin is Emerging, Thanks to Tesla. Here’s Why…

Gail Alfar2 Comments
Austin Model Y
Austin Model Y

I’m surprised by how much action I see in the early hours of the morning around Austin. The airport in Austin is busy, the roads fill with people heading to work, and the sun starts rising over my favorite city in the world.  

Austin is the second highest-ranking city in the world (Hangzhou, China is #1) for the highest number of millionaire residents, according to a recent study by Henley & Partners.  

Opportunities and hope are a big draw for people and Tesla is playing a major role in the shaping of the new Austin. This article will explain why. 

GIGA TEXAS: JULY 2020 – PRESENT

The beginnings: In July 2020, I made trips 2 to 3 times a week to East Austin to start observing the groundbreaking of Tesla’s Gigafactory, in Texas. There, amid the dust and the sound of massive earthmoving machines, I met Joe Tegtmeyer, Jeff, Roberts, and Jack Farrington. All three were creating drone videos of Giga Texas’ progress, and all were convinced of the positive impact Tesla was having on Austin.

Tesla’s HQ – in a massive structure: In October 2021, Elon Musk announced that Tesla’s Global HQ would be Giga Texas. 

Attracting investors and talent: Meanwhile, Austin attracted the second-highest number of millionaire residents in the world, and many workers and businesses relocated to Texas finding low taxes were a big advantage during a time when many people were working remotely. 

Producing best-selling vehicles at scale: Today, Tesla’s beautiful Gigafactory at “1 Tesla Road” is established and producing Model Y vehicles at incredible speed!

In April, Tesla announced Giga Texas is building 4K Model Y per week!  This is being done with the hard work of thousands of employees. 

Busy gigafactory: An Uber driver told me that “GigaTexas has rock concert vibes, only at 5 AM in the morning! There’s double-decker buses, trams, cars lined up, 4-5 full parking lots, factory full swing!” 

AUSTIN  IS A LEADER IN JOBS

Austin is the #2 city in the nation for overall employment opportunity and earning potential in a study published by Chekr, an HR tech firm, in April 2023.  Having a job, making an honest living is a big part of building a happy, productive life.

Tesla’s 2022 Impact Report says,  

“Tesla created over 128,000 direct jobs in a decade. Our employee count has grown approximately 70-fold over the past decade—and we continue to hire extensively. Gigafactory Texas and Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg are already recruiting for thousands of jobs.”

Tesla’s Careers website lists hundreds of jobs in Austin, giving the opportunity not only to make a living with great benefits but also to be a part of building a sustainable energy future. 

CONCLUSION

Tesla made Austin its HQ and is a mass producer of both JOBS and VEHICLES.

Austin is a destination for some of the nation’s most successful investors and business people.  

The manufacturing at scale we see at Giga Texas is an example for other vehicle manufacturers and also shows how important manufacturing is to the economy of the USA. 

Giga Texas will put Austin, Texas on the map as a leader in manufacturing in the USA! 

-Pictured below with this article is the beautiful best-selling Model Y

-Elon Musk at Cyber Rodeo in April 2022 delivering the first Model Ys made in Texas

-Giga Texas at 1 Tesla Road, the HQ for Tesla.

Article by Gail Alfar, all rights reserved.  Sources referenced in article are Tesla 2022 Impact Report,  @HenleyPartners  @Checkr @peterdog @tegtmeyer @jackfarrington All Images Courtesy @Tesla Inc. 

Steps to Buying a Tesla

Gail Alfar1 Comment
Tesla Model Y
Tesla Model Y. Image Courtesy Tesla, Inc.

There’s a lot of talk about whether someone should make their next car a Tesla.  I’m like you in that I work hard for my paycheck, and there are few products I have purchased that truly give me Joy! 

My Tesla is one of them! 

I’m sharing my experience of buying a Tesla with you and walking with you through the steps.

FIRST DRIVE

The deciding factor for me was the demo drive.  Tesla gave me a demo car on a Saturday morning after a nightfall of rain.  The roads were sparkling and the car was pristine and I accelerated up a steep hill and around curves while the car held onto the road like rails. I had to adjust back to my combustion car after that and I missed the Tesla so much.

REASONS A TESLA MAKES SENSE

I wanted a Tesla, and I had to sell my husband on it because he wanted to wait.

I emphasized to him how Tesla rates #1 in Safety and Aces all the crash tests. 

I told him how little we would pay to power the Tesla – about $6 – $12 at the Tesla Superchargers and only about $30 a month to charge at night at home.  

I also let him know about destination charging for when we travel. Destination chargers let you slow charge for free at many hotels overnight.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET YOUR TESLA?

Tesla Model Y 7 Seater
Tesla Model Y 7 Seater, Image Courtesy Tesla, Inc.

I suggest you order your Tesla on the premise that you will take delivery in one week. When I got my finances in order (I used a credit union, and Tesla also has a finance option), I went ahead and placed a new order for a Model Y.  Ours was delivered a month later.  I have heard that ordering a Model Y 7-Seater SUV may take longer (see image above) but is well worth the wait!

My friend recently ordered a Model 3 and Tesla scheduled delivery for the next week.  Delivery times vary, and the important part is that you are ready with your financing, trade-in and have planned out your charging routine ahead of time.  

TESLA WILL LET YOU TRADE IN YOUR OLD GAS CAR

Tesla will take your old gas car off your hands.

When you place your order for your Tesla, they will ask you if you have a vehicle to trade in. 

My best advice is for you to compare Tesla’s offer to another car buyer’s offer.  You can go with the highest bidder. 

TESLA’S EASY TASK LIST IS MADE FOR YOU

When I ordered my Tesla, I received received “tasks” from Tesla to complete in stages.  

Tesla does their best to make this painless and it is worth having 1) finances prepared ahead of time and 2) how you’ll insure the vehicle planned out.  I recommend Tesla insurance as you can opt into it right from the Tesla App and their rates are usually lower.  It activates right away and you can change out of it later if you have to. 

RECEIVING THE BEAUTIFUL VEHICLE, FINAL STEPS

As a Texas resident, I went to the County Tax office to pay the taxes on the vehicle. The Tax Office held the license plate for the Tesla until I was paid up (this was in Oct. 2022 and may change).

It is hard to explain how awesome it feels to own a Tesla!  It seems almost too good to be true!

In a future article, I’ll write about getting to know your Tesla.  It took me awhile to get fully comfortable with my Tesla because it is very different from a combustion car!

𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘎𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘈𝘭𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘌𝘭𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘌𝘖 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘦𝘴𝘭𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐𝘚 𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘺. 𝘐 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘛𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘛𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘰. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘺 𝘛𝘦𝘴𝘭𝘢, 𝘐𝘯𝘤.

Starship Flight 1. Image courtesy SpaceX, Elon Musk.

Elon Musk’s Inspiring Talk on Starship Flight 1

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Elon Musk spoke for about 1 hour on a private Twitter Space on Saturday at about 4:15pm PT to an audience of over 7900 listeners.  Tim Dodd, Everyday Astronaut was co-host.  The Twitter Space was recorded and can be listened to by anyone who subscribes to Elon Musk. 

“It was good to fly this vehicle so we can move on to more advanced designs.  Booster 9 is more advanced.” – Elon Musk

Starship Test Flight 1 was an amazing success and the SpaceX team did a great job and there was a tremendous amount of valuable information learned.  Elon explained, “We live on a planet with strong gravity and it takes a lot to leave our planet to get to Mars and Starship is a real path to get us to Mars, and that is mind-boggling. We need reasons to wake up in the morning and feel excited about the future.”

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Starship Test Flight 1 went better than expected
  • There was minimal launch pad damage
  • SpaceX will be ready in 6-8 weeks for Starship Test Flight 2

Some detailed notables as mentioned by Elon were,

“Three engines were chosen by the SpaceX system not to start, so the lift-off was with 30 engines as they were shut down due to not being healthy enough.”

“At T + 62 seconds there was some damage but Starship ran okay.”

“At T + 85 steering was lost on Starship.”

A big change is that Booster 9, which will be used in the next flight in 6-8 weeks will use electric motors instead of hydraulics. The electric motors will be more isolated and less likely to fail, “the engines will start faster, throttle up faster and leave the pad faster,” explained Elon.

“The goal for the next flight is to make it to staging, succeed in staging and go into orbit!” – Elon Musk

SOVIET N1 ROCKET

Elon also highlighted the Soviet Union’s N1 program. “The Soviets were onto their A-Game, they were fantastic and their motivation was maximized.  Still, the N1 failed and never reached orbit. N1 is the closest to Starship of any Rocket that has ever flown. The cryogenic fuel is actually more risky than kerosene used by N1 and by Falcon 9.  It was too expensive to continue, and was probably embarrassing on a national level (so they stopped the program).”

The Soviet N1 used kerosene-based rocket fuel in all three of its main stages. Falcon 9’s first stage incorporates nine Merlin engines and aluminum-lithium alloy tanks containing liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) propellant. In contrast, Starship Super heavy booster is powered by 33 Raptor engines using sub-cooled liquid methane (CH4) and liquid oxygen (LOX).

Elon also explained a robust design as having isolated engines. The next launch will utilize Booster 9, which is exceptional as it has isolated engines.  

“My expectation for the next flight is its more likely to reach orbit than not.”  – Elon Musk

SPEAKERS

Asking some technical questions were @csi_starbase, John Krause, Mary Liz Bender, Zach Golden Joey Roulette, @Free_Space (Irene Klotz). So check them out!

Thanks to Elon Musk for hosting the Space! This article by Gail Alfar and was first published by Gail Alfar (me) on Twitter.