Tag: What's Up Tesla

Image Courtesy Tesla, Inc.

Tesla Engineers Are Relentless in the Pursuit of Improving Products: Tesla Backup Switch

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

(Austin, Texas) This evening I’m listening to the sound of rolling thunder, the skies are filled with lightning and I’m watching my Texas flag flapping in the wind outside.

In moments like this, I like to sit back and think about the significant things of the week. One significant thing that I do not want to let fade into history is the response I received on Twitter from Drew Baglino.

At Tesla Shareholder Day with Elon Musk, Baglino let investors and others know about the importance of his role at Tesla by describing intricate parts of Master Plan 3. As SVP of Powertrain and Energy Engineering at Tesla, he holds a lot of responsibility. On June 14, Baglino tweeted a message of thanks to utilities that are working to approve the Tesla backup switch in their territory.

What is a Tesla Backup Switch? 

This is the question I posed to Baglino on Twitter because my Tesla Solar System has a large and elegant white Gateway with the Tesla logo on it.  It is beautiful, and I understood it to also be an advanced switch system.  I asked if the backup switch replaces Gateway. The Tesla Gateway is considered an engineering marvel, however, it is much bigger than a backup switch.  Could Backup Switch do everything Gateway does in such a small package?

The answer is yes! Baglino graciously attached a schematic of backup switch and explained the purpose, saying, 

“Yes, the backup switch is a meter socket adapter that provides the metering and automatic grid disconnect functionality of the Tesla Energy Gateway.” (see image)

Image Courtesy Tesla, Inc.
Backup Switch, Image Courtesy Tesla, Inc.

My Power Went Down and my Powerwalls Took Over

I had to pull away from writing this article for about an hour as a severe storm warning was in effect for Austin, Texas. When this happens, I walk outside, bring in the dry clothes from the line, secure lawn chairs and make sure the car is parked in the garage. I love watching storms roll in, the sky in shades of grey, the wind rushing all around the tall trees, and the earthy smell of the storm. 

Meanwhile, my Tesla Powerwalls, like sentry guards against the weather with their backup storage, started to fill with power from the grid, and eventually, power from the grid went down. 

The Powerwalls started to power up the house.  Hail started to hit our home. I ran out to the porch to watch the falling hail and smell the earthy air of a summer storm.  

This was the Tesla Gateway in action.  Backup switch can do the same task, only it is more efficient by 30%.  

Tesla says of the switch, “Powerwall installs with Backup Switch are 30%+ faster and use less equipment.”  

Baglino also explained, “Powerwall+ contains the cellular and WiFi capabilities of the Tesla Energy Gateway. So there is no need for an Energy gateway when you install Powerwall+ with a Backup Switch.”  

Tesla Engineers Are Relentless in the Pursuit of Improving Products

Tesla Energy engineers built an incredible product called the Gateway. Gateway would have been a great place for Telsa to stop, but it was not good enough for Tesla, so they engineered backup switch. 

I get excited when I see Tesla advancing through smart engineering this way. I know that it’s important to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy as fast as possible, and this is a beautiful, sublime way of doing it.

From Tesla’s incredible engineering in their vehicles, to how their systems seamlessly protect families from power outages, safety seems to be the top priority in every aspect.

I hope you, dear reader, will benefit from clean energy where you live, you may not have Powerwalls, but someday you may have solar or wind power that is sold to the grid near where you live, powering your home. We have a lot of work to do in the USA and around the entire world. My cup is half full, I am optimistic, as long as there are good-hearted people, I believe that Tesla Master Plan 3 can be achieved.

Addendum: Five More Reasons Backup Switch is So Amazing

Here are more amazing facts about the Tesla Backup Switch taken from the Interconnection Reform to Accelerate Residential Solar and Storage by Arushi Sharma Frank 

  • Installs in under an hour and allows for safe disconnects and whole-home backup with the battery when the grid is in an outage
  • Tesla Backup Switch reduces project costs
  • Compliant with National Electric Code
  • Certified to UL 414, UL 2735, UL 916, UL 1741 PCS
  • Less intrusive for customer & easier installs on diverse property sizes
Austin Texas on the night I drafted this amazing article. Courtesy Shane Ware on Twitter.

This article written by Gail Alfar, please credit accordingly. With special mention to TESLA ENERGY & Drew Baglino.  Thank you to Tesla Energy for being amazing. Thank you to Elon Musk for giving Masterplan 3 to the people of earth.  Images Courtesy Tesla, Inc. 

Gail’s Tesla Podcast Episode No. 13 featuring: Zero Disengagements to the Happy Cactus

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Austin, Texas

Join Gail Alfar as she hops in the Model Y and heads to the Happy Cactus in Austin on Tesla FSD beta. This miraculous part of this journey is that it is a trip all across the city, during rush hour, with zero driver intervention. Gail is, of course, watching the road and monitoring the car all the time, but Tesla’s software makes the grade! Enjoy!

Gail Alfar, author. Exclusive to What’s Up Tesla – All Rights Reserved. My goal as an author and podcaster is to support Tesla (the most American vehicle manufacturer) and Elon Musk in both making life better on Earth for humans and becoming a space-fairing civilization.

Elon Musk’s Talk on Tesla’s Partnership with GM to Provide Supercharging

Gail Alfar1 Comment

 

As the sun sets in the evening, I am relaxing on my back porch and overcome with emotion as I listen to Elon Musk speak with GM CEO Mary Barra in a Twitter Space.  Elon is welcoming GM’s electric cars to the Tesla Network. This article features Elon’s words, my thoughts, and the varied opinions of 12 people.

I’ll start by mentioning that the Tesla Supercharger Network is the best in the world, with seamless charging that has an *uptime rate of 99.95% which is the best overall.  This deserves an award considering there are over 45,000 Superchargers in the world! 

“This is one of the great inflection points in motor vehicles” – Elon Musk

During the Twitter Space, Elon said “This is one of the great inflection points in motor vehicles, and certainly comparable to the moving production line and so it’s a profound change in the world.”

Elon went above and beyond to ensure Barra understood the support Tesla will give to GM, saying, 

“Obviously you have our full support and we are incredibly excited to partner with you on this and just make it a fantastic electric vehicle experience, whether somebody is driving a car from GM or from Tesla. 

I think this will be really great for consumers, and I am not sure people in North America realize it’s a much better standard and it’s only one connector that automatically detects whether it’s AC or DC, and adjusts for the current. 

And it’s also light and easy to handle and I think aesthetically it’s also preferable. We’re honored to have you (GM) join us and Tesla will send you, you will have our absolute full support.” 

Tesla Takes Zero Profit 

The generosity and kindness of Elon was apparent in a Tweet to Ray4Tesla in which he clarified that it’s “Worth mentioning that Tesla is supplying the adapter & other hardware to car companies at zero profit.”

Twitter Space Audience Appreciated By Elon Musk

Elon thoughtfully noticed the audience in the Twitter space (436,000K people) and said “I notice a lot of great people who know a lot about the electric vehicle industry so I think you can pick almost anyone and they will have some great questions.”  Although Barra took questions from her Twitter feed, it is notable that Elon showed care for listeners and for those asking to speak.  

Elon Musk Desires Non-Tesla Owners To Have a Delightful Experience Charging

Elon took into consideration the mindset of non-Tesla Owners, saying,

 “It’s going to be really great for consumers, they will not have to worry about which plug, which socket, which charging station. and it will just work seamlessly. I think this will be a fundamentally great thing for the advancement of electric vehicles in North America.”

 “I really want to reiterate to GM owners out there that Tesla is not going to do anything to prefer Tesla owners, and it really will be an even playing field. I think people should feel comfortable buying a Tesla or a GM car and we will provide support equally to both. The most important thing is that we advance the electric vehicle revolution.”

Twelve People Share Their Thoughts on Tesla’s Partnership With GM

I hope to share with you why I believe this is an extraordinary move by Elon Musk and I think you’ll also like to hear what people are saying.

I feel like celebrating!! – Ryan Levenson

Wow GM will be going NACS. Who’d have thought this would happen?! – Dr. Know It All

This is beautiful – Andrea Stroppa

It feels like the transition to EVs is all but guaranteed now, the reality is that the best consumer vehicles are electric and soon charging won’t be an issue no matter what brand you drive. – The Kilowatts

I’m happy for GM. I thought their ego would have prevented them from doing this but it seems like they saw the writing on the wall. CCS is just more expensive, bulkier, and riddled with failures. –  Apart-Bad5446

There’s nothing here to reciprocate. What does Tesla get out of GMs fast chargers?– Feurie

Can’t wait to see the GM and Ford commercials bragging about their Tesla supercharger network – Jackson23456789

Smart move! A rising tide lifts all ships. Congrats to GM and Tesla – Jim O’Kane

Love My R1T, but Ford is making solid moves IMO. – RunAshamen Rivian owner

Feeling delighted and smug about GM’s big news – Sandy Munro

You’ve got to remember that in the scenario that is playing out here, Tesla’s competitor isn’t Ford/GM, it’s Exxon, Shell, BP etc. Tesla is becoming the number one provider to fuel everyday transport. Tesla is replacing gas stations with this move. It’s very clear in Tesla Master Plan Part 3, they want to be an Energy company, not a car company. This is just another step forward into another market. – Elad04

Tesla is now a power standard for electric vehicle charging.– Robert Scoble 

To say I am overjoyed by this is an understatement. My take is that this will serve to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles orders of magnitude faster. Tesla welcomed Ford to the Supercharger network last week so I’m excited to watch these companies develop into electric manufacturing. 

Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas. Photo courtesy CVSherman.
Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas. Photo courtesy CVSherman.

This article written by @GailAlfarATX please credit accordingly.  I express unending gratitude to Tesla Charging and to Elon Musk.  I refer you to *Tesla Impact Report 2022 p70 which highlights the quality of Tesla Supercharging.  I have referenced the following ppl and more, thank you to all! RyanHLevanson, The Kilowatts, Andrea Stroppa, Sandy Munro, Mary Barra, Dr. Knopw It All, TV Dad.com Robert Scoble, and Ray For Tesla.

You may reshare this article. Thank you for your support!

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.

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 : )

Gail’s Tesla Podcast Episode No. 15 featuring: Dirty Tesla

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Gail Alfar and Dirty Tesla on FSD Beta drive for Gail’s Tesla Podcast, May 2023

Austin, Texas

One of the pleasures of owning a Tesla or planning to buy one is the proliferation of videos online that feature how great FSD beta is. If you have not yet heard of Dirty Tesla, he’s a fabulous video creator on the X app, and he has published many videos with his expert commentary. 

Join Dirty Tesla and Gail Alfar as they head across the city of Austin, Texas, to the Austin Airport using FSD beta. Dirty Tesla has fabulous observations and I think you will enjoy the ride!

Gail Alfar, author. Exclusive to What’s Up Tesla – All Rights Reserved. My goal as an author and podcaster is to support Tesla (the most American vehicle manufacturer) and Elon Musk in both making life better on Earth for humans and becoming a space-fairing civilization.

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.