“Don’t forget to charge your car!” is something we might all be saying soon…
Because recently Tesla held their Battery Day event where CEO Elon Musk discussed the future of the popular electric car.
Currently, the car is out of many people’s price points and is often just a conversation starter when seeing one drive around (hopefully with someone behind the wheel).
But say what you will, everyone always has something to say about the car or the (sometimes controversial) CEO.
What happened at the event?
At the event, it was brought up how things like in-house mining, technology, operations, and manufacturing improvements will open the door for more affordable batteries. This in turn would create a more affordable Tesla.
Tesla hopes to one day make the cars at a $25,000 price point.
Musk said… “When you think about the $25,000 price point you have to consider how much less expensive it is to own an electric vehicle. So actually, it becomes even more affordable at that $25,000 price point.”
Did they achieve the timeline?
This isn’t the first time Musk mentioned the price of Tesla’s. In 2018, he hoped that price point could be reached within three years. And although they are somewhat affordable for everyday folks, for most, it’s still a luxury car.
Sadly, we’ll have to wait a bit for Tesla to be able to mass-produce the cars without losing the quality that makes it special in the first place.
What’s the updated timeline?
Unfortunately, the cheaper price hasn’t been met as of yet, and they’re still facing innovation challenges. Musk stated it would be about another 3 years until they can achieve this goal.
The challenges of technology and finding the right amount of resources for its batteries are proving to be more challenging than they expected. But they are still moving in the right direction.
Recently, Tesla made a new battery cell design that would help it achieve its timeline goals. The design gives 5X the energy density of existing cells, with an overall 16% improvement in the vehicles.
Now tell us what you think! Do you think Elon Musk’s timeline is realistic and that they’ll find the resources to be available for most people? Should everyone be committed to eventually owning an electric vehicle? Let us know in the comments below!
Lee Gricci says
For decades, there have been minimal improvements in battery technology. There are many limitations. While I would like to drive an electric vehicle, you can only fit so much energy into a storage cell. Computer companies have been trying forever to make these improvements. NASA has Invested heavily to improve battery technology for the space program. Another problem with battery power is the electricity needed to continually recharge the cells.
Ove Overton says
Apparently, on average, every day the sun beams down some 8,000 times more energy than humanity currently demands, we therefore only need to capture, store and distribute one eight thousandth of this free sustainable energy ever day. I note you sight the need to continually recharge battery cells as a problem, even NASA has failed to economically solve. Elon Musk (CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of SpaceX, Tesla, Solar City etc..) apparently hasn’t viewed this situation as a problem, but more of an opportunity, for which team SpaceX/Tesla have yielded much success. The excessive release of Hell’s fossilised toxins into the Heavens is not sustainable. Advocates for the continuation of Hell into Heaven have been corrupted. If NASA have filed battery charging into the too hard basket, Elon Musk has not.
James I. Williams says
love it 😀!
William B Schinella says
I would love to have one, as I already have Solar Panels on my roof and every bulb in my house are LED,s ! I am ready to go all the way!
Ray Weston says
Recharge using solar day time
Fran Sunderland says
It’s a pity no one with deep pockets has embraced hydrogen technology. The Hindenburg disaster, if remembered, is misunderstood and used to discredit hydrogen in the public mind
. Hydrogen cars produce their own electricity, with some to share.
Jeff Fischer says
Fran, I totally concur. There have been documentaries that clearly demonstrate the efficiencies of hydrogen technology as well as safety concerns. Compare hydrogen emissions (H2O) to the impact of manufacturing batteries alone. In manufacturing the batteries we are talking about mining rare earth materials and their limitations of supply. Also there doesn’t seem to be much discussion about the actual cost to routinely recharge the batteries and the impact on the grid on a large scale. Don’t misunderstand me. I am all in on energy efficiency. Hydrogen technology seems to be interestingly ignored.
Kurt Jackson says
I like the future and I think Elon Musk thinks about that too. Goals are not perfect but build hope.
Dudley Mercer says
The electricity to charge the battery in every “Electric Car” has to come from somewhere, so a “green” form of power station/delivery system must be concurrent otherwise the situation of EC owners feeling smug will continue – at the moment the power to charge EC comes from coal fired power stations.
Jim Murphy says
You would need a long extension cord to have a Tesla in Australia!
Robert W Svetlik says
Improvements on battery storage for electric cars are growing on a continuous basis. Mileage on electric cars can go at least 300 miles per charge are not uncommon and will continue to improve. 500 miles per charge will become standard within the next few years.
Joyce Roth-Roffy says
At that price point, I’d drive one in a heartbeat…assuming the Tesla quality would continue and assuming I still had a heartbeat when the vehicle actually rolls off the assembly line!
Rob says
Joyce…Hilarious!, I hope so too, not getting younger
Linda Brown says
I hope the technology develops that all of us could drive a Tesla and save the earth at the same time!!!!!
R Guy Slater says
I have two problems with electric vehicles, I’m 6 foot 5 and 300 pounds, and I live 25 miles from the nearest grocery store. Don’t add in the arthritic knees that make sedans difficult to get in and out of, but also why I drive a pick-up. What I want from an electric are two things; size and battery capacity. A vehicle that is big enough for me to comfortable drive for the day, and the battery capacity to make it through the day. <y grocery shopping usually takes 5 or more hours, and puts about 200 miles on my vehicle, mostly in city driving (stop and go driving.) I really don't need to be half way between "big city" and home and find myself in need of a charging station.
-- says
We own a Tesla and love it. We just traveled 2,000 miles, no gas costs, no maintenance, oil, water to worry about. Smooth ride. The car finds the charging stations for you. We have had it for over a year now. It is amazing to me how other car companies and so called car guys only want to tear Tesla down when they are the innovators in the car industry and have sold more cars that other car companies combined. They call him crazy but he is crazy smart.
joelamason says
Elon’s mindset is correct. If you aim at nothing you are sure to hit it. He is trying while others are simply complaining that he is visionary. Don’t condemn someone else for trying and being visionary unless you are trying to solve it yourself. We need more Elons and less complainers.