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[Kinitari]

The Tesla praise has been non-stop. The SpaceX success has defied a shitload of odds. He is a CEO, Chairman and chief designer of multiple companies. His aspirations are ridiculously out there (people living on mars within 2 decades, electric cars replacing gas cars, solar being everywhere).

I feel like this guy is non-stop on cocaine, except he is actually functional. About 2 years ago he wasn't even on my radar - now he's on everyone's radar. And he seems to be in bed with Google to boot.

So, how does GAF feel about him?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk

 

[Yaboosh]

Don't be evil.

 

[speculawyer]

He's kind of an arrogant dick. But he's worked hard and pulled things off so I guess he's allowed to be that way.


He was the model for the film version of Tony stark;

Elon Musk
By Jon Favreau Thursday, Apr. 29, 2010

Elon Musk makes no sense — and that's the reason I know him. When I was trying to bring the character of genius billionaire Tony Stark to the big screen in Iron Man, I had no idea how to make him seem real. Robert Downey Jr. said, "We need to sit down with Elon Musk." He was right.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984745_1985495,00.html

 

[Divvy]

I wish he'd spill the beans on the Hyperloop

 

[BroDudeGuy]

Love the guy, need more people like him.

 

[Admiral Bone to Pick]

Electric cars replacing gas cars isn't that radical of an idea. I pretty much see it as the inevitable future.

 

[Kinitari]

He's kind of an arrogant dick. But he's worked hard and pulled things off so I guess he's allowed to be that way.


He was the model for the film version of Tony stark;


http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984745_1985495,00.html

Woah, I didn't know that. I was actually going to say "He's basically the real life version of Tony Stark".

 

[Cat Party]

PayPal tho

 

[Talon]

PayPal tho

Made his money and bailed.

 

[obin_gam]

He's kind of an arrogant dick.

He seems like a man with genuine good intentions of everything, so he can be as much of an arrogant dick as he wants imo.

 

[Anticitizen One]

he is the hank pym to my tony stark

 

[Talon]

This reminds me of the OldTymeGAF thread about Henry Ford.

 

[CharlieDigital]

Electric cars replacing gas cars isn't that radical of an idea. I pretty much see it as the inevitable future.

It only seems "inevitable" now that a company has realized it, but it has been a vision for decades and many companies big and small have failed before.

What's radical is that a startup automaker was able to beat the big guys to the punch. Honda, Toyota, VW Group, BMW, Mercedes, GM, Chrysler / Fiat -- none of them has a commercially viable electric vehicle. Nissan has the Leaf, but is it really commercially viable? Could Nissan exist if it only sold the Leaf?

What's radical is how committed Tesla is to single-minded success of the concept; many others have quit before and even Musk himself was nearly broke at one point funding Tesla -- it would have been easy for him to quit.

To me, Musk is the entrepreneur of our generation in a stratosphere above Zuckerberg.

 

[Admiral Bone to Pick]

It only seems "inevitable" now that a company has realized it, but it has been a vision for decades and many companies big and small have failed before.

What's radical is that a startup automaker was able to beat the big guys to the punch.

What's radical is how committed Tesla is to single-minded success of the concept; many others have quit before and even Musk himself was nearly broke at one point funding Tesla -- it would have been easy for him to quit.

To me, Musk is the entrepreneur of our generation in a stratosphere above Zuckerberg.

I mostly see it as inevitable because it's the only option that would work. Once oil prices get high enough, people will start switching to alternatives. And electric cars are really the only alternative.

 

[Anticitizen One]

electric? pfft

It's all about dat Hydrogen car dawg

 

[smokeandmirrors]

What's radical is that a startup automaker was able to beat the big guys to the punch. Honda, Toyota, VW Group, BMW, Mercedes, GM, Chrysler / Fiat -- none of them has a commercially viable electric vehicle. Nissan has the Leaf, but is it really commercially viable? Could Nissan exist if it only sold the Leaf?

I think this is a huge thing people seem to overlook when it comes to Tesla and Musk.

Also lucky on him for getting the name Tesla for his auto company name.

 

[Kinitari]

electric? pfft

It's all about dat Hydrogen car dawg

By the time hydrogen becomes viable (if ever) electric cars will have a solid foothold - what benefit would hydrogen have over electric?

 

[Stellactic]

I could see him running for presidency one day when he's older, gotten thousands of people to space, brought solar energy to millions of homes, and revolutionized the roads with electric cars. He'd be one kick ass president. If he spoke to America like he speaks now in presentations and interviews I'd let him be king. He's got such confidence and smarts.

 

[Talon]

It's great that we've gone from laughing at Priuses back in 2007 to where an EV won Motor Trend Car of the Year. I think we forget how much of a joke EVs were considered, and now we have an aspirational electric sports sedan. It's a HUGE shift.

 

[Cheesemeister]

I could see him running for presidency one day when he's older, gotten thousands of people to space, brought solar energy to millions of homes, and revolutionized the roads with electric cars. He'd be one kick ass president. If he spoke to America like he speaks now in presentations and interviews I'd let him be king. He's got such confidence and smarts.

He's ineligible, having been born in South Africa.

 

[Divvy]

I could see him running for presidency one day when he's older, gotten thousands of people to space, brought solar energy to millions of homes, and revolutionized the roads with electric cars. He'd be one kick ass president. If he spoke to America like he speaks now in presentations and interviews I'd let him be king. He's got such confidence and smarts.

Too bad he was born in South Africa

 

[Talon]

I could see him running for presidency one day when he's older, gotten thousands of people to space, brought solar energy to millions of homes, and revolutionized the roads with electric cars. He'd be one kick ass president. If he spoke to America like he speaks now in presentations and interviews I'd let him be king. He's got such confidence and smarts.

Not American, bruh.

 

[Anticitizen One]

By the time hydrogen becomes viable (if ever) electric cars will have a solid foothold - what benefit would hydrogen have over electric?

You wouldn't need electricity so when a solar flare wipes out electricity on Earth we can still drive cars

 

[ClassyPenguin]

Due creates an electric and space company in California of all places, successfully, thus the red states focus on him as being villain.

 

[BeEatNU]

yes dudes a fucking boss and I love it.

 

[Stellactic]

He's ineligible, having been born in South Africa.

Well we may to change some rules around then.

 

[Anticitizen One]

Well we may to change some rules around then.

We already did for Obama

 

[CharlieDigital]

He's ineligible, having been born in South Africa.

Too bad he was born in South Africa

Not American, bruh.

He didn't actually say POTUS....

Still eligible for South Africa!

Due creates an electric and space company in California of all places, successfully, thus the red states focus on him as being villain.

There would be too much hate for most of the big players on the web given that Silicon Valley is in CA.

 

[ClassyPenguin]

By the time hydrogen becomes viable (if ever) electric cars will have a solid foothold - what benefit would hydrogen have over electric?

]

dual fuels

 

[Seraphis Cain]

I could see him running for presidency one day when he's older, gotten thousands of people to space, brought solar energy to millions of homes, and revolutionized the roads with electric cars. He'd be one kick ass president. If he spoke to America like he speaks now in presentations and interviews I'd let him be king. He's got such confidence and smarts.

Can't. He was born in South Africa.

EDIT: Beaten

 

[speculawyer]

I mostly see it as inevitable because it's the only option that would work. Once oil prices get high enough, people will start switching to alternatives. And electric cars are really the only alternative.

Exactly. They are still working on hydrogen cars but I just don't see that working out. They cost so much more, there is no hydrogen infrastructure, hydrogen costs much more than electricity, etc. If you need to drive long distances then just use a normal gas car, a hybrid, or a PHEV.

EVs certainly have problems. They do cost more up front, they take longer to fuel (though fast-charging does work), and they generally don't have a good range unless you put a lot of battery in there and that makes them very expensive. But for typical daily driving, they work great and will replace gas cars as oil prices go higher. But the transition will take a long time. We've probably got a price plateau for a while with oil.

 

[Talon]

By the time hydrogen becomes viable (if ever) electric cars will have a solid foothold - what benefit would hydrogen have over electric?

Well, for one, electricity is by-in-large generated by burning coal in most of the fifty states.

Although, to be fair, the number of states that don't use coal has grown in the past two decades. There are...I want to say like 8 states that don't use coal at all?

 

[smokeandmirrors]

He's ineligible, having been born in South Africa.

Too bad he was born in South Africa

Not American, bruh.

Can't. He was born in South Africa.

EDIT: Beaten

President OF THE WORLD

 

[speculawyer]

Can't. He was born in South Africa.

EDIT: Beaten

Another reason why we do need to have immigration reform that allows us to keep good entrepreneurs in the country.

 

[Talon]

Another reason why we do need to have immigration reform that allows us to keep good entrepreneurs in the country.

His parents let him quit HS and travel the US, right? Then he went to Wharton (who can blame him?) and then made beaucoup money with X.com, which eventually evolved into Paypal.

 

[Kinitari]

]

dual fuels

I know there are cars out there that have the capability of using hydrogen fuel, but when I say 'viable' I mean... well, viable. As it stands right now, you need to make hydrogen fuel first and foremost, and then put it in your car for limited performance. And it's progression is moving at a crawl.

Honestly, it feels like hydrogen isn't going to really move outside of a few niche markets - we are continuously improving battery tech and solar tech, and we already have all electric vehicles with good performance.

Well, for one, electricity is by-in-large generated by burning coal in most of the fifty states.

Although, to be fair, the number of states that don't use coal has grown in the past two decades. There are...I want to say like 8 states that don't use coal at all?

Yeah, the grid is still heavily reliant on coal in the US - but Tesla is planning on having their charging stations almost entirely solar powered.

 

[reilo]

I can never praise the guy that created PayPal too much despite all the other good things he's done.

 

[ThLunarian]

Let's say it's 30 years from now, and the vast majority of cars being bought and sold new are electric. Does this mean that fuel prices will plummet due to lower demand? Or will all that demand be soaked up by emerging economies like China and India?

Or am I just way off base?

But yeah, Elon Musk is a beast

 

[Talon]

I mean Hydrogen is definitely the dream. It's the stretch goal, if you will.

How much has energy yield from solar panels jumped in the last decade? Didn't Toshiba have a massive leap in like 2007, or am I making shit up?

Let's say it's 30 years from now, and the vast majority of cars being bought and sold new are electric. Does this mean that fuel prices will plummet due to lower demand? Or will all that demand be soaked up by emerging economies like China and India?

Or am I just way off base?

But yeah, Elon Musk is a beast

We will always need plastics. And China by itself could soak it all up itself, not to mention India if the central government ever gets its corrupt ass together.

 

[neoanarch]

I can never praise the guy that created PayPal too much despite all the other good things he's done.

PayPal is a good concept he sold it though and its practices today are probably not from him.

 

[eastmen]

The Tesla praise has been non-stop. The SpaceX success has defied a shitload of odds. He is a CEO, Chairman and chief designer of multiple companies. His aspirations are ridiculously out there (people living on mars within 2 decades, electric cars replacing gas cars, solar being everywhere).

I feel like this guy is non-stop on cocaine, except he is actually functional. About 2 years ago he wasn't even on my radar - now he's on everyone's radar. And he seems to be in bed with Google to boot.

So, how does GAF feel about him?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk

He is still nothing compared to Gates . Gates is on Saint level at this point after founding the Gates foundation.

 

[Anastasia]

I love the vision he has for the future and what he wants to do to improve society; some of the changes probably won't happen as quickly as he wants, but I think that is better than aiming low and achieving a goal that doesn't really move society forward.

He also has one of the best names ever.

 

[speculawyer]

Well, for one, electricity is by-in-large generated by burning coal in most of the fifty states.

Although, to be fair, the number of states that don't use coal has grown in the past two decades. There are...I want to say like 8 states that don't use coal at all?

I'm not sure what 'by-in-large' means but I think your understanding is wrong. Coal makes up less than 50% of the electricity generated. It dropped to as low as around 36% as natural gas prices got so low that utilities were burning that heavily. It has climbed back up a bit since then . . . maybe 40%. And it is on the decline as old coal plants are phased out and few new ones are built.

Wind was the #1 source of new electricity installed last year. Natural gas was #2. And solar is growing fast because it has become MUCH much cheaper than it was only a few years ago.

My utility, PG&E, gets less than 1% of its electricity from coal. And California is where most of those Tesla cars reside.

Oh . . . and Elon's sister company Solar City makes a pitch to every Tesla motors buyer . . . and a sizable percentage of them agree to buy a solar PV system. Not just to be greenies . . . but because it is a wise financial move. California electric rates are a tiered system wherein your rates get more and more expensive if you use more power. So just get a solar system and that problem goes away. (You can also get another meter for the car . . . but the cost of doing that is not cheap such that your money is probably better spent on the solar PV system.)

I'm finally getting around to building my PV system. I've got my plans almost done . . . time to go talk to the planning commission and see what changes I need to do to get them to approve it. The DoE should really push for a 'model code' of PV system rules to simplify things.

 

[Talon]

He is still nothing compared to Gates . Gates is on Saint level at this point after founding the Gates foundation.

The reinvention of Bill Gates' persona from 2005 on is the fastest role reversal in human history.

Guy went from the devil incarnate in the tech community to Mother Teresa, and nobody under the age of 18 now even knows about old Microsoft.

 

[Kinitari]

I mean Hydrogen is definitely the dream. It's the stretch goal, if you will.

I honestly don't know what benefit hydrogen has over electric - especially if the electric is solar power based.

How much has energy yield from solar panels jumped in the last decade? Didn't Toshiba have a massive leap in like 2007, or am I making shit up?

Well, if you're looking for the price performance

 

[Clevinger]

If he ends up retiring on Mars like he plans/wants to, then yes he'll be the baddest motherfucker of our generation. Otherwise he's just a really interesting businessman.

 

[speculawyer]

Let's say it's 30 years from now, and the vast majority of cars being bought and sold new are electric. Does this mean that fuel prices will plummet due to lower demand? Or will all that demand be soaked up by emerging economies like China and India?

Or am I just way off base?

No, that probably won't happen. I believe that the only reason electric cars will become popular is BECAUSE of high oil prices. If oil prices were to drop, people won't buy them except a small niche of greenies and gadget freaks (today's EV buyers).

Even though electric is very elegant, it is just damn hard to compete with the energy density of gasoline. And when that gasoline is cheap, the electrics just can't compete.

 

[Talon]

I'm not sure what 'by-in-large' means but I think your understanding is wrong. Coal makes up less than 50% of the electricity generated. It dropped to as low as around 36% as natural gas prices got so low that utilities were burning that heavily. It has climbed back up a bit since then . . . maybe 40%. And it is on the decline as old coal plants are phased out and few new ones are built.

Coal is still the largest source of electricity generation in the United States is all I stated.

I actually wrote CBTs on turbines (vis-a-vis electricity generation) at one of the three largest oil companies in the world, so I'm basing my knowledge based on that. Burning coal and natural gas, although I was surprised to learn that petrol is used at all. Seems like a waste.

 

[Kinitari]

No, that probably won't happen. I believe that the only reason electric cars will become popular is BECAUSE of high oil prices. If oil prices were to drop, people won't buy them except a small niche of greenies and gadget freaks (today's EV buyers).

Even though electric is very elegant, it is just damn hard to compete with the energy density of gasoline. And when that gasoline is cheap, the electrics just can't compete.

Consider this -

Electric cars at... lets say 15k. Charging is free, and charging is extremely plentiful. Gas however, costs money (even little money). How might that change your opinion on the situation?

 

[eastmen]

No, that probably won't happen. I believe that the only reason electric cars will become popular is BECAUSE of high oil prices. If oil prices were to drop, people won't buy them except a small niche of greenies and gadget freaks (today's EV buyers).

Even though electric is very elegant, it is just damn hard to compete with the energy density of gasoline. And when that gasoline is cheap, the electrics just can't compete.

there will come a point where gas stations start closing down and then it wont matter if gas prices come down.

Also we should hopefully keep making gains in battery tech. So that range goes up while cost goes down . I would say once you can drive about 300-400 miles per charge on a $30k car no one will care about gas cars anymore