4 ms·

I agree, we're looking at one tiny part of the big picture. However, to get to the clean energy endgoal, we have to start doing multiple things at the same time

I agree, we're looking at one tiny part of the big picture. However, to get to the clean energy endgoal, we have to start doing multiple things at the same time, which is what the article was talking about from the European manufacturing side. Tesla is producing batteries in a net-zero factory, powered by solar and wind energy. Superchargers by Tesla are using energy generated and transferred from solar carports and/or other places as much as possible. If more customers buy more electric cars, the more the leverage they have on the politics to build more clean energy efficient generation grids. Right now, not enough people care about this and thus, not enough of the lawmakers do either.

Animats 11y ago
"Tesla is producing batteries in a net-zero factory, powered by solar and wind energy." Tesla is still building their battery factory. All they have right now, after a year, is a half-finished building shell.[1] Tesla is touchy about this; their security guards roughed up some reporters trying to get a picture of the place.[2] [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuDfFmUcJso https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuDfFmUcJso [2] http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2015/10/09/rgj-photographer-arrested-after-altercation-withtesla-security-guards/73693850/ http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2015/10/09/rgj-photographer-ar...
- mikeash 11y ago
  That is an ever so slightly biased account of the situation. Construction began in January, so it's not quite "after a year." What's there currently isn't exactly a "half-finished building shell" but is very close to producing batteries, with production slated to begin early next year. At the same time, it's much less than half finished, because the final factory is going to be huge, and they've only built a tiny part of it so far. Finally, Tesla isn't "touchy," they just don't like people trespassing and trying to run over their security guards.
barney54 11y ago
Tesla's claim that they will producing batteries in a net-zero factory is almost certainly not true. They could do it by using their batteries and solar panels, but they almost certainly won't do that because they want reliability and affordability (like the rest of us). They will buy credit and that's where there claims of "net zero" come from. But they will almost certainly use grid electricity.

Animats 11y ago

"Tesla is producing batteries in a net-zero factory, powered by solar and wind energy." Tesla is still building their battery factory. All they have right now, after a year, is a half-finished building shell.[1] Tesla is touchy about this; their security guards roughed up some reporters trying to get a picture of the place.[2] [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuDfFmUcJso https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuDfFmUcJso [2] http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2015/10/09/rgj-photographer-arrested-after-altercation-withtesla-security-guards/73693850/ http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2015/10/09/rgj-photographer-ar...

mikeash 11y ago
That is an ever so slightly biased account of the situation. Construction began in January, so it's not quite "after a year." What's there currently isn't exactly a "half-finished building shell" but is very close to producing batteries, with production slated to begin early next year. At the same time, it's much less than half finished, because the final factory is going to be huge, and they've only built a tiny part of it so far. Finally, Tesla isn't "touchy," they just don't like people trespassing and trying to run over their security guards.

barney54 11y ago

Tesla's claim that they will producing batteries in a net-zero factory is almost certainly not true. They could do it by using their batteries and solar panels, but they almost certainly won't do that because they want reliability and affordability (like the rest of us). They will buy credit and that's where there claims of "net zero" come from. But they will almost certainly use grid electricity.