Tag Archives: grave

News

Elon Musk: Tesla “dug its own grave” with Cybertruck

In a recent statement, CEO Elon Musk admitted that Tesla has “dug its own grave” with the Cybertruck. The electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer has been struggling to scale up production of the angular pickup truck.

Tesla is significantly behind schedule with the Cybertruck, as it initially promised to begin deliveries in 2021 when it was unveiled in 2019. Although production started in July, customers still cannot order the vehicle and Tesla is only accepting reservation deposits.

Musk acknowledged the challenges in achieving high-volume production with the Cybertruck and making it profitable during the company’s third-quarter earnings call. Tesla is utilizing innovative production techniques for this uniquely styled truck, including the use of ultra-hard stainless steel and large-scale gigapresses in its Texas factory.

Musk stated that Tesla aims to achieve a target volume production of 250,000 units per year by 2025, once it addresses the current issues.

The Cybertruck is a departure from Tesla’s focus on producing high volumes of popular global models like the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. Musk described the Cybertruck as a special product that is exceptionally challenging to bring to market in significant quantities.

During the earnings call, Musk also expressed concerns about high interest rates driving up prices and impacting affordability for consumers.

Tesla claims to have a million reservations for the Cybertruck but has yet to announce its pricing. It is expected that the vehicle will cost more than the initial prediction of $39,900 for the base model, which was advertised to have a range of 250 miles.

Although the first production Cybertruck was recently pictured with factory workers, indicating an impending customer handover event, Tesla has not confirmed a delivery date.

With its radical design, including a wedge-shaped body, no front grille, angular window frames, and minimal bodywork curvature, the Cybertruck presents itself as a distinct alternative to traditional trucks like the Ford F-150 Lightning.

Technology

One Of History’s Most Puzzling Technological Enigmas: The Baghdad Battery

Originally, König believed that the tomb dated back to the time when the Parthians controlled the region (248 B.C. – A.D. 226). He was convinced that these jars served as batteries because they contained galvanic cells with two different metals that had different electro potentials. Moreover, the corrosion found inside the jars consisted of an electrolyte such as vinegar or wine, indicating the presence of both battery components.

However, as scientific methods and carbon dating technology improved, the timeline shifted, placing the jars during the reign of the Sasanian Iranian empire (A.D. 224 – 650). This would mean that the first recorded battery, created by Alessandro Volta in March 1800, existed much earlier than previously thought.

Experiments have demonstrated that when the jar is filled with a weak acid (like vinegar), the “battery” generates approximately 1 volt of electricity. In 1948, a replica made by a General Electric engineer produced almost 2 volts, roughly equivalent to 1/40th of a triple-A battery. Some speculate that if wires were connected, it could potentially generate more power, but no such wires have ever been found. While humanity’s knowledge of electricity predates most people’s awareness, referring to this invention as a “battery” may be a bit of a stretch.

[Image by Ironie via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 2.5]