LA Times article on Elon Musk, SpaceX & Tesla Motors

[chimpanzee]

Elon Musk of SpaceX: The goal is Mars - latimes.com

Apropos of Tesla Motors, you've said in 20 years half the new cars produced will be electric. What, we'll still have to drive cars? We won't move by means of molecular disassembly?
That'd be nice! There may be something cooler than a car in 20 years, but the most likely outcome is that we'll still have cars and they'll be predominantly electric.
Where will that electricity come from?
I think solar will be the largest source [he owns a solar company, SolarCity]. It's not obvious that solar will be a majority of power generation, but I think it'll be a plurality. [The rest will] come from a combination of some nuclear, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal. Power generated by burning hydrocarbons we'll use more sparingly, as it should be used, as something that's not going to come back; because it's not. We are being complete wastrels [with fossil fuel]. It's like some heir to a fortune who had nothing to do with creating the fortune and so gives no care to its consumption.

Commercializing space, electric cars — aren't you spread a little thin?
I've been going past the red line on the gauge for a while now. It's honestly not been fun, but I have to continue for a bit longer, because for Tesla in particular, we're at the stage where the company's survival is in question. The market has given us a good evaluation. We have great supporters and great detractors. The detractors have a point, that the last successful car company started in America 90 years ago. DeLorean and Tucker brought cars to market, but they were unable to scale up their production and reach profitability. The next six months will decide whether Tesla will be the first new [successful] car company in a century.

[brianman]

On molecular disassembly...

That reminds me. Why is it we never saw a Star Trek episode that used transporter technology for medical purposes (tumor removal, etc.)?

[Iz]

On molecular disassembly...

That reminds me. Why is it we never saw a Star Trek episode that used transporter technology for medical purposes (tumor removal, etc.)?

I think there was an episode where the medical transporter on Voyager was used to transport a baby from one womb to another in order to save someone's life.

[Doug_G]

On molecular disassembly...

That reminds me. Why is it we never saw a Star Trek episode that used transporter technology for medical purposes (tumor removal, etc.)?

<off-topic geek mode>Sure we did; for example, they used it to cure Doctor Katherine Pulaski of extreme aging caused by exposure to the immune system of modified humans.</off-topic geek mode>

[blakegallagher]

Thanks for posting article I had not seen this yet. Great article ! Squirmed a little bit when Elon mentioned the detractors have a point lol

[xhawk101]

I don't think Elon meant to imply he believes the detractors view is correct from the context of his discussion however.

[Grendal]

I don't think Elon meant to imply he believes the detractors view is correct from the context of his discussion however.

I agree. I think Elon was just trying to understand where those detractors were coming from. Just a smart guy understanding someone else's point of view.

[Norbert]

I think he is serious about the decisive importance of the next six months. Success is not guaranteed yet. It'll require mostly everyone in the company to give their best.

[tray loader]

Commercializing space, electric cars — aren't you spread a little thin?
I've been going past the red line on the gauge for a while now. It's honestly not been fun, but I have to continue for a bit longer, because for Tesla in particular, we're at the stage where the company's survival is in question. The market has given us a good evaluation. We have great supporters and great detractors. The detractors have a point, that the last successful car company started in America 90 years ago. DeLorean and Tucker brought cars to market, but they were unable to scale up their production and reach profitability. The next six months will decide whether Tesla will be the first new [successful] car company in a century.

That must have been one of the most reckless statements I ever read of Elon.
Totally out of mind.
Either he knows something we don´t know,is dangerously tired out, or is simply resignated, which would be worst case scenario.


You simply CANNOT make these statement, on the eve of ramp up.
Man-he is the boss-
if he DOES NOT belive in success of Tesla, why should the public?

Steve Jobs would have turned in his grave.
Monday Tesla stock will be punished.

Damn!

[Norbert]

That must have been one of the most reckless statements I ever read of Elon.
Totally out of mind.
Either he knows something we don´t know,is dangerously tired out, or is simply resignated, which would be worst case scenario.


You simply CANNOT make these statement, on the eve of ramp up.
Man-he is the boss-
if he DOES NOT belive in success of Tesla, why should the public?

Steve Jobs would have turned in his grave.
Monday Tesla stock will be punished.

Damn!

Another pointless dooms day prediction. You were already wrong about the safety ratings.

It just means that Tesla has to do well in the next six month. And they will.