Read Aloud
Please join me in congratulating Elon Musk. He has been selected as 2016's winner of the Annual Bruessard Award. Elon Musk was selected as 2016's winner because, among other initiatives, he stands poised to change the game on solving the global warming problem by producing his environmentally friendly and performance-centered Tesla line of electric-powered vehicles (EV). To be certain, as the next two graphics illustrate, clean-running, environmentally friendly vehicles did not begin with Elon Musk, and they certainly will not end with him. In the USA, for instance, the Toyota Prius is an extremely popular alternative-fuel, hybrid vehicle—particularly, in the state of California. Clean-energy upstart vehicles such as Lucid, Rivian, Genesis, Polestar, BYD, Aptera and Gazelle, among with many other popularly known brands, are barometers of things to come in the future-vehicle space.
The thing to set Elon Mark apart from other clean-emitting or green vehicle manufacturers is this: Not only are his Tesla vehicles environmentally friendly but also they are aesthetically appealing, luxurious, and perform equally as well—or better than—their legacy gas-powered counterparts. Moreover, the Tesla line of electric-powered vehicles is arguably the first electric-powered vehicle to achieve widespread popular acceptance. The Tesla line of electric-powered vehicles stands poised to be the first electric vehicles to go mainstream.
What if every driver in the world suddenly switched to only driving electric-powered vehicles? Such a scenario would represent a paradigm shift and a game changer for the environment of epic and Earth-shattering proportions. Looking around at the number of vehicles being driven each day on Earth, can you imagine the amount of carbon-dioxide and other pollutants not being released into the atmosphere as characterized by electric-powered only vehicles? The estimate is that about 14% of all greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to the transportation sector of the economy. By switching to driving electric-powered vehicles, in an instant, a significant dent would be made towards assuaging and ameliorating the global warming problem.
| General Statistics | Roadster NG* | Model S | Model X | Model 3 | Model Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched Year | 2024 | 2012 | 2015 | 2018 | 2020 |
| Vehicle Type | Sports | Sedan | Crossover SUV (CUV) | Sedan | SUV |
| Base Cash Price | $200,000 | $94,990 | $109,990 | $42,990 | $54,990 |
| Expected Distance Per Battery Charge | 620 miles / 1000 kilometers | 405 miles / 652 kilometers | 348 miles / 560 kilometers | 372 miles / 438 kilometers | 330 miles / 531 kilometers |
| Guaranteed Battery Duration | 8 years | 8 years / 150,000 miles | 8 years / 150,000 miles | 8 years / 100,000 miles | 8 years / 120,000 miles |
| Vehicle Status as of 2016 | Coming soon | Still in production | Still in production | Still in production | Still in production |
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*Roadster NG = Roadster Next Generation Note:In 2022, Tesla introduced its Semi. In 2023, Tesla introduced its Cybertruck. In 2024, Tesla plans to introduce its next-generation Roadster. Major Resources for Table: https://optiwatt.com/blog/how-long-will-your-tesla-battery-really-last https://history-computer.com/what-is-the-range-for-all-tesla-models/ https://teslatale.com/tesla-miles-per-charge/ https://www.motor1.com/features/313677/how-much-is-a-tesla/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla%2C_Inc. |
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Can Tesla succeed in doing for clean-emission automotive transport some 113 years later (as of 2016) what Ford Motor Company did for mechanized transport in 1903? Henry Ford, in 1903, built and launched the Model A automobile for mass public consumption. In the process, Henry Ford ushered in an era of transportation for the masses. With the passage of time, Henry Ford's creation made it possible for humans en masse to move around broad geographic areas freely, conveniently, and rapidly by way of motorized vehicles. Similarly, during the 2020's, will there be mass public consumption of Elon Musk's clean-emitting, electric-powered Tesla vehicles—and all related variants of green vehicles, too? It appears as if Tesla has gotten off to a good start. The future seems bright for Tesla Motors, in particular, and all other variants of clean-emitting vehicles, in general. The next video serves as a testament to the progress that humans have made in 2016 since the invention of the motor vehicle in 1885, or over the span of the last 131 years.
When purchasing an automobile, whether it is a new or used vehicle, in addition to the all-important factors of price, credit availability, credit worthiness, and affordability, the factors that seem to concern the average consumer the most include these:
When Tesla Motors introduces its lower-cost Model 3 vehicle in 2018, then it will have satisfied all of the above consumer car-buying concerns.
| USA Household Income Categories for 2015 | 2015's Percent of Households in Each Category | Cumulative Percent of Households | Income Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 and over | 6.1% | 6.1% | 1 |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 6.2% | 12.3% | 2 |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 14.1% | 26.4% | 3 |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 12.1% | 38.5% | 4 |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 16.7% | 55.2% | 5 |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 12.7% | 67.9% | 6 |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 10.0% | 77.9% | 7 |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 10.5% | 88.4% | 8 |
| Under $15,000 | 11.6% | 100.0% | 9 |
| Total Percent | 100.0% | ||
| Median income (dollars) | 56,516 | ||
| Average income (dollars) | 79,263 |
It should be noted that, as of 2016, the typical Tesla owner is not the average consumer. For instance, the typical Tesla owner is likely to earn an above-average income. The economic profile of the typical Tesla owner is expected to change dramatically with the release of the lower-priced Tesla Model 3 vehicle. Based on the USA income table immediately above, currently as of 2016, Tesla owners tend to fall in Tiers 1, 2, and 3 (or, where at least 26.4% of income earners could afford to purchase a brand new Tesla vehicle). When Tesla Model 3 is released, the Tesla owner profile is expected to additionally encompass Tiers 4, 5, and 6 (or, where the number increases to at least 67.9% of income earners who could afford to purchase a brand new Tesla vehicle).
It also should be noted that many Tesla vehicles currently on the road are covered by some form of warranty, thereby, sparing Tesla owners from having to pay a lot of out-of-pocket maintenance costs at the present point in time as of 2016. If there is one blemish (and potential deal breaker absent an accommodation) on Tesla's otherwise seemingly spotless record, then it would have to be the cost of the replacement battery after the battery's 8-year warranty expires, which currently amounts to a hefty sum of money for the average consumer to have to pay. The good news is this: The price of Tesla's replacement battery is expected to become significantly cheaper by the time the 8-year warranty period has elapsed. Besides, after 8 years, most vehicle owners are ready to upgrade to a newer model vehicle, thereby, making the battery issue moot. Of course, there also are some vehicle owners who are perfectly content to drive the same vehicle, say, for 20 or 25 years so long as it remains in sound operating condition. For this particular group of Tesla consumers, absent cheaper replacement batteries, the replacement battery cost would not be a moot issue.
It is worth concluding this page by pointing out that Elon Musk turns out to be an exceptional human of many talents. He touts quite an impressive corporate resume. His corporate ventures include leading affiliations with well-known businesses such as PayPal, SpaceX, and SolarCity in addition to his affiliation with Tesla Motors.
Not only does Elon Musk tout an impressive corporate resume but also he has garnered more than a few accolades over the years. (It should be noted that Tesla vehicles, too, have compiled an impressive assortment of accolades, which continue to grow with the passage of time.) Being the recipient of 2016's Annual Bruessard Award is but one of many accolades owing to Elon Musk—and his accolades continue to grow, too, with the passage of time. The following table represents a recapitulation of some of the well-deserved accolades conferred to Elon Musk over the years.
I am not saying that the Tesla electric-powered vehicle is the best thing to have ever occurred on Earth since the creation of sliced bread [or that it is without maladies, which are expected to be promptly addressed and rectified], but by most accounts, the Tesla electric-powered vehicle is right up there with the conception of sliced bread. In closing, here is wishing Elon Musk—and everyone at Tesla Motors—all the best and continued success. Keep dreaming the big dreams, and never relent in the pursuit of excellence.
Aside from the aesthetical and "cool" factors of Tesla's all-electric vehicles, when generally discussing the role of electric-powered vehicles in combatting the global warming problem, realistically, as discussed on the Very Wise Humans page, I think that it would take national government-scope intervention into the economy to effect the desired change in a shorter period of time. If left to its own devices, it might take the free market a long time to run its course in phasing out all of the gasoline-powered vehicles in operation. For instance, on the one hand, it might take the free market, say, 500 to 1,000 years to phase out all gasoline-powered vehicles on Earth. On the other hand, through the mandate of compulsory government law backed by the government's enforcement powers, the government can accomplish the same feat in, say, 50 to 100 years. The quest to address the global warming problem, as applicable to the automotive industry, is not about putting the manufacturers of gas-powered vehicles out of business. Rather, the manufacturers of gas-powered vehicles would need to adapt to the changing times by producing their own competing lines of, say, electric-powered vehicles.
And, finally, to coronate Elon Musk as the 2016 winner of the Annual Bruessard Award, here's a befitting musical send-off.