Model 3 – how Tesla will control costs – update

467 robots being installed at the Tesla Fremont factory prior to the start of Model 3 production.
Credit: CleanTechnica

Tesla’s Model S is a luxury sporting sedan – the Model 3 is a, “mass market”, car. To appeal to a mass market, the price has to come down – “$35,000 before incentives”,^1,2 has been promised repeatedly, for the US market.

Make it smaller, make it out of steel

● Most obviously, reduce cost by decreasing size by 20% compared to the Model S.³

● Extensive use of steel, rather than the more expensive aluminium widely used in the Model S.^4,12 – update 18Feb2018

Notice the relatively small amount of aluminium (shown in silver) – update 18Feb2018
Credit: Tesla/Electrek

Reduce battery pack cost

An electric motor is simpler & cheaper than a comparable internal combustion engine – electric cars are more expensive largley because of battery cost. A $35,000 Model 3 will require a substantial reduction. This will be achieved by:

● Battery costs have been coming down world-wide for some time – including 80% in six years.⁵

● Price will be driven down further by increased volume – i.e. Gigafactory.⁶

● Reduce cell count – Tesla has historically used commodity 18650 size lithium ion cells. Individual cells in the Model 3, will be 47% larger in volume, with a similar effect on storage capacity, for negligible increase in cell cost.⁷

● Each cell stores more energy, so fewer are needed for a given pack capacity.⁷

● Assembling fewer cells to make a pack is faster & cheaper.⁷

● Smaller battery pack – two options, the larger of which will be, at most, the same size as the smallest currently available in the Model S – “The shorter wheelbase only allows for a 75 kWh pack in Model 3 at current cell/module energy densities.” – Elon Musk, Twitter^8,9

Automate the production line

● 467 robots are being installed at the Tesla Fremont factory prior to the start of Model 3 production.¹⁰

● Level of automation will increase over time, with no people on the production line itself, “in a few more years”.¹⁰

● Increased automation is planned to ultimately yield a 20 times increase in production line speed, further reducing production cost.¹⁰

Simplify the production line initially

● Initially, the production line will be simplified by producing only rear wheel drive cars. First 4WD, “probably in 6 to 9 months.”⁹

Streamline the delivery process

● “We need to deliver three or four times as many cars. But we don’t want to have three or four times as many delivery centers.” – Elon Musk¹¹

● “Less paperwork, less bureaucracy.”¹¹

● Shorten the hand-over to customers: “... get people ready ahead of time with really well-produced instruction videos.”¹¹

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¹ Jalopnik: “​Elon Musk Says Tesla Model 3 Will Cost $35,000 Before Incentives”, http://jalopnik.com/elon-musk-says-model-3-will-cost-35-000-before-incent-1679351127

² “Tesla: Model 3 Will Be $35,000 Pre-Incentives, Taking Orders In March”,
http://insideevs.com/tesla-model-3-will-be-35000-pre-incentives-taking-orders-in-march/

³ Autoblog: “Elon Musk: Tesla Model E will be 20 percent smaller than Model S”, http://www.autoblog.com/2014/03/06/elon-musk-tesla-model-e-20-percent-smaller-model-s-video/

⁴ Wikipedia: “Tesla Model 3”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Model_3

⁵ Electrek: “Electric vehicle battery cost dropped 80% in 6 years down to $227/kWh – Tesla claims to be below $190/kWh”, https://electrek.co/2017/01/30/electric-vehicle-battery-cost-dropped-80-6-years-227kwh-tesla-190kwh/

⁶ Tesla: “Tesla Gigafactory”, https://www.tesla.com/gigafactory

⁷ HitchHiker’s Guide 2 Tech: “Tesla cell size comes from the first principles of physics & economics”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/09/tesla-battery-size-comes-from-first.html

⁸ HitchHiker’s Guide 2 Tech: “Tesla Model 3 event (video)”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/04/tesla-model-3-event.html

⁹ HitchHiker’s Guide 2 Tech: “Tesla Model 3 – 4WD option, performance, battery size (video)”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2017/03/tesla-model-3-4wd-option-performance.html

¹⁰ Electrek: “Tesla receives massive shipment of robots for Model 3 production line – first pictures”, https://electrek.co/2017/04/25/tesla-model-3-robot-production-line-pictures/

¹¹ Electrek: “Tesla Model 3: Elon Musk details the 5 minute delivery process, paperwork & instruction videos to be sent ahead of time”, https://electrek.co/2017/03/17/tesla-model-3-delivery-process-elon-musk/

¹² Electrek: “Tesla Model 3: here’s the alloy mix of the Model 3 body”, https://electrek.co/2017/08/22/tesla-model-3-body-alloy-mix/ – update 18Feb2018

/ less paperwork less bureaucracy Tesla Motors Elon Musk LiIon lithium ion lithium iron phosphate LiFeO4 charge recharge battery Model S Model 3 range capacity kilo Watt hour Supercharger 4WD 4 wheel drive 2 wheel drive rear wheel drive RWD LiIon battery pack cell battery electric vehicle EV battery lithium ion LiIon charge battery electric vehicle BEV Elon Musk released very first images very first Tesla Model 3 release candidate Tesla started production release candidate Model 3 vehicles cars made almost entirely production machines test production process vehicles themselves video of the Model 3 no visible changes we can see the cameras for the Autopilot sensor suite see the camera in the Tesla badge front fender pillar on the side slight adjustments front fascia headlights video is very low-res Model 3 another color than silver red matte black spot other changes release candidate definitely significant difference front end Model 3 release candidate live streaming Tesla Model 3 unveil event on Tesla.com beginning at 8.30pm PDT March 31st reservations Model 3 worldwide two ways to make a reservation queue visit your local Tesla make a reservation online Tesla.com live unveil Tesla model 3 electric car mass market car electric vehicle EV steel aluminium twenty percent smaller 20% smaller automation automate robot production line 75 kWh kiloWatt hour /

First you could buy them faded ...

... then you could buy them worn, then ripped, now ...

caked with mud!


Credit: Nordstrom/The Gadgeteer

99%cotton
1% mud

& only $US425

None of the above is a typo, nor, as far as I can tell, a joke.


Credit: Nordstrom/The Gadgeteer

Adds a whole new dimension to the occasional advice seen on clothing, “Wash before wearing.”

The Gadgeteer – “First you could buy them faded, then ripped, & now covered in mud. Wait, what?!”
http://the-gadgeteer.com/2017/04/26/first-you-could-buy-them-faded-then-ripped-and-now-covered-in-mud/#more-216934

This is where they are sold
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/prps-barracuda-straight-leg-jeans/4457245?origin=category-personalizedsort / bluejeans blue jeans denim straight leg distressed faded ripped true to size comfortable through the seat and thigh classic straight cut from knee to ankle details care heavily distressed medium-blue denim jeans comfortable straight-leg fit embody rugged Americana workwear that's seen some hard-working action crackled caked-on muddy coating shows you're not afraid to get down and dirty 34 1/2" inseam 17" leg opening 8 1/4" front rise button fly closure five-pocket style 100% cotton machine wash cold line dry made in Portugal PRPS Barracuda Straight Leg Jeans who cares right no ordinary jeans jeans are covered in mud price tag of $425 a pair Nordstrom Americana workwear that’s seen some hard-working action with a crackled, caked-on muddy coating that shows you’re not afraid to get down and dirty degraded into a society that has to pay for dirty clothes to give us the appearance of being hard workers traditionally styled 5 pocket jeans made of 100% cotton machine washable buy a pair of muddy jeans for $425 you can wash them this can’t be for real I fear that we’re doomed as a species distressed about this /

Hoverboard a no-show, but Uber has promised a flying car for 2020

Credit: EHang/Twitter

Hoverboard was a no-show in Back to the Future year.¹ We’ve been waiting even longer for the flying car, but Uber has promised them for 2020.

As you’ve no doubt noticed, the problem is that the technology doesn’t exist. Uber’s way around this is something like an X-prize – competitive development of a device to carry out a defined task – in this case, a flying car. And the prize? Access to Uber’s world-wide client-base. Though, at this point only Dallas-Fort Worth & Dubai have indicated an interest.

Uber has signed deals with five companies – if they don’t deliver, an obvious contender would be the Lilium jet electric aircraft.²

Wired: “Uber Really Seriously Promises Flying Cars by 2020”, https://www.wired.com/2017/04/uber-really-seriously-promises-flying-cars-2020/

CW33: “Uber SERIOUSLY promises flying cars by 2020 in DFW!”,
https://cw33.com/2017/04/25/uber-seriously-promises-flying-cars-by-2020-in-dfw/

“Flying car”? Anything that might be developed to provide the functionality required, is closer to a light aircraft. New term required:

The Verge – “Stop calling them flying cars”
https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/25/15426178/flying-car-uber-larry-page-vtol-elevate
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¹ HitchHiker’s Guide 2 Tech: “Back to the Future year – hoverboard a no-show – self lacing sneakers …”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/09/back-to-future-year-hoverboard-no-show.html

² HitchHiker’s Guide 2 Tech: “Lilium jet electric aircraft”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2017/04/lilium-jet-electric-aircraft.html
/ Uber promises flying cars by 2020 Uber fly taking ridesharing to the air roll out network flying cars Dallas-Fort Worth Dubai by 2020 ambitious aircraft Uber shuttling customers through the air electric vertical takeoff and landing capability VTOL flying 100 miles in just 40 minutes infrastructure support FAA Federal Aviation Administration agency speed aircraft federal safety regulations fit into complex air traffic control system Uber catalyst spurring manufacturers build aircraft FAA regulations cities company CEO Travis Kalanick reward Xprize X prize X-prize Uber’s 55 million monthly active riders 600 cities worldwide 2020 realistic vehicle replacing an airplane replacing a car Richard Pat Anderson director Flight Research Center Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University purely electric aircraft serial hybrid setup aircraft carries fuel-burning turbine Chevrolet Volt Uber Elevate summit partnerships real estate companies Hillwood Properties Texas Dubai Holding UAE United Arab Emirates identify locations vertiports built Chargepoint electric vehicle charging spots North America Australia design develop deploy infrastructure keep the aircraft going white paper Uber Uber developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft Pentagon-backed Aurora Flight Sciences electric plane maker Pipistrel Bell Helicopter Embraer small plane maker Mooney Germany’s Lilium funky electric aircraft can fly China’s eHang launch people-carrying drones Dubai Google founder Larry Page revealed flying car prototype Skymall cities city Dubai flying cars Fort Worth Elevate pilot Mayor Betsy Price FAA air traffic control Uber pilot FAA certifying new technologies consensus-based standards system private market rules FAA accelerate three years is optimistic flying cars will need to negotiate already congested airspace build novel aircraft paying passengers flying car /

Kitty Hawk Flyer is a flying electric recreational vehicle

Kitty Hawk Flyer
Credit: Kitty Hawk/YouTube/GeekWire

Some details of the, “flying car”, backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, have finally surfaced.



Available specs are thin on the ground:
● weighs 220 lbs (100 kg)
● single passenger
● altitude 15 feet (4.6 metres)
● 8 electric motors drive downward-facing propellers

Kitty Hawk claims that it is possible to learn to pilot the Flyer in minutes, & that it qualifies as an ultra light, so that no licence is required.

Consumer version is promised for the end of 2017.

Trusted Reviews – “Forget self-driving cars, the Kitty Hawk Flyer is officially off the ground”
http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/kitty-hawk-flyer-larry-page#pA01bAO63bZ5KvIf.99

The Verge – “This is the first footage of Larry Page’s ‘flying car’”
https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/24/15406208/larry-page-flying-car-kitty-hawk-flyer-prototype

If the name rings a bell, Wright Flyer was the name of the first heavier-than-air machine flown by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk in 1903.¹


Orville Wright, Wilbur Wright, Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, 17 December 1903
Credit: Wikipedia
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¹ Wikipedia: “Wright Flyer”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_Flyer / flying car backed Google co-founder cofounder Larry Page available specs 220 lbs 100 kg single passenger altitude 15 feet 4.6 metres 8 electric motors drive downward-facing propellers Kitty Hawk to learn to pilot Flyer minutes qualifies ultra light FAA regulations no licence required consumer version end of 2017 self-driving cars Kitty Hawk Flyer Larry Page’s flying car Wright Flyer first heavier-than-air machine flown Wright Brothers Kitty Hawk 1903 Kitty Hawk flying car company financially backed Google founder Larry Page published first video prototype aircraft Kitty Hawk Flyer all-electric aircraft designed to operate over water doesn’t require pilot’s license to fly Kitty Hawk learn to fly in minutes consumer version available end of this year test flight footage Flyer aerospace engineer operating the craft Kitty Hawk what the Flyer is for price retail version enticing eager pilots priority placement waiting list company-branded gear exclusive access flight simulator company events members $2,000 discount retail price Flyer ultralight aircraft FAA regulations no pilot’s license required Kitty Hawk light aircraft Kitty Hawk Zee.Aero industry giants Airbus flying car startups Zee.Aero Uber flying car Kitty Hawk Zee.Aero flying car Larry Page invested Kitty Hawk /

Lilium jet electric aircraft – update

Credit: Lilium/Wired

Although the Lilium aircraft is called, a “jet”, it would be more usual to describe its propulsion as, “ducted fan”.¹

Advantages of ducted fans compared to conventional propellers¹

● more, shorter blades allow higher speed of rotation & more thrust, without the problems caused by the tips of the blades approaching the speed of sound

● reduced noise – especially when driven by an almost-silent electric motor
● surrounding shroud makes ducted fan safer
● occupies less space

In urban environments, where Lilium sees many of it's aircraft operating, these advantages are particularly valuable.

Conventional aircraft generate lift by using relatively few engines to produce thrust (jet &/or propeller) to drive the aircraft forward. Forward speed produces lift due to the motion of the wings through the air.²

A small number of engines is a limitation imposed by internal combustion engines. In an electric aircraft, many small motors can be used.² Illustrations show the Lilium with 36. Many motors allow lift to be generated at low aircraft speed (even zero) because they can drive air over the wings at a speed independent of the aircraft’s forward motion.

In an aircraft with few engines, the most difficult & dangerous parts of a flight are taking off & landing, due to the direct dependance of lift on speed. Wings are optimised for these purposes.

Multiple motors, by disconnecting lift & speed, increase safety at take off & landing. Wings can be optimised for cruise, increasing overall efficiency – wings are shorter & narrower & so lighter, with less drag. Check the image above & the video.

Such a configuration will have disastrous glide characteristics. Electric motors are very reliable, & 36 of them provide plenty of redundancy, but battery failure is a problem which does not appear to have been addressed. This is not surprising in a prototype with only one unmanned test flight to its credit. Two solutions which spring to mind are battery redundancy (which may already have been allowed for in the existing battery configuration) or a Cirrus Airframe Parachute System.³

Lilium has its ducted fans pivoted vertically, to direct thrust at a range of angles, including straight down, for vertical take off.

Multiple motors can be run at different speeds to turn the aircraft, eliminating the drag created by a vertical tail.

Drag is further reduced by a lifting body design⁴ – the body of the aircraft is shaped to produce lift – thus the wings can be smaller & lighter for the same total lift.

Lilium has backing from the European Space Agency.



Video above appears to be no longer available. Try this:



Engadget – “Lilium's electric personal jet manages a vertical takeoff”
https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/21/lilium-electric-jet-vertical-takeoff-landing/

Futurism – “A Real Life, All-Electric Flying Car Just Took Off”
https://futurism.com/a-real-life-all-electric-flying-car-just-took-off/

Manufacturer’s web site
https://lilium.com/
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¹ Just to complicate things, almost all current jets are of the turbofan type, which is a ducted fan, where the fan is driven by a gas turbine – that is to say, a jet engine.

Wikipedia: “Ducted fan”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducted_fan
“The most common ducted fan arrangement used in full-sized aircraft is a turbofan engine, where the power to turn the fan is provided by a gas turbine. Turbofan engines are used on nearly all airliners, fighters, & bombers.”

² HitchHiker’s Guide 2 Tech: “LEAPTech — many more propellers for better performance”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2015/04/leaptech-many-more-propellers-for.html

³ Picture this: complete blackout conditions at 5,000 feet – engine fails – it is not possible see the ground, let alone look for a landing site – pilot survives – video at the link is definitely worth a look

Cirrus Aircraft: “Cirrus Airframe Parachute System”,
https://cirrusaircraft.com/innovation/airframe-parachute/

⁴ Wikipedia: “Lifting body”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifting_body

/ Lilium electric personal jet vertical takeoff all electric flying car took off Lilium jet concept futuristic aircraft fly couldn't be further from the truth completed series of flight tests Munich Germany the first all-electric vertical take off and landing vertical takeoff and landing VTOL jet capable taking to the skies released a video Lilium's maiden flight plans to conduct manned flights future first series of tests remotely controlled two-seater prototype from the ground release five-seater version fit whole families groups of friends Lilium potential become great personal jet flying car VTOL doesn't need a runway take off and land like helicopter within the city range 186 miles speeds up to 186 mph German startup pre-orders Lilium five-seater variant years of testing successful test flights \backing from the European Space Agency production version make its way to market /

What to do with your old phone

Your old phone has many potential uses
Credit: Macworld UK

Bright, shiny new mobile phone – but what to do with the old one? Some people have a drawer full of them. Two of the more popular options are: sell it, or pass it on to a family member or friend. These are obviously good options, depending on your circumstances, but there are others.

Keep it as a spare – that bright, shiny new phone, may suffer a misadventure – drop, or other physical damage, internal failure, loss or theft. In any of these circumstances, another phone to swap the SIM into, or a new SIM, depending on the misadventure, could be very useful.

Second phone – many have abandoned their fixed phone. A second phone with its own account can become a home phone. Some mobile phone providers have pay-as-you-go accounts, with no cost while the phone remains unused. I used such an account with an old phone, for several years, to contact family members at home, at no cost.

Use it as a mobile router – free public WiFi, is not always available when you need it, & is not secure¹ – your own mobile data is a more flexible & secure choice. You can use the hotspot function of your mobile phone, or, if your data allocation is insufficient, an additional, data only account. Rather than buying a purpose-built mobile router,² use your old phone at no cost.

Other possibilities include:
● add it to a multi-camera video shoot
● baby monitor
● video doorbell
● GoPro replacement
● dedicated VR headset
● white noise generator

7 ways to repurpose an old Android phone
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/ways-to-repurpose-an-old-android-phone/

8 ways to repurpose an old iPhone
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/repurpose-an-old-iphone/
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¹ HitchHiker’s Guide 2 Tech: “VPN Internet security for mobile use”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2017/03/vpn-internet-security-for-mobile-use.html

² Many mobile routers are available, such as: Huawei's Mobile Wifi Pro, http://m.huawei.com/enmobile/consumer/mobile-broadband/mobile-wifi/detail/e5770-en.htm

Google, “mobile router”, to see many more.

/ what to do with your old phone your old phone has many potential uses bright shiny new mobile phone what to do with the old one some people have a drawer full of them two of the more popular options are sell it pass it on to a family member or friend other options spare bright shiny new phone drop or other physical damage internal failure loss or theft another phone to swap the SIM in new SIM useful second phone fixed phone second phone with its own account home phone mobile phone providers pay-as-you-go accounts no cost while phone remains unused old phone contact family members at home at no cost mobile router free public WiFi not always available when you need it not secure your own mobile data more flexible and secure choice use the hotspot function your mobile phone your data allocation is insufficient additional data only account purpose-built mobile router your old phone backup phone dedicated camcorder add it to a multi-camera video shoot baby monitor video doorbell GoPro dedicated VR headset Amazon Echo nightstand repurpose an old Android phone repurpose an old iPhone VPN Internet security for mobile use mobile router mobile router smartphones smartphone upgraded upgrade upgrade your old phone sell it defray the cost of the upgrade option repurposing that old phone favorite uses for a discarded Android smartphone iPhone phones lost stolen broken phone my old standby access to my calendar contacts email they're all synced daily-use apps Facebook Spotify Twitter password manager no better short-term rescue option new phone pop the SIM card out old phone restoring voice and data repair repairs old phone in a drawer low-cost second line no-cost second line unlocked GSM phone model SIM card Freedompop sign up Basic plan 200 voice minutes 500 text messages 200MB 4G data per month at no charge how to set up a backup phone dedicated camcorder recording wedding kid's soccer game music video indie movie multiple cameras edit mix footage different angles positions create much more interesting video your old Android great second camera older lower-end phones capture at least 1,920x1,080-pixel video 30 frames per second as much storage as possible new footage baby monitor video Android phone baby-monitor duty exceed standalone products app like Dormi audio and video monitoring app offers two-way audio crying baby audio video audio/video feeds Android phone connected via Wi-Fi Dormi app supports multiple parent devices phone that's doing the monitoring app is free unlock lifetime monitoring video doorbell door duty outdoor Wi-Fi webcam smart doorbell phone full-time video monitor Canary Flex versatile security-minded webcam video doorbells August Doorbell Cam DoorBird Video Door Station Ring Video Doorbell SkyBell Video Doorbell GoPro video option turn your old phone into a GoPro solid camera in there mount it for action-video duty Velocity Clip phone mounts bike chest head strapped to your head cheaper than buying a separate GoPro mount option cheap Bluetooth camera-shutter button start and stop video recording dedicated VR headset old Android phone iPhone virtual reality smartphone virtual reality VR experiences headset and some apps headset universally compatible VR goggles adjust focal width adjust focal length accommodate users less-than-perfect vision Bluetooth gamepad control games and access menus apps Google Play Store search for VR Google Cardboard Android and VR headset iPhone iOS App Store nightstand old phone nightstand lamp serve countless purposes alarm clock alarm Voice Snooze Alarm iPhone iOS App Store alarm clock snooze customizable vocal command clock radio TuneIn Radio alarm sleep-timer features dedicated e-reader iBooks Kindle Nook OverDrive iPhone iOS App Store app meditation player Calm spare Roku remote latest update white-noise machine white noise machine /

Giant iceberg in Iceberg Alley

Iceberg Alley is an area stretching from the coast of Labrador to the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland. Every spring, icebergs from the massive glaciers on the west coast of Greenland appear there.

In the past week, many more icebergs than usual have appeared, including this monster:


Ferryland, Newfoundland, Canada
Credit: Greg Locke/Reuters/Huffington Post

More, larger glaciers, appearing earlier in the season is consistent with climate change.

Wired: “An Enormous Hunk of Ice Gets Stuck in Iceberg Alley”, https://www.wired.com/2017/04/enormous-hunk-ice-gets-stuck-iceberg-alley/ / giant iceberg in Iceberg Alley Iceberg Alley coast of Labrador to the northeast coast island Newfoundland every spring icebergs massive glaciers west coast Greenland more icebergs than usual many more icebergs consistent with climate change accelerating chunks Greenland ice sheet break off & float away enormous hunk of ice stuck Iceberg Alley enormous 150-foot tall iceberg near Ferrlyand Newfoundland Canada earliest icebergs break free and drift down Iceberg Alley Newfoundland famed Iceberg Alley passing icebergs each spring chunk of ice double take especially big one ran aground near the village of Ferryland iceberg towers 150 feet above dark blue water North Atlantic unusually large Ferryland beautiful iceberg start of iceberg season along the Northern Atlantic coastline each April icebergs Arctic float away carried south by the current past Labrador and Newfoundland open sea season started early this year March storm broke up more sea ice than usual Ferryland a popular tourist destination /