Gigafactory

Quote: AZDuffman

It would probably not be the first time if they did hire actors and actresses.

Quote: AZDuffman

It would not be the first time a huge company built facilities with a unviable idea.

Quote: AZDuffman

One thing for sure is Tesla in no way can justify their current market cap, stockholders should beware.

Quote: Nareed

Isn't an unrealistic stock price common for hyped-up, trendy start-ups with celebrity CEOs?

Quote: TheCesspit

Sure. Facebook has a similar high ratios. I just wouldn't call Tesla a start up, nor would I call Facebook one anymore.

Quote: reno

I read on Drudge/Breitbart that the Nevada gigafactory "construction workers" are actors, too.

Quote:

The term "unviable idea" probably isn't the best description of a luxury automaker outselling Mercedes-Benz S-Class by a ratio of 2 to 1.

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In an attempt to make nanowires less fragile, the lead scientist behind the study, UCI doctoral candidate Mya Le Thai, coated a gold nanowire in a shell and surrounded it with a thin layer of a Plexiglas-like gel, according to the press release.

The researchers cycled charges through the new composite and were dazzled by the results.

“We found out we can pass energy through these nanowires hundreds of thousands of times,” Ms. Le Thai said in a video explaining the experiment.

“That was crazy,” Dr. Penner said in the press release, “because these things typically die in dramatic fashion after 5,000 or 6,000 or 7,000 cycles at most.”

Why does it work? The details remain a little unclear, but the gel helps prevent the nanowire from corroding as it receives a charge, say the researchers.

“The coated electrode holds its shape much better, making it a more reliable option,” Thai said.

For now, lithium-ion batteries that decay after hundreds of recharge cycles will remain the only commercially viable option. The UCI research team was testing nanowire, not producing a nanowire battery ready to be shipped to consumers. But the team remains optimistic about their discovery's prospects.

Quote: Face

The Leaf, Volt, et al are bland, soulless, sterile, godawful piles of mediocrity....

Needs a playing card in the spokes, though. One thing electric will never score higher marks in is presence. Even the McLaren P1 seems hollow and empty when it's just on the juice. Not until you get 900hp surging through the noise pipes is the vision complete =)

Quote: AZDuffman

The "green" market has probably been filled and every person who thinks EVs are some sort of better environmental choice owns one. Though they will need to replace them, the EV must now sell on pure utility if they want the market to expand.

Quote: AZDuffman

I will maintain my point that the EV market is now mature and more growth will be a slow slog.

Quote: Motley Fool

Citing unnamed industry sources, German automotive trade publication Automobilwoche reported on Saturday that "more than six" new battery-electric Mercedes-Benz models are planned, including SUVs and crossovers, sedans, and compact cars.

There may be additional long-range compact electric cars under development for Daimler's Smart brand, the report said. The new battery-operated Mercedes-Benz are expected to come to market starting in 2018.