Tesla

[SJ_GTI]

I think I'd prefer an electric car for a daily driver, but I just don't trust Tesla enough to buy one of their cars and the Bolt is FWD. I am hoping one of the other mainstreamers introduce something electric, affordable, and AWD.

[afty]

The Mach-E or the VW ID3/4 might fit the bill.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I'm on board with electrics. I have an electric roto tiller.

[CaminoRacer]

I'm on board with electrics. I have an electric roto tiller.

I can't wait for electric lawnmowers to become true alternatives to gas powered mowers. Would be great to not have to worry about filling up a gas can, refueling, or the loud crappy engines.

[CaminoRacer]

The Mach-E or the VW ID3/4 might fit the bill.

I'd be interested in replacing my Bolt with a Mach-E in a few years.

I might have to rebadge it as a Fusion or Galaxy, though. Like Ford should have done in the first place.

[Speed_Racer]

I'm on board with electrics. I have an electric roto tiller.

All my lawn stuff is electric (battery) minus my mower, which is a push reel. Glad to not have to deal with small gas engines.

[NomisR]

I'd be interested in replacing my Bolt with a Mach-E in a few years.

I might have to rebadge it as a Fusion or Galaxy, though. Like Ford should have done in the first place.

Lease for my Bolt expires in a year and a half.. I'm hoping there's something good by then.

[MX793]

I'd be interested in replacing my Bolt with a Mach-E in a few years.

I might have to rebadge it as a Fusion or Galaxy, though. Like Ford should have done in the first place.

See if you can find some Thunderbolt badges from the old Ranger Thunderbolt.  That's the name Ford should have given it.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I can't wait for electric lawnmowers to become true alternatives to gas powered mowers. Would be great to not have to worry about filling up a gas can, refueling, or the loud crappy engines.

They are for sale at your local home improvment store. But not for cheap. I think I paid less than $150 for my new gas push mower five years ago. It has been very reliable, depite intentional neglect. It has an Over Head Valve!

[Eye of the Tiger]

I'd be interested in replacing my Bolt with a Mach-E in a few years.

I might have to rebadge it as a Fusion or Galaxy, though. Like Ford should have done in the first place.

It's a MUSTANG. Call it a MUSTANG.

[giant_mtb]

I can't wait for electric lawnmowers to become true alternatives to gas powered mowers. Would be great to not have to worry about filling up a gas can, refueling, or the loud crappy engines.

I want to get a battery powered chain saw. Would be great for camping and clearing downed trees on trails. No engine and gas to deal with. If I had property to clear or actual trees to fell or something...not a chance, gas is the way to go.  But for light use...fuck it.  Just sucks that the batteries are so expensive...can get a decent 16" saw with one battery for like $250, but I want two batteries...which are easily $75 alone.

[SJ_GTI]

I can't wait for electric lawnmowers to become true alternatives to gas powered mowers. Would be great to not have to worry about filling up a gas can, refueling, or the loud crappy engines.

I've only ever owned an electric lawnmower (Black and Decker). I bought it when I bought my first house and I have been using it ever since, I think this is its ninth year.

[NomisR]

I've only ever owned an electric lawnmower (Black and Decker). I bought it when I bought my first house and I have been using it ever since, I think this is its ninth year.

You should get a self mowing electric mower.. those seem cool.

[Eye of the Tiger]

You should get a self mowing electric mower.. those seem cool.

My lawn has too many obstacles for one of those, but radio controlled mower with a camera would be sweet. I would sit in my livingroom and mow the lawn.

Damn, that would be a sweet project. I should build one.

[Morris Minor]

I want to get a battery powered chain saw. Would be great for camping and clearing downed trees on trails. No engine and gas to deal with. If I had property to clear or actual trees to fell or something...not a chance, gas is the way to go.  But for light use...fuck it.  Just sucks that the batteries are so expensive...can get a decent 16" saw with one battery for like $250, but I want two batteries...which are easily $75 alone.

I have a 40V GreenWorks 16" chainsaw - bought it 2 1/2 years ago, & use it for the light work you describe. It works well - recommended.

[SJ_GTI]

You should get a self mowing electric mower.. those seem cool.

I don't mind doing it myself. Its a good excuse to get some exercise and some sun while listening to a podcast.

[NomisR]

My lawn has too many obstacles for one of those, but radio controlled mower with a camera would be sweet. I would sit in my livingroom and mow the lawn.

Damn, that would be a sweet project. I should build one.

I wonder if those allows phone control like with the vaccumes, but controlling it with a phone is still not as cool as a remote control though. 

[giant_mtb]

I have a 40V GreenWorks 16" chainsaw - bought it 2 1/2 years ago, & use it for the light work you describe. It works well - recommended.

Probably the same one I saw on Amazon. $225 with a battery. Tempting.

[Laconian]

So what's the benefit of bulletproof steel on the Tesla? If you're supposedly trying to make the truck easy to manufacture and therefore cheap, you don't spec bulletproof steel.

[MrH]

They haven't made anything yet except one ridiculous prototype.

They haven't thought of any of this yet haha

[giant_mtb]

So what's the benefit of bulletproof steel on the Tesla? If you're supposedly trying to make the truck easy to manufacture and therefore cheap, you don't spec bulletproof steel.

Bcuz trux have 2 b tuff enuff to hit with a sledge hammer, dood. Else it aint cool.

[NomisR]

Bcuz trux have 2 b tuff enuff to hit with a sledge hammer, dood. Else it aint cool.

They could've just used the same material as the Plasticar™ and it would've achieved the same effects for less.

[Soup DeVille]

So what's the benefit of bulletproof steel on the Tesla? If you're supposedly trying to make the truck easy to manufacture and therefore cheap, you don't spec bulletproof steel.

I'll try.

What they've done is make a self-supporting skin that takes a minimum amount of tooling to manufacture. its thick enough that it doesn't need a framework behind it, and its all straight lines sk there are no high-tonnage presses to make dies for- which is a huge development cost.

In other words, they're saving a ton on tooling costs, and they're eating thos savings in material costs and a high curb weight.

The bulletproof part is coincidence. 

[GoCougs]

^ great analysis, and my hunch too - just owing to manufacturing and design choices, the panels just happen to be "bullet proof" (but maybe only 9 mm, so minimally so) as a byproduct.

[NomisR]

I'll try.

What they've done is make a self-supporting skin that takes a minimum amount of tooling to manufacture. its thick enough that it doesn't need a framework behind it, and its all straight lines sk there are no high-tonnage presses to make dies for- which is a huge development cost.

In other words, they're saving a ton on tooling costs, and they're eating thos savings in material costs and a high curb weight.

The bulletproof part is coincidence. 

And here I was thinking that it was just Elon Musk taking a picture of a car he drew in kindergarten and said, I want to turn this into reality. 

[Laconian]

And here I was thinking that it was just Elon Musk taking a picture of a car he drew in kindergarten and said, I want to turn this into reality. 

That's what I was thinking. Jay Leno asked Elon "why bulletproof" and Elon gave a non-answer of "why not, it's cool, it's badass". Jay had a disappointed expression on his face; the question was motivated by genuine curiosity, he wanted a real response. That's how I felt too.

[giant_mtb]

Elon is a painfully dull interviewee. He is so uninteresting.

[r0tor]

Why is bulletproof any more ridiculous then 700hp engines or offroad packages that will never be taken off a paved road?

[Soup DeVille]

Why is bulletproof any more ridiculous then 700hp engines or offroad packages that will never be taken off a paved road?

Is that "in addition to," or "instead of?"

[Laconian]

Why is bulletproof any more ridiculous then 700hp engines or offroad packages that will never be taken off a paved road?

They make a big point about the truck being extremely cheap: $36k starting price. It is a lot of truck for just $36k, so blowing a chunk of the constrained budget on extravagances like bulletproofing just seemed illogical.

But if bulletproofing is not the end in itself, and the body actually yields a net reduction in cost, then it makes more sense.