24 – Bolt with a B
We discuss the recent announcement of the Chevy Bolt EV’s 238 mile EPA range. We also cover the history of the Bolt, recent press reactions to the production cars and test drives. And what the Bolt means for GM and Tesla.
23 – Exciting New Things with Radar
We share our reactions and impressions of the latest Autopilot updates coming in the upcoming version 8.0 software update for Model S and X. What the improvements and reliance on radar means, what is unique to Tesla, and why it's a big deal for the future of full autonomy.
22 – Keeping it 100
We unpack the new P100D Ludicrous announcement. The details of the announcement, how it fits into the history of Model S performance improvements, the theoretical limits of car acceleration and where Tesla is heading, and the important improvements Tesla has made to the pack that will trickle down to the Model 3.
21 – The Safety Dance
We cover automotive safety standards, the testing systems in the US and Europe, why Teslas are so safe, and how active and passive safety systems work together and which is the future of more safe vehicles.
20 – A Transitional Vehicle
We unpack the Chevy Volt. We explore the origin of the Volt and its connection to the Tesla Roadster, its path from concept car to production vehicle, the technology choices, and our thoughts on why GM made the Volt in the first place
19 – Q2 2016
We cover Tesla's Q2 2016 earnings call. The financials, the importance of profits vs. growth, how Tesla performed in terms of vehicle delivery and production, the increased pace of stores being opened, and new info on Model 3 and full autonomy.
18 – Gigafactory on Every Continent
We discuss the interesting information that came out of Tesla's recent Gigafactory grand opening. From the next car Tesla will unveil, to plans for ships, to the new battery format Tesla is pioneering.
17 – Semi Interesting
We unpack the Tesla Semi announcement, covering the history of trucking, the market of Semi trucks today, who the players are, what is important in the Semi market, and what Tesla will be able to contribute.
16 – Master Plan, Part Deux
We share our immediate take on the Master Plan, Part Deux unveiled today. We discuss the news of Tesla Semi, the new bus concept, the pickup truck, full autonomy and the milestones Tesla sees there, the 10x improvements in manufacturing efficiency, and the new Tesla Sharing system that will challenge Uber and Lyft.
15 – Autopilot Fatality
We discuss the first fatality in a Tesla with Autopilot enabled. We cover what happened, the media coverage of the event, the naming of Autopilot, how aircraft autopilot is expected to work and more.
14 – Autonomous Vehicle Ethics
We explore the ethical implications of self-driving cars. Why ethics is important in the context of self-driving cars, what are the philosophical approaches one can take when reasoning about ethics for self-driving cars, and how we think Tesla should approach these difficult choices.
13 – Vertically Integrated Energy Company
We explore the proposed Tesla acquisition of SolarCity. What is SolarCity? Why does Tesla want SolarCity? Why is the market against the deal? Is it a good idea for Tesla?
12 – Computer with a Motor Attached
We discuss how Tesla's Autopilot system is able to learn and update itself. How Tesla has engineered their vehicles with a new architecture that allows both rich connectivity with LTE for software updates and sensor data sharing, and the implications of a car that updates itself and adds new functionality over time.
11 – Humans are the Horses
We continue our discussion of self-driving vehicles. We dig into the regulations in place today and what's needed to allow self-driving on the roads. We also chat about the impact they will have on the insurance market. And we dig into how self-driving will change what we think of as a car – from small pods all the way to hotel rooms on wheels.
10 – Induced Demand
We continue our discussion of autonomous driving and the broader societal impact their advent will bring. We discuss how autonomy does not require electric vehicles, what urban planners should do to prepare for autonomy in their cities, how more miles will be driven, the impact on public transport, and what impact autonomy will have on jobs like truck driving.
9 – Multiple Levels of Autonomy
We begin our discussion of autonomous driving. We cover why autonomous driving is important in the first place, what the current state of the art is for Tesla and Google, where we are going, and how long it will take to get there.
8 – Involuntary Chuckle
We both test drove the Model X. We discuss our impressions of the entire Tesla test drive experience and the Model X specifically – the performance, the handling, the interior, the falcon wing doors, and Autopilot.
7 – It’s Round for a Reason
We chat about our expectations for Part 2 of the Model 3 unveil – what the Model S and X option packages mean for the Model 3, what are the "next level" features Elon Musk was alluding to, and what a HUD and Autopilot mean for Model 3 going forward.
6 – The Gigafactory is a Necessary Step
We discuss the origins, current status, and importance of the Gigafactory to Tesla.
5 – I’ve Been Sleeping at the Factory
A special bonus episode. Tesla just released their Q1 2016 numbers and after listening to the conference call we couldn't help but share what Tesla announced and the updates to Model 3 production Elon Musk revealed.