“Space the final frontier”, it seems that every time I hear these words of late the first thing, I think of is Space X. History in real life !!!
The importance of going to space cannot be lost on the average person because it is the inspiration of visionaries that helps to inspire the soul to dream big and see many and new things come to the fore.
Space X
Right now, we are living history right before our eyes.
Space X is proving that if you strive for the stars then the stars won’t seem so far away, and the human spirit will soar.
Over the last weeks it has become much clearer that we are seeing history for both the good reasons and the bad reasons.
Recently the World Health Organization highlighted the severity of our consternation about the environmental impacts our daily lives are causing to the environment.
Our thirst for the things we want and things we need are having grave and destructive implications to the world around us.
The introduction of Electric vehicles is one of many changes that we need to make to help the environment and the daily lives of our fellow humans.
So why are we taking so long to realize that we have the power at hand to make positive changes to the way we see the world.
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Change is hard
It turns out that people don’t like change especially when they are comfortable in their own worlds. It is only when significant change is necessary that the realization that change is necessary to reduce remove and reverse the impacts of the previous actions.
This has been no more prevalent than with the Pandemic of 2020. The world had to change the way that they conducted themselves in short order. We have adjusted to different ways of life since then. Some good, others not so much. But the reality is we did change because we had too.
Italy, Greece, Europe, and many other locations across the globe are currently experiencing wildfires, floods, famines and so much more. Environmental impacts are being felt. ( Courtesy of NBC.com)
So, it is up to us to find a way to help ourselves, our fellow humans and find a future that makes a difference.
This is History in real life. Elon musk had a vision, just like a small child, wanting to see the future, yet as he got older that future never happened, so he made it happen.
He made a choice to go against the apathy and push the limits. He has inspired and driven more people towards that future, and they, continue to see the truth of our actions upon this world and are inspired to find new ways to help.
In Tesla’s recent “Impact Report” a clear set of metrics that Tesla and their customers has achieved are having real world impacts. Yet more needs to be done.
Tesla Vertical integration
Tesla has never hidden the fact that they want to transition the world to sustainable energy. They now have the ability for everyone to realize that dream with the integration of their products.
Electric vehicles, powered by solar panels that store energy for use later in battery packs. A view of the world that only 10 years ago seemed far out of reach for the average person.
Image courtesy of Tesla.com
Recycling materials
Reuse of materials seems to be less important in today’s age of single use throwaway society yet Tesla factors this into their vehicles and products. Specifically, they demonstrated that the battery metals can be recycled up to 92%. It is opportunities like this that will have real world impacts on the environment around us.
Image courtesy of Tesla.com
Emissions
One of the most important items within the Impact Report was the point about EV ownership and emissions. Tesla by its very nature is environmentally focused and has demonstrated this on several fronts.
Reduction of emissions can lead to improvements of health and reduce preventable deaths. It seems that EV’s are helping to assist this behavior by not having a tail pipe that produces emissions.
Image courtesy of Tesla.com
Accidents
When discussing preventable deaths Tesla also highlighted a significant drop in vehicle accidents when utilizing their vehicles across autopilot, active safety features, and again with no safety features. Their results are significantly less than the Average for the US.
Image courtesy of Tesla.com
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These statistics demonstrate the benefits of driving a vehicle with 5-star safety rating and advanced safety systems designed to keep the occupants and the environment around the vehicle safe.
Inspiring childhood dreams
Space X and the invention of the Starship by Elon a visionary and the space X team have inspired a generation of up-and-coming kids that the dreams they have a child are now history in real life. The ability to inspire, feed the hopes and dreams and give hope when all seems hopeless, cannot be underestimated.
It is incredible to think that as a small child dreaming of spaceships and flying cars with robots that help me do my homework that the development of those things had to happen, and it is now that we are seeing that realization come to life.
I hope that this inspiration and passion for the future helps to continue to inspire and grow those young minds to dream big, to move forward with humanity and environmental concerns in mind and to see History in real life become reality of the future.
Innovation is free. Free thinking people can create fantastic, imaginative great ideas. But as Elon Musk has said many times creating a concept car is easy, bringing it too production and ramping up is extremely hard.
Innovation is free just like thoughts they can manifest at anytime and anywhere. To create new and fresh ideas is not an easy thing to do in a world where there are over 6 billion people. One might say that more than one of them would have the same thought.
Innovation in Tesla
Innovation is what lead to Tesla becoming the leading Electric Vehicle company globally to date. Taking old ideas and reinvigorating them with new and fresh perspective. But Tesla did not stop there, they wanted to look forward and create technology that had been only found in science fiction books but never realized.
Elon has always been famous for talking about first principles thinking. This is the principle of going back to the bare bones of an idea, disassembling it, and reconstructing with new perspective. The best example of this recently was Tesla Battery day presentation. It allows the individuals to take a fundamentals look at what makes the issue tick and allows you to rebuild and find new ways. This type of innovative thinking can remove preconceived ideas and open new possibilities.
Not the first
Tesla was not the first to have new and fresh idea in the age of technology. Many large tech companies that exist today started in garages in their family house. They had an idea that had never been done well or executed well and they turned them into billion-dollar companies. Of course, I am talking about Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft.
These companies like many before, and many after, all had a fundamental truth too realise.
Innovation is free but execution is hard.
Joe Rogan
In a recent Joe Rogan interview Elon explained some thinking around the autonomous driving system. And the innovations and step change progress that has been made. But where he really highlighted the possibilities of the AI systems within the Tesla vehicles was when the subject shifted to safety.
This is how far down the rabbit hole Tesla is willing to go for safety. No wonder they rate the best in every safety category .@elonmusk pic.twitter.com/qP8FXfsi7H
At the heart of most things that Elon does it is to make something safer or better.
When ever Elon talks when the cameras are not on him he truly shines. He shows his passion for the technology and the possibilities they can provide for humanity. His discussion about the airbag system and the improvements in safety are what makes him get out of bed in the morning. He can see the impacts this would have on the world and is passionate to deliver.
Airbags
Elon was explaining the nuances of the vehicles in regard to accidents and airbags. In current vehicles airbags are programmed to go off when the car is involved in an accident. However, Elon was explaining that the future of airbag management will be looking at the different factors that influence if the airbag is to be deployed.
He explained that the vehicle can judge if a person is actually sitting in the seat, how heavy they are and what position they are on the seat itself. Then if involved in an accident the airbag system will take this into consideration before deploying the airbag itself, thus helping to judge the pressure of the airbag the timing of deployment and the impact upon the individual to make sure that the person is less likely to be injured.
This is next level innovation and first principles thinking in action. Taking an already existing idea and making it better. Innovation at it finest.
How to Overcome
You see we have become complacent about the world around us. We don’t get that buzz when we look at something new. Or when we think of an idea that might change the world. We look at the challenges in front of us and they seem insurmountable to achieve the goal of delivering your great idea to the world.
We all need to change the way we think, see the world , and understand the goals we as a society are trying to achieve. Because at the moment we are expecting others to do it for us.
Innovation is a surprise because we have made it a surprise. However, Elon has shown that if we think differently, we can take a great idea and make it better or take a bad idea and make it great.
Innovation is a measure of success against a society. It doesn’t have to be world shaking, it just has to be an idea you’re willing to spend the time to make it better and see where it takes you.
Tesla is the most recent in a long line of innovating companies that have emerged in recent years. It is important we keep striving for the success. We can make a huge difference as long as we have the forth right to hold our ground and pursue that which seems impossible.
We are our own worst enemy, but we can do better
To innovate we need to see the world in a positive opportunistic light. We need to look at the fundamentals. Our biggest barrier is ourselves. Don’t be afraid to fail because when you do you learn many things, least of all that was not the way to do the thing. Next time change it and see if that works.
Innovation is free. When you hit a challenge, pick it up turn it over, look around the back and upside down, pull it apart and break it down to its bare essentials. Only then will first principles be possible to find a way forward.
Innovation is only as hard as we make it. So think differently and go back to basics, First Principles.
Dave
David McCann
EV-HQ founder, passionate about sharing the passion for Tesla and Electric Vehicles everywhere.
Twists and Turns – 2020 has been a year of change, pain, and sorrow. It has also been a year of new fresh innovations.
Since the beginning of 2020 I have been confident that the year was going to be a year of change, of looking forward, of finding more and choosing to follow my passions. It turns out that 2020 had more in store than even I could imagine.
New Year’s gave me a chance to set aspirations for the year. Of course, being the person that I am I decided to set goals that I thought were realistic.
EV-HQ.com had been going well and I thought I could aim for 500 followers on Twitter. My wife and I set our personal goals for the year and looked forward to making 2020 a happier, less stressful, and fun year ahead.
At the time we had no idea that the year would take a massive turn left and run across the rockiest road we could have imagined.
COVID 19 was just starting to be talked more about and was spreading like wildfire across China and into other countries, including Australia.
Family
I remember thinking that life was good, I had a beautiful healthy wife and a handsome, fun loving son who was heading into man hood.
One of our goals for the year was to make sure our son felt supported and confident that he could talk to us about anything. He was starting a big journey and needed to know we had his back, no matter what.
EV-HQ.com
As far as EV-HQ, I was starting to get more involved with the community on Twitter. Asking questions, posing ideas, and getting deep into a discussion about all things electric vehicles.
To say I was and continue to be passionate about the advantages of electric vehicles is an understatement. They are the future and I want the world to be a better place for my son and his future family. If I can play a part in that then all the better.
So, January was all about preparing for the year, back to school and work and hoping this year could be so much better than the last.
We had been planning house renovations and they were well underway by the end of January and heading into February with one of our goals starting to take form.
Over the next few months the renovations turned our house upside down and it was lots of fun watching the transformation. I was so very proud of my beautiful wife and her vision for what was ultimately the most amazing transformation.
Of course, things don’t seem to happen one after the other they seem to have a cascade effect overlapping while remaining interesting.
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Pizza and Elon
So, one day I was sitting in the pizza shop waiting for the pizza to be ready and as usual I was skimming Twitter.
Now I have posted a lot of content over the last 2 years since starting the twitter account including around 4000 tweets. Anyway, I had sent a tweet, once again asking Elon Musk why it was so expensive for an Australian Tesla’s while USA Tesla’s, when converted to AUD dollars, seem cheaper. There seemed to be discrepancies.
Sitting in the pizza shop I started getting lots of Twitter replies and comments. Having never had this happen before I opened Twitter and found that Elon Musk had replied to my tweet, I was shocked, amazed, and excited. (Yes, I remembered to pick up the pizza as well as my jaw).
@elonmusk this is what the $40000 dollars dual motor costs in Australia……. Surely there has to be some way we can cut this cost. Giga Australia makes sense. @Tesla would be the only major car dealer in Australia. Consider this seriously. Aussies need this. pic.twitter.com/VpadnkckJ2
Let me put this in context. I have been an Apple fan for many years and have been a massive fan of Steve jobs. He had his faults, but he was a visionary and helped to make the world transition to the digital age. To say I was a fan is well and truly understating it. He was a deep thinker with a view of the world that many would never understand and unfortunately never will.
This is like Steve Jobs responding to me. Elon responded!!!!!
Over the next couple of weeks, the Twitter verse and online publications wrote about the response from Elon and quoted my tweet. It opened my eyes to the fact that I can be a voice for change and help the discussion of electrification.
After this I reached one of my goals a lot faster than I thought I ever would. I hit 500 followers in the April. To say I am humbled by the fact that people want to listen and read my blogs and commentary is nothing short of amazing. I thank everyone who has followed me.
Craziness
Twists and Turns – 2020, At the beginning of the year I decided I would do something that even now I thought was craziness. I am not a professional writer or have written lots of readable things over the years but here I am.
EV-HQ had become part of what I did last year. This year I wanted to grow it more, so I gave myself the task of writing a blog a week for the whole of 2020.
Every week this year since the end of January I have met that promise to myself. Due to this I feel I have helped to bring the discussion of electric vehicles forward slowly within the community in some small way.
I am very proud of the work I have done this year to achieve this goal and hope that it becomes valuable to those that may find it in time.
My Wife
My wife has for years battled a hidden darkness (mental illness) that raises its head from time to time and once again those demons decided that they wanted to play. We spent days just being together and sitting on the couch because that is all she is able to do.
It is hard to see someone you love, lose themselves for a time. Riding the rollercoaster of torment and despair. The only thing you can do is hope, support, and know that one of the tomorrows will bring back that light in her eyes. So my son and I make sure she feels loved, hugged, and safe.
This time it was a short stint and we saw the signs early, so she is much better now.
EV community
EV-HQ had taken a lot of work this year and I can tell you that the community has some amazing people to help guide and offer insights and advice about ways to meet the expectations, challenges and fun.
There are so many, but some honorable mentions include,
Nash from Tesla in the Gong has offered advice and guidance regarding challenges and questions I had at times of uncertainty. He is a wonderful metor and advocate for the EV community.
Tom from Tesla Tom who has been a great source of insights and consistency regarding anything Tesla and Beyond. He too is a wonderful advocate for the Tesla community.
I would also like to thank Jason from Techau who also has been a great source of advice, and insights and information. He has kept me honest when I had source issues and I appreciate the advice.
There are so many more that I can mention but please know that you have all been amazing with your questions, inputs and information sharing throughout the community. Let’s make 2021 a year that the EV community won’t forget.
Odd
As June rolled on by, and the year started to drift away, COVID had been going crazy and the world was scrambling to figure out how to stop it in its tracks. July, August and September became a blur. My wife and I decided we needed to eat better and lose some weight so we decided to go on a diet and relearn healthy eating habits.
It was around this time that I started feeling odd.
As we rolled into the back of September, I had seen a number of doctors and noticed some strangeness with some of my blood tests. I was referred to a specialist.
Thanks to the diet my wife and I lost 14 kgs and felt really good. But I still was feeling odd.
Again
In October I once again was blessed to be responded to by Elon Musk regarding FSD and Phantom braking. I wrote a blog about this and it continues to be a well-read article. Amazing. I obviously hit a nerve. Anyway, it is great to see that I continued to have an impact that helps the EV uptake to occur.
Is the issue of phantom braking fixed in this release? Has been a number of people talking about this recently.
So, I am 45 and back to the weight I was when I married my beautiful wife. I want to be a role model to my son and a great husband to my wife so that we could continue to have a happy healthy life moving forward.
October
As October came to a close it seemed to be a month of investigations. FSD from Tesla was just about to be released in beta form and my response from Elon had re-inspired me to keep writing weekly blogs. (I Struggled around October with this)
My work was busy and I was now starting to have symptoms that were more than odd they were hindering my ability to do certain things.
I kept writing my blogs, loving my wife and son and helping to keep our family happy healthy and safe. This included catching up with friends that I have not seen for a while.
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Andrew the Optometrist
We caught up with friends and had a great time chatting. During the conversation we talked about cars and EV’s especially. I showed my hand and imparted lots of knowledge about the benefits and challenges of owning an electric vehicle, and ultimately hoped that I could balance the discussion and give a different point of view.
At no time did I think that my friend would purchase an electric vehicle. Yet a month later he called saying he had just purchased a Tesla. Andrew the Optometrist was introduced to the blogs.
It is truly amazing to me that a single conversation had such an amazing impact. Butterfly effect, I guess.
I have watched, listened and offered advice to Andrew the Optometrist about his car and have seen with joy his excitement for his upcoming delivery.
If you had asked me 20 years ago what would bring a smile to my face when I was 45, I would never had said helping a friend make a difference to the world, his family and his fun factor.
Life challenges
Twists and Turns – 2020. Not long after this, my world tipped on its head. I went and saw a specialist, had more blood tests and an MRI. That odd feeling, the reason I had been seeing the specialist and my GP alike, the fact that I could not walk outside in 30-degree (Celcius) heat without wearing jeans and a jumper was finally identified.
I have a Pituitary Tumour.
At the time I was stressed, tired, frustrated, annoyed and just downright spent. It is a strange reality being told news like this. I am a Nurse and have cared for people for over 20 years. I have helped people understand the reality of what they are being told about a loved one and/or themselves. Over my years I have helped to heal people who are unwell whilst showing people, empathy, compassion and dignity.
I worked in Emergency Departments for 12 years and during this time I was very good at being able to compartmentalize the emotions I had towards upsetting situations as I needed to do my job.
But, in this I was confronted at being on the other side and trying to understand how I felt.
Any Nurse will tell you that Nurses don’t do being the patient very well.
Luckily if you were to get a pituitary tumour this is best of the worst-case scenarios.
The plan on how to manage it is medication first to help reduce the size, monitor for six months with blood test and scans and if all goes well just keep track of it. This is the hopeful path, I hope I don’t have to face the alternatives.
So now I have to deal with the issues related to taking medication long term for the first time in my life. I have always been well and never had any issues so this was a blast of lightning out of nowhere.
The medication has helped my symptoms and I am slowly starting to feel like I did many years ago. I hope it is also helping to reduce the tumour size. Time will tell.
End of the year
So here we are, almost Christmas time and near the beginning of a New Year. As the tumultuousness of 2020 closes. We hope for 2021.
I believe it will be a year of great need for the world, both physically and emotionally. I know I have an amazing wife and son and extended family and friends who share my love for the world around us and the hope that things will get better.
EV-HQ will still continue into 2021 and I have plans to grow the site, the blogs and maybe some other surprises as the year goes on.
So, thanks for reading and being the greatest followers and community around. I look forward to keeping this going into the new year.
Australian Tesla Prices, 12 days have passed since I received a response to a simple twitter request to Elon Musk. It is incredible that a CEO of a global company is willing to respond to average people like myself. I am a passionate Tesla fan who is driven to see the mission of Tesla realized.
To accelerate the worlds transition to sustainable energy.
The only way I am able to currently assist with this is to spread the stories and information about Electric Vehicles to the greater community across Australia and the Globe. 12 Days ago, Elon gave me assistance to achieve this very goal.
@elonmusk this is what the $40000 dollars dual motor costs in Australia……. Surely there has to be some way we can cut this cost. Giga Australia makes sense. @Tesla would be the only major car dealer in Australia. Consider this seriously. Aussies need this. pic.twitter.com/VpadnkckJ2
I also wish to be able to transition my own house and family to utilizing Sustainable energy and vehicles. As I explained in my tweet to Elon the cost of Tesla’s in Australia is not within the reach of the average Australian. With a starting point of the base model 3 with no Full Self Driving is $71512. (Australian Dollars) This is a hefty sum for anyone to swallow.
In comparison, in the United States the price of the same car is $39990 (US Dollars). When this is converted using the conversion rate of $1.51 us dollars to the Australian dollar the conversion cost equates to $60385(Australian Dollars).
Australian Tesla Prices
Comparison between USD and AUD for Model 3 Tesla
So, the question needs to be asked what is the difference of $11127 used for?
According to the Australian Bureau of statistics (https://www.ato.gov.au/rates/key-superannuation-rates-and-thresholds/?page=40 ) the average wage in Australia (based upon Average Weekly ordinary time earnings (AWOTE) in June of 2019 of $1634.90 multiplied by 52 weeks of the year equals $85014.80(AUD), before tax. If the taxation rate is approx. 32.5 cents in the dollar for every dollar above $37000. Once this calculation has been completed the approximate amount that one individual will earn is $70000. This sounds like a large number however there is still the home loan/rent, Utilities, Living expenses, Car expenses, schooling for kids, etc. These numbers outline the fact that purchasing a car is not only a big decision, but one primarily driven by the cost.
Australian living expenses have been on the increase in the last 10 years due to a number of reasons least of all that environmental factors are playing their part with long droughts, 100-year storms, flooding and bushfires that are devastating areas of produce and farming.
This impact is felt in the hip pocket of every Australian across the country and that only increases the cost of living expenses and consumes the savings which historically have been put towards the wants rather than the needs.
If Tesla, and by extension Elon Musk, truly wish to gain traction in Australia there is a real need to drop the price so that the Average Australian family can afford the Model 3. The Model 3 is well suited to the Australian Market. Especially city dwellers. The Cybertruck would be well placed for those who live in the country.
If Elon and Tesla could find a way to reduce the cost of either building or transporting and investigate the $11127 disparity between the US and Australian numbers, I believe the uptake of the Model 3 in Australia would advance greatly. Furthermore, I also believe that the mission that Tesla has prided itself upon would also be realized that much quicker.
Whilst investigating the above points I also reviewed the comments from the Tweet. I came across a number of people comments who also expressed their challenges with the cost within their countries, these included
All of these people highlighted their challenges with cost of Tesla’s, however in a number of cases they also voiced that they would buy a Tesla as their next car if they could afford the price.
Australian Tesla Prices.
These are customers in waiting.
Waiting for a price that they can afford and manage on their wages. Their passion for the cars is not wavering but the cost is a real factor.
I also had a number of people talk about their experience when buying a Tesla at the current prices and outlined that a number of Taxes here in Australia were also considerably high and unnecessary like the “Luxury Car Tax”, which was introduced to assist local car manufacturing. Unfortunately, in recent years all car manufacturing by all big companies has ceased in Australia. This was due in part to a greater acceptance of foreign manufacturers and the improved quality and variety of vehicles on offer. Now that we have no manufacturers and all vehicles are imported this tax serves no purpose.
So, where to from here so more people can gain access to some amazing environmentally friendly cars and the suite of other products that Tesla has on offer.
Some ideas include:
Tesla
Find cost saving s to reduce Model 3 Price
Investigate the price differences highlighted above
Leasing (suggested by @TeslaGong)
Supplying Australia with Giga Shanghai Tesla’s
Compartmentalize features of Tesla’s that can be purchased at a later date
Build an Australian Giga Factory #GigaOz
Government
Incentives (Green rebate)
Remove the Luxury car tax from all Electric Vehicles
Reduce stamp duty, registration, etc.
These changes would have a profound effect on the footprint of Electric vehicles in Australia and also assist people to truly transition to a sustainable energy future.
Australian Tesla Prices, 12 days have passed since I received a response to a simple twitter request to Elon Musk. It is incredible that a CEO of a global company is willing to respond to average people like myself. I am a passionate Tesla fan who is driven to see the mission of Tesla realized.
To accelerate the worlds transition to sustainable energy.
The only way I am able to currently assist with this is to spread the stories and information about Electric Vehicles to the greater community across Australia and the Globe. 12 Days ago, Elon gave me assistance to achieve this very goal.
@elonmusk this is what the $40000 dollars dual motor costs in Australia……. Surely there has to be some way we can cut this cost. Giga Australia makes sense. @Tesla would be the only major car dealer in Australia. Consider this seriously. Aussies need this. pic.twitter.com/VpadnkckJ2
I also wish to be able to transition my own house and family to utilizing Sustainable energy and vehicles. As I explained in my tweet to Elon the cost of Tesla’s in Australia is not within the reach of the average Australian. With a starting point of the base model 3 with no Full Self Driving is $71512. (Australian Dollars) This is a hefty sum for anyone to swallow.
In comparison, in the United States the price of the same car is $39990 (US Dollars). When this is converted using the conversion rate of $1.51 us dollars to the Australian dollar the conversion cost equates to $60385(Australian Dollars).
Australian Tesla Prices
Comparison between USD and AUD for Model 3 Tesla
So, the question needs to be asked what is the difference of $11127 used for?
According to the Australian Bureau of statistics (https://www.ato.gov.au/rates/key-superannuation-rates-and-thresholds/?page=40 ) the average wage in Australia (based upon Average Weekly ordinary time earnings (AWOTE) in June of 2019 of $1634.90 multiplied by 52 weeks of the year equals $85014.80(AUD), before tax. If the taxation rate is approx. 32.5 cents in the dollar for every dollar above $37000. Once this calculation has been completed the approximate amount that one individual will earn is $70000. This sounds like a large number however there is still the home loan/rent, Utilities, Living expenses, Car expenses, schooling for kids, etc. These numbers outline the fact that purchasing a car is not only a big decision, but one primarily driven by the cost.
Australian living expenses have been on the increase in the last 10 years due to a number of reasons least of all that environmental factors are playing their part with long droughts, 100-year storms, flooding and bushfires that are devastating areas of produce and farming.
This impact is felt in the hip pocket of every Australian across the country and that only increases the cost of living expenses and consumes the savings which historically have been put towards the wants rather than the needs.
If Tesla, and by extension Elon Musk, truly wish to gain traction in Australia there is a real need to drop the price so that the Average Australian family can afford the Model 3. The Model 3 is well suited to the Australian Market. Especially city dwellers. The Cybertruck would be well placed for those who live in the country.
If Elon and Tesla could find a way to reduce the cost of either building or transporting and investigate the $11127 disparity between the US and Australian numbers, I believe the uptake of the Model 3 in Australia would advance greatly. Furthermore, I also believe that the mission that Tesla has prided itself upon would also be realized that much quicker.
Whilst investigating the above points I also reviewed the comments from the Tweet. I came across a number of people comments who also expressed their challenges with the cost within their countries, these included
All of these people highlighted their challenges with cost of Tesla’s, however in a number of cases they also voiced that they would buy a Tesla as their next car if they could afford the price.
Australian Tesla Prices.
These are customers in waiting.
Waiting for a price that they can afford and manage on their wages. Their passion for the cars is not wavering but the cost is a real factor.
I also had a number of people talk about their experience when buying a Tesla at the current prices and outlined that a number of Taxes here in Australia were also considerably high and unnecessary like the “Luxury Car Tax”, which was introduced to assist local car manufacturing. Unfortunately, in recent years all car manufacturing by all big companies has ceased in Australia. This was due in part to a greater acceptance of foreign manufacturers and the improved quality and variety of vehicles on offer. Now that we have no manufacturers and all vehicles are imported this tax serves no purpose.
So, where to from here so more people can gain access to some amazing environmentally friendly cars and the suite of other products that Tesla has on offer.
Some ideas include:
Tesla
Find cost saving s to reduce Model 3 Price
Investigate the price differences highlighted above
Leasing (suggested by @TeslaGong)
Supplying Australia with Giga Shanghai Tesla’s
Compartmentalize features of Tesla’s that can be purchased at a later date
Build an Australian Giga Factory #GigaOz
Government
Incentives (Green rebate)
Remove the Luxury car tax from all Electric Vehicles
Reduce stamp duty, registration, etc.
These changes would have a profound effect on the footprint of Electric vehicles in Australia and also assist people to truly transition to a sustainable energy future.
I posted a tweet that Elon musk responded to and I finally realized why Tesla is important to the global community.
@elonmusk this is what the $40000 dollars dual motor costs in Australia……. Surely there has to be some way we can cut this cost. Giga Australia makes sense. @Tesla would be the only major car dealer in Australia. Consider this seriously. Aussies need this. pic.twitter.com/VpadnkckJ2
Tesla is a global company that has provided some of the most innovative products for many years within the tech and motor vehicle spheres. Tesla’s ability to continue to move forward against adversity, tough times and financial strain has been a phenomenon. This momentum that Tesla has, is something that can only be measured by the global audience that is trying to go with them as they evolve the motor car industry to see a future that is more environmentally responsible.
On Tuesday I sent a tweet into the twitter verse asking why does the cost of the Model 3 seem to be so much more in Australia than in the USA and maybe a solution to bring down the price was to build a Giga factory in Australia. This suggestion was to highlight the cost of the cars in Australia, but also to show that Australia has no major car manufacturer in Australia, and they could be the first major Electric vehicle producer in Australia. This would allow for greater price competition and uptake of electric vehicles.
I had no delusions that it would be another tweet that got a few comments and likes but nothing more. Boy, was I wrong! Thanks’ to Elon replying the world engaged and showed that they also wish for greater ability to purchase a Tesla.
So why did the world engage, could it be that I hit upon an idea that resonates with the average joe?
Could it be that the mere suggestion that it does seem high from Elon Musk gives hope to those that have felt helpless to be able to buy their dream car and that dream could be a little closer?
It turns out it is all of these things and so much more. I have written before about the Cybertruck and how it hits the mark for those people who have dreamt of that cool car they have always wanted to own from their childhood movies or shows and the cybertruck delivered. In this sense so do all Tesla’s.
The passion that is held within the Tesla fandom and the love they have for Elon only makes them want to own the cars more.
Sure, they are fantastically specked out cars and they scratch the futuristic itch but for most people the prospect of owning this car anywhere outside the USA becomes a pipe dream. The price becomes untenable.
I scratched at the one place that most people talk about all the time. The chance of the price being lower, so they have a better chance of owning their dream car.
Elon is well engaged with the tesla community and as such a simple comment like the one he gave to me ignites a flame that can burn near and far and give hope to those many voices.
Within the voices Elon knows there are good ideas, great sounding boards and the ability to flesh out ideas. This makes the twitter verse extremely proud of what they can achieve when putting their minds together. Since the tweet went wild there have been a number of ideas that have come to the foreground.
Giga Oz – have a Gigafactory in Australia – @EVHQ2
Leasing Tesla’s -@Teslagong
Giga factory that produces solar panels and batteries and as a side gig, cars.
Get the government to consider removing luxury car tax
Send cars from china
These are just some of the great suggestions that came from the twitter verse in response to reducing cost and making Tesla’s more affordable in Australia.
I hope that Elon can see that costs of Tesla’s once they leave the shores of the USA increases, and the cost for those, regardless of exchange rates or local taxes. Hopefully Elon can look at it from a business problem perspective and utilize some of the suggestions or dream up another idea that just might alleviate the pressure for average people to achieve one goal in their lives. To drive their dream Tesla Vehicle.
I hope that I have a chance to continue to talk with Elon about many and varied things to do with Tesla and beyond. But for now, I am glad I have had a chance to voice my concerns and feel that I have been heard.
Lets’ hope that Australia’s government will see that people want the change , that it’s time for the change to occur and that our children’s lives depend upon us taking a stand and vocalizing our ideas and passions by being one voice to shine through the smog filled sky’s to the blue light and sunshine beyond.
Thanks to everyone that liked, shared and commented on my tweet, I appreciate your input and commentary.
Finally thank you Elon Musk, you have shown the world many times over you are genuine and passionate and that is what makes you a truly great human being.
