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Elon Musk re-clarifies story of Tesla’s early days and how it was founded

Credit: TED/YouTube

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During his appearance at TED 2022 earlier this month, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk remarked that his condition — which he has revealed to be Asperger’s — has made him obsessed with the truth. Musk noted that his obsession with truth is what made him study physics since the field essentially attempts to understand the truth of the universe. 

This obsession with truth is perhaps the reason why Musk has been very adamant about setting the record straight when it comes to the founding days of Tesla. It has long been stated that Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning were the founders of the company, with Elon Musk coming and JB Straubel coming in months later. This is something that Musk has been keen to correct as of late. 

During his TED 2022 appearance, Musk stated that his worst business decision was probably the fact that he didn’t just start Tesla with JB Straubel. Musk stated that he didn’t invest in a company. He, Straubel, and the other individuals listed as Tesla’s founders created a company. One that became the world’s most valuable automaker with a valuation of a trillion dollars.

Musk recently reiterated these points in a set of tweets following a post from Vaibhav Sisinty, the CEO and founder of GrowthSchool. Sisinty posted a “reminder” that Musk was not the founder of Tesla, and he simply acquired the company. It did not take long before the Tesla CEO decided to correct the narrative — and provide some new insights on Tesla’s early days in the process. 

“Not even close to that. It was a shell corp with no employees, no IP, no designs, no prototype, literally nothing but a (business) plan to commercialize AC Propulsion’s T-Zero car, which was introduced to me by JB Straubel, not Eberhard. Even (the) name ‘Tesla Motors’ was owned by others!” Musk wrote

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Musk stated that if one were to follow the logic adopted in the narrative that paints Eberhard and Tarpenning as the founders of Tesla, then he’d be the only “founder” of PayPal since he started the company that eventually became the online payments giant. Such an argument, Musk noted, does not hold water. 

“If filing a shell corp constitutes “founding a company,” then I’d be the only founder of PayPal, since I filed the original incorporation docs for X.com (later renamed PayPal), but that’s not what founding means. When Eberhard was fired unanimously by the board in July 2007 (for damn good reasons), no one left with him. That says it all,” Musk wrote

Musk added that ultimately, if Tesla’s supposed founder was really capable of creating a car company, he would have already done so after he was terminated. This was certainly the case with some individuals who were at one point linked to Tesla and its electric vehicle development. Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson was involved in the development of the original Model S, and Fisker Inc. founder Henrik Fisker worked on the design of Tesla’s flagship sedan at one point. 

Considering that both Rawlinson and Fisker are still active in the electric vehicle sector today, perhaps Musk’s point about Tesla’s co-founders is a fairly valid sentiment. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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EVs getting cleaner more quickly than expected in Europe: study

Battery-electric vehicles are still championing emissions reductions, and a new analysis suggests they’re doing so even more quickly than previously expected.

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Credit: Tesla

As Europe’s electricity mix is getting cleaner, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are also offering a larger climate advantage than previously expected, according to the results of a new study released this week.

On Wednesday, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) released a study noting that BEVs sold today produce 73 percent fewer life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, even factoring in production. This figure also represents a 24-percent improvement upon the organization’s 2021 estimates for this year, meaning that BEVs are getting cleaner more quickly than expected as the continent’s renewable programs continue to grow.

The study was comprised of a comprehensive life-cycle analysis of all major powertrain types, and the results suggest that BEVs are the only widely available powertrain that can slash emissions levels enough to meet climate goals. By contrast, the study’s results suggest that other clean energy powertrains, such as hybrids and plugin hybrids, only have a marginal impact, if any, on reducing the overall climate impact of the transportation sector.

“Battery electric cars in Europe are getting cleaner faster than we expected and outperform all other technologies, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids,” says ICCT researcher Dr. Marta Negri. “This progress is largely due to the fast deployment of renewable electricity across the continent and the greater energy efficiency of battery electric cars.”

Credit: International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT)

READ MORE ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Study reveals hybrids could have up to 4.9x lifetime emissions vs. BEVs

ICCT Senior Researcher Dr. Georg Bieker says he also hopes the analysis can help fight misinformation regarding BEV powertrains. For example, he notes that, while it’s true that manufacturing emissions for BEVs can be up to 40 percent higher than for ICE vehicles, this is quickly offset by an electric automobile after just around 17,000 km (~10,563 miles) of driving.

“We hope this study brings clarity to the public conversation, so that policymakers and industry leaders can make informed decisions,” Dr. Bieker says. “We’ve recently seen auto industry leaders misrepresenting the emissions math on hybrids. But life-cycle analysis is not a choose-your-own-adventure exercise.”

Additionally, the ICCT study covers emissions from both vehicle and battery production, recycling, fuel and electricity production, fuel consumption, and maintenance.

“Our study accounts for the most representative use cases and is grounded in real-world data,” Dr. Bieker adds. “Consumers deserve accurate, science-backed information.”

U.S. EV adoption still on pace to reach 50% by 2030: data

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Tesla executive teases plan to further electrify supply chain

One of Tesla’s top executive hints at how Tesla is further electrifying its supply chain.

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Credit: Andrea Conway/X

A high-level Tesla executive has said the company is working to further electrify its supply chain, following a successful road test with the Semi this week.

After Tesla supplier thyssenkrupp completed a successful 5,000-mile winter trial with the Semi this week, Dan Priestley, the company’s Director of Semi Engineering, noted on X that the demonstration is a part of larger efforts to electrify more of the supply chain. The executive said that the company is already working to help suppliers like thyssenkrupp implement the Semi into their operations, particularly due to its cost savings and reliability.

Following the thyssenkrupp demo, the supply chain company has also begun integrating the Semi into its fleet, and Priestley suggests that more are still to come:

Working with our suppliers and logistics partners to electrify Tesla’s supply chain. With lower cost and higher reliability, it just makes sense. thyssenkrupp pushed the truck hard over this demo and now plans to integrate Semi into their fleet.

READ MORE ON TESLA SEMI: Tesla Full Self-Driving displays impressive collision avoidance with Semi

Tesla Semi factory nears official production as trials continue to impress

Tesla’s early Semi trials received positive results from both thyssenkrup and ArcBest’s ABF Freight this week, with the latter company logging 4,494 miles during a pilot period, and averaging 321 miles per day despite a 7,200-foot climb over Donner Pass.

The company has also been constructing a factory for volume Semi production at its Gigafactory in Nevada, and in recent weeks, the plant is looking nearly complete. Semi frames have been spotted in increasing numbers outside the facility recently, suggesting that Tesla is nearing early production on site.

The company also hired more than 1,000 workers for the Semi factory in April, while the plant is eventually expected to produce as many as 50,000 Semi units annually.

Tesla reveals Semi fleet data, shows off new feature and infrastructure plans

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Tesla Semi completes 5,000-mile winter trial with thyssenkrupp

The test covered nearly 5,000 miles in winter conditions.

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Credit: Tesla Semi/X

thyssenkrupp Supply Chain Services has completed a three-week pilot of the Tesla Semi at one of its California logistics hubs, marking a new step in the company’s sustainability push. The test covered nearly 5,000 miles in winter conditions and focused on evaluating the electric Class 8 truck’s efficiency, transparency, and operational performance.

Tesla Semi offers efficiency gains and real-time logistics visibility

During the pilot, the Tesla Semi was used for active freight delivery, including routes over the Altamont Pass. thyssenkrupp evaluated the vehicle’s ability to reduce downtime, enhance delivery speed, and offer greater real-time supply chain visibility, the company noted in a press release.

Live diagnostics and performance monitoring allowed the logistics provider to track metrics such as speed, routes, and overall efficiency—data that supports smarter and more transparent logistics operations.

“The Tesla Semi aligns with our ongoing commitment to sustainability and operational excellence,” said Bob Denehy, Chief Commercial Officer at thyssenkrupp Supply Chain Services. “Its efficiency and diagnostic features, and low environmental impact make it a natural fit for our evolving logistics strategy.”

Pilot builds on long-term partnership with Tesla and green energy goals

A logistics partner to Tesla since 2015, thyssenkrupp Supply Chain Services was one of the first companies selected to test the Tesla Semi in a real-world setting. The trial reinforces the company’s push into renewable energy logistics and reflects its long-term goal of integrating alternative-fuel technologies across its operations. 

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Plans are now underway to begin adding electric Semis to its fleet as part of a wider emissions-reduction effort. The pilot is thus the latest example of how logistics providers are embracing next-generation transport technologies to meet environmental goals and enhance supply chain performance.

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