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Making solar panels a Tesla work of art could be the change we need
In his Master Plan, Part Deux released last week, Elon Musk made one of his priorities “a smoothly integrated and beautiful solar-roof-with-battery product that just works.” We have heard a lot about solar panel efficiency over the years, but beauty? That hasn’t been a consideration. One solar panel looks very much like another solar panel — until now.
Wired writes in an article dated July 22, “For decades now, going solar has meant sticking what looks like a bunch of computer monitors to your roof.” Hardly the look that many consider ideal for their homes. “Some people will always celebrate the tech-y symbolism of a typical solar panel,” says Aaron Dorf, an architect at architecture and design firm Snøhetta.
Dorf thinks the solar panel “will eventually become a first generation relic, like an Atari or a car phone.” Looking to the near future, he believes things like installation cost and solar cell efficiency will cease to be limiting factors. “Musk is smart to directly target what may be the more significant threshold—beauty.”
We can’t know for certain what Elon intends but excellent design has always been an important component of everything he has done. As Tesla transforms itself into an energy company, we should expect the same level of commitment to beautiful design it is known for.
Others are engaged in designing the solar systems of the future. Sistine Solar makes innovative “Solarskin” panels which match the design of your existing roof. They are scheduled to go on sale next year. T.R. Ludwig, co-founder of Brooklyn Solarworks, says solar panels that can utilize sunlight striking both sides of its panels are more efficient and more attractive. “It’s an interesting aesthetic — more minimal, more sleek,” Ludwig says.
Solar panels are a great way of harvesting energy from the great “fusion reactor in the sky,” as Elon likes to call the sun. But not everyone is thrilled at the idea of solar panels on every rooftop. “When you start talking to a fire department about covering your building with solar panels, you get, ‘well, what happens if it burns? And what happens if my guys are underneath this, fighting a fire?” says Brian Lane, managing principal at Koning Eizenberg Architecture.
Energy storage creates other legal challenges. Because batteries are a potential fire risk, it is nearly impossible to get permits for them approved in cities like New York. There is also an issue with durability. The useful life of solar panels today is 20 to 25 years. Most roofs are intended to last 50 years.
Malay Mazumdar, a professor in electro-physics at Boston University, asks “If you integrate the roof with the solar panel…..should you change the entire roof?” If Tesla wants to design solar roofs that are stunning and smoothly integrated, they should also make them durable, or at least easy to replace, Wired says.
Another issue with solar panels is their orientation toward the sun. Not every roof is ideally suited for a solar installation. Some systems feature tracking systems that move the panels during the day to maximize exposure to the sun, but they add complexity and cost to the system.
No doubt Elon Musk has considered all these factors and has answers for each and every one of them. The one thing we can be sure of is that Elon will bring all of his creative powers to bear on the issue of solar power. If his commitment brings the same level of disruption to the electricity industry as it has to the automobile sector, he will further accelerate the changeover from fossil fuels to renewable energy that is at the heart of all his endeavors.
Source: Wired, Photo credit: Brooklyn SolarWorks
Elon Musk
Elon Musk shares timeframe for X Money early public access rollout
X Money is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.
Elon Musk has stated that X Money, the digital payments system being developed for social media platform X, is expected to enter early public access next month.
The update was shared by Musk in a post on X. “𝕏 Money early public access will launch next month,” Musk wrote in his post.
As noted in a Reuters report, X Money is being developed as a digital payment service that’s directly integrated into the X platform.
The system is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.
Musk has previously discussed plans to introduce payments and financial services as part of X’s broader development.
Since acquiring the platform in 2022, Musk has discussed expanding X to include a range of services such as messaging, media, and financial tools.
Elon Musk has shared his goal of transforming X into an “everything app.” During a previous podcast interview with members of the Tesla community, Musk mused about turning X into something similar to China’s WeChat, which allows users to shop, pay, communicate, and perform a variety of other tasks.
“In China, you do everything in WeChat… it’s kickass… Outside of China, there’s nothing like it, people live on one app. My idea would be like how about if we just copy WeChat,” Musk joked at the time.
To prepare for the rollout of X Money, X has partnered with payment company Visa to support the development of payment services for the platform’s users. The move could allow X to tap into the growing demand for digital and in-app financial transactions as the company builds additional services around its existing user base.
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Tesla Cybercab display highlights interior wizardry in the small two-seater
Photos and videos of the production Cybercab were shared in posts on social media platform X.
The Tesla Cybercab is currently on display at the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., and observations of the production vehicle are highlighting some of its notable design details.
Photos and videos of the production Cybercab were shared in posts on social media platform X.
Observers of the Cybercab display unit noted that the two-seat Robotaxi provides unusually generous legroom for a vehicle of its size. Based on the vehicle’s video, the compact two-seater appears to offer more legroom than Tesla’s larger vehicles such as the Model Y, Model X, and Cybertruck.
The Cybercab’s layout allows Tesla to dedicate nearly the entire cabin to passengers. The vehicle is designed without a steering wheel or pedals, which helps maximize interior space.
Footage from the display also highlights the Cybercab’s large center screen, which is positioned prominently in front of the passenger bench. The display appears intended to provide entertainment and ride information while the vehicle operates autonomously.
Images of the vehicle also show an additional camera integrated into the Cybercab’s C-pillar. The extra camera appears to expand the vehicle’s field of view, which would be useful as Tesla works toward fully unsupervised Full Self-Driving.
Tesla engineers have previously explained that the Cybercab was designed to be highly efficient both in manufacturing and in operation. Cybercab Lead Engineer Eric E. stated in 2024 that the Robotaxi would be built with roughly half the number of parts used in a Model 3 sedan.
“Two seats unlocks a lot of opportunity aerodynamically. It also means we cut the part count of Cybercab down by a substantial margin. We’re gonna be delivering a car that has roughly half the parts of Model 3 today,” the Tesla engineer said.
The Tesla engineer also noted that the Cybercab’s cargo area can accommodate multiple golf bags, two carry-on suitcases, and two full-size checked bags. The trunk can also fit certain bicycles and a foldable wheelchair depending on size, which is quite impressive for a small car like the Cybercab.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s xAI wins permit for power plant supporting AI data centers
The development was reported by CNBC, citing confirmation from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
Mississippi regulators have approved a permit allowing Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI to construct a natural gas power plant in Southaven. The facility is expected to support the company’s expanding AI infrastructure tied to its Colossus data center operations near Memphis.
The development was reported by CNBC, citing confirmation from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
According to the report, regulators “voted to approve the permit” of xAI subsidiary MZX Tech LLC to construct a power plant featuring 41 natural gas-burning turbines “after careful consideration of all public comments and community concerns.”
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality stated that the permit followed a regulatory review process that included public comments and community input. Jaricus Whitlock, air division chief for the MDEQ, stated that the project met all applicable environmental standards.
“The proposed PSD permit in front of the board today not only meets all state and federal permitting regulations, but goes above and beyond what is required by law. MDEQ and the EPA agree that not a single person around our facilities will be exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution,” Whitlock stated.
The planned facility will help provide electricity for xAI’s AI computing infrastructure in the Memphis region.
The Southaven project forms part of xAI’s efforts to scale computing capacity for its artificial intelligence systems.
The company currently operates two major data centers in Memphis, known as Colossus 1 and Colossus 2, which provide computing power for xAI’s Grok AI models. xAI is also planning to build another large data center in Southaven called Macrohardrr, which would be located in a warehouse previously used by GXO Logistics.
Large-scale AI training requires substantial computing power and electricity, prompting technology companies to develop dedicated energy infrastructure for their data centers.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell previously stated that xAI plans to develop 1.2 gigawatts of power capacity for its Memphis-area AI supercomputer site as part of the federal government’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge. The commitment was announced during an event with United States President Donald Trump.
“As part of today’s commitment, we will take extensive additional steps to continue to reduce the costs of electricity for our neighbors. xAI will therefore commit to develop 1.2 GW of power as our supercomputer’s primary power source. That will be for every additional data center as well. We will expand what is already the largest global Megapack power installation in the world,” Shotwell said.
“The installation will provide enough backup power to power the city of Memphis, and more than sufficient energy to power the town of Southaven, Mississippi where the data center resides. We will build new substations and invest in electrical infrastructure to provide stability to the area’s grid.”
Elon Musk shares timeframe for X Money early public access rollout
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