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Rivian’s Normal, Il plant to deliver vehicles charged with on-site wind turbine

(Credit: Rivian)

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Rivian R1 vehicles coming from the company’s Normal, Il plant will soon be delivered to customers with a battery fully charged from wind energy. This is due to the company’s plans to build a large-scale wind turbine at its Normal site.

The wind turbine is the latest sustainable energy project from Rivian, and it supports the company’s long-term vision on renewables. Earlier this year, the electric truck maker also installed a 783 kW solar canopy that’s poised to start generating electricity later this summer.

The turbine will have a capacity of at least 2.8 MW. This should make the facility capable of generating almost 10 million KWh of electricity per year, which should be enough to power 890 average American homes. Over its expected 25-year lifetime, the wind turbine could avoid about 177,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

Andrew Peterman, Rivian Director of Renewable Energy, expressed his excitement about the project in a press release.

“To us, our job isn’t done when our vehicles come off the line. While we’re working hard to help electrify transportation, we’re also pushing to accelerate the shift to carbon-free electricity for all. This wind turbine is an early step on that path, and it’s also a beacon of our vision for a clean energy future,” Peterman said.

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Rivian’s proposed wind turbine would stand at least 510 feet tall with white, non-reflective blades. The turbine would be built on the east side of the Normal campus, inside the facility’s test track. Rivian is making a point to ensure that the wind turbine would not be disruptive, with the company expecting the installation to average 35 decibels and reach a maximum of 42 decibels only.

Rivian is partnering with Apex Clean Energy to construct the Normal, Il plant’s wind turbine. Apex, which is based in Virginia, is a renewable energy development with extensive experience with sustainable projects across the United States, including a 500-MW wind facility in Illinois.

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

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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Tesla FSD’s new Mad Max mode is getting rave reviews from users

It does appear that Mad Max mode is destined to be one of the system’s biggest steps forward to date.

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Credit: Whole Mars Catalog/X

Tesla’s release notes for the newly released Mad Max mode for FSD (Supervised) V14.1.2 simply stated that the feature “comes with higher speeds and more frequent lane changes than Hurry.” But as per videos that have been posted online by FSD users who have tested the system, it does appear that Mad Max mode is destined to be one of the system’s biggest steps forward to date. 

It is then no surprise that the new capability is getting rave reviews from Tesla owners. 

Impressive tests

A look at posts on social media platform X would show that, similar to past FSD releases, numerous Tesla content creators immediately tested Mad Max mode on real-world streets after it was downloaded onto their vehicle. Considering that the update was released rather late, the first tests of Mad Max mode were done at night. Despite this, it was evident that Tesla worked very hard to make Mad Max mode into something that is very useful in real-world scenarios.

This could be seen in videos from longtime Tesla owner @BLKMDL3, who observed that Max Max mode was “amazing” and like “perfect for LA traffic” due to its cautious but assertive nature. Later on, the Tesla owner noted that after eight drives, it was evident that FSD (Supervised) V14.1.2 was impressive. 

Assertive but safe

Other testers such as Model Y owner Sawyer Merritt noted that Mad Max mode drives very quickly and confidently, with smoother acceleration that is still very safe. These were echoed by another longtime FSD tester, Dirty Tesla, who noted that Mad Max mode seems to be designed for heavy, aggressive traffic so users could fit in better. The FSD user did, however, observe that Mad Max mode does speed up a lot on open roads. 

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Recent comments from Tesla AI Head Ashok Elluswamy have indicated that Mad Max mode was created to be a solution for daytime congested traffic, which is arguably one of the most soul-crushing experiences that drivers deal with on a daily basis. With this in mind, it does appear that FSD (Supervised) V14.1.2 could prove to be a notable step forward in Tesla’s push towards true autonomous driving.

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Elon Musk highlights the biggest flaw in X’s monetization program

Elon Musk also stated that YouTube manages creator payments “much better.”

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MINISTÉRIO DAS COMUNICAÇÕES, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Elon Musk has admitted that X’s creator payout system isn’t living up to expectations, and he has highlighted the current system’s biggest flaw. 

Amidst complaints about low and inconsistent payments, the platform’s owner acknowledged that X has been “underpaying and not allocating payment accurately enough.” Musk also stated that YouTube manages creator payments “much better.”

Musk acknowledges payout issues

Recent discussions about the social media platform’s payout issues began when X product head Nikita Bier stated that the company was developing new upgrades for “power users.” This prompted X user Peter Duan to raise ongoing concerns about being “consistently underpaid” compared to his peers. Bier responded candidly, suggesting that “creator payouts do more harm than good and we need to off-ramp to a different system.”

Musk then weighed in on the matter, contradicting Bier’s view. “No,” Musk wrote in his reply, “the issue is that we are underpaying and not allocating payment accurately enough. YouTube does a much better job.” The Tesla CEO’s comment immediately reignited debates about X’s monetization program, which some have criticized for its rather unpredictable nature.

X’s monetization challenges

Since X launched its ad revenue-sharing program in 2023, the system has promised to reward Premium subscribers who generate high engagement with verified accounts, as noted in a WION report. Creators, however, have argued that the company’s payout model has remained inconsistent, with revenue fluctuating even when view counts stay stable. Reports have noted that some users with millions of monthly impressions have received just a few hundred dollars.

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By contrast, YouTube’s Partner Program, which takes a 45% cut of ad revenue, is known for more transparent and predictable payments. Musk’s admission that YouTube handles monetization more effectively could then hint at a potential shift towards a new monetization program for X, a platform that has become increasingly critical to social conversations over the years. 

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Tesla exec hints at FSD Mad Max mode’s killer feature

The release notes of Tesla’s v14.1.2 FSD update indicate that Mad Max mode “comes with higher speeds and more frequent lane changes than Hurry.”

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Credit: @BLKMDL3/X

Tesla may have just rolled out its boldest Full Self-Driving (FSD) upgrade yet, but the company’s Head of AI, Ashok Elluswamy, hinted at the recently released “Mad Max” mode’s actual killer feature.

As per the Tesla executive, FSD’s Mad Max mode is designed to provide drivers with optimum driving performance during what are commonly the most tedious driving conditions on real-world roads.

Where Mad Max mode truly shines

Tesla drivers and longtime FSD users responded positively to the rollout of Mad Max mode. The performance of the update was so notable that @WholeMarsBlog, a longtime FSD tester, described it as epic. The FSD tester’s comments were posted on X as videos of Mad Max mode’s real-world performance were being shared online.

In response to the Tesla owner and longtime FSD tester, Elluswamy noted that drivers would probably love Mad Max mode even more during daytime hours, when traffic is denser. “You’ll love it more during day time / denser traffic. Really showcases its decision making,” the Tesla executive wrote in his post.

The release notes of Tesla’s v14.1.2 FSD update indicate that Mad Max mode “comes with higher speeds and more frequent lane changes than Hurry.” Videos shared online showed that Mad Max mode, despite its assertive driving style, is still a very cautious and safe driver, similar to past FSD releases.

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Made for real-world traffic and long commutes

Traffic congestion typically peaks during daytime hours, when drivers could at times spend hours navigating crowded intersections and fast-changing lanes. For many Tesla owners, having an FSD mode that can confidently manage that chaos could be a game-changer.

Simply put, the feature’s extra assertiveness could allow Mad Max mode to excel in the kind of traffic that tests even the most patient drivers. By improving decision-making in those conditions, the company may be positioning FSD as a true solution for the everyday stress of stop-and-go commutes, packed freeways, and unpredictable city driving.

The “Mad Max” name itself isn’t new. Elon Musk first teased it back in 2018 as a playful nod to aggressive freeway driving. Its reappearance in Tesla’s modern FSD system, however, hints at the notable maturation of Tesla’s autonomous driving efforts over the years.

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