News
Tesla’s nickel future will benefit the company and the consumer
It is no secret that batteries play a massive role in Tesla’s future. Not only do the materials that are mined for the company’s electric cars need to be sustainably sourced, but they need to fit the company’s long and short-term goals.
For a long time, the talk about electric vehicle batteries has been focused on cobalt. The chemical element is controversial for several reasons: it is expensive, it is mined in immoral ways in many countries, and it is not great for the environment. However, companies can choose to source it responsibly, and Tesla has maintained that its cobalt sources are moral and proper in their obtaining of the element.
But during yesterday’s Q2 2020 Earnings Call with Tesla executives, cobalt was not mentioned even once. The focus stood on nickel and the benefits it could play for future company projects, which are based on the foundation that batteries need to be long-lasting and energy-dense. This fact is especially prevalent when it comes to the company’s commercial Semi truck, which will be responsible for transitioning the considerable commerce and trucking industry to function more sustainably.
“Please mine more nickel,” CEO Elon Musk pleaded to mining companies. “Tesla will give you a giant contract for a long period of time if you mine nickel efficiently and in an environmentally sensitive way.”
Nickel is included in the current EV batteries that Tesla uses. A Nickel-Cobalt-Aluminum battery has been produced at Giga Nevada, but the company continues to submit patents that could revolutionize the way its batteries function. Ultimately, the goal is to have million-mile capable cells that will not only translate to a longer lifespan for an electric car but also an extended time of use for Tesla energy storage products.
Musk was adamant during yesterday’s call that Nickel mining is crucial to the company’s fleet of future vehicles. Why? Because Nickel-based battery cells can handle what the Tesla Semi will require to function, which is high energy density. This will ultimately translate to an extended range.
The Semi will be responsible for hauling massive amounts of cargo across the country. It will have to scale steep grades and handle different weather scenarios in every area it travels in. All of these factors will inevitably affect the Semi’s range, and the way to combat that is to come up with more energy-dense cells that are capable of handling a multitude of situations.
“Obviously, those are needed for something like Semi, where every, every unit of mass that you add in a battery pack, you have to subtract in cargo,” Musk said. “So it’s very important to have a mass efficient and long-range pack for four batteries.”
But Tesla’s nickel operation goes far past the company’s Semi plans. It also translates to be beneficial for passenger vehicles that are aimed toward mass-market production, like the Model 3 and Model Y.
After Tesla scrapped plans for the Standard Range RWD Model Y earlier this month, Musk indicated that the new normal for EVs should be 300 miles of range. The Standard Range Y wouldn’t fit that description, as the CEO said it would be capable of less than 250 miles. In Tesla terms, that is unacceptable.
A question during yesterday’s call suggested that Tesla could be shifting from smaller-pack vehicles to larger ones, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. The real struggle is creating effective electric transport across the entire market, instead of for one type of vehicle.
Range is a substantial part of driving an electric vehicle, regardless of who made the car. The focus for Tesla is increasing range and longevity for the company and the consumer. Across each of its cars, the range is of utmost importance, and it begins with nickel mining.
Elon Musk
Tesla Full Self-Driving’s European launch frustrations revealed by Elon Musk
Tesla plans to launch Full Self-Driving in Europe later this year, but regulatory bodies are proving to make it a bigger challenge than it needs to be.
Tesla Full Self-Driving is set to launch in Europe in the future, but the region’s governing bodies are not giving the suite any chance to move forward, according to CEO Elon Musk, who blames the regulatory processes for robbing citizens of a safer mode of travel.
The automaker revealed late last year that it planned to bring Full Self-Driving to Europe sometime in 2025. However, Musk said that the launch of the suite is being continuously prolonged by both individual and European Union officials, dragging their feet with approvals.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Musk said the company is still dealing with and waiting for approvals from both the Dutch government and the EU’s governing officials, giving an indication that some progress has been made, but ultimately, there are still some bodies that are taking their time:
Waiting for Dutch authorities and then the EU to approve.
Very frustrating and hurts the safety of people in Europe, as driving with advanced Autopilot on results in four times fewer injuries!
Please ask your governing authorities to accelerate making Tesla safer in Europe. https://t.co/QIYCXhhaQp
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 11, 2025
He continued by stating that the delays are “very frustrating” and they “hurt the safety of people in Europe” because of Autopilot’s statistical prowess, which shows it is much safer than human drivers.
Tesla is readying for the launch of a completely driverless Robotaxi platform in the U.S., which is set to occur in the coming days. While the initial rollout of the platform will be reserved for a select few, public rides are slated for June 22, meaning anyone will be able to come to Austin and hail a Tesla Robotaxi through the company’s smartphone app.
The first Robotaxi without a driver was spotted in Austin yesterday and shared on X:
First Tesla driverless robotaxi spotted in the wild in Austin, TX
Musk dropped several hints that the Robotaxi launch, which has been rumored for June 12, is imminent. For now, the operation will take place in Austin and will eventually expand, likely to California next, as noted in past reports. The City’s official website confirmed that Tesla gained a license as an Autonomous Vehicle operator in the City of Austin earlier this week.
Tesla applied for a similar license in California earlier this year.
Energy
Tesla Lathrop Megafactory celebrates massive Megapack battery milestone
The Tesla Megapack is the backbone of Tesla Energy’s battery deployments.
The Tesla Lathrop Megafactory recently achieved a new milestone. As per the official Tesla Megapack account on X, the Lathrop Megafactory has produced its 15,000th Megapack 2 XL battery.
15,000 Megapack Batteries
Tesla celebrated the milestone with a photo of the Lathrop Megafactory team posing with a freshly produced Megapack battery. To commemorate the event, the team held balloons that spelled out “15,000” as they posed for the photo.
The Tesla Megapack is the backbone of Tesla Energy’s battery deployments. Designed for grid-scale applications, each Megapack offers 3.9 MWh of energy and 1.9 MW of power. The battery is extremely scalable, making it perfect for massive energy storage projects.
More Megafactories
The Lathrop Megafactory is Tesla’s first dedicated facility for its flagship battery storage system. It currently stands as the largest utility-scale battery factory in North America. The facility is capable of producing 10,000 Megapack batteries every year, equal to 40 GWh of clean energy storage.
Thanks to the success of the Megapack, Tesla has expanded its energy business by building and launching the Shanghai Megafactory, which is also expected to produce 40 GWh of energy storage per year. The ramp of the Shanghai Megafactory is quite impressive, with Tesla noting in its Q1 2025 Update Letter that the Shanghai Megafactory managed to produce over 100 Megapack batteries in the first quarter alone.
Tesla Energy’s Potential
During the first quarter earnings call, CEO Elon Musk stated that the Megapack is extremely valuable to the energy industry.
“The Megapack enables utility companies to output far more total energy than would otherwise be the case… This is a massive unlock on total energy output of any given grid over the course of a year. And utility companies are beginning to realize this and are buying in our Megapacks at scale,” Musk said.
News
Tesla launches “TeslaVision” video contest to celebrate Model Y deliveries
The program marks a revival of Tesla’s popular Project Loveday initiative back in 2017.
Tesla has announced the TeslaVision Contest, a global video showcase inviting fans and owners to highlight the impact of the company’s vehicles on people.
The program marks a revival of its Project Loveday initiative in 2017, which was extremely well-received by the electric vehicle community.
A Contest to Celebrate the New Model Y
As per the TeslaVision contest’s official website, the program is being rolled out to commemorate the launch and deliveries of the new Model Y across all continents. Thus, the contest could be seen as a global celebration and showcase of owners and fans who made Tesla the household brand that it has become today.
Participants are tasked with creating a 90-second or shorter video demonstrating how Tesla vehicles provide “more freedom, more safety, more fun, more convenience.” Submissions must be uploaded to YouTube and shared on X and Instagram with the tag @Tesla and the phrase “TeslaVision contest.”
Videos must align with Tesla’s mission to accelerate sustainable energy, be suitable for all ages, and avoid references to non-Tesla brands. English text or voice-overs are required, and entrants must relinquish rights to their content for Tesla’s commercial use.
A Big Prize Awaits
When Tesla launched Project Loveday in 2017, the company noted that the contest’s winner would receive an all-expenses paid invitation to an upcoming Tesla product launch. For TeslaVision, the grand prize is a lot more tangible, with the winner receiving a new Model Y AWD. They will also get an all-expenses-paid trip to Gigafactory Texas. Second and third-place winners will also receive a Giga Texas tour.
Finalists will be selected based on creativity, originality, relevance to the prompt, and entertainment value. Tesla will shortlist 100 videos, with the top 10 subject to public voting to influence the final judging. The contest is open to legal residents of the United States, Mexico, and Canada, aged 18 or older, with a valid driver’s license and Tesla account. No purchase is necessary, though entries are limited to just one per person.
Tesla Full Self-Driving’s European launch frustrations revealed by Elon Musk
Tesla Lathrop Megafactory celebrates massive Megapack battery milestone
Tesla launches “TeslaVision” video contest to celebrate Model Y deliveries
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