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Tesla Semi could find a market in Australia after law change

Credit: @HinrichsZane/Twitter

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The Tesla Semi may find a market in Australia, thanks to a new law from the Australian government that allows wider trucks on the country’s roads.

The new law, which was announced earlier this month, increases the maximum width of trucks by 50 mm to 2.55 meters. This was, at least, if they were equipped with advanced safety systems. The Tesla Semi fits this bill, as the Class 8 all-electric truck is outfitted with a variety of active and passive safety features. 

As noted in a report from Drive.au, Tesla Australia had previously lobbied the government to make the change, as the country’s existing 2.5-meter width limit prevented the company from bringing the Tesla Semi to market. Tesla Australia’s Public Policy Manager Sam McLean highlighted this in December 2020. 

“The clearest immediate barrier from Tesla’s perspective is Australia’s 2500mm width limit in ADR 43/04. The Commission will be aware that given Australia’s small size in comparison to global markets, inconsistencies like this between Australian regulations and larger markets will delay or preclude vehicles coming to local markets. 

“Currently, Australia will likely miss out on the first generation of electric heavy vehicles such as the Tesla Semi because of this,” McLean noted. 

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While Australia appears to have opened the door for vehicles like the Tesla Semi, there may be more challenges that the electric vehicle maker may face. The Tesla Semi’s center driving seat may still need to be evaluated if it complies with Australian Design Rules (ADR). 

James Stewart, road safety expert and director of advanced driver-training firm Driving Solutions, warned that Australia’s road systems must be upgraded first before larger vehicles are allowed. 

“It’s smart to get electric vehicles on the roads, but the road system has to be upgraded accordingly – sooner or later, Australia needs to go to a standardized road width. The biggest issue is the size of the road. When you’re talking motorways, you can get away with it (the proposed regulation changes) fairly easily, but when you start looking at most of the rural roads in Australia, they’re not built for that size,” Stewart said. 

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Maria--aka "M"-- is an experienced writer and book editor. She's written about several topics including health, tech, and politics. As a book editor, she's worked with authors who write Sci-Fi, Romance, and Dark Fantasy. M loves hearing from TESLARATI readers. If you have any tips or article ideas, contact her at maria@teslarati.com or via X, @Writer_01001101.

Elon Musk

Tesla exec gives big update on Roadster, confirming recent rumor

The Tesla Roadster might finally be on the way.

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Tesla Roadster at Tesla Battery Day 2020 Credit: @BLKMDL3 | Twitter

A Tesla executive gave a big update on the long-awaited Roadster project, confirming some recent rumors about an X post from CEO Elon Musk.

Musk said recently that he attended a meeting at Tesla’s Design Studio in Hawthorne, California, next to SpaceX headquarters. He added that there would be a “most epic demo” performed by the end of 2025, but did not give any details pertaining to what project it was related to.

Tesla Roadster to fill the void left by canceled Model S Plaid Plus: Musk

Last night, the X Takeover occurred in California, and Senior Vice President of Powertrain for Tesla, Lars Moravy, confirmed some big details about Musk’s post.

Much of the Tesla community believed it was about the Roadster, and that was the first thing Moravy confirmed. He also said that Tesla is “gearing up for a super cool demo,” and that they showed Musk some of the tech the company has been working on that will be implemented into the Roadster.

Moravy said:

“Roadster is definitely in development. We did talk about it last Sunday night. We are gearing up for a super cool demo. It’s going to be mind-blowing; We showed Elon some cool demos last week of the tech we’ve been working on, and he got a little excited.”

The Roadster has been in development for a very long time, and it has been delayed on many occasions. Tesla has stated that it will continue to add technology for a while, as COVID-19 has delayed some projects, and the company’s focus is on initiatives that will benefit humanity.

Nevertheless, many people have been waiting for the vehicle for a very long time. Some won it through the company’s referral program, while others have put down a $50,000 deposit. Tesla has been hinting that it is adding some interesting tech to the Roadster, including the SpaceX package that will help it hover and reach 0-60 MPH in just 1.1 seconds.

Tesla Roadster SpaceX Package’s 1.1-second 0-60 mph launch visualized in concept video

It sounds as if this could be one of the few things that Tesla could show off at the demo Musk hyped up last week.

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Tesla’s little-known secret about its Diner might be the best feature of all

Tesla is not letting its servers go untipped, it’s taking care of that for its employees on its own.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla’s Supercharger Diner in Los Angeles has a little-known secret, and in all honesty, it might be the best part of the entire thing.

Tesla opened its Supercharger Diner earlier in June, and in its first week of operation, it has done nothing but garner attention from fans, food critics, and general onlookers who are surprised to see the company gaining traction in the culinary space.

However, there is a little-known secret about the Diner that many people have not shared, and it has to do with the staff and customers.

Traditionally, restaurants in the United States do not pay their servers a normal wage. They are paid a lower hourly rate because they make most of their money through tips or gratuity. While it is sort of strange and has recently become a more controversial topic, tipping culture in the U.S. has garnered plenty of attention lately.

Many people outside the U.S. have trouble grasping the idea of tipping servers, as many believe the restaurant should pay them a livable wage and stop relying on customers to keep the employees to a point where they can live reasonably well.

In the U.S., people seem to be on board with one side or the other: tip them because the restaurant doesn’t pay them a wage, or “I’m not tipping them for doing their jobs.”

Whichever side of the argument you’re on, I think it seems reasonable to want servers to make enough money to live comfortably and expect the restaurant to take care of that.

Tesla has done just that for the staff at the Supercharger Diner, as it has been revealed that the company covers tipping. There is no option to tip the servers or wait staff; Tesla will do it for you.

This is a great gesture by Tesla because more and more people every day seem to be against tipping in an effort to force restaurants to pay employees more money. While it seems like a good strategy at first, it only impacts the servers, while this decision does not impact the restaurant and its owners.

Tesla is taking that risk out of the equation by providing gratuity to employees through its own means.

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Elon Musk

xAI, Musk Foundation helps schools near Memphis supercomputer site

Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.

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xAI-supercomputer-memphis-environment-pushback
(Credit: xAI)

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI and the Musk Foundation have been supporting Memphis-Shelby County Schools with HVAC repairs and facility upgrades, while also funding youth programs for students in the area. 

Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.

xAI’s school visits lead to facility repairs

Representatives from xAI visited John P. Freeman Optional School, Fairley High School, and Westwood High School, all of which are located near its Colossus supercomputer site, to assess HVAC systems, plumbing, gym facilities, and athletic fields. The visits resulted in a list of priority repairs, some of which were completed in April and May.

In addition to the repairs, xAI also shared a number of initiatives that are planned for students in the area, as stated in a Commercial Appeal report.

“xAI is working on providing STEM workshops for local students, donating equipment to technical training programs, and supporting job fairs to boost employment opportunities. These initiatives reflect xAl’s commitment to fostering education and economic growth in Memphis,” xAI noted in a statement.

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Musk Foundation donation

Apart from xAI, the Musk Foundation also donated $350,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, enabling the reopening of two club sites located at Booker T. Washington High School and Westwood High School. Both locations had closed earlier this year due to lapses in funding. As per xAI, the Musk Foundation’s donation allows clubs to reopen for almost 1,000 students. 

The donation will fund staffing, supplies, and transportation, among others. “Kids are the future of humanity,” Elon Musk said in a statement, adding that students need “every chance to shoot for the stars.”

“We’re honored to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis in reopening these sites, giving kids in underserved communities the tools to build brighter futures,” Musk said.

The gift was praised by local officials, including Boys & Girls Clubs board chair Michael Garriga, who stated that the “commitment will ensure the youth of our community have the opportunities they need to develop their skills and talents to become successful students and future citizens.”

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