First Photo Ultra-Red Tesla Model X In The Wild

  

First Photo

Ultra-Red Tesla Model X

In The Wild

I recently noticed this Ultra-Red Tesla Model X and took this photo. I must admit that when I saw this new paint color it stopped me dead in my tracks and I could not stop staring at how beautiful it was. In particular, it looked like a new model to me as the combination of the black chrome trim, with the Ultra-Red paint, and the tan interior looks like a million bucks!!! I also noticed Tesla seems to have permanently discontinued and replace the older red with this amazing new red paint color and finish...

As you can see in the photo above of the new Ultra-Red, it looks more like a darker claret red, or a lighter shade of maroon or burgundy, which is a REALLY warm color. The Ultra-Red paint option costs an EXTRA $3000 over the standard paint option.

Jake's CyberTruck Wrap Concept Render

Jake's CyberTruck Wrap Concept Render

I have updated the design of my dream CyberTruck wrap design concept by rendering my idea on a recent photo of a production prototype. The detail that changed the most is I kept playing around with geometry of the stripe, and ended up making it follow the shape of the truck, which to my way of thinking, as a designer gives it a much sleeker look, that is kind of Tron meets BladeRunner meets Lotus Esprit meets Batmobile.

If you are not familiar with my original wrap design concept—which can be seen in the header graphic above for JAKE'S TESLA WORLD—my idea is to wrap only the bottom of the CyberTruck, and add additional rear extension triangle panels to make it look much more like a sedan/SUV than a Truck. Also the side windows have a darker tint on them, which really give it a dramatic vibe...

In other words, if I saw this thing driving down the road, I would think it looks like some kind of radical modern Tesla SUV—like an ultra-modern Model X SUV on steroids. I also played around with doing a version with red ONLY on the sides with black wrap on back and front with matching black stripes...My original concept featured a single thick uniform pinstripe, which looked cool, but my new stripe offers several design characteristics. 

First it serves to as a strip to delineate the top section from the bottom, but it also looks offers a really interesting visual that makes the back look sharper. Also, it looks like a like a drop shadow that optically messes with your eyes, kind of like an M.C. Escher drawing. Also, this stripe kind of reminds me of a Nike Swoosh logo, which looks more like a verb than a noun in the sense that it looks like it's in motion when it's not moving.

I expect to be one of the first people to obtain a CyberTruck and once I do I plan to make it exactly like we see in these images and immediately once I get it done, I will photograph it and do a story on it. In the meantime enjoy...

2023 Tesla Investor Day

2023 Tesla Investor Day

I watched 2023 Tesla Investor Day and thought it was beyond profound!! Later in the in the video, in the Q&A section they announce The Tesla GigaFactory in Monterey, Mexico, along with many other fascinating insights. I highly recommend watching this Tour de force in excellence...

CyberTruck Prototype with New Triangular Mirrors

CyberTruck Prototype

with New Triangular Mirrors 

The photo below shows the latest prototype of the CyberTruck with the new updated triangular rear-view mirrors, which I think look super RAD!!!

I was one of the first people to place an order for a CyberTruck, so I hope to be one of the first people to take delivery, and of course I will be doing a super-detailed review. I plan to wrap my CyberTruck with black panels as seen below. This includes adding an additional triangle section on the rear side top panels to complete the pyramid shape as seen below. I decided to do this render to get a much better idea of what my customized CyberTruck will look like...

Below are renders of my original wrap concept and we see it first without a red pinstripe and in the second render with the red pinstripe. If you are interested, you can check out my Tesla Cyber Vehicle Family Design Concept, which goes into detail on my idea of how to improve the design language of the CyberTruck. 

I was also curious to see what my CyberTruck would look like if I were to wrap the mirrors in red, which we see below. I think it looks interesting with the red mirrors, but I think it is likely to distracting looking, and takes away from the masculine vibe of just the black and sliver.

The render below shows what my design would look like if I were to NOT wrap the frunk in black, but I think it look better with Black wrap. 

Amazing Conversation on Tesla Semi

 

Amazing Conversation on 

Tesla Semi

Do Electric Vehicles Create More Carbon Emissions over their lifetime than gasoline vehicles?

 

Do electric vehicles create more carbon emissions

over their lifetime than gasoline vehicles?

Over the years I have had many people say things to me like "Electric cars are worse for the environment than gasoline vehicles because Electric car manufacturing uses much more carbon than gasoline powered cars do".

Specifically, they say "The environmental impact of the battery manufacturing process is a nightmare as it utilizes much greater amounts of carbon emissions than are required for making a gas powered vehicle."

This has never made much sense to me, but as usual, I decided to do a deep dive to separate-the-fact-from-the-ficiton once and for all.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published an article titled "Electric Vehicle Myths", in which they attempt to address false narrative myths that have been perpetuated.

In their article, the first myth they attempt to dispel is put forth as: 

Myth #1: Electric vehicles are worse for the climate than gasoline cars because of the power plant emissions.

The EPA concludes:

• FACT: Electric vehicles typically have a smaller carbon footprint than gasoline cars, even when accounting for the electricity used for charging.

Electric vehicles (EVs) have no tailpipe emissions. Generating the electricity used to charge EVs, however, may create carbon pollution. The amount varies widely based on how local power is generated, e.g., using coal or natural gas, which emit carbon pollution, versus renewable resources like wind or solar, which do not. 

Even accounting for these electricity emissions, research shows that an EV is typically responsible for lower levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) than an average new gasoline car. To the extent that more renewable energy sources like wind and solar are used to generate electricity, the total GHGs associated with EVs could be even lower. (In 2020, renewables became the second-most prevalent U.S. electricity source.) 

Learn more about electricity production in your area by visiting EPA’s Power Profiler interactive web page. By simply inputting your zip code, you can find the energy mix in your region.

EPA and Department of Energy's (DOE’s) Beyond Tailpipe Emissions Calculator can help you estimate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with charging and driving an EV or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) where you live. You can select an EV or PHEV model and type in your zip code to see the CO2 emissions and how they stack up against those associated with a gasoline car.

My understanding it the EPA is arguing that in the United States, there has been a trend whereby we have been quickly increasing the amount of renewable sources of electricity, which is a trend likely to continue into the future.

This next issue addressed by the ETA represents the argument I hear most from people who argue the manufacturing process for electric cars is much worse for the environment than for manufacturing gas vehicles due to the environmental impact of battery manufacturing. 

Myth #2: Electric vehicles are worse for the climate than gasoline cars because of battery manufacturing.

The EPA puts forth the following analysis:

• FACT: The greenhouse gas emissions associated with an electric vehicle over its lifetime are typically lower than those from an average gasoline-powered vehicle, even when accounting for manufacturing.

Some studies have shown that making a typical EV can create more carbon pollution than making a gasoline car. This is because of the additional energy required to manufacture an EV’s battery. Still, over the lifetime of the vehicle, total GHG emissions associated with manufacturing, charging, and driving an EV are typically lower than the total GHGs associated with a gasoline car. That’s because EVs have zero tailpipe emissions and are typically responsible for significantly fewer GHGs during operation (see Myth 1 above).

For example, researchers at Argonne National Laboratory estimated emissions for both a gasoline car and an EV with a 300-mile electric range. In their estimates, while GHG emissions from EV manufacturing and end-of-life are higher (shown in orange below), total GHGs for the EV are still lower than those for the gasoline car.

Greenhouse Gas Pollutant Lifecycle 

Electric Vehicle v. Gasoline Car

Source: United States Environmental Protection (EPA) Agency Report titled, "Electric Vehicle Myths".

The information put forth by the EPA radically refutes the argument that says electric vehicle manufacturing is way worse for the environment than gasoline powered car manufacturing. 

The way I see it is that Electric Vehicle manufacturing is much healthier for the environment in the short and long-term, and here is why:

First of all, the process of gasoline will ONLY every be what it is today, and will not be offset more in the future by renewables. Same with Coal burning which is an environmental nightmare.

Clean renewables are clearly the future, whether they are nuclear, hydroelectric, solar or wind powered. As time goes by, I believe renewable will increase.

There is a great deal of disruptive innovation occurring in the space of battery recycling. The leader in this space is no other than Tesla co-founder, J.B. Straubel of Nevada-based Redwood Industries.

Counterpoint

I have two friends that I have know for decades that have argued in the past with me about this subject and I reached out to both of them to allow they to offer their counterpoint arguments.

My first friend from college named Dave said:

"To start there are not enough minerals in the entire planet to create batteries if everyone owned an EV let alone needing to replace them over time."

I think David has a bit of a scarcity mentality, and is not aware of all the many different types of battery chemistry that exist, ranging from Lithium Nickel Cobalt Oxide Ion (NCA) batteries, to Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), and Nickel Manganese and Cobalt (NMC) chemistry batteries.

Most importantly, I don't think he is aware of the new disruptive technology that is creating a closed-loop that essentially makes batteries close to 100% recyclable. Not to mention, with Tesla's new 4680 battery technology, it will allow cars to have a million mile battery life, which has deeply profound longevity benefits.

Also, if Tesla succeeds with creating their autonomous ride sharing network, this will reduce the size of the fleet as most people won't need to own and maintain their own vehicles. This technology will have may profound benefits, including the elimination or need for many public parking spaces.

My second friend I have known since 1st grade named Billy said:

"First off climate—or whatever you wanna call it—is BS in my opinion. If the government tells us there's a problem I’m a believer it’s the complete opposite of what they tell us.

It’s not what these cars do while driving and upkeep. It’s how they’re made which is mainly machines/equivalent that use fossil fuel. 

They know how to spin it real good. We grew up taking electric buses so why now? Get a new generation to believe this is important which creates organizations that get government funding. It’s a racket.."

Conclusion

For anybody who thinks Electric vehicles are worse for the environment, I would encourage them to fire up a gas car in a garage and they will almost immediately smell the highly toxic output versus having an electric vehicle which has zero emissions. Also, it is a fact that Tesla vehicles are at least 4 times more efficient than gasoline cars, thus they waste far less fuel.

I would be remiss if I didn't point out that it amazes me how many people speak poorly about Tesla, when most of them have never even driven one, and certainly have never owned one. In other words, I believe in order to make a truly informed decision, I believe you have to live day in and day out with both, otherwise you are just speculating and spewing misinformed conjecture.