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Grok in Tesla’s Leaked / Tesla Expands Robotaxi Invites / Surprising EV Sales Data

Questions to inspire discussion.

🏭 Q: How much LFP cell production capacity does Tesla have in Nevada? A: Tesla’s Nevada facility has equipment for 7–8 GWh of LFP cell production across two production lines, potentially for EVe and grid storage cells.

Tesla Business and Sales.

📊 Q: What are the expectations for Tesla’s Q2 PND report? A: Troy Teslike estimates 356,000 deliveries, while analyst consensus is 385,000, but PND reports are becoming less significant for Tesla’s business model.

💰 Q: What’s crucial for Tesla to become a multi-trillion dollar company? A: Unsupervised FSD rollout and Optimus sales at scale are key, not just increased car or megapack sales.

🇨🇳 Q: How are Tesla’s China sales performing? A: Latest week sales were 20,684 units, down 4.9% QoQ and 11% YoY, but year-to-date figures show Tesla China is closing the gap, down only 4.6% YoY.

Tesla’s JUICY New Impact Report (highlights in 10 mins!)

Tesla’s 2024 impact report highlights the company’s progress in accelerating its mission to sustainable energy through innovative technologies, including autonomy, AI, and reduced emissions, with a focus on expanding its ecosystem and making sustainable transportation and energy solutions more accessible ## ## Questions to inspire discussion.

Sustainable Transportation.

🚗 Q: How will Tesla’s robo taxi network impact transportation?

A: Tesla’s autopilot-powered robo taxi network will be far safer than human drivers, lower emissions, and increase accessibility of sustainable transportation, improving city sustainability and accelerating Tesla’s mission.

🏙️ Q: What are the benefits of Tesla vehicles compared to other options?

A: Tesla vehicles offer premium features rivaling luxury cars while maintaining a total cost of ownership comparable to mass market vehicles, providing significantly more value at a similar price point.

BYD Accused of Cooking The Books & Faking Profitability (extremely BAD signs if true)

BYD, an electric vehicle company, is accused of cooking the books and faking profitability, potentially hiding financial issues such as a liquidity crisis and unprofitable electric vehicle business.

Questions to inspire discussion.

Financial Concerns 🚩 Q: What are the warning signs of BYD’s potential financial trouble? A: BYD is offering massive discounts of 10–30% on already affordable vehicles, with some models selling for as low as $10,000, and allegedly has a 12-month payment delay to suppliers. 💰 Q: How is BYD’s automotive business reportedly staying afloat? A: BYD’s automotive business is allegedly being carried by their highly profitable battery cell supply business, which is not separately reported in their financials, making it difficult to determine the true profitability of their electric vehicle sales.

New laser power converters can transmit power to further, remote destinations

From smart grids to the internet of things, the modern world is increasingly reliant on connectivity between electronic devices. Thanks to University of Ottawa researchers, these devices can now be simultaneously connected and powered with a simple optical fiber over long distances, even in the harshest environments.

This significant step forward in the development of photonic power converters—devices that turn into —could integrate laser-driven, remote power solutions into existing fiber optic infrastructure. This, in turn, could pave the way for improved connectivity and more reliable communication in remote locations and extreme situations.

“In traditional power over fiber systems, most of the laser light is lost,” explains Professor Karin Hinzer of the University of Ottawa’s SUNLAB, which collaborated with Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems on the study. “With these new devices, the fiber can be much longer.”

Saturday Citations: Upside-down sharks; brain network functioning in psychopaths; IQ associated with better predictions

This week, biologists discovered a new cellular organelle that’s like “a new recycling center within the cell.” Wild-growing tomatoes in the Galápagos are de-evolving. And geologists at the University of Southampton detected deep Earth pulses beneath Africa. Plus: Brain network functionality differs in people with psychopathic personality; sharks have a surprising vulnerability; and people with the highest measured IQ make better probabilistic predictions than people with the lowest IQ.

AI uses too much energy—nanotech is the solution | Dr. Mark Hersam | TEDxChicago

Mark Hersam is a nanotechnologist who believes that understanding materials at the shortest of length scales can provide solutions to the world’s largest problems. Using an interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of neuroscience and nanoelectronics, Hersam presents a solution to the greatest societal threat posed by AI.

Dr. Mark C. Hersam, the Walter P. Murphy Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Director of the Materials Research Center, and Chair of the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Northwestern University, has made major breakthroughs in the field of nanotechnology. His research interests include nanomaterials, additive manufacturing, nanoelectronics, scanning probe microscopy, renewable energy, and quantum information science. Dr. Hersam has received several honors including the Marshall Scholarship, Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, American Vacuum Society Medard Welch Award, U.S. Science Envoy, and MacArthur Fellowship. In addition, he is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Inventors and has founded two companies, NanoIntegris and Volexion, which are suppliers of nanoelectronic and battery materials, respectively.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.

New component reduces cost, supply chain constraints for fast-charging EV batteries

Strengthening the competitiveness of the American transportation industry relies on developing domestically produced electric vehicle batteries that enable rapid charging and long-range performance. The energy density needed to extend driving distance can, however, come at the expense of charging rates and battery life.

By integrating a new type of current collector, which is a key battery component, researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have demonstrated how to manufacture a battery with both superior energy density and a lasting ability to handle extreme fast charging. This enables restoring at least 80% of battery energy in 10 minutes. By using less metal, particularly high-demand copper, the technology also relieves strain on U.S. supply chains.

“This provides a significant savings on near-critical materials, because much less copper and aluminum are needed,” said lead researcher Georgios Polyzos. “At the same time, this will greatly enhance the energy density achievable with a 10-minute charge.”