The lockdown wing of the Transition Asylum is inhabited by the TSLA homies on X and YouTube. For some stupid reason, I follow the latter for entertainment purposes. Just yesterday, a well known channel posted a video in which Tony Seba predicted EVs will be available for $5000 by 2030, due to amazing technological advancements. The two TSLA cult members on the video were literally gushing about such a development. This enticed me to comment as follows:
"You both seem to be really excited by what you discuss here. I'm highly confused by this. In the 3rd quarter of 2022 TSLA delivered 344,000 cars, had automotive revenues (less credits) of $18.4 billion and reported gross profit of $5.2 billion. Those numbers imply (by simple math) an average selling price of $53,500 and average gross margin of $15,100.
If these numbers are wrong or if I have made some other mistake, I will apologize and correct. However, if I am even remotely correct, how can the two of you be so giddy about the prospect of a $5000 car? It should be obvious why I just asked."
Of course, neither one of them replied. However, I did receive an almost immediate, highly researched comment from someone else that said "Because it confirms that EVs are the future." Another genius soon noted that "Cars will be an irrelevant source of income for Tessy in a few years, additionally making your concern moot." I told the second one to keep his blinders on, keep believing and I'll see him on Mars.
Finally, pertinent to this excellent post, you can skip to the 2:20 point in the following classic:
Seen elsewhere: imagine a World with only BEVs where an exciting new technology is announced - internal combustion engines. Cars are half the cost and half the weight, do a quarter of the damage to roads, take 1/10th of the time to refuel, have a range of 400 miles, and huge amounts of toxic waste are not produced in their manufacture. They’d sell like hot cakes.
Both good questions, neither with an answer at the moment. What I find most interesting is that Shell only bought the business recently. If it hadn't, it could have been a simple case of cashing in and diversifying elsewhere or something but this 2021 acquisition made me have suspicions.
OMG Irina, this tour through the transition asylum was something else. Wanted: Balls. Urgently. There are indications that the daily doses of copium need upward adjusting. And so many more. I am going to borrow your copium phrase, if you don't mind. 🤘😎🤘
Finally mining gets a little money. Now about all those permits. When I was at EPA my permits had to get unanimous consent at every level to proceed. And then we started all over via the judiciary appeal process. This is not right. Not only that but debate at the administrative level was worthless. We couldn’t talk to different levels without public participation. So state and federal dialog was minimal. County? Nope.
Reading this was the perfect ending to my week! Brilliant article, Irina.
Thank you, Mike. Have a lovely weekend!
"Transition Asylum". The PopRads first album.
Yesss!
Thank you for the tour of the asylum — a very good and insightful overview 👏👏
Thank you, John. Working there has been a revelation. :)
The lockdown wing of the Transition Asylum is inhabited by the TSLA homies on X and YouTube. For some stupid reason, I follow the latter for entertainment purposes. Just yesterday, a well known channel posted a video in which Tony Seba predicted EVs will be available for $5000 by 2030, due to amazing technological advancements. The two TSLA cult members on the video were literally gushing about such a development. This enticed me to comment as follows:
"You both seem to be really excited by what you discuss here. I'm highly confused by this. In the 3rd quarter of 2022 TSLA delivered 344,000 cars, had automotive revenues (less credits) of $18.4 billion and reported gross profit of $5.2 billion. Those numbers imply (by simple math) an average selling price of $53,500 and average gross margin of $15,100.
If these numbers are wrong or if I have made some other mistake, I will apologize and correct. However, if I am even remotely correct, how can the two of you be so giddy about the prospect of a $5000 car? It should be obvious why I just asked."
Of course, neither one of them replied. However, I did receive an almost immediate, highly researched comment from someone else that said "Because it confirms that EVs are the future." Another genius soon noted that "Cars will be an irrelevant source of income for Tessy in a few years, additionally making your concern moot." I told the second one to keep his blinders on, keep believing and I'll see him on Mars.
Finally, pertinent to this excellent post, you can skip to the 2:20 point in the following classic:
https://youtu.be/VlrQ-bOzpkQ?si=KZrJ_4qhQSPNNrvb
The EV ward is in a category of its own where reason, logic, and the laws of physics or economics are irrelevant.
Your comedy routine keeps getting better. The EU keeps providing ample material.
P.S. HOW MUCH LONGER CAN EU CONTINUE ITS ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MASQUERADES, IRINA?
Thank you, Steve! As for how much longer they can continue -- I guess for as long as we let them.
Seen elsewhere: imagine a World with only BEVs where an exciting new technology is announced - internal combustion engines. Cars are half the cost and half the weight, do a quarter of the damage to roads, take 1/10th of the time to refuel, have a range of 400 miles, and huge amounts of toxic waste are not produced in their manufacture. They’d sell like hot cakes.
Yes!
Great overview. So Shell is selling solar in the US? I wonder who's buying, and how much Shell is losing?
Both good questions, neither with an answer at the moment. What I find most interesting is that Shell only bought the business recently. If it hadn't, it could have been a simple case of cashing in and diversifying elsewhere or something but this 2021 acquisition made me have suspicions.
Just when rays of hope appear between the windmills, we get this: https://www.npr.org/2024/03/01/1234596219/barbie-mission-impossible-nyad-climate-bechdel-test
Oh, my goodness gracious. Thank you for this link, I'm doing a Hollywood Special about that Good Energy thing for next Friday and this is gold.
Oh, good grief. But not surprising, I guess.
“Wanted: Balls. Urgently.” Classic! Cheers! You deserve a lovely new pair of shoes for this humorous discussion!
Thank you! I'm running a bit low on shoe space but what's one more pair? :)
Redundancy is in. Go for it.
OMG Irina, this tour through the transition asylum was something else. Wanted: Balls. Urgently. There are indications that the daily doses of copium need upward adjusting. And so many more. I am going to borrow your copium phrase, if you don't mind. 🤘😎🤘
Of course I don't, feel free. :)
Finally mining gets a little money. Now about all those permits. When I was at EPA my permits had to get unanimous consent at every level to proceed. And then we started all over via the judiciary appeal process. This is not right. Not only that but debate at the administrative level was worthless. We couldn’t talk to different levels without public participation. So state and federal dialog was minimal. County? Nope.