My daughter seems to be the instigator for my car buying habit. She called me up and said, “Pop, you bought the house so you'd have a garage where you could charge an electric car. That's the only requirement you had. So buy the car already.”
It was June 2020. The pandemic was on with no vaccine in sight. I was staying home. A lot. Who needed a new car? On the other hand, Full Self Driving (FSD) cost $7,000 and Elon tweeted that it was going up to $8,000 at the end of the month, and up to $10,000 later. Those things happened. I went ahead and bought the car in June. I got a demo version that had around 2,000 miles on it. That gave me a $1,600 discount. $1,000 of that discount was taken up by the blue paint job it came with. It's a very pretty shade of blue. It's the Model 3 standard range+ with one electric motor and approximately 250 miles of range if fully charged.
Since there's a pandemic going on, I didn't bother to get an electrician to put in a 220 volt line to keep the car charged. An ordinary 110 volt house current receptacle does the job nicely. Once I start driving longer distances, I'll get the more powerful circuit installed.
Since I've had the car, there have been plenty of over the air (OTA) software updates. Since the beta version of FSD works on local streets (no painted lines, parked cars), I've eagerly gone out to the car each time I got a software update to see if my car was blessed with THE beta version. Each time, it wasn't.
I've tweeted to Elon about how careful a driver I am. I've pointed out that I use FSD on virtually any road where it will turn on. I realize that Tesla gets data from my car whether I'm using FSD or not, but I do it to show sincerity. I was excited when Elon increased the number of beta testers from 1,000 to 2,000 and took away privileges from people who weren't watching the road (interior camera watches the driver). I thought, maybe. Nope. Very frustrating.
Elon has said he'd add a button in April. A BUTTON. People with FSD can push the button and join the beta tester club. March has only one week to go. Elon didn't say exactly when in April the button will appear. I'm excited. I've been a licensed driver for sixty years. Never, in all that time, have I been this excited about a car.
Tesla appears to be planning an ambitious project to build a private 5G network. This initiative would revolutionize connectivity for its vehicles and the robot, Optimus, as well as any other plans the company is likely to develop in the future.
Innovative Job Posting Reveals Big Plans
Although now removed, a recently spotted job posting for a Cellular Systems Integration Engineer on Tesla's career page shed light on the company's intentions. The role demands expertise to elevate Tesla's vehicle and Optimus robot connectivity, promising to push the boundaries of low latency and high data rates.
Tesla's journey from 3G to the anticipated 5G upgrade will bring about ultra-reliable communication and high-speed data transfer, crucial for over-the-air software updates, autonomous driving features, and real-time data analytics. These communications could be product to product, such as vehicles communicating with each other or with other products such as Optimus. However, the job posting also talks about products being able to communicate with Tesla’s internal 5G network. It’s not clear whether the private network would be internal such as at a Gigafactory, or a broader network out in the world.
Tesla is pursuing an internal 5G network for product communication
The Strategic Role of Private 5G Networks
Deploying its private 5G network, Tesla aims to create a seamlessly connected environment in its manufacturing facilities, research labs, and outdoor spaces. This infrastructure is not just about enhancing vehicle connectivity; it's also pivotal for the operational efficiency of the Optimus robot in various scenarios, including warehouse operations.
Tesla's foray into private 5G networking places it in an advantageous position in the automotive and tech industries. This strategic move aligns with the global trend towards adopting private 5G networks, which promise to revolutionize industries with their reliability and speed. Tesla's efforts to develop a private 5G protocol stack that integrates with any cellular infrastructure globally will set new industry standards.
With 5G, Tesla vehicles and Optimus robots will benefit from significantly reduced latency, offering under 5 milliseconds compared to the 60-98 milliseconds of 4G networks. This technological advancement is expected to enhance the functionality and responsiveness of Tesla's products, paving the way for advanced autonomous driving capabilities and efficient robot operations.
Tesla's interest in developing a private 5G network is a logical step. By building an infrastructure that supports the fastest connectivity standards, Tesla is preparing for its vehicles and laying the groundwork for sophisticated robotics applications. This endeavor reflects Tesla's ongoing commitment to innovation and its role in shaping the future of transportation and automation.
Italy has been discussing with Tesla about potentially establishing a factory producing electric trucks and vans. This information came to light in an Italian media outlet, Il Sole 24 Ore, which reported that the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy (Mimit) spearheaded talks to secure Tesla's investment.
Tesla and Italy: A Strategic Dialogue
Since last summer, Italy has broadened its industrial horizons by engaging in talks with Tesla, alongside negotiations with prominent Chinese manufacturers such as BYD, Great Wall Motors, and Chery Automobile. Notably, the discussions with Tesla have centered around producing electric commercial vehicles, highlighting a departure from conventional car manufacturing and reflecting the evolving demands of the global market.
Under the leadership of Minister Adolfo Urso, Italy aims to invigorate its automotive sector by encouraging the presence of multiple manufacturers. This approach is designed to stabilize the national components sector, which faces challenges due to the shift towards electric vehicles. Italy aims to produce 1.3 million vehicles annually, including a significant contribution from a new yet-to-be-determined manufacturer.
A Geopolitical and Industrial Balancing Act
Italy's engagement with Tesla occurs amidst a delicate phase of negotiations with Stellantis for increased vehicle production within the country. This strategic dialogue with Tesla, alongside discussions with Chinese competitors, is a pivotal element in Italy's industrial and geopolitical maneuvering.
A multipurpose van is the next logical step for Tesla to produce once the less expensive next-gen platform is released (code name Redwood). However, engineers seem to be busy perfecting the next-gen Roadster, and the van has had little discussion. Given the company's leaks, if a van were in the works, you would think we would’ve heard about it. Perhaps this is the nudge Tesla needs to get the van into production.
As Italy endeavors to become a key player in the electric vehicle industry, its negotiations with Tesla signify a promising development. The possibility of Tesla establishing a facility for electric trucks and vans in Italy underscores the country's commitment to sustainable transportation and positions Italy as an attractive destination for automotive innovation.
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