Tesla
A Brief Rant on Tesla & Musk
Last week, I received a lot of responses to my article about Tesla. They ranged from “Stop spewing your anti-right propaganda and stick to data” to “You don’t like Tesla stock. Are you saying your next car won’t be a Tesla?”
Why the Survival and Dominance of Car Manufacturers is Far from Certain
Today EV sales account for a tiny rounding error of total global car sales. Can traditional automobile companies successfully transition to making EVs?
Putting a Charge Back into the EV Market
Over the last few months, electric car sales seem to have gone from hot to cold. Are electric cars a fad, like beanie babies, pet rocks, or fidget spinners?
I Kid You Not Crazy
It seems that every year I think we have finally reached the peak of crazy, only to be proven wrong the next year. The stock market and thus index funds, just like real estate, have only gone one way – up. Index funds became the blunt instrument of choice in an always-rising market. But you don’t have to be a stock market junkie to notice the pervasive feeling of euphoria.
Value & Growth Demagogues
I have a problem with both value- and growth investing demagogues. While value demagogues tend to believe any company that trades at a P/E above the market average is too frothy, growth demagogues claim that price doesn't matter.
Tesla’s Stock Price Discounts Temporal Wormhole into the Future
Low interest rates have messed with the temporal properties of the market and created a wormhole in time and in Tesla’s stock.
Why The Survival Of Traditional Carmakers Is Far From Certain
Traditional carmakers do have strengths in designing, assembling, and marketing cars. They can afford to make an enormous investment in EV and absorb the losses that come with them. But will they?
Is Tesla Apple? Is Elon Musk Steve Jobs?
Examination of the potential success of Tesla, comparing it to Apple. What advantages Tesla has, and can Tesla become as successful as Apple?
Is Tesla Theranos?
Tesla bears make the argument that Elon Musk is similar to Elizabeth Holmes, CEO of Theranos, who resorted to deception and fraud. What would happen to Tesla if something were to happen to him?
Why We Don’t Own Tesla stock (and no, we’re not bears)
After writing a 37-page opus on Tesla, I am often asked what I think of Tesla stock. Although I am a very enthusiastic Model 3 owner, I can equally see both sides of the argument around Tesla as an investment. This makes me neither bullish nor bearish, but someone who can foresee distinctly different paths for Tesla the company and Tesla the stock.
Elon Musk’s Notorious Promises: Why Tesla’s Future Success Might Not Be in His Hands
Elon Musk is an incredibly ambitious leader with seemingly impossible goals, who has changed the auto industry and accelerated human progress. His success is mostly dependent on the capital he can raise to finance his dreams, which is made possible by the faith people have in him and Tesla. However, it is difficult to tell which of his goals will turn into realities and when.
Autopilot: Musk’s Wishful Thinking or Tesla’s Greatest Advantage?
Autopilot has some useful features, but can be dangerous on roads with unclear lane markings. Is the autopilot Tesla's greatest advantage?
Tribalism in Investing Might Leave You Broke
People have a tendency to form tribes and stick to the views of that group, even if they don't agree with them. Tribalism can be dangerous in investing, as it can lead to ignoring important facts and evidence. How to avoid this?
Nokia or Samsung? Why a First-Principles Approach Will Be Key for Developing EVs
Tesla created its cars by breaking out of the domain of existing auto manufacturers and thinking from first principles, creating vehicles with fewer parts and a more customer-friendly approach to buying and servicing.
The EV Transition: Why Traditional Carmakers Face an Existential Threat
Traditional car manufacturers have the advantage of knowledge and experience in manufacturing cars, but can they survive the transition to EV?
Are Electric Cars Good for the Environment?
Two-thirds of the electricity in the US currently comes from fossil fuels, but electric cars could cut CO2 emissions by over a third.
Tesla’s Risky Gamble & The Future of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Tesla's batteries are more efficient but more expensive to replace and require more attention to keep them running efficiently.
How EV Range Anxiety Will Give Way to an EV-Charging “Gold Rush”
Range anxiety is a real concern for electric vehicle (EV) owners, but it is manageable. Charging with a 110-volt outlet can take three days, but a 220-volt outlet can charge the car in 10 hours. Capitalism will build out the charging infrastructure, creating more charging locations like grocery store parking lots.
Why the Gasoline Car to the EV is Like the Horse to the Car
The engine is the most complex and important part of the ICE car, and it is one of the least complex parts of the EV and, perhaps surprisingly, the least important one.
Tesla, Elon Musk and the EV Revolution: A Tsunami Is Coming at the Auto Industry
In late June 2019, I bought a Tesla Model 3. Most people would just enjoy driving such a car. Not me – I wrote about it for two or three hours a day.
Questions I’d be Asking If I Owned Tesla Stock
Here’s a big question I’d be asking if I owned Tesla stock: What happened to 345,000 reservations?
