In a blog post on the company’s website Wednesday titled “Master Plan, Part Deux”, Musk described a future where his electric car-sharing network will power self-driving heavy electric trucks and buses via solar energy. They include offering solar panels and battery storage for the home, launching electric vehicles in all major segments, developing extremely safe autonomous technology, and creating a system where a auto can generate income when not in use by its owner.
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Speaking of autonomy, Musk has maintained that all Tesla vehicles will boast the hardware required to be fully self-driving with fail-operational capability (“meaning that any given system in the auto could break and your auto will still drive itself safely”). It would therefore be morally reprehensible to delay release simply for fear of bad press or some mercantile calculation of legal liability, he said.
Musk summarized the plan saying Tesla aimed to “create stunning solar roofs (for homes) with seamlessly integrated battery storage”. Private cars will function for the public good, too: Because these vehicles will drive themselves, once your autonomous Tesla drops you off at home, work, or you leave for vacation, you can “add your auto to the Tesla shared fleet” where it essentially will act as an autonomous Uber, making you money as it ferries others around. While the executive hopes that when “true” self-driving is approved by regulators you will simply be able to summon your ride from anywhere, in the meantime, Tesla vehicle owners will be able to join their auto to a pool for use while they are at work or on holiday.
TECH BILLIONAIRE ELON Musk has outlined his plans for the next ten years including a system that would allow cars to make money for their owners when they’re not using it.
Tesla will also run its own fleet in cities where demand exceeds supply of customer-owned cars.
Part two of Tesla’s Master Plan can also be broken down into four main goals.
This updated plan comes just months after the company unveiled its Model 3 auto at a cost of $35,000.
Earlier this year, Musk said Tesla and his alternative energy company SolarCity would merge.
The SpaceX boss has just unveiled his ‘Master Plan, Part Deux’ for his electric auto business, Tesla, and its focus isn’t purely on producing cars.
This is were Musk starts talking autonomy – which has been a hallmark of his vision, and caused Tesla to be investigated by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for an accident caused by the forerunner, Tesla’s Autopilot system.
“With the Model 3, a future compact SUV and a new kind of pickup truck, we plan to address most of the consumer market”. The plan also did not factor in the status of Tesla’s Gigafactory, which aims to reduce costs for its battery production.
In June, a driver was killed in a Model S that was using the company’s hailed Autopilot feature.
But back to the ride-sharing: Musk believes that this will help to lower the cost of Teslas to the point where almost everyone could purchase one (Imagine!).
For the first time, Musk also said Tesla could operate a ride-hailing network service, which would compete with existing services from Uber and Lyft. Tesla’s semi-truck is expected to deliver a substantial reduction in the cost of cargo transport.
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Most cars are only in use by their owner 5 to 10 percent of the day, Musk said.
