Tesla is taking technology to new heights
What are tech-giant Tesla and Elon Musk up to now?
By Nathan Woolridge, Staff Writer
We have all heard about the cutting-edge technology that keeps developing around the world everyday. The world is becoming more and more advanced as scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs push the limits and try new things.
One of the leaders of innovation is Elon Musk, CEO and Architect at Tesla. According to their website, Musk is “overseeing all product development, engineering, and design of the company’s electric vehicles, battery products, and solar roofs.” The first ever Tesla development was the Roadster Sports debuted in 2008 and since then the company has innovated so much more than vehicles.
Flying cars in space
Musk has brought Tesla to new heights — literally. Tesla recently launched a Roadster into space. Yes, Tesla launched a car into space and you can track its whereabouts at whereisroadster.com.
According to Where is Roadster, “On February 6th, 2018, at 20:45 UTC, the first Falcon Heavy was launched into space. It contained a very special payload- a Tesla Roadster with Starman.”
The Starman mentioned is a mannequin pilot; who has received celebrity status from circulations of photos of the SpaceX launch. The Starman has also become a popular meme that is making its way through the internet.
Electric cars
Less exciting than launching a car in space, Musk and the rest of Tesla is creating other ground-breaking technology. For years, Tesla has been trying to push electric cars on the market. They are looking to make electric cars more practical by increasing research for battery and recharging technologies in hopes that the trend will catch on.
In an MIT Technology Review, writer Kevin Bullis took a Tesla electric car for a test drive. He found it difficult because he forgot to charge the car overnight, but found the low battery life still got him to where he wanted to go.“That’s where Tesla hopes to make a difference. The company’s innovative battery and charging technology has given it a substantial lead in making batteries cheaper and recharging quicker, and it’s also helping Tesla lower costs faster than its competitors.”
Musk is on fire
Elon Musk seems to be operating light years ahead of everyone else in the tech industry, sending cars to Mars and selling 10 million dollars worth of flamethrowers. Photo courtesy Flickr
Not only has Musk developed high-end cars, but he recently had a run of flamethrowers. (Yes, you read that right). According to CNN, Musk’s line of flamethrowers sold out in less than four days.
Each device was sold for $500 and he sold roughly 20,000 of them. Musk reached his goal of $10 million; an amount he was trying to reach for another business venture called The Boring Company.
Musk posted a video of him using the flamethrower on Instagram: “Don’t do this. Also, I want to be clear that a flamethrower is a super terrible idea. Definitely don’t buy one. Unless you like fun.”
Seems like a great pitch.
Digging himself a hole
And if building flamethrowers wasn’t enough for Musk to develop, he plans to invest all of the weapon’s profits into building a network of tunnels underground. Musk is hoping the tunnels with decrease traffic congestion.
This almost sounds so outrageous that it will be interesting what will surface from this new idea and concept. Not much has been reported yet about these projects as Musk’s company, The Boring Company, was only founded in 2016.
What’s next?
A lot of excitement has been circulating around what is next for Musk and Tesla. Nobody knows what he is going to do next. More cars in space? More flamethrowers? Underground highways? If you’re interested in technological advances, be sure to keep updated on Musk’s life.
Musk is an interesting character to follow and it’ll be fascinating to see where his mind (and money) will guide the future of technology.
