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mostlysignssomeportents · 8 months ago

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Cleantech has an enshittification problem

On July 14, I'm giving the closing keynote for the fifteenth HACKERS ON PLANET EARTH, in QUEENS, NY. Happy Bastille Day! On July 20, I'm appearing in CHICAGO at Exile in Bookville.

EVs won't save the planet. Ultimately, the material bill for billions of individual vehicles and the unavoidable geometry of more cars-more traffic-more roads-greater distances-more cars dictate that the future of our cities and planet requires public transit – lots of it.

But no matter how much public transit we install, there's always going to be some personal vehicles on the road, and not just bikes, ebikes and scooters. Between deliveries, accessibility, and stubbornly low-density regions, there's going to be a lot of cars, vans and trucks on the road for the foreseeable future, and these should be electric.

Beyond that irreducible minimum of personal vehicles, there's the fact that individuals can't install their own public transit system; in places that lack the political will or means to create working transit, EVs are a way for people to significantly reduce their personal emissions.

In policy circles, EV adoption is treated as a logistical and financial issue, so governments have focused on making EVs affordable and increasing the density of charging stations. As an EV owner, I can affirm that affordability and logistics were important concerns when we were shopping for a car.

But there's a third EV problem that is almost entirely off policy radar: enshittification.

An EV is a rolling computer in a fancy case with a squishy person inside of it. While this can sound scary, there are lots of cool implications for this. For example, your EV could download your local power company's tariff schedule and preferentially charge itself when the rates are lowest; they could also coordinate with the utility to reduce charging when loads are peaking. You can start them with your phone. Your repair technician can run extensive remote diagnostics on them and help you solve many problems from the road. New features can be delivered over the air.

That's just for starters, but there's so much more in the future. After all, the signal virtue of a digital computer is its flexibility. The only computer we know how to make is the Turing complete, universal, Von Neumann machine, which can run every valid program. If a feature is computationally tractable – from automated parallel parking to advanced collision prevention – it can run on a car.

The problem is that this digital flexibility presents a moral hazard to EV manufacturers. EVs are designed to make any kind of unauthorized, owner-selected modification into an IP rights violation ("IP" in this case is "any law that lets me control the conduct of my customers or competitors"):

https://locusmag.com/2020/09/cory-doctorow-ip/

EVs are also designed so that the manufacturer can unilaterally exert control over them or alter their operation. EVs – even more than conventional vehicles – are designed to be remotely killswitched in order to help manufacturers and dealers pressure people into paying their car notes on time:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/24/rent-to-pwn/#kitt-is-a-demon

Manufacturers can reach into your car and change how much of your battery you can access:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/28/edison-not-tesla/#demon-haunted-world

They can lock your car and have it send its location to a repo man, then greet him by blinking its lights, honking its horn, and pulling out of its parking space:

https://tiremeetsroad.com/2021/03/18/tesla-allegedly-remotely-unlocks-model-3-owners-car-uses-smart-summon-to-help-repo-agent/

And of course, they can detect when you've asked independent mechanic to service your car and then punish you by degrading its functionality:

https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2024/06/26/two-of-eight-claims-in-tesla-anti-trust-lawsuit-will-move-forward/

This is "twiddling" – unilaterally and irreversibly altering the functionality of a product or service, secure in the knowledge that IP law will prevent anyone from twiddling back by restoring the gadget to a preferred configuration:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/19/twiddler/

The thing is, for an EV, twiddling is the best case scenario. As bad as it is for the company that made your EV to change how it works whenever they feel like picking your pocket, that's infinitely preferable to the manufacturer going bankrupt and bricking your car.

That's what just happened to owners of Fisker EVs, cars that cost $40-70k. Cars are long-term purchases. An EV should last 12-20 years, or even longer if you pay to swap the battery pack. Fisker was founded in 2016 and shipped its first Ocean SUV in 2023. The company is now bankrupt:

https://insideevs.com/news/723669/fisker-inc-bankruptcy-chapter-11-official/

Fisker called its vehicles "software-based cars" and they weren't kidding. Without continuous software updates and server access, those Fisker Ocean SUVs are turning into bricks. What's more, the company designed the car from the ground up to make any kind of independent service and support into a felony, by wrapping the whole thing in overlapping layers of IP. That means that no one can step in with a module that jailbreaks the Fisker and drops in an alternative firmware that will keep the fleet rolling.

This is the third EV risk – not just finance, not just charger infrastructure, but the possibility that any whizzy, cool new EV company will go bust and brick your $70k cleantech investment, irreversibly transforming your car into 5,500 lb worth of e-waste.

This confers a huge advantage onto the big automakers like VW, Kia, Ford, etc. Tesla gets a pass, too, because it achieved critical mass before people started to wise up to the risk of twiddling and bricking. If you're making a serious investment in a product you expect to use for 20 years, are you really gonna buy it from a two-year old startup with six months' capital in the bank?

The incumbency advantage here means that the big automakers won't have any reason to sink a lot of money into R&D, because they won't have to worry about hungry startups with cool new ideas eating their lunches. They can maintain the cozy cartel that has seen cars stagnate for decades, with the majority of "innovation" taking the form of shitty, extractive and ill-starred ideas like touchscreen controls and an accelerator pedal that you have to rent by the month:

https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/23/23474969/mercedes-car-subscription-faster-acceleration-feature-price

Put that way, it's clear that this isn't an EV problem, it's a cleantech problem. Cleantech has all the problems of EVs: it requires a large capital expenditure, it will be "smart," and it is expected to last for decades. That's rooftop solar, heat-pumps, smart thermostat sensor arrays, and home storage batteries.

And just as with EVs, policymakers have focused on infrastructure and affordability without paying any attention to the enshittification risks. Your rooftop solar will likely be controlled via a Solaredge box – a terrible technology that stops working if it can't reach the internet for a protracted period (that's right, your home solar stops working if the grid fails!).

I found this out the hard way during the covid lockdowns, when Solaredge terminated its 3G cellular contract and notified me that I would have to replace the modem in my system or it would stop working. This was at the height of the supply-chain crisis and there was a long waiting list for any replacement modems, with wifi cards (that used your home internet rather than a cellular connection) completely sold out for most of a year.

There are good reasons to connect rooftop solar arrays to the internet – it's not just so that Solaredge can enshittify my service. Solar arrays that coordinate with the grid can make it much easier and safer to manage a grid that was designed for centralized power production and is being retrofitted for distributed generation, one roof at a time.

But when the imperatives of extraction and efficiency go to war, extraction always wins. After all, the Solaredge system is already in place and solar installers are largely ignorant of, and indifferent to, the reasons that a homeowner might want to directly control and monitor their system via local controls that don't roundtrip through the cloud.

Somewhere in the hindbrain of any prospective solar purchaser is the experience with bricked and enshittified "smart" gadgets, and the knowledge that anything they buy from a cool startup with lots of great ideas for improving production, monitoring, and/or costs poses the risk of having your 20 year investment bricked after just a few years – and, thanks to the extractive imperative, no one will be able to step in and restore your ex-solar array to good working order.

I make the majority of my living from books, which means that my pay is very "lumpy" – I get large sums when I publish a book and very little in between. For many years, I've used these payments to make big purchases, rather than financing them over long periods where I can't predict my income. We've used my book payments to put in solar, then an induction stove, then a battery. We used one to buy out the lease on our EV. And just a month ago, we used the money from my upcoming Enshittification book to put in a heat pump (with enough left over to pay for a pair of long-overdue cataract surgeries, scheduled for the fall).

When we started shopping for heat pumps, it was clear that this was a very exciting sector. First of all, heat pumps are kind of magic, so efficient and effective it's almost surreal. But beyond the basic tech – which has been around since the late 1940s – there is a vast ferment of cool digital features coming from exciting and innovative startups.

By nature, I'm the kid of person who likes these digital features. I started out as a computer programmer, and while I haven't written production code since the previous millennium, I've been in and around the tech industry for my whole adult life. But when it came time to buy a heat-pump – an investment that I expected to last for 20 years or more – there was no way I was going to buy one of these cool new digitally enhanced pumps, no matter how much the reviewers loved them. Sure, they'd work well, but it's precisely because I'm so knowledgeable about high tech that I could see that they would fail very, very badly.

You may think EVs are bullshit, and they are – though there will always be room for some personal vehicles, and it's better for people in transit deserts to drive EVs than gas-guzzlers. You may think rooftop solar is a dead-end and be all-in on utility scale solar (I think we need both, especially given the grid-disrupting extreme climate events on our horizon). But there's still a wide range of cleantech – induction tops, heat pumps, smart thermostats – that are capital intensive, have a long duty cycle, and have good reasons to be digitized and networked.

Take home storage batteries: your utility can push its rate card to your battery every time they change their prices, and your battery can use that information to decide when to let your house tap into the grid, and when to switch over to powering your home with the solar you've stored up during the day. This is a very old and proven pattern in tech: the old Fidonet BBS network used a version of this, with each BBS timing its calls to other nodes to coincide with the cheapest long-distance rates, so that messages for distant systems could be passed on:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FidoNet

Cleantech is a very dynamic sector, even if its triumphs are largely unheralded. There's a quiet revolution underway in generation, storage and transmission of renewable power, and a complimentary revolution in power-consumption in vehicles and homes:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/12/s-curve/#anything-that-cant-go-on-forever-eventually-stops

But cleantech is too important to leave to the incumbents, who are addicted to enshittification and planned obsolescence. These giant, financialized firms lack the discipline and culture to make products that have the features – and cost savings – to make them appealing to the very wide range of buyers who must transition as soon as possible, for the sake of the very planet.

It's not enough for our policymakers to focus on financing and infrastructure barriers to cleantech adoption. We also need a policy-level response to enshittification.

Ideally, every cleantech device would be designed so that it was impossible to enshittify – which would also make it impossible to brick:

Based on free software (best), or with source code escrowed with a trustee who must release the code if the company enters administration (distant second-best);

All patents in a royalty-free patent-pool (best); or in a trust that will release them into a royalty-free pool if the company enters administration (distant second-best);

No parts-pairing or other DRM permitted (best); or with parts-pairing utilities available to all parties on a reasonable and non-discriminatory basis (distant second-best);

All diagnostic and error codes in the public domain, with all codes in the clear within the device (best); or with decoding utilities available on demand to all comers on a reasonable and non-discriminatory basis (distant second-best).

There's an obvious business objection to this: it will reduce investment in innovative cleantech because investors will perceive these restrictions as limits on the expected profits of their portfolio companies. It's true: these measures are designed to prevent rent-extraction and other enshittificatory practices by cleantech companies, and to the extent that investors are counting on enshittification rents, this might prevent them from investing.

But that has to be balanced against the way that a general prohibition on enshittificatory practices will inspire consumer confidence in innovative and novel cleantech products, because buyers will know that their investments will be protected over the whole expected lifespan of the product, even if the startup goes bust (nearly every startup goes bust). These measures mean that a company with a cool product will have a much larger customer-base to sell to. Those additional sales more than offset the loss of expected revenue from cheating and screwing your customers by twiddling them to death.

There's also an obvious legal objection to this: creating these policies will require a huge amount of action from Congress and the executive branch, a whole whack of new rules and laws to make them happen, and each will attract court-challenges.

That's also true, though it shouldn't stop us from trying to get legal reforms. As a matter of public policy, it's terrible and fucked up that companies can enshittify the things we buy and leave us with no remedy.

However, we don't have to wait for legal reform to make this work. We can take a shortcut with procurement – the things governments buy with public money. The feds, the states and localities buy a lot of cleantech: for public facilities, for public housing, for public use. Prudent public policy dictates that governments should refuse to buy any tech unless it is designed to be enshittification-resistant.

This is an old and honorable tradition in policymaking. Lincoln insisted that the rifles he bought for the Union Army come with interoperable tooling and ammo, for obvious reasons. No one wants to be the Commander in Chief who shows up on the battlefield and says, "Sorry, boys, war's postponed, our sole supplier decided to stop making ammunition."

By creating a market for enshittification-proof cleantech, governments can ensure that the public always has the option of buying an EV that can't be bricked even if the maker goes bust, a heat-pump whose digital features can be replaced or maintained by a third party of your choosing, a solar controller that coordinates with the grid in ways that serve their owners – not the manufacturers' shareholders.

We're going to have to change a lot to survive the coming years. Sure, there's a lot of scary ways that things can go wrong, but there's plenty about our world that should change, and plenty of ways those changes could be for the better. It's not enough for policymakers to focus on ensuring that we can afford to buy whatever badly thought-through, extractive tech the biggest companies want to foist on us – we also need a focus on making cleantech fit for purpose, truly smart, reliable and resilient.

Support me this summer on the Clarion Write-A-Thon and help raise money for the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop!

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/26/unplanned-obsolescence/#better-micetraps

Image: 臺灣古寫真上色 (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Raid_on_Kagi_City_1945.jpg

Grendelkhan (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ground_mounted_solar_panels.gk.jpg

CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

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mariacallous · 5 days ago

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It feels like no one should have to say this, and yet we are in a situation where it needs to be said, very loudly and clearly, before it’s too late to do anything about it: The United States is not a startup. If you run it like one, it will break.

The onslaught of news about Elon Musk’s takeover of the federal government’s core institutions is altogether too much—in volume, in magnitude, in the sheer chaotic absurdity of a 19-year-old who goes by “Big Balls” helping the world’s richest man consolidate power. There’s an easy way to process it, though.

Donald Trump may be the president of the United States, but Musk has made himself its CEO.

This is bad on its face. Musk was not elected to any office, has billions of dollars of government contracts, and has radicalized others and himself by elevating conspiratorial X accounts with handles like @redpillsigma420. His allies control the US government’s human resources and information technology departments, and he has deployed a strike force of eager former interns to poke and prod at the data and code bases that are effectively the gears of democracy. None of this should be happening.

It is, though. And while this takeover is unprecedented for the government, it’s standard operating procedure for Musk. It maps almost too neatly to his acquisition of Twitter in 2022: Get rid of most of the workforce. Install loyalists. Rip up safeguards. Remake in your own image.

This is the way of the startup. You’re scrappy, you’re unconventional, you’re iterating. This is the world that Musk’s lieutenants come from, and the one they are imposing on the Office of Personnel Management and the General Services Administration.

What do they want? A lot.

There’s AI, of course. They all want AI. They want it especially at the GSA, where a Tesla engineer runs a key government IT department and thinks AI coding agents are just what bureaucracy needs. Never mind that large language models can be effective but are inherently, definitionally unreliable, or that AI agents—essentially chatbots that can perform certain tasks for you—are especially unproven. Never mind that AI works not just by outputting information but by ingesting it, turning whatever enters its maw into training data for the next frontier model. Never mind that, wouldn’t you know it, Elon Musk happens to own an AI company himself. Go figure.

Speaking of data: They want that, too. DOGE agents are installed at or have visited the Treasury Department, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Small Business Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor. Probably more. They’ve demanded data, sensitive data, payments data, and in many cases they’ve gotten it—the pursuit of data as an end unto itself but also data that could easily be used as a competitive edge, as a weapon, if you care to wield it.

And savings. They want savings. Specifically they want to subject the federal government to zero-based budgeting, a popular financial planning method in Silicon Valley in which every expenditure needs to be justified from scratch. One way to do that is to offer legally dubious buyouts to almost all federal employees, who collectively make up a low-single-digit percentage of the budget. Another, apparently, is to dismantle USAID just because you can. (If you’re wondering how that’s legal, many, many experts will tell you that it’s not.) The fact that the spending to support these people and programs has been both justified and mandated by Congress is treated as inconvenience, or maybe not even that.

Those are just the goals we know about. They have, by now, so many tentacles in so many agencies that anything is possible. The only certainty is that it’s happening in secret.

Musk’s fans, and many of Trump’s, have cheered all of this. Surely billionaires must know what they’re doing; they’re billionaires, after all. Fresh-faced engineer whiz kids are just what this country needs, not the stodgy, analog thinking of the past. It’s time to nextify the Constitution. Sure, why not, give Big Balls a memecoin while you’re at it.

The thing about most software startups, though, is that they fail. They take big risks and they don’t pay off and they leave the carcass of that failure behind and start cranking out a new pitch deck. This is the process that DOGE is imposing on the United States.

No one would argue that federal bureaucracy is perfect, or especially efficient. Of course it can be improved. Of course it should be. But there is a reason that change comes slowly, methodically, through processes that involve elected officials and civil servants and care and consideration. The stakes are too high, and the cost of failure is total and irrevocable.

Musk will reinvent the US government in the way that the hyperloop reinvented trains, that the Boring company reinvented subways, that Juicero reinvented squeezing. Which is to say he will reinvent nothing at all, fix no problems, offer no solutions beyond those that further consolidate his own power and wealth. He will strip democracy down to the studs and rebuild it in the fractious image of his own companies. He will move fast. He will break things.

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scentedpeachlandcreator · 1 year ago

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DON'T EVER SETTLE FOR LESS!

So here's a quick story that happened to me that made me realize that i shouldn't settle for less when manifesting my desire.

QUICK KINDA SUCCESS STORY:

Last year, i decided to manifest a phone since i haven't had one. I wanted an iPhone 14 pro max, so i decided the color, the model and the storage, so i started affirming and persisting that i have an iPhone 14 pro max. Still, the thing is that i thought “hmm…i don't think i deserve this phone it too expensive and i can't afford it” that THE MISTAKE I MADE because i thought that i didn’t deserve it or it was too impossible to have. Still, the good thing is that it made my strict parents agreeing on buying me a phone (they were really against it lol) but i ended up with an oppo, i wasn’t satisfied with what i got, i haven’t got what i wanted because of my stupid limiting beliefs. and the second mistake is that i kept switching between affirming for an phone 14 and another phone, which confused my subconscious for sure.

ᘏ so what i’m trying to say is that no matter what don’t ever settle for less because you think it impossible to have or it is too illogical, you deserve everything and more.

‹ ᪤︎💭 𖥦 and these are the post that opened my eyes and made me understand what i meant:

★I hope y’all understand that you deserve manifesting a billion-dollar mansion, a Tesla or Mercedes car, an expensive setup, to become a millionaire, a famous influencer, and many more, this also includes manifesting illogical supernatural things.

Remember :

YOU'RE LIMITLESS!

and

FUCK THE 3D, THE IMAGINATION MATTERS.

so happy manifesting!

#loa #how to manifest #law of assumption #law of manifestation #void state #loa success #loa assumptions #loa tumblr

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ranticore · 5 months ago

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inspired by a post by @/serpentface of a concept that captivated me, i'm going to present the much anticipated, much requested, "what cars my characters would drive, bearing in mind their economic status and assuming the year is 2024" post

we can start reallyyyy easy because for Bowman there's no other option:

An ep3 Honda Civic. Is it a type-R? nope but it's got vtec bro!!!! it's surprisingly practical and the wheels are kerbed to shit. there's fluffy dice. there's an aftermarket spoiler on the back and a halfords special front splitter. He's of the opinion that girls don't know the difference between a hot hatch and a grandma's car so this works as well as the expensive one. i think his driving style is best described as 'life changing'. for better or worse.

Senca:

unflinchingly practical. the car that can do it all. a 2010 1.6 TDI Skoda Octavia with roof rails. it's not about speed or looks and it's not even about transport, really, it's about looking superior because nobody else's car can fit the contents of an entire house inside. and then looking less smug when someone pulls up in a Volvo V50. the type of driver who can't fucking stand it when other people break the rules of the road but when she does it, it's fine. because she's a "good" driver.

Léa:

2004 Hyundai Coupe 2L. Yes bitch it looks fast!!!! IS it fast? No, but the better coupes from the same era did not depreciate so much in value and aren't affordable. in Léa's hands it's like a rocket ship. The indicators must be broken though because nobody has ever seen them in use. She spray-painted the wheels herself.

Islin:

a step-through road bike WITH panniers. cars damage the environment and the thought of contributing to that is unconscionable. doesn't wear a helmet anyway. dichotomy of ocd

Helena:

Porche Cayenne. Mostly someone else would drive her around but every so often she wants to get behind the wheel and start tailgating aggressively, just for the thrill of it. She replaced the stock lights with retina blaster 9000s and is always about 1 inch behind your back bumper, full beam on. Red lights are for other people. She ran over a child once because she wasn't looking and blamed the parents.

Jean-Baptiste:

Caterham 7. The one made up to look much older than it is, and he ordered it in kit car form and built it in his garage. I've always insisted that Jean would be massively into motor sport if he happened to have been born when that was a thing. He didn't follow the manufacturer's instructions because he felt that he knew best so his car is very unsafe but makes far more power than stock. It's not road legal but you will find it on the road nonetheless.

Erica:

Oh? You've never heard of it? You've never seen a man look so smug in your life. He shuts the silent-close door and explains that he traded in his Tesla model 3 for a BYD Seal because Tesla was becoming "too mainstream" and there were too many of them on the road.

Félix:

1998 Mercedes Benz E Class. Yeah it cost him £700 on Autotrader, but what's important is that it cost £60,000 when new. This is a good car. This is a luxurious car. It has heated seats - they don't work, but if he wanted to fix them he could. It has an overflowing ashtray from the previous owner and there's not a single thing that goes right on it but it makes him look adjacently wealthy, and isn't that the point? The poppy helps him look more sympathetic to elderly people (scam victims). Number One Most Likely To Attempt Murder-Suicide By Automobile. You've never seen a man look so divorced.

Carmen:

For her i just sorted price low -> high and picked the cheapest running car. And it's a Fiat Bravo! Notorious for earning a zero star euro ncap safety score and exploding into scrap if it hits a kerb. Carmen can't rely on her parents buying her a first car or paying insurance so she has no choice but to scrape the bottom of the barrel. She thinks it looks nice though.

Pascal:

was there any doubt.

Nico:

Beat up 1999 Discovery permanently attached to a horsebox. It is always filthy and somehow filled with straw and dog hair even though he doesn't own a dog, that's just what seems to happen to these cars. The heating doesn't work anymore but other than that it's fine, does the job. Drives with what can only be described as malicious compliance to all rules of the road.

Cain:

a Lada Niva. Why the hell would you ever need more than this. Electronics? No thanks. You're lucky it has gears. Cars peaked in the 1970s and anything built after that is just a piece of ridiculous frivolity, a toy for children. Here is a real workhorse. It costs 20 grand. Probably the only truly good driver here.

---

Sir Heaven:

Please for the love of god stop making him drive the Revuelto he doesn't want to do it anymore it's too scary

Sir Victory:

2003 Seat Leon Cupra R, with decals that make it seem very impressive and like it might actually be a racecar, but it isn't. It's made of rust and the engine sounds sick. It's battered and broken and the subframe is bent from a side-on collision. One day it might crumble away entirely but until then Sir Victory will drive it like he's at Goodwood. A very aggressive driver, mostly due to impatience, and he always wins the red light drag race.

Mercury:

It's a normal Ford Crown Victoria with a tank engine strapped to it. What? His holy calling is building and designing engines, of course this is safe and sane. Kind of a lackadaisical driver, obeys the rules when the mood strikes.

---

And just for fun, random other characters:

Qedivar:

1999 Audi A4. I just tried to imagine the most boring history professor tier car I could think of. It's in good condition for its age but it's never brought anyone a single scrap of joy in its entire life. Nobody smiles seeing this car and to this day Qedivar often fails to pick it out in a car park.

Huarvaa:

The legendary Renault Scenic RX4. It's big, it's 4-wheel drive, and it's a practical MPV. and it looks like it's constantly dipped in some kind of algae or perhaps sludge. Modified with a snorkel so it can drive through deep water. Still really rusty despite the plastic cladding.

Holly:

Rover Metro. It's incredibly spacious!!! Wow! He can't see over the wheel.

Finbarr Ó Casaide:

A Lupo. Literally the perfect car for his needs and he knows he must be conservative in how he goes about things. Yellow colour for the Ó Casaide clan, to show that he really does belong there, promise. A devastatingly precise driver; guns for the tiniest gaps and somehow makes it every single time, without putting others at risk or being particularly reckless. He will get you to your destination 20% faster than anyone else.

Olivier Tanet:

Ford F150, specifically an imported one from the US, specifically driven in a normal-sized place that is not built for stupid american cars (as in the photo). It is gigantic and it's in your rear view mirror 24/7. Helena might be a maliciously careless driver, but Olivier is just malicious. He wants you dead. His truck is part of an elaborate dick measuring contest that he intends to win. Plus side is that it's not a pavement princess, it goes offroad (it does doughnuts in your front garden)

#hi. this took me an hour and i only stopped when the post editor started chugging #i'm missing so many characters alas #rip jean baptiste you would have loved f1

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awesome-casuallyfamouscollector · 2 years ago

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“The Model 3 refresh program is known internally as the Highland Project, and the sources say it is focused on reducing the number of components and complexity in the interior of the Model 3 while enhancing the features that Tesla buyers value, particularly the center touchscreen. While the Model 3 had the long range, semi-affordable electric sedan space all to itself when it was introduced five years ago, it now faces significant competition, especially in China where companies like BYD, Nio, and XPeng are rapidly bringing competitive electric sedans of their own to market.”(..)

P.S. Dying legacy auto makers are dragging feet and pushed out from competition. In essence, the global EV market has turned into a two-horse race: Tesla vs BYD...and somewhere very far behind, the legacy OEMs are slowly dragging their feet...

#Tesla #Tesla Model 3 #electric vehicle #semi-affordable EV #long range ev #electric car #fossil fuel phase out #demise of legacy automakers #China #Shanghai #demise of big oil #russian defeat

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thelostgirl21 · 22 days ago

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Full disclosure: my partner has been an electric vehicle geek since the early 2000s, and very passionate about environmental and consumerism issues.

One of his first loves, as a teenager, was computer programming.

During the 1998 North American ice storm, while he was still just a student, they came to hire him to develop a system to quickly and effectively keep track of and distribute the relief money to the population.

Since then, he's made a career in programming, and spends a lot of his free time programming from home as a personal hobby of his.

So, when Tesla started making electric vehicles that were a crossover between an electric car and a computer (two of his passions / special interests), he naturally became highly enthusiastic about it!

And I slowly started to share his enthusiasm because I, too, am strongly against consumerism in general.

We will tend to repair home appliances and electronics for as long as we can (until you can no longer purchase repair parts), even when "buying a new one" would be cheaper.

I kept the same cell phone from 2001 to 2016, and I only changed it because the plastic on it was disintegrating and they were planning to stop supporting analog cellular services in our area.

So, what had me incredibly excited about the Tesla Model 3 back then (that was more expensive than any car I ever would have normally considered), was that it was designed to be constantly upgraded (for free, no less!) without needing to buy a new car to keep up with the new technology offered on the more recent models.

With our provincial and federal government subventions, the cheap price of electricity in Quebec, and everything we'd be saving on gas, we decided that the investment would be well worth it.

Back in 2016, we (sadly, very naively) saw Elon Musk as a visionary, an environmentalist, and someone with an interest in forcing the North American market (and the world at large) to slowly evolve towards developing more environmentally sustainable products and technologies.

People often compared him to Tony Stark back then, and we were sincerely fooled into thinking that he actually gave a damn about the future of this planet!

To be clear, we see electric cars as PART OF the solution to help tackle climate change, not THE solution to tackle climate change.

Holding various industries, and the wealthiest among us, more accountable for their pollution is obviously part of it.

And we also need to invest in more effective commuting infrastructures, densification (that allows for more services to be within shorter, often even walkable distance) combined with more affordable housing, etc.

There is plenty to be done to address environmental challenges in ways where it will become easier for individuals to make certain choices that will help reduce their own individual carbon footprint!

But, as long as people will continue to want to own personal cars, regardless of them actually needing to own one or not, we will also need to make sure that the cars that are offered on the market have the least negative impact on the environment as possible.

So, EVs aren't the one and only solution to the issue, but we firmly believe they remain a step in the right direction.

Sadly, there's an awful lot of misinformation about EVs. But they still remain a greener option than ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles in virtually every possible scenario.

It is especially true in Quebec, where 100% of our provincial electricity production is hydroelectric.

So, anyway, we were looking to acquire an EV at that time, and Tesla was the only company with an EV that was designed to regularly upgrade itself and improve to keep up with newer versions of their vehicles at no additional cost.

When we bought it, we thus made the firm decision to keep the car for as long as its body (essentially, the "casing" of our "computer-car") would hold, even if that was 50+ years!

My partner insisted on getting the full self driving (FSD) feature while it was still at its lowest price, because the whole idea of witnessing a computer system slowly learning how to drive, and being amongst those teaching it how to drive, was utterly fascinating to him.

Therefore, on March 31st, 2016, he spent over 3 hours waiting in the rain outside of the Tesla dealership in Montreal to be amongst the very first people making a reservation for the Tesla Model 3.

We received our car in September 2018, named him (yeah, we gave our car a gender, deal with it!) "Spirit", and he's sincerely been the best car I've ever driven (or been driven by) in my entire life! Especially in our harsh Canadian winters!

It really pains me to say that the product itself is astounding, and has even exceeded our expectations. Because I can't, in good conscience, exactly recommend it to anyone under the current political climate / leadership.

Since September 2018, we've watched Spirit evolve, learn, gain new features, and constantly improve in ways that have been utterly fascinating to experience!

But, since September 2018, we've also sadly had to watch Elon Musk evolve into the worst of what humanity has to offer, in ways that have been utterly terrifying to witness!

He's turned into an ultra rich, dangerous, self-obsessed fascist that's declared some sort of cowardly holy war on some of society's most vulnerable people, and that keeps on threatening everything we love, including fellow members of the LGBTQ+ community, and the freaking environment (the thing we once believed he was looking to save), of all things!

And I have no word to express just how disgusted and sick I felt over that Nazi salute he did.

To be fair, I'm pretty sure the oil companies and many giants from the automotive industries that would rather be selling ICE vehicles than EVs have been backing up Trump's campaign and helping him finance it as well.

But they don't wield the level of influence over social media, nor have the freaking "cult following" that Elon Musk has!

Most CEOs will operate from the shadows to avoid alienating part of their clientele, but Elon apparently just doesn't care about hurting his company and its workers, or destroying the legacy of what they have built for/with Tesla.

It's like he just fell into the manosphere at some point, drank their Kool-Aid, and decided to become their champion while trying to fix "everything wrong with the world" according to their perception of it!

A few of our friends have sold their own Tesla for fear of being associated with the man.

And we are a bit at a loss trying to figure out how to handle the situation ourselves.

Hence why I'm writing this, because it feels like my brain is stuffed, about to freaking explode, and I can't quite think clearly!

I sort of need to get it out of my system, and maybe gather other people's thoughts on this.

First, the car has already been paid in full.

So, we can't "unbuy it" to reclaim the money that we already gave Elon Musk's company.

Of course, we could sell the car to get rid of the risk of accidentally being seen as an "Elon Musk supporter" while driving around (the reason why others have done it)...

...but then, we'd only be putting the car into someone else's hands, not removing it from circulation.

And, perhaps, accidentally rewarding an Elon Musk fan by making it possible for them to buy and own a Tesla that they might not have been able to afford at full price otherwise!

Like seriously, I can't fathom why anyone that doesn't already own a Tesla would want to buy themselves one when they know that they would be investing money into Musk's company and increasing his wealth, unless they really don't care about the political positions / actions of its CEO, and/or they agree with him.

So, selling it would basically just make an Elon Musk supporter happy!

And I'm not exactly into making any Elon Musk fan happy right now.

And, when we bought our car, since we were amongst the first people reserving it by putting a deposit on it 2 years in advance, there was a deal where Tesla would be the one paying for our internet subscription services to allow us to stream music, watch Netflix, YouTube, etc. in the car for free for as long as we remained the owners of the car.

Meaning that we are the ones costing Elon Musk's company money by listening to music and watching movies in our car.

Somehow, watching "Sense8" on Netflix in a Tesla knowing that Elon Musk / Tesla is paying for your internet connection symbolically hits a sweet spot.

That deal isn't transferable if we sell the car, either.

So, the company would just have one less internet subscription to continue paying for.

And, even if we could financially afford to destroy the car, totally remove it from the roads, and donate the battery to a company that recycles them, etc., the car itself is in perfect working condition, and throwing away something that works and will need to be replaced feels like we're once again displacing the issue and wasting resources.

Maybe we could put a sticker such as

on it (source).

But then, my partner fears that we might get attacked by far-right Elon Musk fans/supporters, since they've been known for not exactly being kind to those opposing them.

So yeah, I'm just going crazy right now trying to figure out how to handle being stuck with a car that people tend to so strongly associate with Elon Musk!

It's like...

You buy a car in an effort to do your own personal part for the environment, reduce your own carbon footprint, and fight consumerism in the automotive industry...

Then, 7 years later, the CEO of the company that holds 13% of its shares makes his grand coming out as a Neo-Nazi / Neo-Nazi supporter!

The situation feels a bit surreal, and nothing quite prepares you to mentally and intellectually deal with that!

Current mood:

#Personal #My thoughts #Fucking fuckity fucking fucking fuck!

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adreamaonlineaccessories · 21 days ago

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Tesla is one of the car brands that have made a name for itself in a short time, especially after the launch of its Model S. We have talked about how Tesla achieved this position in this post in detail. Moreover, we have discussed useful Tesla car accessories and we hope that you liked reading this post, share your thoughts and feedback in the comments.

#adreama tesla accessories #tesla car accessories #adreama #tesla model 3 accessories #adreama car accessories online store #auto accessories online shop usa #auto accessories shop

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frank-olivier · 3 months ago

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The Promise of Free Energy: Unlocking a Sustainable Future

The concept of free energy, also known as zero-point energy or radiant energy, has captivated the imagination of scientists, inventors, and visionaries for decades. It presents a revolutionary idea that challenges our current energy paradigm and offers a promising solution to the global energy crisis and environmental degradation. However, the path to realizing the potential of free energy has been fraught with suppression, skepticism, and vested interests.

Free energy, as a concept, holds immense potential for addressing the world's energy needs. The idea that an infinite and limitless source of energy exists, which can be tapped into without depletion or environmental harm, is indeed alluring. This concept has its roots in the work of pioneers like Nikola Tesla, who envisioned a world powered by wireless energy transmission and the harnessing of the universe's abundant energy. One of the most compelling aspects of free energy is its ability to provide clean, abundant, and affordable energy to every corner of the globe. With the current reliance on finite energy sources such as fossil fuels, coal, and nuclear power, we face significant environmental and social challenges. The extraction and combustion of these resources contribute to climate change, air and water pollution, and social inequality. Free energy, if realized, could eliminate these issues by offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative. Moreover, free energy has the potential to transform our relationship with the environment. With an infinite energy supply, we could address pressing issues like drought, air pollution, and resource depletion. Desalination of seawater, purification of air, and sustainable agricultural practices could become more feasible, leading to a healthier and more resilient planet.

Despite the promising potential of free energy, its development and adoption have faced significant obstacles. The film highlights the suppression of free energy technologies, citing numerous cases of black shelving, national security orders, patent seizures, financial entanglements, and legal battles. These instances of suppression have hindered the progress of free energy research and prevented the widespread adoption of these technologies. The suppression of free energy can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, powerful corporations and governments have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. The fossil fuel industry, in particular, has a strong hold on the energy sector, and the transition to free energy would disrupt their business models and profits. This resistance to change is evident in the film's mention of media manipulation and the shaping of public perception by intelligence operatives. Secondly, the scientific community's skepticism and adherence to established paradigms play a role in the suppression of free energy. The concept of free energy challenges the fundamental laws of thermodynamics, which state that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. Scientists and engineers may be hesitant to embrace these technologies due to the perceived violation of these laws and the need for a paradigm shift in their thinking.

To unlock the promise of free energy and create a sustainable future, several improvements and actions are necessary: Encourage open-source development and collaboration among inventors, researchers, and scientists working on free energy technologies. By sharing knowledge, resources, and findings, we can accelerate the development process and foster a community of innovation. This approach can help overcome the barriers of suppression and skepticism, as it allows for greater transparency and peer review. Address the systemic issues that allow cartels and corporations to control the energy sector. Advocate for regulatory reforms, antitrust measures, and increased transparency to level the playing field for all energy technologies. This will ensure that free energy technologies have a fair chance to compete and be adopted. Educate the public about the potential benefits of free energy and the need for a paradigm shift in energy production. Address the myths and misconceptions surrounding free energy, and provide accurate information to foster public support and engagement. A well-informed public can demand and support the development and adoption of sustainable energy solutions. As we transition to free energy, it is crucial to consider the social and economic impacts on workers in the fossil fuel industry. Enlist their support and provide retraining and reskilling opportunities to ensure a just and equitable transition. This approach will help build a more inclusive and sustainable society, where no one is left behind. Promote the development and adoption of decentralized energy systems, such as local energy generators powered by free energy technologies. This approach can reduce our reliance on centralized power stations and power lines, increasing energy security and reducing pollution. It also empowers individuals and communities to take control of their energy production and consumption.

The promise of free energy is a compelling vision for a sustainable future. However, realizing this potential requires a critical analysis of the challenges and a proactive approach to overcoming them.

"The Lost Century" by Dr. Steven Greer is a documentary film that focuses on the suppression of advanced energy and propulsion technologies, as well as the potential existence of extraterrestrial life and the government's involvement in covering up these matters. Dr. Greer is a medical doctor and UFO researcher who founded The Disclosure Project, which aims to disclose information about UFOs and advanced energy technologies. The documentary has received mixed responses, with some praising its efforts to bring attention to these topics and encourage open discussion, while others have criticized its claims and the lack of concrete evidence presented. As with any documentary, it's essential to approach the information presented in "The Lost Century" with a critical eye and consider multiple perspectives on these complex and often controversial subjects.

The Lost Century (Michael Mazzola, 2023)

youtube

Thursday, November 7, 2024

#ufos #disclosure #extraterrestrial #energy #technology #documentary #coverup #research #ai assisted writing #machine art #Youtube

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hamdank77 · 5 months ago

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The Ultimate Guide to Electric Cars: Best Choices, Affordable Options, and Everything You Need to Know

Top Picks for Electric Vehicles in 2024

A number of variables need to be taken into account while selecting the best electric car, including performance, design, technology, and range. Here are some of the standout models for 2024:

1. Tesla Model S Plaid

The Tesla Model S Plaid is a benchmark in the electric car market. With a range of over 390 miles and a 0-60 mph time of just 1.99 seconds, it sets the standard for luxury and performance in the EV segment.

Range: 390+ miles

Top Speed: 200 mph

Key Features: Autopilot, Full Self-Driving capability, 1,020 horsepower

2. Lucid Air

The Lucid Air is a luxury electric sedan that combines futuristic design with remarkable performance. With a range of up to 520 miles, it currently offers the longest range of any EV on the market.

Range: Up to 520 miles

Top Speed: 168 mph

Key Features: Lucid DreamDrive, spacious interior, 1,111 horsepower in the Dream Edition

3. Porsche Taycan

For those seeking a sports car experience, the Porsche Taycan delivers with its iconic handling and design. Available in several variants, the Taycan offers an exhilarating driving experience with rapid acceleration.

Range: Up to 256 miles

Top Speed: 161 mph

Key Features: Porsche Electric Sport Sound, 800-volt architecture, advanced regenerative braking

Cheapest Electric Cars: Affordable EV Options

Electric cars are becoming increasingly affordable, making them accessible to a broader audience. Here are some of the best budget-friendly electric cars:

1. Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf is one of the most popular and affordable electric cars on the market. It’s ideal for city driving and offers a solid range for daily commutes.

Range: Up to 149 miles

Starting Price: ,800

Key Features: ProPILOT Assist, e-Pedal, affordable maintenance costs

2. Chevrolet Bolt EV

The Chevrolet Bolt EV is a compact electric car that offers a surprising amount of range and features for its price point.

Range: Up to 259 miles

Starting Price: ,000

Key Features: DC fast charging capability, roomy interior, high safety ratings

3. Hyundai Kona Electric

The Hyundai Kona Electric is a subcompact SUV that blends affordability with functionality, offering an impressive range for its class.

Range: Up to 258 miles

Starting Price: ,000

Key Features: 8-inch touchscreen, regenerative braking, adaptive cruise control

Best Electric SUVs: Top Performers in the SUV Segment

SUVs remain one of the most popular vehicle types, and the electric SUV segment is growing rapidly. Here are the best electric SUVs to consider:

1. Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y is a versatile electric SUV that combines the performance and technology of the Model 3 with more cargo space and an elevated driving position.

Range: Up to 330 miles

Top Speed: 135 mph

Key Features: Dual motor all-wheel drive, panoramic glass roof, Autopilot

2. Ford Mustang Mach-E

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is a bold new entry into the electric SUV market, blending the iconic Mustang design with modern electric performance.

Range: Up to 300 miles

Top Speed: 124 mph

Key Features: Ford Co-Pilot360, 15.5-inch touchscreen, Mustang-inspired design

3. Audi e-tron

The Audi e-tron is a premium electric SUV that offers a luxurious interior and smooth, quiet driving experience.

Range: Up to 222 miles

Top Speed: 124 mph

Key Features: Quattro all-wheel drive, Virtual Cockpit, adaptive air suspension

Electric Cars for Sale: Where to Find the Best Deals

Finding the right electric car at the best price requires a bit of research. Here are some top places to look for electric cars for sale:

1. Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Programs

Many automakers offer certified pre-owned programs for their electric vehicles. These programs typically include a thorough inspection and warranty coverage, making them an excellent choice for budget-conscious buyers.

2. Online Marketplaces

Websites like Autotrader, Cars.com, and Carvana offer a wide selection of new and used electric vehicles. These platforms allow you to compare prices, read reviews, and even purchase vehicles online.

3. Dealerships

Local dealerships often have a selection of electric cars, especially in areas where EVs are more popular. Visiting a dealership allows you to test drive the vehicle and speak with a salesperson about available incentives.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: Powering Your EV

One of the most critical aspects of owning an electric car is understanding how and where to charge it. Electric vehicle charging stations are becoming more prevalent, but it’s essential to know the types and locations of these stations.

1. Types of Charging Stations

Level 1 Charging: Uses a standard 120-volt outlet. It’s the slowest option, providing about 2-5 miles of range per hour of charging.

Level 2 Charging: Requires a 240-volt outlet, similar to what is used for large appliances like dryers. It provides about 10-60 miles of range per hour.

DC Fast Charging: These stations provide the fastest charge, delivering 60-100 miles of range in about 20 minutes.

2. Finding Charging Stations

Apps like PlugShare, ChargePoint, and Tesla’s own Supercharger network can help you locate charging stations near you. Many modern EVs also have built-in navigation systems that display nearby charging stations.

3. Home Charging Solutions

Installing a home charging station is a convenient option for many EV owners. Level 2 home chargers are the most popular and can be installed in your garage or driveway, allowing you to charge your vehicle overnight.

Electric Vehicles' Future

With developments in battery technology, autonomous driving features, and sustainable materials, the electric vehicle market is growing quickly.

1. Technology of Batteries

Electric vehicle (EV) range, charging times, and overall efficiency may all be significantly increased by further research into solid-state batteries and other cutting-edge technology.

2. Self-Driving Cars

Automakers are making significant investments in autonomous driving technology. The prospect of autonomous vehicles is growing because to initiatives like Tesla's Full Self-Driving Package and other comparable technologies.

3. Ecological viability

There is a growing emphasis on recycling materials and lowering the carbon footprint of manufacturing processes in the creation of electric vehicles, making the process more sustainable. Manufacturers who are spearheading the development of more environmentally friendly production techniques are Tesla and Rivian.

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