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Das Engine of Life
Star Wars is part of us.
All of us.
On this Throwback Thursday, let’s recall that brilliant TV ad from Volkswagen that perfectly joined the forces of business and imagination.
That cool, original one-minute story conceptualized by the advertising team at Volkswagen achieved something that far exceeded the normal expectations of a TV commercial. And that was suspension of belief with a tether that was surprisingly tied to reality. Above all, the TV ad above showcases the necessity and power of creative storytelling. Telling a story, however seemingly other-worldly is one of the most important things in life and it connects us to each other in profound, sometimes unexpected ways.
Just ask any Star Wars fan (excluding Episodes I-III).
A New Blue Hue for You to View
The digitization of Henry Ford’s Model T is seeing an illuminating next chapter.
And it’s quite a sight.
Cars are (as has been written about many times on Jimmy’s Daily Planet) increasingly being designed and built as supercomputers. Tesla is the best practical evidence in 2016 of this burgeoning reality with the Model S, Model 3 and Model X. No, the price point for these three car models have not dropped into mainstream affordability, but the availability is there nonetheless. That’s impressive, even if it’s an expensive alternative. An encouraging note is the Tesla Model 3 is trying to crack the Lexus and Mercedes consumer market with a tax credit/incentive in the thousands that makes people take a second glance at the electric automaker beyond its sleek lines and quiet, yet powerful engine.
For many of the major car makers, their giant leap from the engine and functionality from the 20th century to the computerized innovation in the 21st century won’t be comprehensive. That’s impractical and foolish. At some point, perhaps in half a century, but that’s still a ways off…
Thankfully, as is the natural consequence of innovation, engineers are constantly conceptualizing that manageable next step.
“Powerful batteries will give the SUV a driving range of over 300 miles.
It will be priced like a “reasonably equipped Mercedes GLC.” At today’s prices, that would be around $50,000.”
–Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN Money
Visitors of the 2016 Paris Motor Show were recently privileged to an exciting first glimpse of the Mercedes-Benz Generation EQ imagined for modern roads. While the cool blue design is a concept, there doesn’t appear to be too many far-fetched ideas in the video above. Yes, it’s a promo made by and for the German car giants, yet this engineering dream looks like a realistic ambition for a few years down the road. However, one small speed bump may be that, as clean and appealing as the white interior shows in HD, perhaps the final call should favor dark blue or black (from experience, bright white leather may not pair well with dark jeans or clothing with indigo or black dye).
That’s the only grilling the EQ warrants. Speaking of which, that new grill is hot.
Red Blue-hot.
There’s Dumb & There’s, You Know…
Summer, like a right angle, is just around the corner.
With the sun shining and birds singing, the time for planning that wondrous vacation has arrived. Let’s face it, there are three ways to travel: By air, by sea or by automobile.
Luckily, a lantern is no longer necessary for making this critically important decision.
In order to see the real Americana, everybody knows the experience of getting there is half the fun. Does this mean traveling Griswold-style in a wood panel station wagon? Yes. And it also means spotting a nice, tall building in your downtown, tipping it on its side, strapping some wheels on it and driving that across the country.
If you’re daring enough to accept this challenge, then Jeff Daniels has a few tips, which includes counting to three.
My guess is Jeff Daniels got his kicks on Route 66…as in literal kicks from his wife.
Electrically Engineering a T into a 3
(Tesla Model 3)
Tesla Motors is the conservative argument for positively responding to climate change/global warming/global cooling/environmental issues.
Tesla announced Thursday that it has received 325,000 preorders for its recently unveiled Model 3. If it sells every car that’s been reserved, the company says it will earn enough revenue to make this the “biggest one-week launch of any product ever.”
–Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge
One single car using gas or one single power plant is not the problem, but it’s the cumulative effect of millions of drivers or hundreds of power plants that has a meaningful impact on the release of carbon emissions into the air. Therefore, with cars, the goal is to present the marketplace with affordable, high-quality options.
Enter Elon Musk and his burgeoning company, Tesla Motors, that’s appropriately named after famed inventor Nikola Tesla.
This tech-driven company (see what I did there) is clearly being rewarded by anxiously excited followers for its ingenuity, hard-work, determination and recognition of a demand that’s marketed to a large portion of the American people to consider and even reserve for purchase next year.
Innovation is and has always been the right path towards a bright future that empowers the individual and then, as a result, empowers the collective. One electric car will not make a difference, but millions of electric cars on the road will change the carbon emissions equation. The power of individualism, innovation and opportunity must be taught and encouraged to this generation and future generations because of the incentives and the how inventiveness has benefited societies throughout history.
The iPhone was not dreamed up because of a tech regulation. Neither was the transportation revolution known as Henry Ford’s Model T, which was the first affordable automobile designed, built and produced for the American people roughly 100 years ago.
The close rhyming between 3 and T was a nice touch, Mr. Musk.
Conversely, what sense does it make to penalize consumers/the public with environmentally strangling regulations (especially without a Kung Fu grip on Mother Nature) and policies that punish people and companies? Photo-ops at these high-profile gatherings, where the focus is to cast blame and then reward a relatively select few participants with control and influence over the many, doesn’t project a hopeful future, especially when the measures taken amount to a gesture instead of a silver bullet.
Fiscal pain and high-minded barriers will not solve substantial problems. By high-minded, that refers to opponents of industries some deem unacceptable (like coal), but who have no better or ready alternatives for those workers who need to feed and provide for themselves and/or their families. Nobody likes pollution and some regulations are good and necessary, but, like government, figuring out policies to keep the regulatory code as small as possible is best.
There’s a paramount difference between idealism rooted in reality (conservatism) and idealism floating around in fantasy (liberalism).
Regardless of the extent that people across the political spectrum believe in global warming or global cooling (100%, 50%, 25%, 7.4%), the most important issues going forward are agreeing on a common goal and determining the most intelligent and economical approach.
We should strive for a carbon emissions-free future, achieved through empowering the engine of innovation.
In many cases,
- Innovation = Revolutions by and for the people
- Regulation = Power, control and influence over the people by and for a select few
$27,500 for the Tesla Model 3 (with $7,500 tax credit).
This inviting price point will attract car buyers in the 5-Star safety rated, 5-seat sedan in the $25K-$35K market, which will directly challenge car models from household names Toyota and Honda and even Lexus, Mercedes and Audi. If the Model 3 is successful and proves to have a reliable re-charging infrastructure and if (the recommended) nightly charging pattern for the 215-mile battery range like your smartphone results in a future worth the investment, then the conversation to join the names Elon Musk and Henry Ford in the same sentence in history books will begin.
People, once again, have an opportunity to change the world by buying a car.
Tesla Motors is a prime example of dreaming big, showcasing the power of the individual, American ingenuity and supplying a demand that could very well revolutionize cars, the transportation grid and solving a problem with carbon emissions in the environment with a positive, captivating solution that’s generating a magnetic appeal to its products and brand.
The Model 3’s engine may be nearly silent, but it still sounds like a revolution…
Jimmy's Daily Planet 