[JanSolo]

The critical part of this article is this:

"But in June 2023, Musk said at an energy conference that "there just weren't enough batteries" for Tesla to reach "volume production" of the truck."

It looks like battery production is the major constraint on Teslas endeavours. Someone at Tesla clearly did the math on ROI-per-cell and decided that Semis just don't pay as well as Cybertrucks or Powerwalls. That's why they're starving the Semi operation until they can spin up more battery production.

[Workaccount2]

The craziest thing about Tesla is that people still believe what musk says.

I agree it makes sense that battery production is the limiting factor, but my ability to trust what Musk says is close to zero.

[detourdog]

I expect this news to have a positive effect. I wonder if an individual might own so much stock that they can overwhelm the short market for small durations. The price jump yesterday made no sense to me.

[theultdev]

Man the critics here about deadlines is astounding.

I wonder how many deadlines that people miss here, and that's usually just pure software, no materials.

[harborsong]

The craziest thing is, regardless how people feel about politics, Musk has achieved a lot for technology yet people in technology forums disparage him. I guess politics trumps technology.

[hedora]

As a counterpoint, we tried to get a tesla roof. Their repeated broken promises meant that we went with competitors (you can only delay installing a roof for so long...), and we simply don't trust Tesla to do anything at this point.

Most people I know are buying LG (small system) or Enphase (large system) batteries instead, or going with other competitors (Anker announced something that looks pretty sweet).

Also, Powerwalls are notoriously unreliable compared to those other brands; our local Tesla installer said they refuse to install them except when they are acting as a Tesla subcontractor, and pushed us to enphase or generac.

For semis, they took deposits then didn't deliver, so marquee customers are complaining publicly and buying semis from competitors.

For solar roofs, we talked to their competitors, and they were all backlogged because they were absorbing cancelled tesla contracts.

Tesla is great at marketing and making the sale, but then letting their competitors close out the deal.

[specialist]

I'm sure there's some truth to your speculation.

Yes and: Perhaps the Semi uses cells which are supply constrained. The Limiting Factor does updates on which models use which cells, where those cells are made, their current chemistry, and how cell supply might impact vehicle production numbers. Analysis based on data gleaned from public data, so uncertainty is stated as needed.

My own quick search didn't yield any answers.

[adrr]

What batteries are in the semi-trucks? I would assume it isn't even Tesla's battery but the LFP batteries from BYD and CATL for faster charging, and longevity. Powerwalls are LFP batteries.

[Symbiote]

And "BYD has deployed more than 60,000 electric buses that are currently operating around the world" so 1,000 semi trucks isn't so much.

There are more full-electric buses running in London than Tesla had orders for the Semi.

[moogly]

Only the newest version of Powerwall (v3) is LFP.

[serial_dev]

That's why he is happy that the US can "coup whoever we want". Damned be those who built their countries on top of our lithium!