Elon Musk Declares EV Range a “Solved” Problem

Photo by: InsideEVs
During the earnings call, Elon Musk made a bold statement declaring that EV range is no longer a problem to be solved. With the advancements in battery technology and efficiency, Tesla has been able to push the boundaries of electric vehicle range, making it a non-issue for consumers. This bold claim further solidifies Tesla’s position as a leader in the EV market, setting the bar high for other automakers to follow suit.
Tesla Only Wants to License Full Self-Driving to Serious Companies

Photo by: InsideEVs
In a surprising move, Tesla announced that it will only license its Full Self-Driving technology to companies that are serious about implementing it. This strategic decision not only ensures the safety and reliability of the technology but also shows Tesla’s commitment to working with partners who share their vision for a fully autonomous future. This selective approach sets Tesla apart from other companies in the autonomous driving space and further cements their position as a leader in the field.
As Tesla continues to focus on developing cutting-edge AI technology and autonomous driving systems, investors are eagerly watching to see how these innovations will shape the future of the company. With a clear shift towards AI and autonomy over traditional car manufacturing, Tesla is paving the way for a new era of transportation that is driven by innovation and technology.
And as Wall Street continues to show confidence in Tesla’s vision, it’s clear that the company’s focus on robots and AI is more than just a passing trend—it’s a strategic move that is paying off in a big way.
That’s all for today’s edition of Critical Materials. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest electric and automotive tech news.
Furthermore, Musk’s statement also overlooks the fact that EV range is not just about how far a car can go on a single charge. It’s also about how quickly and conveniently that car can be recharged. In many cases, the lack of a robust charging infrastructure can be a major deterrent for potential EV buyers. Without widespread access to fast and reliable charging stations, the range of an EV becomes a much more pressing concern.
While Tesla has made significant strides in improving EV range with its cutting-edge battery technology, it’s important to remember that the EV market is a rapidly evolving landscape. Other automakers are investing heavily in research and development to push the boundaries of battery technology even further. By declaring range a “solved problem,” Musk may be inadvertently downplaying the ongoing efforts of these competitors.
Ultimately, the success of the EV industry will depend on a combination of factors, including range, charging infrastructure, affordability, and consumer education. While Tesla’s AI visions and self-driving technology may be capturing the spotlight for now, it’s crucial not to lose sight of the importance of continued innovation in the realm of EV battery technology.
As long as Tesla remains at the forefront of this innovation, the stock market may continue to overlook the company’s core car business in favor of its AI and self-driving capabilities. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that the EV industry is a complex and multifaceted ecosystem that requires collaboration and competition among all players to truly thrive.
So, while Elon Musk may believe that EV range is a “solved problem,” the reality is that there is still much work to be done to ensure that electric vehicles can meet the needs and expectations of consumers around the world.
Elon Musk has always been known for his bold statements and ambitious goals, and his recent declaration that Tesla is open to licensing its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology to other automakers is no exception. However, as Musk himself acknowledged, the road to achieving true autonomy is a long and complex one, and simply having access to Tesla’s FSD software is not a silver bullet solution.
During Tesla’s quarterly earnings call, Musk made it clear that the company is only interested in entertaining offers from other automakers if they are serious about implementing FSD on a large scale. In Musk’s own words, “We’re only going to entertain situations where the volume would be very high, otherwise it is not worth the complexity.” This stance underscores Tesla’s commitment to ensuring that any potential partnerships are mutually beneficial and have the potential to drive meaningful progress in the development of autonomous driving technology.
Musk also emphasized that Tesla would not engage in lengthy discussions with other engineering teams until it has achieved unsupervised Full Self-Driving capabilities across the United States. This prerequisite highlights Tesla’s focus on delivering a truly autonomous driving experience before considering licensing its technology to other automakers. It also serves as a reminder that achieving true autonomy is a challenging and time-consuming endeavor that requires careful planning and execution.
For automakers seeking to license Tesla’s FSD technology, the potential benefits are clear. By partnering with Tesla, automakers can leverage the company’s expertise and experience in developing autonomous driving technology, potentially accelerating their own efforts to bring self-driving cars to market. However, it is important to note that FSD is still a work in progress, and any partnerships would likely involve implementing driver-assistance features rather than fully autonomous capabilities.
As Tesla continues to work towards achieving widespread deployment of FSD, the interest from other automakers in licensing the technology is likely to grow. Whether these partnerships will ultimately materialize remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: solving the range issue is just the first step towards achieving true autonomy. As Musk himself acknowledged, there is still much work to be done before we can truly declare the problem solved. While Tesla has been making strides in autonomous driving technology, the idea of launching a fleet of unsupervised self-driving cars for public use is a whole new ballgame. The biggest challenge Tesla will face when rolling out its paid Robotaxi service in June is ensuring the safety and reliability of the vehicles without any human intervention.
One of the key concerns is Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, which has been in development for several years. While Tesla has been testing FSD features with real-world users, there are still issues with the system, such as cars hopping curbs or making erratic driving decisions. These issues will need to be ironed out before Tesla can confidently deploy unsupervised self-driving cars on public roads.
Another challenge is the logistics of managing a fleet of self-driving vehicles. While the cars may be able to drive themselves, someone will still need to be responsible for charging the vehicles, maintaining them, and cleaning them regularly. This human intervention goes against the concept of a fully autonomous Robotaxi service and could pose challenges for Tesla in terms of scalability and efficiency.
Additionally, there are regulatory and legal hurdles that Tesla will need to navigate when launching its Robotaxi service. Autonomous vehicles are still a relatively new technology, and there are many questions about liability, insurance, and safety standards that need to be addressed before self-driving cars can be deployed for public use.
Overall, while Tesla’s plans to launch a fleet of unsupervised self-driving cars in June are ambitious, there are still many challenges that the company will need to overcome to make this a reality. It will be interesting to see how Tesla addresses these challenges and whether the June launch will be a true public test of the capabilities of autonomous driving technology. Tesla’s plan to launch a robotaxi network in June is an ambitious one, but it’s clear that they may not have a fleet of Optimus robots ready to take on all the human tasks associated with operating the service. This means that some quick planning and strategizing will be needed in order to make the venture a success.
One of the biggest hurdles that Tesla will need to overcome in order to make its robotaxi venture successful is the issue of safety and reliability. While Tesla’s self-driving technology has made significant strides in recent years, there are still concerns about the ability of autonomous vehicles to navigate complex and unpredictable real-world environments. Ensuring that the technology is robust enough to handle a wide range of scenarios, from heavy traffic to adverse weather conditions, will be crucial in gaining the trust of both regulators and the general public.
Another challenge that Tesla will face is the need to scale up its operations quickly in order to meet the demand for its robotaxi service. Building a fleet of autonomous vehicles, setting up charging infrastructure, and managing the logistics of a large-scale transportation network will require significant resources and careful planning. Tesla will need to demonstrate that it can efficiently deploy and maintain a large number of vehicles in order to make the service viable in the long run.
In addition, Tesla will also need to address legal and regulatory challenges in order to operate its robotaxi service effectively. Ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations, as well as addressing concerns about liability and insurance, will be key in gaining the necessary approvals to launch and operate the service.
Overall, while Tesla’s plans for a robotaxi network are exciting, there are still several hurdles that the company will need to overcome in order to make the venture a success. By addressing issues related to safety, scalability, and regulatory compliance, Tesla can position itself as a leader in the autonomous transportation space and pave the way for a future where self-driving vehicles are a common sight on the roads.