re: Tesla Semi could be ‘the biggest catalyst in trucking in decades’

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That's all well and good but thus far (as far as I know) there is no industry standard for battery placement nor size. Such a machine would need either an industry standard so it can work regardless of vehicle manufacturer or be highly adaptable.

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No, there is no standard. But physics and logic dictate that the battery should be located as low as possible and be easily accessible, so the undercarriage should be the de facto standard location for the battery pack. At that point, all that's needed is a hole in the ground, tooling for the pack fasteners, and a lift/jack to raise and lower the packs.

Fastening tools are easily and cheaply adaptable, so the hardest part to standardize on will probably be how to orient and place the packs. Mechanical guides, software, or a combination? Fully automated or manual? These are obviously details that need to be ironed out, but the way toward standardization is someone just needs to push ahead.

Standardization won't happen before they start being made and used. That happens after they are in use, we see what works and what doesn't, what's cheap and what's expensive. That's just how things go, we follow the money.

I think in the case of battery swap tech, worst case will be shops/stations pick a loser, and they end up with a hole in the ground and they kind of have no choice but to retrofit the "winning" tech into the hole.

The biggest question I think is how do these small shops keep batteries on hand before the sizes and configurations are standardized? But even that logistics problem is easily solved, it's just distributed inventory control. Contracts, partnerships, etc. As long as you can get the right battery to the right place in less time than it takes that vehicle to charge its own battery, you've got a money-making opportunity.

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My guess

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The foundation for many of your arguments.

FTR, I'm not anti-elelectric/autonomous nor do I think Musk is undertaking some sort of conspiracy, merely that his tactics mirror one that already occurred but that could not be reproduced in the current environment.

My basic argument continues to be that Musk and his Greek chorus of acolytes are overstating and overreaching in order to gain financial and political favor that will, ultimately, further line Musk's and his stakeholders' pockets.

If that analysis sullies the god-like image some of you seem to have about ole Elon, well, welcome to the real world...

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My guess

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The foundation for many of your arguments.

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Do you have an alternative way to discuss the future? Should I instead predict, speculate, surmise, or prognosticate? Or do you have a crystal ball I can borrow?

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merely that his tactics mirror one that already occurred but that could not be reproduced in the current environment.

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?

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My basic argument continues to be that Musk and his Greek chorus of acolytes are overstating and overreaching in order to gain financial and political favor that will, ultimately, further line Musk's and his stakeholders' pockets.

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First of all, is it supposed to be some sort of insult that he's out to acquire wealth? Isn't that what we all wake up every morning to do? Line our own pockets? Musk is just better at it than most.

Second, Musk is probably the last incredibly rich guy who should be accused of just trying to further line his own pockets. He has given away a lot of Tesla patents. He "invented" the hyperloop and told the world to have at it. His goals are basically to go to Mars and to save Earth. As opposed to most people who create things in order to accumulate wealth, fame, and power, Musk seems to accumulate wealth, fame, and power in order to create and do more things.

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If that analysis sullies the god-like image some of you seem to have about ole Elon, well, welcome to the real world...

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Ah, I see, so you're just jealous. It's ok to be jealous, we all are from time to time. Just try not to let the jealousy turn to hate. It tends to frick with our judgment. That's some real world shite for you.

Besides, what difference would it make if he were just trying to line his pockets? He has an established history of (yes) overstating a bit, but also of actually delivering on his word. He said he would build spaceships, so he went ahead and built spaceships. Launches have never been cheaper. He said he would build electric cars (at a time most thought all-electric plug-ins were silly), and he went ahead and built them. I don't think any vehicle has a higher owner satisfaction rating. He said he would build the biggest battery factory in the world, and he's doing that, too.

So, you'll have to forgive me if, when the man says he's going to build a god-damned semi truck, that I believe he's going to build it. And I also believe that the trucking industry will move in the autonomous electric direction, because economics dictate that it MUST. The two largest expenses in the industry are fuel and driver pay, so you'd have to be a fool to think they won't try to minimize those. And it's not hard to imagine Musk leading the way, just as he has in nearly everything else he puts his mind to.