VIDEO SATURDAY - Powerwall, Roofing Tiles, CFO Assets and Drones

We are pleased to present 25 minutes of viewing curated by InfoStream for your edification:

TESLA Powerwall 2 is a battery for homes and small businesses that stores the sun’s energy and delivers clean, reliable electricity when the sun isn’t shining. Combine Powerwall, solar and an electric vehicle to create a zero emission lifestyle. The sun provides more than enough energy in just one hour to supply our planet’s energy needs for an entire year. (19'03")

Bill Fuessler and Tom Fisher, IBM: Role of Data as a Strategic CFO Asset (2'33")

Research Engineer Dustin Sharber is Enhancing How We Use Drones - GE (2'47")

INVEST - Alphabet (Google) Most Active Corporate Investor in 2017

Crunchbase - A Peek Inside Alphabet’s Investing Universe

This Crunchbase article provides a wonderful collection of information and graphs showing the investment activity and profile of Alphabet (Google) and other peers. The graphs provide a snapshot and summary of the following elements:

• Count of Corporate Investment Deals
• Investment by Alphabet's Main Financial Arms
• The Alphabet Investment Universe
• Top Acquirers of Alphabet-Backed Startups

Some readers may not know of the relationship between Google, Google founders, SolarCity and Tesla which is also provided in the article.

THE LINK

MARKET - Tesla's Pricing for Semi Truck Lower Than Expected

Tesla releases pricing for its new series of Electric Semi's

With Elon Musk focusing on the cost of operation instead of the purchase price at last week's unveiling, most analysts in the trucking industry were projecting prices in the US$220K+ range. 

However, Tesla has beat projections by revealing the following expected prices:

• Tesla Semi 300  (300 Mile Range) @ US$150K
• Tesla Semi 500  (500 Mile Range) @ US$180K
• Tesla Semi Founders Series @ US$200K
• Most diesel semi trucks today cost around US$120K.

THE COMPLETE TESLA SPEC SHEET AND PRICING FOR THE SEMI

Confirmed orders for the Tesla Semi.

Musk says the truck is expected to be delivered in 2019, has achieved a drag coefficient of 0.36 which beats some modern passenger cars and with its four independent electric motors is capable of acceleration from 0-60 mph with a full load (80,000 lbs) in 20 seconds.

Naysayers are numerous. However, it may not be prudent bet against Musk, the man who is reusing rockets by landing them in a vertical position (when everyone said it couldn't be done). Musk is also the man who yesterday won a $50m bet by installing the world's largest lithium battery in Australia in under a 100 days.

EMERGE - Tesla Truck Launch (Surprise ending)

Lots of fun at the Tesla Launch last night! 

Tomorrow doesn't seem that far away. 

This really could be a 'hard core smack down' for diesel and gas burning vehicles!!

INNOVATE - Tesla Announces New Solar Roof Tiles

As the world's population grows and becomes ever more dependent on technology, the need for energy grows as well. 

Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and SolarCity chairman, recently announced a new way to power your home with solar energy.

(Tesla solar roof tiles)

The attractive Solar Roof tiles are made from quartz glass and should last two to three times longer than traditional asphalt shingles.

The Solar Roof features four tile designs, ranging from traditional to modern to Tuscan, that look unlike solar panels have ever looked before.

During the announcement, Musk highlighted the integration of Tesla's products, which will include SolarCity products when a merger is complete.

In August, Musk had announced that Tesla would join with his other company, SolarCity, in a $2.6 billion merger to become an "end-to-end clean energy" solution.

With the company merger, Solar Roof, and the new version of its at-home battery, Powerwall 2.0, it seems Tesla is getting closer to reaching its vision to “accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.”

One of the biggest challenges for homeowners and businesses to convert to an alternative power source has been price. So how much will this new roof cost?

According to Musk, the full cost of a roof and electricity will be competitive or better than the cost of a traditional roof combined with the cost of electricity from the grid.

Smart cities are developing and they require energy. Society's increased use of computers, mobile, tablets and new electronics draw on the world’s energy reserves.

The US Energy Information Administration projects 48% increase in world energy consumption by 2040, so innovations like the Solar Roof are essential.