Web traffic is dying, and now Google is putting AI answers at the top of its search results. What does this mean for your favorite websites? Plus, Uber’s new shuttle service, Tesla drivers ditch self-driving mode, and Jeff Bezos’ email etiquette.
$16K for a car battery? Only if you drive an EV …
Here’s a shocker you need to know: Replacing the battery in an electric vehicle can set you back up to $50,000. For those of you keeping track at home, that’s more than a brand-new Tesla Model 3. I’m not beating up Tesla. All EV carmakers hope you don’t figure this out.
OK, how long do EV batteries last?
Hmm, 10 years? 20? Nope. According to a Daily Mail investigation, the average EV battery lasts about eight years — and after that, there’s no hard and fast rule for knowing how much time you have left.,
Many EVs lose up to 12% of their charge capacity by the sixth year, and some lose even more. Case in point: By the time a Nissan Leaf reaches eight years old, it may have lost up to 20% of its battery life — in other words, 99 miles per charge versus the 124 you got while it was new.
Why so pricey?
EV batteries use high-demand metals like nickel, cobalt, lithium and manganese, which are also used in phone and laptop batteries. Plus, you need a specialist to replace them. Most car companies only let you get a replacement at one of their dealerships.
EV batteries typically come with eight-year warranties — but beyond that, to replace it, you’re looking at $16,000 minimum.
If you’re considering an EV or already have one …
- Charge at home. When you can, use a home-based, mains-connected charger (e.g., wall outlet) vs. a high-speed charger.
- Weather makes a big difference. EVs operate best between 77 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Colder temps slow down EV batteries. It also reduces their capacity over time.
Buying a used EV
Most EV battery warranties cover the first eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Make sure you know exactly how much time is left on the EV battery’s warranty and how much it’s going to cost to replace it.
🤣 Before you say “Tesla” backward, make sure everyone’s ready. All set? (Oh, tough crowd today!)
Tesla tragedy: In Washington, a motorcyclist died after a Tesla on autopilot rear-ended him at high speed. The driver said he trusted the Tesla to drive for him while he was scrolling on his phone. Now he’s charged with vehicular homicide. So, so avoidable. Autopilot is not “self-driving;” it’s just glorified cruise control and lane assist.
$700 CyberHammer
From Tesla is already sold out. Remember when Elon accidentally broke the window of a Cybertruck on stage? Yeah, it’s modeled after the same sledgehammer. They say it’s for gym use or display purposes only.
0 job openings at Tesla
Way down from the 3,400 roles posted just a week ago. Elon Musk says he’s being “absolutely hardcore” about job cuts, trimming 20,000 folks over four weeks. Ex-employees were reportedly laid off over email, and let’s just say they’re hardcore pissed about it.
Tesla's in trouble, big trouble
Tesla sales are plummeting, and 14,000 workers have been laid off. Plus, Google unveils a ChatGPT rival, FTC scams skyrocket, and Instagram blurs unsolicited nudes. Struggling with sleep? I’ve got a pro phone tip that will help.
Can Tesla be saved?
The automaker used to think it couldn’t make mistakes. Now facing big problems, is it too late to fix them?
Elons just wanna have funds: Musk says the only way to fight bots on X is to charge for posts. New users might have to pay a “small fee” to post the first three months their X account is active. This comes one month before Tesla’s stockholders vote to bring back Musk’s $56 billion compensation package. I’ll take the job for $5.6 billion.
🚨 Faulty Cybertrucks: Tesla has stopped all Cybertruck deliveries for a week because of faulty accelerator pedals. Turns out, the metal covers can detach and stick to the floorboards, making drivers accelerate at full speed — from 0 mph to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds, to be exact. This follows Tesla laying off at least 14,000 employees and losing 29% in market cap after poor quarterly earnings. Talk about a week.
Tesla drowning: Billionaire Angela Chao met a tragic end when her Tesla dove into a pond on her Texas ranch. The Tesla Model X’s reinforced glass, meant to keep her safe, ended up blocking rescuers. The chilling twist? The sheriff’s department is calling it an accident, but there are whispers about a possible hack.
Stars-truck: The $100,000 Tesla Cybertruck is the latest accessory for celebs like Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Jay Leno. People are already cashing in, flipping their Cybertrucks for double the price. Who’s going to tell them it looks like a 5-year-old’s drawing?
$6,500 more for paint
That’s how much a colorful Cybertruck will cost ya. Tesla just released paint film wraps in three colors: Slip grey, satin rose gold and satin abyss blue. A Cybertruck starts at $60,990, and some owners say the finish is rusting. Oh, the irony.
📉 Tusk-tusk, Musk: Tesla stock has plunged 24%, making it the S&P 500’s worst performer of the year so far. Thanks to recalls and Elon Musk’s antics (like, you know, the alleged drug use), investors are giving it the cold shoulder.
$5 billion - How far Bezos is from overtaking Musk
One more Amazon stock surge and a Tesla dip could make him the world’s wealthiest person. Btw, Bezos has added $18 billion to his wealth this year; Elon is down 29%.
Drives me crazy: In a vid on X, Dante Lentini is seen driving his Tesla on autopilot wearing the Vision Pro. The clip shows him being stopped by police, complete with their lights flashing behind him. Dante said the police bit was just a skit, but he really did drive with the headset on.
Chicago's Tesla graveyard charging stations
Want to charge your Tesla in the cold? Here’s why it might not work as well as you’d hope.
The news gets even worse for Tesla in 2024
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Apple Watch ban, FTC's spam call win & secret IG photo hack
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Tesla drivers have the highest accident rate
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What to do if you're trapped in your Tesla
Can’t find a way out? Here’s what you need to know, in one minute.