Tesla’s dirty little secret on California's I-5

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Sep 3, 2023 | Andrew Pridgen

[artichokegrower]

But as with many Tesla-related things, there is a secret, thinly obscured by an Oz-like curtain, at the Harris Ranch Supercharger. Hidden in plain sight across the way from the Harris Ranch Supercharger’s main stations, behind a Shell station, is a small diesel plant that has helped power Tesla’s footprint.

Go figure

[marktwain]

Why is that a problem, or a surprise?

Elon Musk has been campaigning for more electric power generation for years.

He has been saying the obvious: the electric grid cannot handle the load of significant numbers of electric vehicles.

[left that other site]

The electricity has to come from somewhere.

[ridesthemiles]

Harris Ranch restaurant is really great.

[dfwgator]

Unicorn Farts!

[Mr. Jeeves]

Why is that a problem, or a surprise?

I think many Tesla owners are convinced that the power needed to charge their cars comes exclusively from solar or wind - that embracing the Tesla ecosystem somehow amounts to a total rejection of so-called "fossil fuels".

It's an important part of the mythology.

[ConservativeMind]

If your electric providers can’t guarantee enough electricity, you make your own.

[fruser1]

Tesla owners would believe it if you told them that they’d never have to find a place to charge if they just put wind turbines on the roof of their car so they could charge while driving.

[bobonthejob]

With the feed lot being nearby, it’s not only unicorn farts!

[BobL]

“Unicorn Farts!”

Try 100,000 head of cattle or something like that.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

there is a secret, thinly obscured by an Oz-like curtain, at the Harris Ranch Supercharger. Hidden in plain sight across the way from the Harris Ranch Supercharger’s main stations, behind a Shell station, is a small diesel plant that has helped power Tesla’s footprint.

This is only a "secret" to those who are too ignorant to understand how electricity is generated.

[Scrambler Bob]

I think many Tesla owners are convinced that the power needed to charge their cars comes exclusively from solar or wind -
= = =

OK, let’s get them closer to the source.

Equip each windmill with some Tesla charger plugs.

Install some at each solar farm.

Now, on a trip, the Tesla driver just has to pull up to one of these chargers.

Windmills and solar is mucho plentiful in some areas, right?

[Lizavetta]

who are too ignorant to understand how electricity is generated.

That would be me. Is all electricity generated by fossil fuels? Some of it?

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Reality takes a bite out of pie in the sky.

[marron]

Generally coal and natural gas.

[left that other site]

Never thought of THAT! LOL!

[Carriage Hill]

Solar panels on the hood, roof and trunk, would do the trick. Heh.

[bigbob]

I’d love to see him/Tesla develop dispersed micro molten-salt reactors for this purpose: https://www.theregister.com/2022/10/05/micro_molten_salt_reactor/

[logi_cal869]

Stating the obvious: And the diesel came from a refinery powered by coal/gas to refine petroleum.

I want to see a video of Q&A on the street and watch lib heads explode.

[TexasGator]

“across the way from the Harris Ranch Supercharger’s main stations, behind a Shell station,”

And the author could not document his assertions!