Op-Ed: To tweet or not to tweet, now that Elon’s the boss
The Tesla CEO is clearly the boss at Tesla’s electric-car maker, and his company has been making headlines as a result. Tesla has been the subject of a lot of attention in recent days, whether it be because of a high-profile lawsuit alleging that Musk directed reporters to publish false information about the coronavirus pandemic or because it is now a top-10 automaker, thanks in large part to Musk’s push to reduce battery costs.
But there is more to the leader of the world’s largest automaker than just raising money to build solar roofs and electric cars at a furious pace. A CEO has to deliver on an ambitious vision that includes everything from a long-term energy storage system to a carbon-free transportation system. In fact, according to a new report from the Edison Project, Musk has a much broader vision for how he would like to see a world powered by renewable energy.
While Tesla is most certainly on the cutting edge of technological development, it has a history of making unconventional moves that are likely to be considered at some point as a company’s next big idea. In particular, Tesla and its CEO have been known for making outlandish predictions and then not living up to them.
In order to get a glimpse of what Elon Musk’s second act may look like in the coming months, here are five bets he might be making that the world will probably be hearing more about in the coming months:
A hydrogen economy
One of Musk’s signature accomplishments is the way he has successfully moved Tesla from a small luxury automaker into a giant in the car business. He’s also made a name for himself by driving the company into bankruptcy in 2002 and then building it back up. Tesla’s now a major force in the automotive world, and its electric cars are winning awards and are being featured in mainstream television, such as Amazon’s “Flesh and Machines” show.
That kind of recognition has put