The Tesla factory in Fremont, CA, as seen from the air. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ElectroIrradiator
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 02:02:39 pm
content: You know these guys are serious, when you notice just how many railcars they have on the property. From what I can see there are at least 6 tracks just for roll-on/roll-off (un)loading.Was also interesting to see that many of the employees 'eat their own dogfood' and drive a Tesla to work.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 02:53:58 pm
content: This is, footprint wise, the second largest building in the world ... 510,000 m²it is larger than the Boeing factory...and more than double the size ( like 2.5 times) of the second largest car manufacturing plant in the world...

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 03:54:37 pm
content: Quote from: ElectroIrradiator on August 03, 2015, 02:02:39 pmemployees dont park bumper to bumper, those were production cars on the lotWhat I find suspicious is one solar panel near the entrance stuck in the grass like a sore thumb, almost like a sculpture (maybe even not connected to anything), and lack of panels (solarcity??) on the roof.

author: rx8pilot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 05:04:18 pm
content: That is stunning. The speed at which this company has been put together is really amazing. I wonder what is like to work in the creative design departments that are figuring out problems at near light speed.

author: ElectroIrradiator
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 05:32:48 pm
content: Quote from: Rasz on August 03, 2015, 03:54:37 pmI was referring to the clip at around 0:30, not the sea of new cars from the factory. After double checking with the snapshot from Google Maps with a full lot, it seems there are a fair number used by employees. Not, say, like a quarter of them, but more than I expected given the price point for a new Tesla model S.Google Earth also revealed another 8 ro/ro stub tracks for the railroad, for a total of 14...

author: ElectroIrradiator
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 06:00:47 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on August 03, 2015, 02:53:58 pmNot surehow large it is, yet in Germany there is a steel rolling mill, where they make the rails for the German high speed rail network. That place nearly fills a valley.But I think we may safely conclude, that there are still at least a few things being made in the US of A.

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 06:02:23 pm
content: Tesla didn't build that Fremont assembly plant. It was a joint GMC/Toyota venture that was abandoned after some years. Not sure if the plant was idle when acquired by Tesla or not.

author: rx8pilot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 06:22:51 pm
content: That is FAR smarter than building it from scratch! They must have stole it relative to a new design/build.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 06:32:27 pm
content: it was originally built by GM and then rolled into a partnership with Toyota under the name NUMMI : New United Motor Manufacturing Inc.GM pulled out first and in 2010 Toyota closed the site. In may the same year Tesla struck a deal with Toyota to help it develop the Rav-4 electric vehicle. Part of that contract was the takeover of the NUMMI site. By december the same year the factory powered up again.Tesla owns a couple of other 'unique' pieces of equipment. One of them is the largest hydrostatic press in North america.The Schuler press delivers 2000 Tons of pressure. It was purchased from a 'flailing' car maker (when they were almost going bankrupt and needed a bailout from the government giving them the nickname 'government motors' . It was previously used to make parts for a gas-guzzler vehicle that -cough- 'hummed' into oblivion...When Tesla contacted the manufacturer on how to disassemble and relocate the machine they said it would take over a year and include multiple trains to move everything. This was unacceptable and a Tesla internal team was formed. The full schematics of the press were obtained , and the Tesla team dismantled, shipped and re-assembled the press . Flawlessly from first screw out at disassembly to first pressed part out in our factory .... in 3 months.

author: rx8pilot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2015, 06:51:30 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on August 03, 2015, 06:32:27 pmWork smarter, not harder seems to be the driving philosophy at Tesla. Using cerebral capital to avoid wasting monetary capital allows them to compete against industry giants that are slow, cumbersome, and wasteful.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2015, 12:17:40 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on August 03, 2015, 02:53:58 pmLow productivity for footprint ratio is not something to be proud of.

author: ElectroIrradiator
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2015, 12:21:54 am
content: Quote from: zapta on August 04, 2015, 12:17:40 amWatch the NatGeo documentary free_electron linked. Tesla currently only utilizes 20% of the floor area for the manufacturing of the model S. The rest of the factory is 'dark' and intended for future expansion, once the next generation low cost car model goes into production.

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2015, 12:44:18 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on August 03, 2015, 06:32:27 pmit was the only unionised Toyota factory in USand the most productive GM factory before thatift was so good nobody wanted it

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2015, 01:48:21 am
content: Quote from: zapta on August 04, 2015, 12:17:40 amIt depends. Other car makers buy 70% of the car from outside suppliers where Tesla does almost everything in-house. All stamping, casting and injection molding is done by themself. The area to assemble the battery packs and drive trains is an entire floor. Even the dashboard and touchscreen is assembled in-house. (shown in the last video). None of that 'let's buy some crap from other suppliers and slap it together' stuff..

author: HP-ILnerd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2015, 03:29:32 am
content: I assume there's plans to cover the roof in solar?I noticed SpaceX has them on the roof at Hawthorne. Which, bizarrely is only visible in IE? Why the heck does Google Chrome get an older image? Anybody with Firefox or Safari see the "X" pattern in the solar panels at SpaceX?Link (which produces different results depending on your browser!)https://www.google.com/maps/place/Space+Exploration+Technologies/@33.9205943,-118.3279877,377m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x80c2b5dee40ddfbd:0xf60a2a5078d64369!6m1!1e1

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2015, 04:16:35 am
content: Quote from: HP-ILnerd on August 04, 2015, 03:29:32 amThat's bizarre. I can see the X in Safari on my iphone but not in Chrome on my W7 laptop.BTW - I grew up not too far from there and my dad worked in one of those buildings in the 60's and 70's as part of Northrop Electronics. I visited there several times as a kid. Cool to think of Tesla and Space X there now.

author: Richard Head
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2015, 06:11:57 am
content: I assume there's plans to cover the roof in solar?Why would you assume that? The decision whether or not to use photo voltaic panels should be based purely economics, seeing this is a business. I would expect any new business to play it safe and not spend a huge amount on something that will require +/-8 years to produce a return-on-investment. Rather use the money you have to improve your products and generate sales. When your profits are so high you have a tax problem then buy them, as they will be tax deductable.

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2015, 06:34:18 am
content: Quote from: Richard Head on August 04, 2015, 06:11:57 amsolarcity lets you install solar without buying panels outright, are you saying Elon calculated solarcity is a bad deal?

author: HP-ILnerd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2015, 07:31:08 am
content: Quote from: Richard Head on August 04, 2015, 06:11:57 amI'd assume it because of two points:A)Solar City's deal is that they will install arrays on your house for free and your electricity bills just went down. As Elon is also CEO of Solar City, he has unusual access to the technology.B)After their big dramatic announcement of Tesla Energy, with the goal of converting the entire planet to solar and battery power, they might have a hard time convincing anyone of the economics if they don't think it's economical on their own building.