He got away with it! Not liable: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/06/unsworth-vs-musk-pedo-guy-defamation-trial-verdict.html The demanded money for damages was way too excessive, but if I had been a jury member I would have given the diver a dollar at least. Although I guess being an asshole is not illegal.
These are fine tech ideas. But I wouldn't buy one of his cars - purely because its one of his cars. Nothing against the tech, no criticism of his success, its the man himself I don't respect: I wouldn't p1ss on him if he was on fire.
Now that this trial is over, until the next one we can go a bit off topic. Here is a typical Musk fan, spouting the usual Elon myths: "So massively improving Electric Vehicles for all, due to no patents on his tech and re using rockets and massively reducing space travel costs and likely other projects on the go," 1. Tesla didn't improve shit for all. Maybe for the riches, but as long as mass transportation or sustainable living goes, their effect is zero. 2. The reusable rocket is not practical. The jury is still out on just how many times they can be reused, but the payload has to be much less because they need energy to bring the rocket back. And no, it isn't cheaper contrary to what they say. 3. Other project like the vaporware solar shingles or the completely humbug Boring company. But he is a brilliant stock promoter, we have to give it to him.
3 or 4 reuses better than none, it's only 1 tonne less for the same orbit, worth the savings, expensive engines. EVs aren't practical long term for the masses anyway, lack of raw materials, copper, rare earth magnets, so tricky on that 1. Boring, massively reduced the price of tunneling, but he bought existing tech to do so.
1. We simply don't know if there are savings. If the getting ready for reuse costs almost as much as a new rocket, they might as well use a new one. Not to mention we will only know how many times they can be reused when they finally fail. Now had they already reused any of their rockets 10+ times, I would say, sure, it is proven. So far the most was reused only once iirc. 2. I agree that EVs have not got enough energy density. But if so, they shouldn't make silly claims. You can't beat the law of physics. Maybe sometimes in the future. 3. Boring hasn't bored anything useful so far. They have some contracts to bore, but we shall see what comes out of them.
And the trial is on!: https://www.reuters.com/business/mu...l-solarcity-2021-07-12/?utm_source=reddit.com