Thanks for posting. Some somber words at the end of that piece...my reaction is that someone has to pave the way.
Are there any auto factories in the US that have a uniform? The Ferrari factory is the closest I've seen to Tesla's.
If the batteries are not manufactured in Fremont, where are they manufactured? Also, what I never understood is the battery pack is said to be able to be swapped out in less than 2 minutes. But the battery pack is also said to be part of the structure--giving the car it's body stiffness. These two things seem incompatible to me.
The battery pack plugs into,the floor pan, which is molded to accept the ballet. With battery in, battery plus floorpan makes a superb structural unit, as well as keeping much of the weight at or below the axles for a great center of gravity. Sent from my iPad
Right now the cells are from Panasonic which has factories in Japan and other countries. The battery pack is made in Fremont. Tesla assembles the cells and other components to create the battery. The battery pack is fastened onto the body from underneath. The bolts incorporate the battery assembly into the body providing additional stiffness. undo the fasteners and the battery drops out (Don't try this at home).
The battery assembly is held in with 20+ bolts. The two minute quote assumed that special rigging would be developed that would simultaneously remove all 20+ bolts and then lower the battery assembly from the car.