Virgin may build electric vehicle to compete with Tesla - Polidicks

[url]http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/201761-virgin-may-build-electric-vehicle-to-compete-with-tesla[/url] [QUOTE]Virgin and Richard Branson may enter the electric vehicle business, Branson hints. The Virgin name is already on airplanes, [URL="http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/193398-virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-suffers-catastrophic-failure-during-flight-test"]spaceships[/URL], and cruise ships, as well as music and health clubs. The company also competes in the Formula E racing series for electric-only vehicles. Recently Branson said “you never know” when asked about the odds of Virgin’s entry into EV passenger cars. The genesis of the Virgin-builds-EVs story is based on Virgin’s think-different, think-outside-the-box interests. Once it got into Formula E, hints were dropped, and amplified perhaps to the point where signal and noise match up, that Branson might consider building passenger EVs. At the Miami Grand Prix Formula E race, Bloomberg TV popped the passenger-cars question. Branson’s response: “We have teams of people working on electric cars,” Branson said. “So you never know—you may find Virgin competing with Tesla in the car business as we do in the space business. We will see what happens.” If it’s not a yes, it’s not a no. [/QUOTE]

You know, I forgot about Richard Branson. He was the big-shot playboy billionaire inventor before Elon Musk showed up. Makes sense he'd want to take his title back.

This is exactly what Elon Musk wants.

I thought it was a lone virgin man building a car to compete with Tesla.

And I reckon Virgin could be able to get electric cars more worldwide support thus helping the industry out further

This is great, competition is good of consumers

[QUOTE=Npc_Hydra3;47381783]I thought it was a lone virgin man building a car to compete with Tesla.[/QUOTE] Boy that would be fun.

I can't wait to take my Virgin for a ride.

[QUOTE=fruxodaily;47381874]And I reckon Virgin could be able to get electric cars more worldwide support thus helping the industry out further[/QUOTE] Elon is more than twice as wealthy as Richard Branson, but Branson has network of clients around the globe.

Wow, great. Who's the facepuncher?

People losing their virginity in a Virgin. I fucking love it.

shit, they caught me i was so close to building this car too

wait im not building anything?

I hope the interior is as chill as their planes. [IMG]http://www.insidethemagic.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/virgin-america.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=Npc_Hydra3;47381783]I thought it was a lone virgin man building a car to compete with Tesla.[/QUOTE] Instead it's Richard Branson hiring a load of lonely virgin men to build a car to compete with Tesla.

isn't branson a bit overstretched though, not to shit on him but what other virgin ventures have actually gone past proof of concept outside of his airlines anyway more electric cars = more electric cars

[QUOTE=Sableye;47382437]isn't branson a bit overstretched though, not to shit on him but what other virgin ventures have actually gone past proof of concept outside of his airlines anyway more electric cars = more electric cars[/QUOTE] Virgin Money, fitness, megastores, hotels, mobile, Rail (very big in the UK) and plenty of smaller investments, and past investments

Richard certainly has more money than when Elon went into Tesla. He's also in a friendlier market. He's got a lot of catching up to do right now though unless he wants to be using Tesla drivetrains in his Virgin cars. I'd start by hiring like 10-20 engineers to reverse engineer all those patents Tesla released, and then try to use it to do my own thing, while consulting designers and factory planners.

I want him to use Tesla stuff, advance on it, and then release the patents back into the public again like Tesla.

[QUOTE=GunFox;47383029]I want him to use Tesla stuff, advance on it, and then release the patents back into the public again like Tesla.[/QUOTE] Imagine a world where patents are open-source. Think of the massive growth-spurts innovation would have.

This is pretty good, more products from two big companies will equal widespread use of electric cars.

[QUOTE=counterpo0;47382286]I hope the interior is as chill as their planes. [IMG]http://www.insidethemagic.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/virgin-america.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] Holy shit, I'd want to travel on this plane just to feel the atmosphere of it. That makes me think, affordable plane lounges? Like a mile-high club but virgin friendly :V

[QUOTE=OvB;47382189]Elon is more than twice as wealthy as Richard Branson, but Branson has network of clients around the globe.[/QUOTE] that's what I meant, if anyone can jumpstart this industry more globally it's Branson

I can see Virgin being a branding issue in North America, honestly. Nobody wants a car with Virgin written on it.

[QUOTE=Zero-Point;47383570]Imagine a world where patents are open-source. Think of the massive growth-spurts innovation would have.[/QUOTE] Patents...are...open source. That is the point. Back in the day people kept taking the secrets of their trade to their grave, so we kept losing advancements in technology. The patent system was invented to ensure legal protections for inventors, but still offer up their technology to all of society eventually. Generally I believe Italian glass blowers were the poster children for taking innovations with them when they croaked. If everyone can use a patent, then it isn't really a patent. =/ [editline]23rd March 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Zeke129;47383761]I can see Virgin being a branding issue in North America, honestly. Nobody wants a car with Virgin written on it.[/QUOTE] We'll just spell it backwards! Nigri-nope nope nope

[QUOTE=GunFox;47383771]Patents...are...open source. That is the point. Back in the day people kept taking the secrets of their trade to their grave, so we kept losing advancements in technology. The patent system was invented to ensure legal protections for inventors, but still offer up their technology to all of society eventually. Generally I believe Italian glass blowers were the poster children for taking innovations with them when they croaked. If everyone can use a patent, then it isn't really a patent. =/ [editline]23rd March 2015[/editline] We'll just spell it backwards! Nigri-nope nope nope[/QUOTE] I mean as in how Elon Musk is handling it. If people kept immediately bouncing ideas off of each other's heads in this fashion, just think of the progress that could be made.

[QUOTE=Zero-Point;47383784]I mean as in how Elon Musk is handling it. If people kept immediately bouncing ideas off of each other's heads in this fashion, just think of the progress that could be made.[/QUOTE] Oh I agree. People willingly giving up their patent exclusivity more often would be wonderful. Less effort spent on re-engineering tech, more effort spent on advancing forward.

[QUOTE=GunFox;47383771] We'll just spell it backwards! Nigri-nope nope nope[/QUOTE] He should just take the name of a dead scientist and name the car after that, despite having nothing to do with the person. I'd drive a Fermi. Wait no that's worse

[QUOTE=Zeke129;47383761]I can see Virgin being a branding issue in North America, honestly. Nobody wants a car with Virgin written on it.[/QUOTE] Haven't seen any issues with Virgin branding for their flights for America as Virgin America. I mean there's a different audience when it comes to cars tho and driving in a "Virgin Car" would be roast material Bransons probably aware of it

[QUOTE=Zeke129;47383814]He should just take the name of a dead scientist and name the car after that, despite having nothing to do with the person. I'd drive a Fermi. Wait no that's worse[/QUOTE] What kind of car is that? It's a Curie! My bones hurt...