In the world of technology and electric cars, the rivalry between Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Inc., and Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, seems to be far from over.
Last Sunday (17), Musk again fired comments against Gates, questioning his technical understanding and stating that he “left planet Earth”. But what is the background to this dispute?
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The confrontation of ideas
The exchange of barbs between Musk and Gates revolves around the viability of electricity as a source of energy for heavy vehicles, such as 18-wheel trucks.
Gates had previously stated that electricity was not suitable for this category of vehicles, stating that it worked well for short distances but not for long journeys.
In response, Musk, whose electric vehicle company had revealed the Tesla Semi in 2017, an all-electric truck, expressed disagreement with Gates' opinion.
He argued that electricity could indeed be a viable solution for heavy vehicles and challenged Gates' view on the matter.
The technical debate
Gates justified his position to Musk's biographer, Walter Isaacson, claiming to have numerical data that supported his statement. He stated that it was an area in which he had technical knowledge and that Musk lacked that understanding.
(Image: X/Reproduction)
Musk, in turn, countered Gates' claims, arguing that the Microsoft co-founder had not taken into account crucial assumptions, such as the density of energy of the battery and the energy efficiency of electric trucks.
Tesla Semi in practice
The clash takes on practical contours with the arrival of the Tesla Semi. Although production of the vehicle faced delays, the first deliveries were made to PepsiCo in December last year. This demonstrates Tesla's conviction in the viability of long-distance electric trucks.
It is important to note that bill Gates he maintained a short position (bet against the appreciation) in Tesla.
Additionally, in 2022, Musk turned down philanthropic overtures from Gates, arguing that Gates' short position in Tesla influenced his generosity.
While the debate between the two tycoons continues, the electric vehicle industry continues to evolve rapidly, with innovations that may eventually determine which of the two technology leaders was correct in their view on vehicle electrification heavy.