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2025 Investment Thread

They should, but instead of that, they want to pay him about as much as what the top ten automakers are worth. The top ten, the entire business, more than the wages of one guy. And, I think they should. I want as much bloat in tesla as possible so Caddy can crush it with puts. :laughing
 
byke said:
The charging time is actually the best part, to incentivize people to buy electric cars more like a civic instead of a suburban. The way we do electric isn't really aligned with the whole motivation behind developing electric. Basically, "your" gluttony isn't "my" problem.
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Civic sized EVs exist. That doesn't take away from any of the things I posted.

BTW, what's the problem with EVs using the grid anyways?

I use the grid to power my EV and my very efficient home. However, my solar gives more power to the grid than I use in total. I rarely use superchargers, but they're a necessity if I'm traveling out of the area. I'm just not seeing the issue.
 
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Folliwing to segue of the chat referencing post 623, the issue is the same as with the big AI data centers, that additional load on the grid ends up being partially subsidized by the masses. I haven't done the math, but I have to assume that electrics are more of a cumulative load. One way to deal with that could be to get charging off grid.
 
byke said:
Folliwing to segue of the chat referencing post 623, the issue is the same as with the big AI data centers, that additional load on the grid ends up being partially subsidized by the masses. I haven't done the math, but I have to assume that electrics are more of a cumulative load. One way to deal with that could be to get charging off grid.
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Now, I've heard about this so called upcoming strain from huge AI data centers that will cause rising bills for everyday Joes, but I'm not quite getting that either. Wouldn't there be economies of scale that would work to reduce everyone's bill? And if it's simply a matter of billion $ companies getting sweetheart deals to pay less than their fair share, well, we can just legislate that away. Public utilities are public resources for all to use. If anything, a local community that allows a huge data center to be build should provide its residents with lower utility bills, since the data center is paying so much money.
 
Well the reality is that they're not really operated as a public resource. They have shareholders and margins and an increase in demand translates to an increase in cost.
 
PaulR said:
Reasonable Statement Regarding Tesla
The owners don’t often talk about the downside.

Tesla Model S: $100K Liability in Disguise

• Sticker price: ~$100K with options
• Warranty ends: 4 years basic, 8 years battery
• Proprietary tires: $400–$500 each, often worn by 20K miles
• Touchscreen repair: ~$2,000
• Suspension fixes: $3K+
• Battery replacement: $15K–$20K
• Resale after 3 years: ~$50K
• Loan payoff after 3 years: ~$70K
• Underwater by: ~$20K


Cool today, costly tomorrow.
High maintenance, low resale, zero flexibility.
It’s not an investment—it’s a tech-branded time bomb.

Yeah mentally ill or just in denial…..

PaulR
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What is your source for this breakdown? Tesla are some of the least maintenance requiring vehicles. Apart from wear and tear items (filters, tires, wipers) there isn't much you're going to replace unless it malfunctions/breaks. There are no proprietary tires, you have the option to get tires from any place you wish. Putting battery replacement cost in there is like adding an Engine replacement within first 3 years of an ICE vehicle.
 
PaulR said:
Charging in the Shadows: A Safety Concern for EV Drivers

A woman commuting regularly between Sacramento and the Bay Area in her Tesla Model S faces a recurring and unsettling challenge: charging her vehicle late at night in poorly lit, isolated locations. Many EV chargers along this corridor are tucked behind buildings, in obscure parking lots, or in areas where nighttime activity can feel unpredictable or unsafe. These placements—often chosen for convenience or cost—ignore the real-world safety concerns of drivers, especially women traveling alone.

At 1 or 2 a.m., she often finds herself surrounded by loiterers, “creepers,” or individuals whose behavior feels threatening. There’s no security presence, no lighting, and no clear line of sight to nearby businesses. If she feels unsafe and wants to leave, she must physically exit her vehicle to unplug the charger—an action that exposes her further.

This isn’t just inconvenient. It’s a systemic failure to consider safety in EV infrastructure planning. The promise of clean transportation shouldn’t come with the risk of personal harm. We need to ask: Who designs these spaces? Who benefits from their placement? And who is left vulnerable?

As my friend describes it: It just feels unsafe. She often finds herself pushing her charge capacity to the limit, just to reach a more favorable location—anywhere but the chargers placed in these described settings.

Just a real situation that often isn’t mentioned regarding EV chargers and safety.

PaulR
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and all Gas stations are perfectly safe 24 hours? You seem to be cherry picking to support your opinion.
 
Hes just listing some repair costs, not to be correlated to depreciation at 3 years. Most people that buy a new tesla won't be paying out of pocket for a new battery for their time of ownership.

Jalopnik just posted an article about 40k off basically new hummers. Its good that the really big dumb electrics don't sell very well.
 
Counterpoint: Safety Is a Shared Concern—But EV Infrastructure Faces Unique Gaps

It’s true that not all gas stations are perfectly safe, especially late at night. Incidents of crime, harassment, or loitering can and do occur at 24-hour stations. However, there are key structural differences that make the comparison with EV charging stations incomplete:

• Visibility and Staffing: Most gas stations are located on well-lit main roads, with signage, cameras, and often attendants or clerks present—even during overnight hours. This creates a baseline of visibility and accountability that many EV chargers lack.
• Design Intent: Gas stations are purpose-built for fueling, with safety considerations baked into their layout. EV chargers, especially third-party or non-Tesla installations, are often retrofitted into existing parking lots, alleys, or behind buildings—spaces not originally designed for prolonged nighttime use.
• Duration of Exposure: Filling a gas tank takes 5 minutes. Charging an EV can take 30 minutes or more. That extended dwell time increases vulnerability, especially in isolated or poorly lit areas.
• Exit Protocol: If a driver feels unsafe at a gas station, they can leave immediately. At many EV chargers, unplugging requires exiting the vehicle and manually disconnecting the cable—adding friction and risk in tense moments.


So while no fueling infrastructure is immune to safety concerns, EV charging stations—especially in their current phase of deployment—often lack the visibility, oversight, and intentional design that gas stations benefit from. That’s not cherry-picking; it’s a call for parity in infrastructure planning.

Simpleton (me)
PaulR
 
IMG_0382.jpeg


This will be our future as EV vehicles drive change….
🤪
PaulR
 
Roads, Revenue, and the Rise of Surveillance: A Message for the Working Public
Investing Who’s Posed to Profit

As gas tax revenue declines, states are quietly rolling out per-mile road usage charges—tracking your movement, billing your miles, and calling it “fairness.” But let’s be honest: this isn’t about equity. It’s about extracting more money from working people while outsourcing the tracking to private tech firms who profit from your data and your commute.

California’s pilot program already tested GPS-based mileage tracking. Other states are following suit. The result? A patchwork of surveillance systems, each with its own billing model, privacy risks, and corporate middlemen. You’ll pay to drive, pay to charge, pay to register—and still pay taxes on top.

This isn’t infrastructure reform. It’s infrastructure monetization.

Who’s Poised to Profit—and Where to Watch

If you’re investing, follow the money:

• Telematics and mileage tracking firms: Companies offering GPS-based billing platforms will be first in line for state contracts.
• EV charging infrastructure: As electricity becomes the new fuel, utilities and charging networks will gain pricing power.
• Data brokers and mobility analytics: The real goldmine is your movement data—sold, analyzed, and monetized.
• Infrastructure ETFs: Funds tied to road construction, smart grid upgrades, and public-private partnerships may benefit from increased spending.


The road ahead in the near future shouldn’t be paved with surveillance and silent fees.

Staying in the investment theme of this thread….
PaulR
 
:Popcorn:Popcorn:Popcorn Loving this conversation. No EV for me, at least in the foreseeable future.
 
Used EV's are the thing to buy right now. Used prices are off the charts DEAD. Watched a 0 mile, (new) Hummer EV, fully loaded ($128,495 sticker) hammer at $74K at Manheim (wholesale, dealer auction). I was tempted...I can't lie, at that price the bed is way too small and I can't figure out who's going to buy it from me when I want to sell it....but yeah; overall used EV's are the best deal going. Everyone want's gas...at least that's what wholesale transitions are recording.
 
Strategic Investment: Profit from the Surveillance Stack

These companies are building the next layer of monetized mobility:

• Verra Mobility (VRRM) – Tolling, enforcement, and VMT-ready tech
• Lemonade (LMND) – Usage-based insurance via Metromile
• Verisk Analytics (VRSK) – Insurance data and telematics scoring
• Progressive (PGR) – Snapshot telematics insurance
• Bridgestone (TYO: 5108) – Owns Azuga, California’s pilot vendor for VMT billing
• Transurban (ASX: TCL) – Global tolling and smart mobility infrastructure

Bridgestone’s Role in California’s VMT Pilot

Through Azuga, Bridgestone delivered the full stack of services for California’s Road Charge Pilot Program — the largest of its kind globally:

• Device Options: Azuga offered both GPS-enabled and non-GPS plug-in devices, allowing participants to choose their level of data sharing.
• Mileage Tracking: Their platform captured and reconciled mileage data with billing systems, ensuring accurate per-mile charges.
• Account Management: Azuga handled onboarding, customer support, fee collection, and reporting — acting as the interface between drivers and the state.
• Privacy Safeguards: Crucially, Azuga provided a layer of separation between users and the state. Only aggregated mileage and fees were shared with California agencies — never location data

Insurance companies are quietly positioning themselves as key players in the VMT billing shift by leveraging telematics to offer usage-based pricing, risk scoring, and even mileage verification for state road charge programs. This creates a powerful feedback loop between driving behavior, taxation, and insurance premiums.

Geez 🤪
I sorry I even looked into this stuff….
I guess this still investment themed ….
PaulR
 
Caddywumpus said:
BYND cost basis 52 cents. Hit 5 dollars in AH today. I bought myself a lifetime supply of their products.
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Of course, me being me, I thought about buying a bunch when you first posted. Guess what? I didn't!! :sleep::sleep::cry: My sincere congratulations on your killing! Oh hey, please keep posting; I will keep lurking. Fack.

That said, I am doing rather well with one; PGEN, which I bought a while back (after listening to a story about them on Bloomberg) in late 2023 and again in mid-2024. It was in the doldrums until recently. The same is true with ACHR, which I bought in mid-2024. It was cool to see them present their Midnight aircraft at the Salinas airshow; Joby flew in from Marina as well. I have a small position with them also.

I have said before that I am not a sophisticated stock buyer, but have been somewhat lucky.

Let me come clean on the KDK that I bought during the pandemic when they were supposed to manufacture compounds for a vaccine. I didn't know then that I could set a limit price. As (my bad) Iuck would have it, it soared on that day and I executed at market close. Needless to say I crashed and burned spectacularly on that one. It kinda reminded me of a comet streaking by earth! :)
 
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I typically buy things I like and believe in. BYND was a total gamble but I asked my friends who are vegan/vegi and they said its good stuff so it was enough to pull the trigger, along with some cursory research. ACHR im staying away from but JOBY I have a small position, them bein locals and stuff.

ASTS just leg downed on a note conversion raising capital and Im still a firm believer in them. Im offsides on a -few- covered calls so them pulling back is good for me.

RKLB is my other big space bet.

Drone space its hard to see but KTOS, RCAT, ONDS, and KRKNF are my drone plays.

About a third of my stocks are in DXJ and euro stocks for diversity to the US market. 8% of my liquid cash is in physical gold too hedging my bets. Average cost per oz is 3400 so... a little late the the party.
 
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