Inalow-keyindustrialestateinSanCarlos,southofSanFrancisco,aquietrevolutionisunderway.Afterfouryears'work,TeslaMotorsisnowweeksawayfromthelaunchoftheRoadster-theworld'sfirstproductionelectricsportscar;avehiclethecompanyfullyexpectstotransformtheindustry.ThemanmastermindingthelaunchisElonMusk,thechairmanofTeslaMotors,thefirstnewAmericancarcompanyindecades,andonethatwillputafleetofzero-emissionselectricsportsvehiclesontheroadthissummer.Tesla'sRoadsterisahigh-performancetwo-seater,fasterthanaFerrariyettwiceasgreenasaPrius,Toyota'spetrol-electrichybrid.Itrunson6,831lithium-ironbatteries,identicaltothoseinalaptopcomputer.
'SoyoucanlookoveratthePriusandgo,"Whatareyoudoinginthatgas-guzzlinghog"'Muskchuckles.Thatprojecthascosthim$27million(￡13million),andaRoadsterisyoursfor$92,000(￡45,000)-oratleastitcouldhavebeen,hadthefirstrunnotalreadysoldoutto'thecreamofSiliconValleyandHollywood',includingLeonardoDiCaprio,DellComputers'CEOMichaelDell,theHyatthotelsheirNicholasPritzker,thefoundersofGoogleLarryPageandSergeyBrin(Musk'sgoodfriends),andGeorgeClooney(Musk's'friendofafriend').
CondoleezzaRicehasbeenforatestdrive;ArnoldSchwarzeneggerisavocalfan.'IactuallyhaddinnerwithArnoldonSunday,'Musksays.'AndheisconsideringafactoryvisitwiththeBritishPrimeMinister,asanexampleofUK-Californiancollaboration.'(ThoughTeslaisbasednearSanFrancisco,Lotus'sNorfolkfactoriessuppliedtheRoadster'sbasicchassis.)'There'sanopportunityheretocreateoneofthegreatinstitutionsofthe21stcentury,'Musksays.
Musklikestothinkbig.Notonlyishechangingthewaywedrive,butheisalsoexplaininghowinthefuturewewillliveonMars,andhowitiscrucialtohumanity'ssurvival.'It'strueit'sjustrocksandgas,butwecanmakeitnice,'hesays.'You'dhavelargedomedlivingareas,whereyoucouldcreateparkswithtrees.You'reatahigherlevelofradiationexposure,sotherewouldbesomeincreasedriskofcancer…Imeanit'swaymoredifficultthanlivingonEarth.Butwehavetodoit.'
Thatiswhyhehasploughedafurther$100millionofhismoneyintoSpaceExplorationTechnologies(SpaceX),theCalifornianrocket-makingcompanyhefoundedin2002forthepurposeoftakingustospace,andeventuallytoMars.Payloadlaunches-rocketscarryingloadssuchassatellitesorcrew-typicallystartatabout$25million,increasingto$85millionormore.Musksayshecanlaunchonefor$6.7million,thekeybeingdevelopingrocketsthatare,inpart,reusable.Reusablerocketsare,hesays,'thedifferencebetweenlifebecominginter-planetaryornot'.
'Imaginehowexpensive[domestic]flyingwouldbeifa747wasasingle-flightuse.That'samulti-million-dollaraeroplaneyou'dbethrowingawayeverytime,'hesays.'WhocouldpossiblyjustifysuchathingWe'dallbegoinginboats.'
Muskhasperformedaudaciousactsbefore.In1999hefoundedthecompanythatwouldbecomePayPal,thesystemthatallowsanyonewithane-mailaddresstosendmoneytoanyoneelsewithane-mailaddress,sellingittoeBaylessthanthreeyearslaterfor$1.5billion.Hewas31.TodayFortunemagazinerankshim12thinits'40RichestUnder40'list(heislistedasworth$1.5billion),butMuskisnotabouttoretire.Tohim,vastsumsofmoneyaremerelytheby-productofTheBiggerPicture,onehefirstvisualisedwhilestillanundergraduate.'Ijustthought,"Well,whatarethemostsignificantproblemshumanityfaces"Thethreethat[cametomind]werespaceexploration,theinternetandcleanenergy.Just,youknow,intermsofwhatwouldaffecttheworldthemost.'
AlthoughSpaceXoccupies'80percent'ofhisdays,MuskisatTeslaMotorstwoorthreetimesamonth.SometimeshemakesthejourneyfromhishomeinLosAngelesinhis$1millionMcLarenF1,butthismorninghetookhisprivatejet.Todayisboardmeetingday.OnthegarageforecourttotherearoftheTeslabuildingsityellow,red,blackandblueprototypesoftheRoadster,allatvariousteststages.Musk,whohasnoformaltraininginthefieldofautomotivedesign,justapassionforcars,hasbeenheavilyinvolvedinthedesignprocess,changingtheheadlightsandremodellingthechassisatthe11thhour.HeisthefirsttoadmitthattheRoadsterbearsaphysicalresemblancetobothaPorscheandaMcLaren.'Youcanseeelementsofboth-itsinfluences,ifyouwill,'hesays.Wherethesimilaritiesendsoonbecomesapparent.
'It'slikeaniPod,'DavidVespremi,Tesla'spublic-relationsdirector,explains,indicatingasocketontherear-sideofthecarwhereapetrolcapshouldbe,flashingneonasathickelectricalcableadministersacharge.'Itflashesfasterandfasteruntilit'scompletelychargedandthenitturnsgreentoletyouknowit'sfull.'TheRoadstercomeswithahomechargerthatresemblesaToyTownpetrolpump;attachedtothehouseholdgridthevehiclerechargesinthreeandahalfhours,givingarangeof250milesatacostof$3.Sofar,sogreen.
YettheRoadsterisalsodesignedtobeatanyfuel-basedsportscar,includingaFerrarioraPorsche,inacar-to-carshowdown.Withatopspeedof135mph,itacceleratesfrom0to60inafractionunderfourseconds.Itszero-emissionspolicyalsoextendstonoise:asVespremiturnstheignitionandeasestheredRoadsterofftheforecourtandoutintotheCaliforniansun,thereisnothingbutalowelectricalhum.'AsortofBladeRunnersoundtrack,'Vespremisays.Thereisnoenginenoise-becausethereisnoengine.(Peoplehavefoundthissoeeriethatoneengineersuggestedprogramminginvariousboy-racersoundeffects,likemobileringtones.)
AsweturnintotheentranceofRoute101South,VespremiputshisfoottothefloorandtheRoadster'saccelerationisinstantaneous.'It'sscreaminglyfast,'hegrins.WepullupalongsidetheSheriff'spatrolcar.'Shallweracehim'
PioneeringelectricsportscarswasnotElonMusk'sidea.ItcamefromMartinEberhard,a47-year-oldSiliconValleyentrepreneurwhomadehisnamein1998withtheRocketeBook,ahandhelddeviceusedtoreadbooks,andwhoco-foundedTeslaMotorsin2003.Electriccarcompanieshavetestedthemassmarketbefore,ofcourse,notablyinsouthernCaliforniainthemid-1990swithGMMotorsanditsEV1.However,theEV1's10-hourrechargetimeand90milestothechargemeantthatitsplutteredtoasorryendamidvariousconspiracytheories,capturedinlastyear'sacclaimeddocumentaryWhoKilledtheElectricCarbytheAmericanfilmmakerChrisPaine,whohasalreadyreservedhisRoadster.'They'vehitontheideaofanelectriccarassomethingthat'smasculineandhotandarace-car,notsomethingyoudriveonthegolfcourse,'Painetellsme.'Iwanttobepartofthewavethatputsitontheroad.'
ApproachingMuskasaninvestor,Eberhardarguedthatratherthanspendmillionsdevelopingtheirownpowersource,theyshouldharnessthecomputerindustry'sexistingtechnologyanduselaptopbatteries.Whatismore,thisshouldnotbeagreencarthatyoufeelyououghttodrive.Itshouldbeagreencaryouwanttodrive.
'Electriccarshadsuchabadreputationandimage,'Eberhardsays.'Theyhadbeenmadebypeoplewhothoughtdrivingwasabadthing;likeyoureallyshouldbewalkingortakingpublictransport.IactuallyliketodriveanicecarandyetIalsocareaboutmyimpactontheenvironmentandouraddictiontooil.Idon'tthinkI'munique.'
Itwastoogoodanopportunitytoresist.Muskhadturneddownplentyofsimilarpropositionsbefore,notleastthechancetoinvestinaschemetoelectrifyNissanScions,a$45,000conversionthatwouldturnanunglamorous$20,000vehicleintoanunglamorous$65,000vehicle.'Isaid,"Look,Iwouldn'tevendriveanelectricScionifitwasfree."Imean,it'sOKasacar,butcomeon.'
ClearlytheRoadstermaybealittlebeyondthebudgetoftheaverageenvironmentalist.Butthatisallpartoftheplan.'Asanentrepreneurlookingatproductsovertheyears,it'sveryclearthatsuccessfulonesstartbyenteringthemarketatthetop,notthebottom,'Eberhardsays.'LookatflatscreenTVs,refrigerators,cellphones.'
EberhardandMuskseeTeslaMotorsasaFordMotorsofthe21stcentury,andarealreadyatworkona$49,000four-doorsaloon,codenamedWhiteStar,scheduledfor2009.A$30,000four-doorwillfollow.'It'sgottobeamass-market,becausethat'stheonlywaytoreallymovetheneedleonCO2emissions,'Musksays.
Initially,Tesla'svehicleswillbeavailableonlyintheUS.'WeabsolutelywanttosellinEurope.Andwewill,aswellasotherpartsoftheworld:Japan,Singapore,theMiddleEastperhaps,'Musksays.
'Butthathastocomeafterusgettingitrightinthelargestmarketintheworld.'Dealerships,forwhichMusk,unsurprisingly,hasgrandplans,willopenthisautumn,firstinLosAngelesandNewYork,andthenlaterinLondon,wherearecentsurveyfoundthatelectriccarsarethecity'sfastest-growingformoftransport,upfrom49vehiclesin2003toanestimated2,500today.
'[Dealershipswillbe]theequivalentof,say,aVIPloungeatanairport-thiswouldbeaVIPhangoutinvariouscities.Youknow-logontotheinternet,readnewspapers,havesomegoodfreecoffee…'TheAppleStoreapproach,inotherwords.'Oh,we'llbewaynicerthantheAppleStore,'hecorrects.'Youdon'tgetfreecoffeeintheAppleStore!'
ElonMuskhasbeencalled'partplayboy,partspacecowboy',animagehardlydispelledbyacarcollectionthathasboastedaPorsche911Turbo,1967Series1Jaguar,aHamannBMWM5plustheaforementionedMcLarenF1-whichhehasdrivenatupto215mphonaprivateairstrip.ThentherewastheL39Sovietmilitaryjet,whichhesoldafterbecomingafather.Henowhasfiveboys-three-year-oldtwinsGriffinandXavierand11-month-oldtripletsKai,DamianandSaxon.
'Iwasn'tallthatsureaboutthesafety,'heexplainsoneevening.'Idon'twantmykidstogrowupwithoutafather.Havingkidsdefinitelyreducesmywillingnesstodoriskythings.'Thesedays,heismorelikelytoheadstraighthomefromtheoffice,backtohissix-bedroomBel-AirmansionandwifeJustineMusk,35,theauthorofBloodAngel,aBuffy-esquehorrorrompthatfizzesalongwithhipsterreferencestoMTV,supermodelsandrecreationaldrugs.(Thecouplemet16yearsagoatuniversity.)Heconcedes,however,thereisstilltimefortheoccasionalnightatthePlayboyMansion.
'There'saplayboyelement[tomylife],Isuppose.It'sprobably10percentplayboy,90percentengineer.'Ishe,astheidiomsuggests,a'thrillionaire''Ha!Theysoundreallywealthy.'(Muskhasamarvellouslydrysenseofhumour.Once,IaskhimifhethinkswewillreachMarsinourlifetime.'Dependshowlongyoulive,'hesays.)
Oneofthreechildren,MuskgrewupinapartheidPretoria,thesemi-ruralcitynorthofJohannesburg,hismotheradieticianandmodelfluentinsixlanguages,hisfatheranelectricalandmechanicalengineer.Muskdescribeshisupbringingas'prettywealthy,notquiteatprivatejetlevel,but[myfather]didhaveatwin-propplane'.
Hisgung-hodriveisprobablyinheritedfromhismother'sfather:anadventurousCanadianwho,inthe1950s,emigratedtoAfricatosearchfortheLostCityoftheKalahari.'HewouldflyfromAfricatoAustraliainatiny,basicplanewithoutanyelectronics,justacompass,thereandbackwithmygrandmother,'Musksays.'He'dstoponthewaytorefuel,butsomeplacesonlyhaddieselandsomeonlyhadgasoline,sohehadtorebuildtheengine[intransit].'GrandpaalsomanagedtotieforfirstplaceintheCape-to-Cairorally,afeatallthemoreimpressivegivenhewasdrivingastationwagon.
Musk'sparentsdivorcedwhenhewasnine,andhewasshuntedbetweensevendifferentschools.Smallforhisageandfearsomelybright,hewasperenniallytheyoungestinhisclass,andbullied.'IwouldsayIwaslesshappythanmostkids,'hesays.'Ididn'tdevelopanyfriendships.'Helearnttohideduringbreaktime,buryinghimselfinTheLordoftheRings,IsaacAsimovandRobertAHeinlein.'Ifyou'rethesmallbookwormyougetthecrapbeatenoutofyou.'Attheageof12hecompletedhisfirstbusinessdeal:sellingthecodeforBlastStar,aSpaceInvaders-typegamehehadwritten,toamagazinefor$500.
'Ourfamilyareallveryhardworking,'saysKimbalMusk,34,Elon'syoungerbrother,aformerNewYorkUniversityprofessorwhoisnowchef-owneroftheKitchen,anorganicbistroinColorado,andCEOofMe.dium,asoftwarecompany.'PartofitisbeingfromSouthAfrica,acountryofimmigrants.We'reconstantlydissatisfiedwithwhat'sgoingon,endlesslyentrepreneurialandtryingtobepartofchange.'
At17,facedwithdoingnationalserviceinSouthAfrica'sNationalDefenceForce,ElontriedtoconvincehisfathertomovetoAmericaorCanada.'That'swherethecutting-edgestuffis,'heargued.'Youcanachievegreatthingsthere.'Whenhisfatherrefused,heappliedforCanadiancitizenshipandfundedthemovehimself-partlybysellingsharesinpharmaceuticalstockhehadbeentrackinginthelocalpaper.'[Myfathersaid]hewouldn'tsupportmeifIwent.IthinkheexpectedIwouldreturnafterrunningoutofmoney.'
Buthedidn't.Instead,hepaidhiswaythroughtwoyearsatQueen'sUniversityinKingston,Ontario,studyingbusinessandphysics,beforewinningascholarshiptostudythesamesubjectsattheUniversityofPennsylvania,onthetightestofbudgets.'It'sprettyunpleasanttoliveonadollaraday.Buyinginbulkiskey.Ihadanorangeadayandhotdogs.Ifyoubuyaloafofbreadandwrapaslicearoundthehotdog,it'scheaperthanbuyingbuns.'Muskhasn'tseenmuchofhisfathersinceheleftPretoria.HehasreturnedtoSouthAfricaonlyfourtimes-thelasttimehealmostdiedfrommalaria.('Itwasreallyserious,'Kimbalsays.'Aterribletime.')
ElonMuskdidn'tcompletehiseducation.In1995,aftermovingfromPennsylvaniatoCaliforniatostudyaPhDinhigh-energyphysicsatStanfordUniversity,hefailedtoattendasingleclass,deferringinsteadtolaunchZip2,aninternetstart-upthatprovidedonlinecontentformediacompanies.HeranthecompanyfromhisPaloAltoapartmentwithKimbal.Itwasn'tobviousthathewouldmakealotofmoneyfromtheinternetbecause,atthatpoint,nobodyhadmadealotofmoneyfromtheinternet.Hejustdidn'twanttomissanopportunity.'Nootherindustryhasevergrownasfastastheinternet,'hesays.
Again,timesweretough.EatingatWhiteCastle,thebudgetburgerchain,wasastretch.'Iwouldwritesoftwareandsleepundermydesk,'Musksays.'We'dshowerattheYMCA,whichwasafewblocksaway.'Butnotforlong:in1999hesoldZip2toCompaq,thepersonalcomputercompany,for$307million-incash.Next,MuskformedX.com,whichin2000morphedintoPayPalafterthecompanyacquiredacompetitorofthatname.PayPalprovedsomethingofatalenthothouse.ItsalumniincludeChadHurley,StevenChenandJawedKarim,whoallwentontolaunchYouTube,PeterThiel,aprincipalinvestorinFacebook,andDavidOSacks,whoseRoom9Entertainmentproduced2006'sGoldenGlobe-nominatedfilmThankYouForSmoking.Theyallstillregularlymeetup,mostrecentlyatafriend'swedding.
'Wethoughtitwasagreatteamatthetime,'Sackssays,'butitturnedouttobeevengreaterthanwethought.Theriskinessofthecompanyanditsfreewheeling,anti-bureaucraticcultureattractedanentrepreneurialsort.Wethoughtwecouldchangetheworld.WewerefightingoneBay'sturf-somehowwewon.'
WhenPayPalmadehimabillionaire,Muskbeganlookingaroundforotherprojects.HerecalledthataftertheApolloprogramme,ithadalwaysbeenNasa'sintentiontoheadforMars.'ButwhenIwenttoNasa'swebsite,therewerenoplansforMars.Nothing.'Determinedtore-firepublicinterest,heresolvedtosendupaprobewitha$20million'tinygreenhouse'containing'seeds,indehydratednutrientgel.Theprobewouldland,hydratethegelandyou'dhavealittleplantgrowing.'LifeonMars.Thesnagcamewhenhewasquotedthelaunchprice:$65million.
Muskresearcheditfurther,andwasappalledtodiscoverthatratherthanbecomingcheaperovertime,theaerospaceindustryhadinfactbecomemoreexpensive,withoutbecominganymoreefficient.So,overseveralSaturdaysinearly2002,hebroughtsomeoftheworld'sleadingspaceexpertstogetherinaHyatthotelnearLosAngelesairport,determinedtoworkoutwaystoimproveefficiency.Bythatstage,hehadswottedup-byreadingalotofbooks:'Therearen'tmanypeoplewhoknowmorethanIdoaboutwhatittakestobuildarocket.'
SpaceXHQoccupies150,000sqftofoldrepairshopsandwarehousesinElSegundo,California.Visitorsareinvitedtosigninwitharocket-shapedpenanddisposeoftheirrubbishinarocket-shapedbin.ImeetMuskinaboxyroomwithawhiteboardcoveredinmindbendingequations.TherealityofputtinglifeonMarsisstilldecadesaway,hesays.Heisundernoillusionhowdifficultitis.'It'sthegreatestprojectmanhaseverundertaken.Theextensionoflifeonanotherplanet-[that's]abiggerdealthanlifegoingfromtheoceanstoland.'
Suchambitionmightsoundfanciful,wereitnotforthefactthatNasahasgivenhim$278milliontobuildasuccessortotheSpaceShuttle,andhehasreceivedanother$122millioninadvancelaunchcontractsfromthePentagon,worldgovernmentsandprivatecompaniestotakesatellitesintoorbitoverthenextthreeyears.Muskhasnoformaltraininginsuchareas,yethasdesigned,developedandtest-launchedtherocketshimself-theworld'sfirstprivatelyfundedorbit-capablevehicles.
'LastyearwewontheNasaCommercialOrbitalTransportationServicescontract,'Musksays.'Therearetwopartsofthat.Thefirstpartisdemonstrationofcargotransfer[supplies,toolsandsoon]toaspacestationandreturntoEarth.Thesecondpartistransportofastronauts.Nasawillprobablyexercisethat[second]optionnextyear.'ThefirsttworocketsSpaceXisproducingaretheFalcon1(abletocarry1,400lb-asmallsatellite)andtheFalcon9(forbiggercargo,upto22,000lb,enoughtoaccommodateaseven-mancrew).
SpaceXhasstagedtwotestlauncheswithFalcon1rockets,bothpaidforbyDarpa-theUSDefenseResearchProjectAgency.ThefirstliftedofffromtheMarshallIslandsinthePacificinMarch2006andblewupaminutelater.Thesecondlaunchedfivemonthsagoandachievedanaltitudeof200miles(spacestartsatabout60miles)-separatingintotwoasplanned,thoughthesecondstagefailedtoreacheditsintendedorbit.(SpaceX'srocketsaretwo-stagelaunchvehicles-propulsionisachievedbyconsecutivestages,thesecondpartoftherocketseparatingfromthefirst.)
Musk,wholongagoexceededthe$50millionheenvisagedinvestinginSpaceX,reckonedhecouldendurethreefailuresbeforecallingitaday.Heconsidersthesecondlaunchasuccess.'OurgoalistobeliketheSouthwestAirlinesofspacetravel.We'rereducingcostsbybuildingalmosttheentirerocketin-house,'SpaceX'sproductmanagerBrianBjeldesaysashetakesmeonatourofthefivehangar-sizeouthouseswhere260-oddemployeesarehammeringandrivetingsectionsofthe70ft,28-tonFalcon1and170ft,290-tonFalcon9.'Elon'sphilosophyistoonlyhirethebestofthebest.He'sresponsibleforinterviewingeverysinglecandidate.'
MusklearntsometricksfromhisSiliconValleyPayPaldays:SpaceXisrunlikeGoogle,notBoeing.Foodandsnacksarefreeandontap(asIarrive,aforkliftisdeliveringcateringboxesofM&Ms,beefjerkyandStarburst),petsareallowed(nay,encouraged-Muskhasagreatdane,aYorkshireterrierandadachshund-Yorkshireterriercross)andAsteroidsandPinbotgames-machinesaretohand.Muskrecentlysignedthepapersforanewproperty,somefourtimesthesize,threemilesuptheroad.'We'regoingtohaveafullarcaderoomandcookstaff.Awesome,'Bjeldesays.
'Youkeepyourengineershappyandtheyworkalittlelongerandharder.It'scounterintuitive,butitworks.'Indeed,staffweresotakenwiththeirFalconlong-sleeveT-shirts(BuckRogers-stylelogo,flamesupthearms)thatMaryBethBrown,Musk'sassistant,hadtoaskthemtostopwearingthemtoworkeveryday('We'renotacult!').Thereisacertainsenseofempowerment.OneemployeescoredpointsforbuyinganewrocketalignmenttooloneBay,savingSpaceXsome$25,000.
(Musksaysthereisnoenvironmentaldisconnectbetweenrunningbothagreencarcompanyandonethatbuildsrockets.'Youknow,rocketscontribute,essentially,0.000001percentofCO2orotheremissions.Andunfortunately,youreallyneedtoburnchemicalpropellantstogetoutofEarth'sgravity.There'snootherwaytodoit.'HisMcLarenF1is'actuallycomparativelyenergyefficient.Youcangetasmuchas20milestothegallon.')
Spacelauncheswereoncethepreserveofgovernmentsandthemilitary.Nowthereisanewgenerationofentrepreneurs,ofwhomRichardBranson-whosecommercialVirginGalacticspaceflights,whichlaunchnextyearandpromisefourminutesofweightlessnessfor￡100,000-isthebestknown.OtherrocketmenincludeJeffBezos,thefounderofAmazon,JohnCarmack,theauthorofthehugelypopularDoomvideogame,andJimBensonoftheITcompanyCompusearch.'Weareenteringarenaissanceperiodofspaceexploration,'MichaelGriffin,Nasa'sadministrator,saidinJanuary.'Wealthyindividualswillplayaroleinadvancingtheworkofourarchitects,engineersandtechnicians.'
Yetfewinthisprivatespaceraceareattemptingtogofullyorbital,asSpaceXis.MuskmighthavereservedhisticketonVirginGalactic,buthehardlyseesBransonascompetition.'It'samuchsimplerleveloftechnology.TheenergyofthatcraftisaboutthreepercentofFalcon9.WhatcompetitiondowehaveWedon'treallyhaveany.'
Asidefrombeingabletobacksuchprojects,inwhatotherwayshasmoneychangedhislife'Insomerespectsit'scertainlymademylifeeasier,'hesays.'IcanhirenanniestotakecareofmykidswhenI'mnotaround.Nicehouse,nicecars,allthat.Buttheamountofworkhasreallynotchangedthatmuch.'
Muskstillmanageshisfundshimself,alongwithacoupleofpeopleatMerrillLynch.Hehasasmallfoundation-'afewmilliondollars'-doingpaediatricresearchindevelopingcountries.Buthistimeisobviouslyanissue.HiscolleaguessayMuskisoftenthelasttoleavetheoffice,andheisfrequentlyinonSundays.'Somepeoplesay,"Oh,wow,youworkatSpaceXDoyoueverseeElon'KevinBrogan,anengineer,says.'It'slike,"What,areyoukidding"He'sdrivingthebus;he'stheforcemakingeveryoneworksohard.He'snotsomerichguysittingbyapoolsomewhere.WhenIgohomeateighto'clockatnight,hiscarisstillinthelot.'
'Mytimeissomewhatoversubscribed,'Musksays.'Ineedtodoless,actually.TomakesureIallocatetimetomykids.'
WhatabouthischildrenWilltheyeverhavetodoaday'swork
'Ha!'hesays.'Icertainlyhopetheywillworkveryhard.Ibelievetheyshouldbeproductivecontributorstosociety.Theyshouldn'tbetrust-fundkids.I'mhopefultheywilldothingslikeengineering,orwritebooks,orjust,insomeway,addmorethantheytakefromtheworld.'
Muskhassethimselftheloftiestofchallenges.Otherentrepreneurshavetriedtoreachspacebefore,notleastaTexasbankercalledAndrewBeal,andoneofMicrosoft'sfounders,PaulAllen.Theireffortshaveeithercollapsedorbeenexercisesinspacetourism.EvenMuskseemsunsureaboutputtinghismouthwherehismoneyis.'WouldIflytoMarsUm,maybe.It'scertainlyquiterisky.Idon'tthinkIwoulddoanythinglikethatforatleast,Idon'tknow,15or20years.I'dliketoseemychildrengrowup.'
StillbiggerchallengesmaycomefromclosertoEarth.RecentlytheAmericanAirForcedecidedtocommitallfuturerocketlaunchestoaconsortiumformedbythebehemothsBoeingandLockheedMartin,effectivelyfreezingoutcompetitionfromtheprivatesector(SpaceXsued,lost,andisappealing).Electriccarcompanies,meanwhile,havecollapsedatleastthreetimesbefore.TheRoadstercertainlylooksthepart,butwilltheTopGearcrowdbeabletodetouraroundthepsychologicalbarrierthatmeanspluggingtheirvehicleineverynightlikeaniPod
Ontheotherhand,noonehaseverreceivedthesortofcredibleendorsementsSpaceXandTeslaMotorshave,fromgovernments,theindustryandcelebrities.Andifevertherewasatimetheworldwascryingoutfornewecologicaltransport,itisnow.'Intermsofathreattocivilisationasweknowit,thebiggestchallengeforusishowwecan[makethe]transitionawayfromoilandcoal,'Musksays.'I'mprobablyalittlelessalarmistthansome:Ithinkthedangerisactuallyfurtheroffthanissometimesthought.But,atthesametime,thesolutionisalsoveryfaroffbecausetheamountofelectricvehiclesneededtomakeadifferenceishundredsofmillions.Andittakesalongtimeforanindustrythisbigtochange.'
SpaceXbrokeevenin2006andexpectstoturnaprofitthisyear,butMuskisinitforthelonghaul.'Energyandtransportationarethefoundationofmoderneconomies,'hesays.'Toshiftsomethingsogiganticwilltakeafewdecades.'
Inthemeantime,hehastakenonacoupleoffreshchallenges.HerecentlybecamechairmanandprimaryinvestorinSolarCity,astart-upthatplanstomakesolartechnologyaffordabletothemasses,andhasaninterestinMahalo.com,aninternetsearchenginecompany.
OneeveningImeetMuskforadrinkatavenueofhischoice,thefashionableWHotelinLosAngeles.Takinghisseatamongthecedarwoodandcandlelitloveliness,heordersamargarita,takesasip,thenordersastrawberrydaiquiri.'Notsweetenough,'heexplains.
BeforetoolongJustinewillcallhimhome.Oneofthetwinswon'tgotobeduntilhehassaidgoodnighttohisfather,andisconsequently'screaminghisheadoff'.Butbeforeheleaves,ElonMuskhasthistosay:'Youknow,whenIwasgrowinguptheredidn'tseemtobeanythingmeaningfulinlife.Itdidn'tseemthatanyofthereligiousstuffwastrueandtherewasreallynoexplanationforthewiderthings.RichardDawkinsisright.Itwasverydepressing.Just,like,"Doesitallmeannothing"Anyway,IguessIreachedtheconclusionthatthethingthat'sworthdoingistryingtoimproveourunderstandingoftheworldandgainabetterappreciationoftheuniverseandnottoworrytoomuchabouttherebeingnomeaning.And,youknow,tryandenjoyyourself.Because,actually,life'sprettygood.Itreallyis.'