Doesn't get it
Tesla's fake solar "roof" is supposedly manufactured in Buffalo. The Buffalo newspaper is finally realizing that the "product" can't possibly work.

The article basically lists previous attempts at solar roofs and says that none of them worked. Okay, but that doesn't prove Elon's idea is useless. Elon's idea is useless for several specific physical reasons, mainly ICE AND SNOW.

How can a Buffalo writer miss ICE AND SNOW? Jesus.

Reprinting my earlier item on the subject:

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A closeup picture of Tesla's fake "solar roof", made in Buffalo.

Look at it!

Every shingle has its own control box, with a cable and a plug leading to the next column of shingles. Hundreds of PLUGS capable of wiggling loose and losing contact through corrosion. Hundreds of CONTROL BOXES capable of failure and hacking and lightning damage. Each shingle rests precariously on the box, with no support or glue around the rest of the edge.

Because of the control boxes, each shingle is about one inch above the sheathing, leaving room for bugs and water and ice and mice to invade. Guaranteed ice dams. Ice and wind can pry up the entire roof.

Currently available solar panels leave the regular roof intact and have only one cable to go wrong. Also, a free-standing solar panel can be angled for best 'reception', which the Tesla idiocy can't.

Perfect contrast with previous item about Buffalo. EXPERIENCE SURVIVES, THEORY KILLS.


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Later thought: The deepest problem comes before the physical engineering stuff. A solar roof is simply UNNEEDED. A solar backup power supply can be useful. This problem is already solved with freestanding panels. Roofs are definitely useful. This problem is already solved in many different ways by shingles or metal surfaces or tiles. ANY attempt to mix those two devices is guaranteed to lose the value of both. Nobody NEEDS to have the two functions mixed.

It's like a flying car. Combinations of car and airplane have been tried for 100 years, and most of them did sort of halfway work; but the compromises needed to mix the two functions make them nearly useless in each type of travel.

Solar roofs and flying cars are toys and status symbols. Nothing more. Unfortunately they can cause real damage and real deaths, unlike a fidget spinner or a Picasso.
  ¶ 5:36 AM