IW's 2013 Technology Leader of the Year, Elon Musk, has a dream of creating an all-electric car that is robust, affordable and sustainable enough to offer a viable alternative to traditional gas-powered engines. Some say that – with Tesla's soon-to-be-released Model X and the coast-to-coast solar charging network that could soon power it – that dream is about to come true.
But on the other end, over the last few years, the internal combustion engine has been transformed from the dirty, gas-guzzling polluters of the past with clean and efficient designs that deliver higher gas mileage and fewer emissions every year.
So, between these two, who will win the future?
Will Elon Musk, the outside disruptor, bring the industry into the future? Or will yesterday's engine technology evolve to meet the demands of today?
October's edition of the IW Monthly Podcast, Robert Brooks (editor of AmericanMachinist, Foundry, Forging and WeldingDesign), Josh Cable (former IW editor and current senior editor at EHS Today) and I take on these questions as we discuss this month's biggest stories and manufacturing's biggest news.
Press the play button below to listen to this podcast in its entirety.
