A Charged Business: The Future of Electric Transport
The future of automotive mobility is still being written as competition among manufacturers continues to escalate. We appear to be on the precipice of major and far-reaching change and innovation in the industry, but where the chips will ultimately fall is unclear. Toll Business: The Future of Electric Mobility analyzes the challenges of designing next-generation driving technologies.
Elon Musk and his flagship company, Tesla, are a staple of the film. After its huge early success and recognition, Tesla is getting more and more attention. Desperate to meet consumer demand for more affordable vehicles that can go longer without recharging, the company has now come under fire for electronic glitches, poor production and punitive working conditions for its employees. Meanwhile, the world’s other major automakers are looking to exploit Tesla’s structural flaws by bringing their own innovations into production.
The filmmaker travels from Barcelona to Silicon Valley in search of Tesla’s fiercest competition. Porsche appears to be the most likely candidate to unseat Musk’s groundbreaking work. The film offers a sneak peek at their latest top-secret production model. Admittedly, the well-known automaker has yet to achieve the quality and performance of Tesla models. But in the long run, their reputation, solid organizational structure and reliance on similar German technology could ensure their victory.
The film, which includes insights from a company representative, praises Musk’s desire to redefine transportation both on Earth and in the far reaches of our galaxy, including his initiatives for lightning-fast rail systems and interstellar spacecraft. On the other side of the equation, we hear from a disgruntled ex-Tesla employee (a whistleblower) about a series of flaws in their design, assembly line, and corporate culture.
Will this behind-the-scenes chaos end up producing a car of tomorrow that the world can embrace? Which players will gain glory, and which players may suffer financially in the process? Toll Business: The Future of Electric Mobility is an enthusiastic and informative look at our potential future on the road.
Directed by: Stefan Tiyavorabun
