The Visionary of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk

This is a small selection of my research paper discussing the importance of Relationship Management Theory in business and how the general public reflects their thoughts about Elon Musk. 

Abstract

The study and practice of public relations has continuously explored the possible benefits that arrive when organizations accept that a relationship oriented goal in public relations management is crucial to their success. The current investigation explores and examines the ways that Elon Musk, the face of Tesla Motors, leads and influences the public and his company in a mutually beneficial experience. The results suggest that a visionary leader, in this case Elon Musk, that respects the opinions of the public can reinvent the way businesses and consumers influence each other in a mutually positive manner. Discussion of future research and findings of this study are considered.


Analysis

A content analysis on Elon Musk of his behaviors and the public’s perception of the CEO was curated. Multiple artifacts were studied from individuals that had personal experiences working with Musk and how Musk is compared to other historically revolutionary individuals along with his current successes. During my analysis of Elon Musk I found three main themes that are further divided into smaller sub categories. These themes are: Elon Musk as a visionary, public’s perception of Musk, and Musks influential power.

Visionary
The most dominant theme found was a visionary identity. The visionary theme defines someone that builds the future with great wisdom, insight and boldness. Specifically, a visionary describes someone that is changing the world and humanity itself. Visionaries are also compared to other historically important visionaries. Elon Musk has been compared to Steve Jobs, Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Howard Hughes, and even Iron Man. 

You can find more information here. 

The Future of Cars #4

Magnifying Solar Power

Electric cars, hydrogen cars, and now solar cars? All for the environmentally friendly people, this is one more step away from fossil fuels. The goal is the endless supply of renewable energy, like sunlight. Now, thanks to a late invention, a giant magnifying glass could be powering your future car. 

Developers from Georgia Tech have joined Ford Motors to build a concept hybrid car that would park under a special concentrator that magnifies the sun's rays to recharge the C-Max Solar Energi vehicle. In one day of charging you can achieve 620 miles worth of driving. 

The C-Max Concept has 5 foot wide solar panels on the car's roof with a specialized design to capture and intensify the sun's rays. The canopy's magnifier will track the sun's brightest rays throughout the day, getting the most energy possible. Although it doesn't look like it's hitting the markets anytime soon, with enough support from fans, this can be a soon enough possibility.


The C-Max Concept...

The Future of Cars #3

Hydrogen Power

Finally, a alternate source of power for vehicles is being introduced by Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai next year. The auto manufactures have been evaluating these models for more than a decade, and more car companies such as Mercedes and GM are working on models as well. 

One of the benefits of Hydrogen fuel cells is that they are capable of long range driving unlike the Model S from Tesla (an all electric power house). These vehicles can reach distances of 400 miles, recharge in a matter of minutes. and are of course environmentally friendly. 

However, hydrogen fuel cells have other challenges, one being the lack of refilling stations in the U.S. Another challenge is the lack of performance in colder climates and the batteries are simply massive for the car compared to the Model S battery. Manufactures are working on overcoming these problems though, Honda and Toyota claim that they have already made successful advances at these obstacles with the help of constantly improving technology. 

The Future of Cars #2

A network of talking vehicles. 

Now days, electronics talking to each other isn't an uncommon occurrence. The bluetooth speaker telling your smartphone it's running out of battery or your car warming itself up with a push of a button on your smartphone app. It's not much longer until your car will be communicating with all the other cars on the highway on your way to work and home. 

This means that cars will be able to share traffic conditions as well as the weather and road blocks. The speed and direction of your car will also be shared with other vehicles on the road, warning others about potential hazards. This is called vehicle-to-vehicle communication, also known as, V2V. 

Prototypes have already been tested on about 3,000 cars and trucks. These devices send a short range safety signal to other vehicles to find potential accidents. The cars will send a "beep" to other cars when they detect danger, such as when another car enters a intersection, a pedestrian walks by, or another driver is driving way to fast. 

The research team behind this believes that this could get rid of almost 80% of all car wrecks on the road today. It's only a matter of time before this V2V technology is equipped on all vehicles.

Google gets Android into Automotive Dashboards

According to the latest news at Google, they say that they are now taking the Android operating system to the cars dashboard (those with touchscreens). Google developers are working on  "Android Auto" software that will work  regardless of the vehicles specific hardware specs. 

Because this is Android, third-party developers will have a chance to make apps or assist with software updates along the side of Android Auto. Although Google isn't alone on this automotive advancement, Apple is also racing down the same road for their own preferred auto enhancements.  

Android users can "simply connect their Android handheld to a compatible vehicle and begin utilizing a car-optimized Android experience that works with the car's head unit display, steering wheel buttons," said Daniel Holle.