SpaceX and Tesla Working on Ventilators

https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/20/spacex-and-tesla-are-working-on-ventilators-elon-musk-says/

by mmhsieh • 6 years ago

20 19 6 years ago

So Musk has gone from saying the "coronavirus panic is dumb" (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1236029449042198528) to now making ventilators.

Going from zero to manufacturing medical grade equipment is non-trivial. Even once you have the equipment there are going to be staffing shortages in hospitals. Patients on ventilators need to be constantly monitored. You don't just plug them in and leave them.

Musk's downplaying of the seriousness of COVID-19 hasn't helped anyone.

tpmx• 6 years ago

That tweet really didn't age well.

Is this going to be another Thai cave submarine episode?

romland• 6 years ago

I had not seen this quote before. Reading what you said; my initial thought was on the emphasis, the panic IS dumb. So, I clicked in and verified that he actually had said exactly those words and read the next 2-3 responses. I felt that, yeah, he is referring to the panic. It's something I've repeatedly said the last two weeks: Personally, I am not afraid of the virus. I am afraid of people's response. I say this as one of the unfortunate bastards with a condition that puts me in a risk group. I am also no fan of Musk, per-se (well, not more than you would have admiration for any person that are able to accomplish things).

Whether he's capable of making a difference around ventilators in the short term -- let's just say I am as skeptical as the next guy. Likewise, I should probably have read the entirety of the Twitter thread before replying.

clouddrover4• 6 years ago

In a memo to employees Musk said, "The risk of death from C19 is vastly less than the risk of death from driving your car home":

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/elon-musk-space...

Italy's deaths from coronavirus have already exceeded their annual deaths from car accidents:

https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-r...

Without the work that hospitals are doing and without the measures to limit exposure the death rate would be even higher.

Musk's perspective on COVID-19 is ignorant and frankly stupid.

new_realist4• 6 years ago

Just like Elon was going to rescue the Thai cave boys, fix Flint’s water supply, etc.

Musk’s PR strategy is to inject himself into every trending topic.

This, after Musk has made several incredibly irresponsible factual misrepresentations of the current outbreak, comparing it to the common cold and suggesting that car accidents will kill more people this year than this virus.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this ventilator play is an exemption which keeps his workforce at work, working on things he wants to work on, like cars and rockets, all the while spreading COVID-19.

new_realist4• 6 years ago

Ventilator manufacturers aren't impressed by Elon Musk's offer

https://mashable.com/article/experts-doubt-tesla-elon-musk-m...

new_realist4• 6 years ago

Note also that in Italy, deaths from coronavirus have already surpassed yearly deaths from auto accidents—-and this is just the beginning.

clouddrover4• 6 years ago

Johns Hopkins coronavirus case map:

https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Italy is currently at 4,825 deaths.

ryanlol3• 6 years ago

I’m not sure how that’s relevant though, SpaceX employees are much younger and healthier than the people dying in italy https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-18/99-of-tho...

How many employees over 70 do you think SpaceX has?

ryanlol3• 6 years ago

suggesting that car accidents will kill more people this year than this virus.

That’s not what he said though. He was suggesting that car accidents will kill more SpaceX employees this year than the virus.

That doesn’t seem very far fetched, it’s not like SpaceX employs many super old people.

comradesmith• 6 years ago

This is going to be a repeat of that stupid submarine isn't it?

fightorflight• 6 years ago

I hope Tesla’s quality control issues have been resolved if they’re going to be creating life support equipment.

boznz• 6 years ago

I have studied this a fair bit and the technology is relatively simple (look it up) biggest challenge is securing enough medical grade oxygen. So yes, GM or Tesla or a lot of other companies with manufacturing bases could make them pretty easily, however the current manufacturers of ventilators have got a lot to loose with an over-supply of cheap ventilators so expect FUD

rasz• 6 years ago

Ventilators are not the answer. Italy Cremona https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfkbv_WQtn0 Italy Bergamo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_suhYeWEcJg

TLDR Two hospitals, not a single patient survived ventilation/ecmo to date. Something weird is happening in Italy.

SpaceX and Tesla Working on Ventilators

Related Stories