2) Elon Musk says the Tesla semi truck could go 621 miles on a battery charge, while paying a small weight penalty. Production is due to start this next year. Driven by four electric motors, one for each wheel, the same used on the Model 3 truck, and also uses the regenerative braking that gives quasi-infinite brake life. Tesla claims the truck can go 400 miles on a 30-minute charge using a Megacharger. Musk further claims that from day one a conventional diesel powered truck is 20% more expensive than a Tesla. One main problem is the size and weight of a battery pack to go those distances, so that means a 1-ton penalty compared to diesels. Trucks in the U.S. have a total weight limit of 40 metric tons or 80,000 pounds including their load. Regulations allows 11 hours of driving a day during a 14-hour window, so if a truck averaged 50 mph over that time, it would move 550 miles in a day. For 60 mph it would be 660.
3) The Philippines’ defense secretary has warned that increasing tensions in the South China Sea between the United States and China could easily spill over into war. If a shooting war happens, the Philippines will be involved whether she likes it or not. The crux of the threat is a confrontation of the U.S. and its allies against China for the South China Sea. An example is a Chinese destroyer recently coming threateningly close to an American warship who was conducting a ‘freedom of navigation’ patrol in the South China Sea. Also, China continues its threatening actions against Taiwan by staging amphibious landing maneuvers for invasions of islands like Taiwan.
4) Stock market closings for – 30 NOV 20:
Dow 29,638.64 down by 271.73
Nasdaq 12,198.74 down by 7.11
S&P 500 3,621.63 down by 16.72
10 Year Yield: unchanged at 0.84%
Oil: up at $45.14