Tesla unveils groundbreaking electric car

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:40 pm

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/ynews;_ ... 72&lang=en

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – US automaker Tesla Motors unveiled its state-of-the-art five-seat sedan here Thursday, billed as the world's first mass-produced, highway-capable electric car.

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk said the company, which last year released a breakthrough two-seater roadster, aims to have its sleek "Model S" sedan rolling off assembly lines by 2011.

The futuristic zero-emission vehicle will be powered by lithium-ion battery packs capable of between 160 and 300 miles (257 and 482 kilometers) per charge.

The car has an anticipated base price of 57,400 dollars but will cost less than 50,000 after a federal tax credit of 7,500 dollars, Musk said.

While the price tag is steep compared to other mass-market sedans, Tesla has stressed that tax incentives, relatively inexpensive maintenance and refueling will make the car competitive with cheaper rival sedans.

Musk told reporters that he hoped the car would lead a new generation of vehicles which would help the auto industry wean itself off of foreign oil.

"What we really wanted to show the car industry is that it is possible to create a compelling electric car at a compelling price," Musk said. "We hope the industry will follow our lead."

"It's incredibly important that we wean ourselves off oil as soon as possible and that we make the transition to electric vehicles rapidly."

Musk said Tesla aimed to manufacture around 20,000 units per year from an undisclosed factory location in Southern California and said the vehicle could be charged at home in just four hours.

"Even at 20,000 cars per year we won't come close to affecting the electricity grid and you will be able to charge this car at home.

"It's capable of taking a wide range of currents and voltages, and the charge is built into the car so you don't have to worry about 'Is there a charger at the destination that I'm driving to?'," Musk said.

Tesla said its new model would become the "car of choice for environmentally conscious and discriminating drivers throughout North America and Europe." It expects to roughly split initial sales between the two continents before expanding into Asia in 2012.

Tesla's other zero-emission car, the two-seat Roadster, is on sale in Europe and the United States.

The company said last year it had ramped up production of the high-performance vehicle, with a price tag of about 100,000 dollars, due to soaring demand.

Tesla, founded in 2003, specializes in the environmentally-friendly, electric cars that several car manufacturers are starting to produce.

Thursday's unveiling comes against the backdrop of a US auto industry in crisis while President Barack Obama has said his administration wants to see a million electric cars on the roads by 2015.

Auto industry analysts were cautious about whether Tesla's "Model S" suggested that the future of the US auto industry was electric, saying hybrid vehicles and low fuel prices could stymie their growth.

Jim Hossack of California-based AutoPacific Consulting said Tesla's latest prototype was "something of a technical marvel" but questioned whether it could revolutionize the US auto industry.

"The problem is our fuel price. If you're going to launch an electric vehicle you probably want to do it in a market where fuel prices are high," Hossack told AFP. "At the moment in the US, they're cheap, a quarter of what they are in Europe or Japan. Hybrids might be better positioned to be the dominant technology."

While production of the "Model S" would demonstrate that it was possible to make a mass-produced electric car, Hossack noted that "we can also put a man on the moon. And it turns out it's expensive."

"A 50-60,000 dollar four-door sedan is not going to to turn the world on its head," he said.

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 8:02 am

what suprized me was they said it only take. eather 45 min's or 1 1/2 hours to fully recharge the car. from the news clip i watched last night . also the figure they stated was like under $10.00 per charge .

Err · Post by **Err** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 9:46 am

I would like to know how long the charge lasts in cold weather. I still believe that the car would get more acceptance if it had a diesel or gasoline powered generator to extend the range.

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 9:54 am

I'd buy one if it were only $20,000 or less.

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 2:35 pm

normalicy wrote:I'd buy one if it were only $20,000 or less.

I understand the Chevy Volt is going to selling for around $40,000 when it is released. and I'm sure the Tesla "Model S" sedan will be a sleeker looking car.
I'm not sure with car will be avail for the general public first. but I'm sure the Tesla "Model S" sedan will be harder to get your hands on . do to less production capacity then GM.

Err · Post by **Err** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:03 pm

renovation wrote:I understand the Chevy Volt is going to selling for around $40,000 when it is released. and I'm sure the Tesla "Model S" sedan will be a sleeker looking car.
I'm not sure with car will be avail for the general public first. but I'm sure the Tesla "Model S" sedan will be harder to get your hands on . do to less production capacity then GM.

If you get the same tax break on the Chevy, the Volt's price drops to $32,500. That's an attractive price for a sedan.

Badmojo · Post by **Badmojo** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 4:16 pm

renovation wrote:what surprised me was they said it only take. either 45 min's or 1 1/2 hours to fully recharge the car. from the news clip i watched last night . also the figure they stated was like under $10.00 per charge .

did they mention if a charge was good for a day or # of people/weight changed frequency of $10 charges

edit: guess i skimmed over some that, and somewhere thought i read it was 5seater in there somewhere... so $10 for 160 elc. vs. $2 atm for a gallon in the general car getting 20miles seems cheap.
but anyone thats ever blown the power in summer plugging in thier cell with the A/C running knows thier claim is BS, maybe since Enron kept most of cali off the grid for years its in better shape than other states
_________________________________________________________________________________

Unless it comes with solar panels dont see the point of stressing power grids run with coal.
coal or gas
e85 or food
biodegradable or recycle(how much energy is being used by ur municipal unless its in IL where they generate power from capped trash fills)

I know if everyone in my area plugged in one of these during the summer in chicago area com-ed would be out in full force for weeks, around 5-7pm everyone would hear the quite from their A/C as daddy or mommy plug in the car.
Its a nice step but unless that foots standing on something other that coal its pretty much the same direction also foreign oil has plans to move to solar arrays (if they could figure out how to transport it) should we ever get off oil.

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 9:54 pm

Unless it comes with solar panels dont see the point of stressing power grids run with coal.
coal or gas
e85 or food
biodegradable or recycle(how much energy is being used by ur municipal unless its in IL where they generate power from capped trash fills)

I know if everyone in my area plugged in one of these during the summer in chicago area com-ed would be out in full force for weeks, around 5-7pm everyone would hear the quite from their A/C as daddy or mommy plug in the car.
Its a nice step but unless that foots standing on something other that coal its pretty much the same direction also foreign oil has plans to move to solar arrays (if they could figure out how to transport it) should we ever get off oil.

Well, most states have enacted funds to impliment either a solar or wind power grid to assist the the coal power grid. However, the other thing to take note of is that America has the largest coal supply in the world which makes us self sufficient. Also, it takes much less energy to drive an electric motor than a gas motor, thus less fuel (coal if need be) will be used as well as lower greenhouse emissions will be produced (especially since coal is very efficienty burnt these days). So, generally, the switch to electric is very smart, especially because most people only travel about 20 miles a day. It would be perfect for me. Only twice a year do I travel over 40 miles in a day.

I don't see foreign oil competing with us properly if they do switch to other energy creation. Not unless they cut their throats.

Shadow250 · Post by **Shadow250** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:51 pm

they claim its low maintenance, i bet when that battery dies it aint cheap.