Tesla Model S, 0-60 <4.5 sec, 320 miles range

Talk to the big car companies. Tesla is a small start-up company with very limited production capabilities.
Building the low production, high cost Roadster allowed them to do a 'proof of concept' vehicle and show the big guys that yes, it can be done. It also showed people that EVs don't have to be overgrown golf carts

The Roadster made Lutz ask himself 'if this little start up company can do it, why the heck can't we' (per his own statement in "revenge of the electric car").

The next step for Tesla is to make a luxury sedan. Higher production (20,000/year), and lower price. As they grow their production capabilities, the can afford to build lower cost, higher production vehicles.

Meanwhile Nissan has the Leaf (as already mentioned), GM has their 'sort of' EV, and many other brands are releasing EVs in the next couple of years.

Even if Tesla stops selling EVs forever, I thank them for kick starting competition and getting EVs in the marketplace.

 

It has the style, power and performance of a German luxury sedan. Seems like it will compete well.

 

success should mean selling to the masses...not just a few with money. Why does it seem to take so long for good technology to become affordable? chances are so few will 'invest' in the uber-expensive EVs that it will all be deemed a failure. I do hope I'm wrong as i am a bigger EV fan than most.

So many passed on the Prius...and will pass on the plug-in version. So many pass up solar panels...Why? because initial cost is out of reach. period. tax incentives don't always pan out for many...many that NEED less expensive alternative vehicles.

the day where an EV is cheaper than a comparable gas-only can't come fast enough.

 

Car of the year in my book!

First Ride: 2012 Tesla Model S Beta

 

So Mercedes are a failure because they are expensive?

New products/technologies are always expensive to start with. The first personal computers were outrageously expensive. The first IPods were as well. As more batteries are built and more vehicles the prices will come down.
The alternative is to cut the capabilities of the vehicle (i.e. range). If a 70-100 mile range meets your needs you can get a base model of the Leaf for about the same price as a base model Prius.

As far as being deemed a failure, I think you would find very few people that would consider the Roadster a failure, even though only about 1600 have been sold. Has the roadster had a large DIRECT effect on overall CO2 emissions? No. But the vehicle itself is a joy to drive, and has cut our personal CO2 emission by a huge amount.

So what is wrong with a company building an EV that fills a market different than EVs being built by other companies?

 

Patience is something I can't see working in this arena. Meaning end of oil, peak oil, climate change, pollution and all that. insert your own catch phrase that describes our species inability to evolve past burning crap to move our lard-asses to and from the ice cream shop.

EVs need to be affordable yesterday, not fun toys for 1600 persons today.

PS how's the price of Prius working out? not exactly 20 grand anymore...and not declining. where is that cost cutting miracle with mainstream accepted status?

 

Looks very similar in lines to a current-gen Maxima. I like the current get max, though. This is definitely the best looking EV, by far.

 

This is true but a sub 6 0-60 is going to hang even with luxury cars at that price point. Also assuming it's well appointed it should be similar to other luxury vehicles at this price except is EV. Compare to the Leaf which is basically a sentra-sized vehicle with a massive price premium to go to EV.

Average income of a Volt buyer according to GM is $175k. These are people who would potentially be buying luxury cars but if they want EV they HAVE to go "down" to these low-end cars that happen to be EV (Leaf, volt). On the other hand for $20-30k more they get a vehicle they are more otherwise accustomed to, doesn't look rinky dink at all, and is going to inevitably give a much better buying experience. Essentially their clientele no longer have to make a sacrifice. They don't have to drive a rinky dink car if they want EV.

 

Prius price in comparison to other average price of vehicles has surely come down in the last 10 years while its mileage has gone up. And next year we'll have a ~$20k one capable of ballpark of 60 mpg. That's pretty masses-accessible right there.

 

There are a lot more than 1600 EVs rolling around today.

Nissan has sold about 10k LEAFs world wide (most of them in the US), Mitsubishi has sold over 10k iMiEVs worldwide, and I'll include the 5k+ Volts since they are mostly electric for many owners.

The Prius starts at $23k in the US and has basically stayed the same price since it's introduction.

If you want a < $20k car with great fuel economy, Honda makes a few (Insight and CR-Z) or you can wait for the "Prius C" next year which should come in under $20k and get even better fuel economy as Skoorbmax says.

 

Tesla Motors opens shop in Houston, Texas!
Tesla Motors opens shop in Houston, Texas

 

A similar first, over here. I went to Best Buy in Irvine ( CA ) yesterday ... and surprise surprise ... the Fisker Doors (they're right next door to Best Buy) were not only opened, but for the 1st time, the office was actually manned. With all the FUD in the press (due to government loans made to them), it was good to see what looked like forward movement.

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when it breaksdown in the middle of nowhere, who's going to fix it?

 

1. In NJ it's hard to find "the middle of nowhere".
2. I don't expect it to break down but Tesla can haul it back to NYC,

 

01 Prius, which began delivery in August 2000 was $19,995 (unclear if that was including destination charge).

Per $19995 2000 dollars - Wolfram|Alpha, $19,995 2000 dollars is $25664.31 (2011 US dollars) (based on Consumer Price Index). That's above the MSRP of a '11 Prius Two.

 

That is where the recession comes in handy

Leaf is priced same as a similarly equipped Prius.

 

Inside the Tesla Model S - Big moves (1) - CNNMoney

Meet Tesla's 7-seat sedan - Video - Business News