Featured Promised Model X Killer from China ~$45K

Agree...fellow 'flyover' resident here. However, you'd be surprised how many Teslas I'm starting to see around here ( of course, this is Mayo Clinic country..so lots of extra $$$ lying around ).

 

even after price and charging have been addressed, i would expect flyover country to be the last adopters, no?

 

Last adopters only due to infrastructure.
As mentioned above......early adopters, like flush toilets and paved roads are in all 50 states.

 

That's gotta be a typo.
That's still slower than I can drive....
Legally, even.

 

15kw

Which is still L2 technically

I always hoped the L2 standard would support 277VAC and use the peak 80 amp output

 

All of this is completely fascinating.
The Byton looks nice enough, good concept, good price, but with all the old fashioned problems to keep it way off from serious consideration. And it has a stupidly huge screen

In my opinion, price is going to swing it all harder than range or a myriad of the smaller issues, especially for those with < 50 miles average daily drives.
The strength market for a daily driver is the Prius sized runabout with options to go 300 miles and charge in 20 minutes. Make it an SUV shape, because apparently only those sell, so we're told. Low tailgate, big loading area, good power, reliable. A Hyundai Kona looking thing, but cheaper as the base option. Also be able to upgrade it as and when.

Isn't the market strength right now in 2nd hand of only a couple of years?
Unless well heeled, the massive resale crash values of electrics are where innovation should be strong. You know, someone finding out that laptop batteries can replace Nissan Leaf cells and cost $400 for a whole new 25 mile range pack. Be able to slide that pack in under the car, while the 'real one' is charging on home electricity.
Speaking of which, the old Nissan Leafs are cheap now (in this area). Retail 33K, 1 year olds are selling for 16K, 2013's are around 10K.
Autotrader - page unavailable
The 10K electric car is a thing...if you don't mind it being 5 or 6 years old.

And that brings me on to a short story i'm writing: The $10,000 Electric Car.
Great points are mentioned, especially from Bisco, Leadfoot and more of you fine folks.
Dealerships are one problem area..well, you don't need them, if your service department gives a rip about customer service (RichRebuilds experience with his Model X springs to mind.)
You don't need them if parts are delivered like an Amazon Prime order.
"How do I fit that?" watch a myriad of YT help videos and step by steps from the manufacturer.
You don't need them, if your parts can fit other makes as a standard. Go to O'Reilly's or wherever and get universal brake pads, rated for up to a 1 ton car. Most of it should be like buying windscreen wipers from Walmart and just as easy to fit.
Anyone familiar with 1990's JAMMA arcade cabinets? The cabinet stayed the same, the wiring stayed the same, the screen stayed the same, but the circuitboard was all that got changed out. Every board had the same connector on the end.
Another example is ATX computer power supplies...they fitted every manufacturers motherboards (except Dell's). You bought the same thing to do the same job.
Why can't cars do that ?
I'm a fan of standards, there are just too many of them.

The Government loves to put rules on things, some stuff is mandated. TPMS, reversing camera and the like. Surely all should plug in or be fitted the same way and that would allow mechanics to 'understand' the new breed of cars. A universal bus system, like JAMMA, for the electrical system.
Same thing for charging infrastructure, go ECS or at least just pick one for crying out loud and all cars can use it. We don't have different sockets for gasolene fuel !

A 10K new car is possible, if you buy the bare bones and are able to cheaply and effectively build it up to your wishes, as and when you like or can afford.
In the story, the car company is Falcon Motors, they crowd fund the Open Sourced software/hardware "Kestrel" City car, with other models being based on rolling chassis size not features. Upgrades are added by mail order, as and when and from whoever gets certified by an innovation friendly consortium to make them.

 

Is there a cemetery for Tesla killers?

Bob Wilson

 

yep, the ether

 

For owners that are located away from Service Centers, Tesla is increasing the number of Rangers. Rangers are mobile Service Techs that can come to your house or your business and service your car.

 

I value the stories that speak to the lack of response. Anyone can screw up. It is how they treat you after the screw up that matters. And the lack of response to repeated pleas for help in getting the simple things like paperwork to the DMV for tags, the address where to send payment, the month long wait for service and then month long wait for service to be complete scare the heck out of me. The lack of "I loved my experience" stories at Raleigh was also noted.

I was up in Cary today getting 41 MPG at $1.969. Saw probably 3 Teslas in the stretch of a mile or so of 64 down towards COSTCO. I hope those owners are happy. Being unhappy with a $26k car where the dealer is just down the street is one thing. Being unhappy with a $58k car whose "dealer equivalent" is 50 miles away is not something I'd want to experience. 15 miles I could handle if the service and parts availability were up to snuff.

 

if everyone bought a tesla now, that would be a problem. patience

 

Or just plop down $15500

Solo - Electra Meccanica

In production and a shorter wait but the tax credit is tiny

 

That would be ideal for my commute. Hope it doesn't go the way of Aptera and Elio.

The federal tax credit maxes out at 16kWh. But I guess that requires four wheels.

 

Tax credit maxes at $2500 but in that case $1550

Still something I guess

 

I like that thing. I do wish it had an airbag or two though.

 

why is every new ev a nano. this is america, think big people!

 

Not much cargo space in that thing...but it is cool!

On our road trip this summer we saw a similar (non electric) vehicle like that...but it was obviously one a of a kind garage project. I was impressed at how well it could keep speed on the freeway...but did fall back a bit on some inclines, etc...