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Tesla Motors Formally Unveils Electric Sports Car

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by bobr1, Jul 20, 2006.

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  1. bobr1

    bobr1 New Member

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    News.com article:
    http://news.com.com/Electric+sports+car+pa...l?tag=nefd.lede

    "As soon as the driver hits the accelerator, you are thrown back against the seat. The car climbs from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about four seconds, as advertised. But unlike a Porsche or Ferrari, there are no fumes or gear changes and not much noise. Instead, this electric sports car emits a low-grade hum. "
    ...
    "To avoid patent disputes, the company has licensed technology from AC Propulsion, which did much of the engineering work behind GM's EV1. "

    Tesla Company Web site:
    http://www.teslamotors.com/

    - Bob R.
     
    #1 bobr1, Jul 20, 2006
  2. Marlin

    Marlin New Member

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    Darrell will love this quote:

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE("The Article")</div>
     
    #2 Marlin, Jul 20, 2006
  3. jmpenn

    jmpenn New Member

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    The top 3 reasons I can think of as to why Darrell has not responded to this post. I figure he was at the unveiling.

    #3. He's still there asking one of the thousand questions that he has.
    #2. He slipped on his own drool and hurt himself.
    #1. He was arrested trying to steal it.

    :p :lol:
     
    #3 jmpenn, Jul 20, 2006
  4. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    Hey, it's going to be at the Petersen Automotive museum this weekend July 20-23.
     
    #4 Godiva, Jul 20, 2006
  5. jbarnhart

    jbarnhart New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Whitestar @ Jul 20 2006, 01:25 PM) [snapback]289559[/snapback]</div>
    Or:

    4. He's on a beach in Hawaii exploring the many uses of solar power!
     
    #5 jbarnhart, Jul 20, 2006
  6. markymags

    markymags Junior Member

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    Wow... that looks and sounds amazing! Plus, I like how they will install a charger in your house so your car only takes 2-3 hours to charge.
     
    #6 markymags, Jul 20, 2006
  7. kirbinster

    kirbinster Member

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    But at a selling price of $100,000 where is the savings????
     
    #7 kirbinster, Jul 20, 2006
  8. Betelgeuse

    Betelgeuse Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kirbinster @ Jul 20 2006, 07:35 PM) [snapback]289677[/snapback]</div>
    Exactly! That car will never pay for itself!
     
    #8 Betelgeuse, Jul 20, 2006
  9. Canuck

    Canuck Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Jul 20 2006, 04:38 PM) [snapback]289678[/snapback]</div>
    Yes it will but your great-great grandchild will be the beneficiary.
    Gary
     
    #9 Canuck, Jul 20, 2006
  10. San_Carlos_Jeff

    San_Carlos_Jeff Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kirbinster @ Jul 20 2006, 06:35 PM) [snapback]289677[/snapback]</div>
    Same 0-60 time as a Ferrari F430 and the F430 costs $170k, there's your savings.
     
    #10 San_Carlos_Jeff, Jul 20, 2006
  11. dipper

    dipper Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Canuck @ Jul 20 2006, 04:49 PM) [snapback]289681[/snapback]</div>
    But.....

    (1) You are deferring fossil fuel use from one source to another.
    (2) Got to replace battery every few years.
    (3) Batteries going into dumpsters.

    Any more stupid comments? keep them coming.... :lol:
     
    #11 dipper, Jul 20, 2006
  12. dipper

    dipper Senior Member

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    I found an audio report about the Tesla unveiling.

    http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2...M200607208.html

    Interesting note. The audio clip said that the Sedan version is quoted as saying it is marketed at $40k in 2008. I found from somewhere else of the project name... "White Star". The roadster project name is "Dark Star".

    If that is the case, I am canceling waiting list order for my 2009 model Prius PlugIn (9 miles PHEV). :unsure:
     
    #12 dipper, Jul 20, 2006
  13. fatale

    fatale New Member

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    http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/20/exclusi...ster-unveiling/

    There is a link to a video of the launch :)

    Seems like a good deal for an electric super car. It is based on the Lotus Elise.. but has some added features including a carbon fiber body.. and well .. all electric drive. For $100k its a steal IMO.

    Who wants to bet that Arnold has his order in and will be selling his Hummer? ;)
     
    #13 fatale, Jul 21, 2006
  14. ajrowell

    ajrowell New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kirbinster @ Jul 20 2006, 07:35 PM) [snapback]289677[/snapback]</div>

    The above comment is worse than consumer reports comparing the corolla to the prius.
    Where is the savings? It is not a plug in Kia. It is built on the Lotus chasis and has a 0 to 60 time of 4 seconds. 100% torque available at 0 mph, instantaneous throtle response, corvette acceleration with no noise, no maintenance except brake inspection and tire rotation (since it has no fluids), great design, no gas, and zero emissions are just a few of the savings. I mean come on, if $100,000 is a bargain for this vehicle.

    They will only sell in So.Cal fo the first 6 months anyway. So if your average salary in So.Cal is 130K and you have a 2 hr commute becuase of traffic. You will save....
    1hr 15 minutes a day in commute time = 30 hrs a month = 15 days per year

    no gas, so if you drive 30K a year in it and trade in your 911 burning Premium getting 12mpg.
    30K / 12mpg = 2500 gallons of fuel a year * 3.25gallon = $8125 gas costs - $450 (annual cost of Tesla at 1.5cents per mile) = $7675 savings in fuel a year

    Tax credit will be at least 7K, since no fuel consuption and carries two passengers

    No city parking fees in major cities in SoCal. = $500 a year savings

    Maintenance for Porsche = $2000 a year (dealer oil changes inspections) versus $400 max for Tesla = $1600 saving per year.

    Morale boost for driving a car with no gas that will blow the doors off most anything on the road = priceless.


    LETS TOTAL IT ALL UP FOR A 3 YEAR OWNERSHIP
    time saved = 45 days
    fuel saved = $23025 (not adjusted for inflation or WW3)
    tax credit = $7000 (guesstimate)
    parking savings = $1500
    Maintenance savings = $4800
    Morale Boost = pricesless

    TOTAL = $36325, 45 days, and a pricesless sense of doings whats right.

    Where is the savings......
     
    #14 ajrowell, Jul 21, 2006
  15. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kirbinster @ Jul 20 2006, 06:35 PM) [snapback]289677[/snapback]</div>
    Tee-hee! Good one :_>
     
    #15 richard schumacher, Jul 21, 2006
  16. jmpenn

    jmpenn New Member

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    What I would like to know is why the 3.5 hour recharge time? What happened to a fast charge? Did that go out the window when using Li-Ion batteries?
     
    #16 jmpenn, Jul 21, 2006
  17. dipper

    dipper Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Whitestar @ Jul 21 2006, 07:29 AM) [snapback]289927[/snapback]</div>
    The question is not can they do it.... the question should be "how much" you are willing to modify/pay your home to setup the fast charger. Do you know how many amps that will require for it to happen. It will certainly be more than your home circuits can carry.

    These 3 minutes fast charger is probably going to have to be done in a recharge station.
     
    #17 dipper, Jul 21, 2006
  18. bobr1

    bobr1 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Whitestar @ Jul 21 2006, 07:29 AM) [snapback]289927[/snapback]</div>
    Well, think about it this way... that is a fairly fast charge.

    If a typical electric car takes 3.5 hours to charge but only gets 50mi range (just pulling numbers out of nowhere), and this new car takes 3.5 hours to charge but stores enough energy to get a 200+ mile range, that is a 4X improvement in charging performance.

    I suspect that a 40A 240V home circuit can't deliver too much more current than that without major upgrades in wiring all the way to the mains.

    I looked over any specs I could find on the Tesla web site, including the white paper, but could not find a published battery capacity. Perhaps they are still tinkering with that.

    But, they do claim the vehicle uses 110Wh per km. That converts to 177Wh per mile. If we assume that this average realistically nets you 200mi of range per charge, that means the battery stores 35.4kWh of charge.

    A 40A 240V circuit, running full out with no heat or conversion losses, can deliver 9.6kW. If I haven't messed something up seriously, that means under absolutely ideal conditions the 40A circuit could charge the car in 3.7 hours. So I am guessing they base their recharge time figure on a dedicated 40A circuit.

    A question for them would be: If you had the capability of putting in a 100A circuit, how much could the electronics on the car handle? Can the charging time be further improved, or would it require improvements to everything on the car, such as battery management and cooling, etc?

    Perhaps we are not far from the day where a full charge can be delivered in an hour. The modern freeway-side gas station may someday transform into rest areas and restaurants with charging stations. Drive 200 mi down the highway, pull in for a nice meal and a recharge, stretch your legs awhile, and then move on. A lifestyle change to be sure, but would it really be so bad?

    - Bob R.
     
    #18 bobr1, Jul 21, 2006
  19. kirbinster

    kirbinster Member

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    Maybe if these cars catch on (or even for plug-in hybrids) the battery will be modular and you can pull into a "Gas station" with an empty battery and they will in less than 3-5 minutes pull it out and swap it with a fully charged one with you paying for the electricity needed to charge it just like you would pay for gas today.
     
    #19 kirbinster, Jul 21, 2006
  20. jamarimutt

    jamarimutt New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kirbinster @ Jul 21 2006, 04:37 PM) [snapback]290115[/snapback]</div>
    Wishful thinking? B)
     
    #20 jamarimutt, Jul 21, 2006
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