Tesla Roadster goes 245 miles on a charge

daniel · 10-13-2007, 09:01 PM

Whether you're driving a Tesla, a Prius, or a gas-hogging GM, driving style makes a big difference on range. But the Validation Prototype Tesla Roadster was put through its paces, and on the EPA test, it's combined city/highway range was 245 miles on a charge. The worst-case (extremely aggressive driving -- and with a high-performance sports car, driving can get very aggressive and inefficient) was 165 miles, and the best-case (conservative driving) was 267 miles on a charge.

Details here.

They also allowed some people high up on the customer list to drive the car and their blogs are here and here.

Finally, the CEO's latest letter to customers is here . (PDF file).

They plan on shipping 50 cars in the first quarter of 2008, and an additional 600 during the rest of the year. As a result, they will soon stop taking orders for the 2008 model year, and will start a traditional waiting list. The letter does not say whether that means you can get on the list without a very large deposit.

I think Tesla is going to pull it off and be the first to get into the EV market in a big way.

But I'm going to miss my cute, fun, little Xebra when the time comes to trade her in on a "real" electric car. Maybe I'll just have to keep her anyway, for cruising around the neighborhood...

**TonyPSchaefer** · 10-13-2007, 09:40 PM

I simply think that it's great that an EV - any EV - shows a 250 MPC potential.

That is, an EV that even hardcore car guys would want to drive.

Godiva · 10-13-2007, 10:27 PM

I think I need to start buying lottery tickets again.

San_Carlos_Jeff · 10-13-2007, 11:42 PM

This is exciting news, thanks for the update Daniel. I've been seeing test vehicles more often over the last few months so figured that they were getting closer.

**efusco** · 10-13-2007, 11:45 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Oct 13 2007, 08:01 PM) [snapback]525295[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

But I'm going to miss my cute, fun, little Xebra when the time comes to trade her in on a "real" electric car. Maybe I'll just have to keep her anyway, for cruising around the neighborhood... [/b]

Thanks for posting the update Daniel.
But I'm a little confused by the second to last sentence....did you go ahead and get on the wait list for the Tesla? I thought you'd decided not to ultimately.

daniel · 10-14-2007, 12:29 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Oct 13 2007, 08:45 PM) [snapback]525337[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Thanks for posting the update Daniel.
But I'm a little confused by the second to last sentence....did you go ahead and get on the wait list for the Tesla? I thought you'd decided not to ultimately.
[/b]

You are correct: I did not get on the waiting list (in part due to the $50,000 deposit!) but I want to be able to drive electric to church. I go to the UU in Coeur d'Alene, and that's just a little beyond the round-trip range of the Xebra. So when I bought the Xebra I figured it was a stop-gap car until something came out that would go 75 miles at freeway speed. (A bit over 50 miles round-trip, plus a safety zone.)

Only, I love driving the Xebra so much, that now I'm having second thoughts about trading up. I could afford to buy another EV and still keep the Xebra. But I need the Prius for trips to Canada, and I have only a 2-car garage. Three cars would be a parking problem. If Tesla starts selling Roadsters in 2009 without a deposit, just come down for a test drive, buy it, and drive away, I'll have to face the question: The Xebra, the Tesla, or both. Not an easy decision to make. I need a girlfriend to take the Prius off my hands and go with me (in "her" Prius) on those hiking trips to Canada.

tripp · 10-14-2007, 01:20 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Oct 13 2007, 10:29 PM) [snapback]525349[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I need a girlfriend to take the Prius off my hands and go with me (in "her" Prius) on those hiking trips to Canada.
[/b]

Shouldn't be too hard if you're hangin' out with UU chicks. Good for Tesla. I really hope that they can pull it off and get the general populace more aware of what's going on with EVs.

patsparks · 10-14-2007, 05:34 AM

If your going to give me a Prius and as long as your not too fussy then I'll be your girlfriend, as long as that's OK with my wife.

daniel · 10-14-2007, 09:31 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tripp @ Oct 13 2007, 10:20 PM) [snapback]525360[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Shouldn't be too hard if you're hangin' out with UU chicks. ...
[/b]

You'd be surprised. There are no unmarried females in my church between about 15 and 70. It's a very small congregation. But even when I belonged to the much larger Spokane congregation, I met no available women.

My UU congregation is so small that they put me on the board of directors a year after I began attending, and a half a year after I joined! And I didn't even want the job. They phoned and basically begged. Everyone else had already turned it down.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(patsparks @ Oct 14 2007, 02:34 AM) [snapback]525386[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

If your going to give me a Prius and as long as your not too fussy then I'll be your girlfriend, as long as that's OK with my wife.

[/b]

You are not the first guy to say something along the lines of "If I was a girl I'd be your girlfriend if you bought me a Prius." And married women say, "There's nothing wrong with you. Any woman would be lucky to have you." But single women avoid me like the plague.

So the offer stands, but I am pretty fussy. You have to be female, moderately attractive (you don't have to look like Alicia Silverstone) and a non-smoker. And willing to live in Spokane or somewhere else that I could tolerate.

Godiva · 10-14-2007, 02:05 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(patsparks @ Oct 14 2007, 04:34 AM) [snapback]525386[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

If your going to give me a Prius and as long as your not too fussy then I'll be your girlfriend, as long as that's OK with my wife.

[/b]

Hey. I already own a Prius and I don't have a wife. Although I could use one; my house is a mess.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Oct 14 2007, 08:31 AM) [snapback]525400[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

So the offer stands, but I am pretty fussy. You have to be female, moderately attractive (you don't have to look like Alicia Silverstone)[/b]

Uh, not Alicia Silverstone. Although in High School someone told me I looked a little like Shirley MacLaine. (Now more like Shirley Booth.)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Oct 14 2007, 08:31 AM) [snapback]525400[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

and a non-smoker. [/b]

Not a problem. I don't drink either.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Oct 14 2007, 08:31 AM) [snapback]525400[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

And willing to live in Spokane or somewhere else that I could tolerate.
[/b]

Oops. Sorry. Deal-breaker there. I own my own home in San Diego and have no intention of selling.

Plus....I'm a dog person. While I don't mind cats I must have a dog.

10-13-2007, 09:01 PM	#1
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 11,278 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 59 Thanked 201 Times in 127 Posts Friends: 0	Whether you're driving a Tesla, a Prius, or a gas-hogging GM, driving style makes a big difference on range. But the Validation Prototype Tesla Roadster was put through its paces, and on the EPA test, it's combined city/highway range was 245 miles on a charge. The worst-case (extremely aggressive driving -- and with a high-performance sports car, driving can get very aggressive and inefficient) was 165 miles, and the best-case (conservative driving) was 267 miles on a charge. Details here. They also allowed some people high up on the customer list to drive the car and their blogs are here and here. Finally, the CEO's latest letter to customers is here . (PDF file). They plan on shipping 50 cars in the first quarter of 2008, and an additional 600 during the rest of the year. As a result, they will soon stop taking orders for the 2008 model year, and will start a traditional waiting list. The letter does not say whether that means you can get on the list without a very large deposit. I think Tesla is going to pull it off and be the first to get into the EV market in a big way. But I'm going to miss my cute, fun, little Xebra when the time comes to trade her in on a "real" electric car. Maybe I'll just have to keep her anyway, for cruising around the neighborhood... __________________ Daniel Primary car: 100% Electric 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera. Estimated range at 55 mph: 81 miles total or 64 miles to 80% discharge. Top speed 70 mph. Secondary car: Zap Xebra SD, also 100% electric. 1.9 cents per mile. Range: 40 miles total, or 32 miles to 80% discharge. Top speed 35 mph. Faster downhill. Both EVs use electrons generated from water power. Gas guzzler for when I have to travel farther than 60 miles: 2004 Prius. "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." -- Emma Goldman "Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think long and hard before starting a war." -- Otto von Bismarck

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10-13-2007, 09:40 PM	#2
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 10,497 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 164 Times in 105 Posts Friends: 23	I simply think that it's great that an EV - any EV - shows a 250 MPC potential. That is, an EV that even hardcore car guys would want to drive.

10-13-2007, 10:27 PM	#3
Godiva AmeriKan Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 10,342 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 7	I think I need to start buying lottery tickets again.

10-13-2007, 11:42 PM	#4
San_Carlos_Jeff Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 603 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 25 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts Friends: 0	This is exciting news, thanks for the update Daniel. I've been seeing test vehicles more often over the last few months so figured that they were getting closer.

10-14-2007, 05:34 AM	#8
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,182 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 118 Thanked 179 Times in 137 Posts Friends: 33	If your going to give me a Prius and as long as your not too fussy then I'll be your girlfriend, as long as that's OK with my wife.