Tesla Announces Plans for $30K Electric Car

[Steve321]

Tesla Motors reveals plans for affordable, completely electric car


Tesla Motors reveals plans for affordable, completely electric car - Covering The Louisiana State University Community (LSU) -- Tigerweekly.com

[miscrms]

Pretty sure this is old news (maybe not the price guesstimate). Regardless, put me on the list
Rob

[Godiva]

If they can have a $30,000 EV out by 2012, I'm there. I'd prefer an EV Prius hatchback but if Toyota can't supply one, I guess I'll have to go Tesla.

GM can bite me.

[Tideland Prius]

sweeet! Sounds like a plan if they can pull it off. 220 miles is plenty esp. since it'll be plugged in whenever I'm at home in the garage.

Also, I noted this line. It's like he's never heard of regenerative braking before: "Speaking of the brakes, get this: the Roadster actually recovers energy when you slow down and sends that energy back to the battery."

[Steve321]

Did anyone notice this "There are even plans to release solar panels that mount on the Roadster’s roof to help it get an extra 50 miles of travel on a sunny day". Either the writer knows something we don't know or he knows nothing about solar panels.

[Rybold]

Awesome! Sign me up! I figure that by 2012 they will have all of their reliability issues worked out. Even the $60K car will sell well here in CA. I am going to make the prediction that they will run into the same problem that the Prius is having right now; production will be limited by battery production rates, and there will be long waiting lists.

[Leo]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

sweeet! Sounds like a plan if they can pull it off. 220 miles is plenty esp. since it'll be plugged in whenever I'm at home in the garage.

Also, I noted this line. It's like he's never heard of regenerative braking before: "Speaking of the brakes, get this: the Roadster actually recovers energy when you slow down and sends that energy back to the battery."

I notice that the 2009 Roadster takes a "70 amp high power connector", which I presume means 220 volts. Hope you have that in your garage! What would one charge for 3.5 hours cost (which would take you 220 miles if you don't turn on anything else electric)? In my condominium here in Ottawa, electricity is included in the condo fee, so I don't know what we're paying for electricity. What would the cost per $220 miles be?

I also notice that air conditioning and heating are electric. Given the Canadian winter, you might make it as far as the street before the heater, windshield defroster, rear window defroster, windshield wipers, lights, etc. empty the battery.

[cycledrum]

It's hard to say how much all-electrics will take off given the fact many do not have access to plug-in overnight.

Also, people will need to know what options they have when going out of town.

My gut feel tells me the plug-in hybrid electrics (PHEV) may gain the upper hand over all-electrics since you may be able to do the 30 mile commute on battery alone, then can run the gas motor if needed.

I hope Tesla will look into PHEV's.

Still, all-electric is a very good thing for the willing.

[AISpence]

If they can produce one with a sedan type body (able to seat more than two) and like Godiva said, with a hatchback, I'd be one of the first in line. I'm really happy to see true American innovation at work and hope that they can get big enough to give the big three a run for their money (if not completely cream them).

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by Leo

I notice that the 2009 Roadster takes a "70 amp high power connector", which I presume means 220 volts. Hope you have that in your garage! What would one charge for 3.5 hours cost (which would take you 220 miles if you don't turn on anything else electric)? In my condominium here in Ottawa, electricity is included in the condo fee, so I don't know what we're paying for electricity. What would the cost per $220 miles be?

I also notice that air conditioning and heating are electric. Given the Canadian winter, you might make it as far as the street before the heater, windshield defroster, rear window defroster, windshield wipers, lights, etc. empty the battery.

don't know but take a look at Fifth Gear's test of the gas fortwo vs. the smart ED.

They ran both cars with the rear defroster (Which we know is the biggest user of electricity), headlights and heater to put a drain on both cars, esp. the electric one. See which one travelled further on £1.92