Tesla Model S

[ashtray]

California offers incentives where you can get a second metered electric line for your car and pay very low rates - not add on to your current usage and bump into higher tiers.

[Sccabrz192]

Yea, that guy's energy rate is outrageous.

And like the post above, I have a second meter installed for charging my volt, which has a lower off-peak rate than the rest of my house (which is when I charge the car most often, obviously...) but does have a higher on-peak rate.

I understand most Tesla owners aren't buying Teslas to save money on gas, but if that is part of the equation for buying one... you should probably understand your energy rate BEFORE making your purchase.

[argonaddict]

Many tesla fans are buying the car for cost of ownership savings. Contrary to the wierd notion that the tesla is fodder for the ultra rich. it is a $60k car and not something exotic at all. Five minutes driving down the freeway and you will pass dozens of cars in that price range.
Just think in addition to gas saving, no more oil changes,trans services,belts,spark plugs,air filters etc. In countrys were gas is being sold by the litre with outragous road taxes people can save serious money a year. Hence why they are clamoring for the car.

With things like over 600 tesla super charging stations in the US opening over the next few years that are solar and free to tesla owners. There are more and more options that will allow owners to give Pg&e a big middle finger.

[blu_]

Originally Posted by Whitigir

Well. Electric cars are not even that clean and green as you might think. Because most of the electricity come from coal, and coal burn in the most polutting manner of all things. Unless you are looking toward Atomic fusion or Gasoline generated electric (hybrid). The japanese did just that..hybrid.

Now their next move is Hydrogen Hybrid. It will use hydrogen to generate electricity. Soon, cars will run on water.....

My state uses 37% coal, 12% natural gas, and 44% hydroelectric, ect... I would also bet a fair amount of money that energy produced by the grid is always going to be more efficient in both dollars and resources used than any personal internal combustion engine strapped to the front of a car. There is a reason people don't power their homes with generators.

In general I think its amazing what they have done. Musk's main goal with Tesla from what I have read was to force innovation from the dinosaurs who are the OEM's. Considering the quality of the car and demand for it, I think he has succeeded way beyond what I expected. I was a stock holder of the company, but was forced to sell last December to free up cash, well before the price went through the roof... I didn't make much money but I guess you could say I was a belieber vOv

[Skyhound]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_3786294.html

Tesla's Model S Sedan is the safest car ever tested, the company announced in a press release Monday. In independent testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Model S received a 5-star safety rating overall and in every subcategory.

In fact, the car was so safe it out-scored the standard NHTSA 5-star overall rating, wrote Elon Musk, who Bloomberg Businessweek reported personally penned the release. The Model S actually achieved a combined score of 5.4 -- which is in fact possible, Mashable noted.

The scores are pretty impressive for a company that's only released one car before this one. The press release goes on to recount some particularly notable moments when testing the Model S, Tesla's premium electric sedan. Among those:

When testing the car's rollover risk, "the Model S refused to turn over via the normal methods and special means were needed to induce the car to roll"
When testing how much force it would take to crush the roof of a Model S, the Model S roof broke the machine

Seems like this is the beginning of the end for gasoline cars. Musk has been very clear that he plans to make Teslas affordable to the mass market. Tesla could easily put the big boys out of business if they keep this up.

Anybody else have any thoughts on this?

[MightyMeeple]

The "beginning of the end" for gasoline cars is a bit of hyperbole in my opinion. However, I've been following Tesla for the past couple of years and have been intrigued with the Model S. I even see 3 or 4 regularly on the road in my area. Beautiful cars...would love a chance to drive one.

Things I'm impressed with:
-high performance, all-electric car
-built in the USA...as Tesla expands car lineup, I hope ALL models continue to be built in the USA
-the safety reports are stellar, bravo engineering

Things not so great:
-cost is high (for now)
-limited dealership network (this may actually be a positive)
-range on battery is not great, makes long distance travel tricky

[KelvinBRZ]

Originally Posted by Skyhound

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_3786294.html



Seems like this is the beginning of the end for gasoline cars. Musk has been very clear that he plans to make Teslas affordable to the mass market. Tesla could easily put the big boys out of business if they keep this up.

Anybody else have any thoughts on this?

I love the Tesla Model S. I mean LOVE IT. I would definitely buy a Tesla because it's a different driving experience. Will it outsource gasoline cars? Probably not. It'll definitely be an influential niche. However, if it becomes available to the masses, I only see it replacing common low-teir sedans such as the Camry & Accord. Super cars, race cars, exotics will always attract enthusiasts to use the standard 6-8speed gear on a car simply for the experience.

On the longer run, if electric cars were to advance, gas prices would drop, and gasoline automobile manufacturers will definitely try their hardest to crank up MPG. It'll be a constant battle for some time.

Final thought: I think we are headed in the right way by going electric (added to the fact that accelerating a Tesla is a unique experience), but there's no replacement for simple shifting geared fun

[thill]

I think Tesla is very impressive, but you have to keep in mind that there are some powerful industries at play here (gas companies, unions, car dealers, etc) that are already fighting back on Tesla.

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/bu...ss-car-dealers

[strat61caster]

As soon as you can charge an electric car as quickly as you can fill up a combustion car and drive it across the nation without worrying about when the next station will come up, the game is over. Until then combustion will reign supreme

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by thill

I think Tesla is very impressive, but you have to keep in mind that there are some powerful industries at play here (gas companies, unions, car dealers, etc) that are already fighting back on Tesla.

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/bu...ss-car-dealers

The day I can order a new car online and have it delivered to my door without dealing with a salesman will be a good day. This has nothing to do with electric vs. petroleum (although I don't doubt that there's some funding being thrown at this by the oil companies) and everything to do with abolishing a dying industry (middle men).

Sure auto companies like that luxury of selling their cars to an entity that leaves little room for complication but once someone proves it's more profitable to own those operations everyone will shift away from the old model.

[ftc~brz]

interesting article. Tesla is a great company. I admire their cars when I to spot them in the wild.
I am however disappointed in this statement:

"The Volvo comparison could be an effort to entice more women buyers. According to Kelley Blue Book, of all vehicles on the road, Volvos take the top spot as the car most overwhelmingly preferred by female shoppers."

I think they meant breeders, not females.

[thill]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

The day I can order a new car online and have it delivered to my door without dealing with a salesman will be a good day. This has nothing to do with electric vs. petroleum (although I don't doubt that there's some funding being thrown at this by the oil companies) and everything to do with abolishing a dying industry (middle men).

Sure auto companies like that luxury of selling their cars to an entity that leaves little room for complication but once someone proves it's more profitable to own those operations everyone will shift away from the old model.

I am with you on the model, but it won't be an easy fight. If you want to buy a Tesla in Texas you have to order it through some independent agency and not through Tesla themselves. It is crazy. I have always hated the dealer experience when buying a car and I still do. So kudos to Tesla for trying to shake things up.

Personally, I find this anti-consumer (the dealer network and not being able to sell direct to customers) and someone will sue at some point.

Aside from that, it will be a long time (I think) until we see sub $20K Tesla cars and I still think there are challenges with the technology in places like where I live where -20 or -30 is not uncommon for long stretches at a time. I think I have seen one Tesla on the road here and I am not sure how the batteries will do in the extreme cold.

But I love the company and bought stock in them when it was still $45 a share. Many people don't know this but Tesla is pretty much profitable just by selling their excess tax credits to other car companies.

[Diode Dynamics]

I love every single thing about the tesla, with the exception of the fact that it has no exotic exhaust note...that's the only reason I'd have a tough time buying one

Nick C.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by thill

Aside from that, it will be a long time (I think) until we see sub $20K Tesla cars and I still think there are challenges with the technology in places like where I live where -20 or -30 is not uncommon for long stretches at a time. I think I have seen one Tesla on the road here and I am not sure how the batteries will do in the extreme cold.

But I love the company and bought stock in them when it was still $45 a share. Many people don't know this but Tesla is pretty much profitable just by selling their excess tax credits to other car companies.

:happy0180:

To keep it on point, I see at least 3 Tesla's a day and never the same ones, I do live within easy driving distance from their headquarters and manufacturing facility so that's certainly a factor.

Model S released in 2008 with a >$100k price point, four years later the sedan released with a >$60k price. My bet is we'll have a sub $40k Tesla in five years at the most, $20k within the decade. Even faster if a breakthrough in energy storage occurs.

Unless there's a scandal or huge failure of the product (burning down, exploding, failing much sooner than expected) Tesla is here to stay for quite awhile.