Tesla Model S Electric Sedan Prototype Unveiled
Out in sunny California, the media got its first look at Tesla’s second all-electric car, the Tesla Model S. Already projected to cost $57,400 before a $7,500 tax credit, the automaker has now revealed more details about the Model S. Besides the reveal of the overall design, we’ve learned that the battery pack will have a range of 300 miles and, more significantly, can be replaced in a short amount of time, by the owner. The company says doing so will take no longer than filling up your car with gas. Charging time will remain eight hours, with a partial, quick charge taking 45 minutes.
The car seats seven, but two of its seats are just jump seats in the rear compartment. Car blog Jalopnik has a full gallery of the car you can see here. Besides the Jaguar-meets-Aston-Martin exterior, the interior looks very upscale covered in Alcantara (an option on the production version), with a large LCD touch-screen.
The company ambitiously plans to build 20,000 of the Model S, which is expected to hit the market in 2011. Its current car, the Tesla Roadster, has taken a long time to reach the road. According to a blog post by the company’s president, Elon Musk, on March 24, the company had only delivered 200 Roadsters, and there’s a backlog of 1,000.
The company plans to build the Model S itself, and also says the platform is its own invention. The Roadster largely used technology from Lotus for its chassis.
We have a number of lingering questions about the Model S. Namely, how will it be built in a timely fashion with any type of reliability? The company says it will include a warranty of three to four years. We’re also wondering why a car like this needs a $7,500 tax credit. It might be all-electric, but if you can afford a $50,000 electric car, you can afford a $57,400 electric car — especially considering the first buyers are likely to be Silicon Valley entrepreneurs like Jason Calacanis, who blogged today that he had ordered two.
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beautiful car. But I don't see how it can posibly seat 7, is that a typo?
Broq
These electric cars intrigue me. I wonder what the real cost of electricity is though. Assuming you travel 15K per year, does anyone have any idea what the cost of that would be in electricity? According to my last bill, I'm paying $0.07695 per kWh.
No rapid 3 hr charge option with the right charging hardware?
Hi,thanks for the information dude
I have to wonder exactly the same thing, "why a car like this needs a $7,500 tax credit."
Electricity cost:
15k mi ÷ 300 mi/recharge = 50 recharges.
50 recharges x 8 kWh/recharge = 400 kWh.
400 kWh x 8¢/kWh = $32?!
Feel free to add/correct.
Anything that isn't internal combustion DESERVES a tax credit.
For more info:
http://evworld.com/index.cfm
"Anything that isn't internal combustion DESERVES a tax credit."
Not if all you are doing is moving the pollution from the tailpipe to the smokestack.
Seats 7 = 2+3+?
In times of recession, selling a car for 58K is not a prudent move.
The realy advance car is Bollore B0
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/03/paris-2008-pininfarina-and-bollore-debut-the-b0-b-zero-produc/
It has not just the Lithium Polymer battery pack, but also the supercapacitor, which can rapidly capture braking energy. It also has solar panel to power some of the devices.
"Why does a car that cost over $50,000 need a tax credit?" Maybe it is not a matter of need...how about the buyers deserve it since over 90% of income taxes are paid by those who can afford a car that cost over $50,000. Our criminal tax and fiat money systems deserves to die: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173
And how much does a new battery cost? How long will one last? How long before the charge it holds only goes 150 miles?
I have had my fair share of frustrations with batteries. They die unexpectedly. They have a life of around a few years. They hold less and less of a charge each time. And the nicer the battery, the more you are going to pay each time you need a new one.
Think I will pass on any car powered solely by one for now.
Tesla leases the battery separate from the cost of the car. So you're not buying a battery with a finite life...unless something happens to Tesla itself.
I like the features of this car and I will definitely go for it next time when I buy a car. Thanks for the information.
-Sami
I saw a program on this last night on CNBC. I am very impressed by what they have done so far.