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Tesla Building 225-mile Electric Sedan

ecogeek.org — In that magical year for electric car 2010 – Tesla plans to have a 5-passenger electric Sedan out and on the road. The Model S is to have a 225 mile range on a single charge, not too shabby! But as is the case with Tesla vehicles, buyers had better have padded wallets as the price is expected to be around $60,000, and likely to higher near release.

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  • deadnoob, on 07/04/2008, -1/+31Well, that won't fit in my driveway.
  • MarkusX, on 07/04/2008, -3/+5Any pictures available, yet?
  • Sanduu, on 07/04/2008, -3/+3That's great, but quite pricy.
    • diggydougie, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1About the same as an SUV though. Besides, in 2 years 60,000 will be more like 40,000 of today's money.
      • nycmac247, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2In 2 years the gov't will have knocked off a zero on all out currency just like Argentina is going to do.
    • init100, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2Leading edge technology always is, it is how they recuperate the development costs. If this becomes a hit among the rich, expect cheaper electric cars a few years in the future.
  • gannondork, on 07/04/2008, -0/+6well it's a start i guess.
  • Jschluet, on 07/04/2008, -2/+3Can you just pull over and find an outlet?
    • PinkChicken, on 07/04/2008, -5/+1With 225 miles, you won't need to find an outlet.
  • LetitDrop, on 07/04/2008, -0/+6I'm glad it's not just a cool concept car that we will never see and that it's actually coming out.

    Go Tesla!
  • Renian, on 07/04/2008, -7/+1Only 225 miles? It's great for commuting and moving around your city, that's for sure, but what about road trips?

    Tesla needs to get their hands on that nanowire technology that improves lithium-ion capabilities tenfold.
    • stephantabor, on 07/04/2008, -2/+2with the rising cost of fuel road trips don't seem too appealing anyway
  • dwu182, on 07/04/2008, -1/+6i thought it was going to be $30,000?
    • DDMX, on 07/04/2008, -0/+5They said they anticipate being able to sell one at $30,000 within four years - this is a different car
      • diggydougie, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2Hopefully they will eventually have a complete line of tiny cars, sports cars, trucks, Sedans, etc.
  • wildfire, on 07/04/2008, -1/+4I guess Arnold's bratwurst-powered car was a flop then.
  • gradivus, on 07/04/2008, -0/+3So when will they get around to actually building a REAL electric car(that I can actually drive around) instead of building hype and press releases?
    • surfstoked, on 07/04/2008, -1/+0See Aptera.com
      • TheSkinsFactory, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1The Aptera is cool but would you really trust it to take a hit in a car accident? I have a 2002 BMW 5 Series and was rear-ended while i was stopped and the other driver was going about 30-40 MPH. Barely any damage to my car. I don't think I'd want to get rear-ended in an Aptera.
      • grantmoore3d, on 07/05/2008, -0/+2Not to mention... it looks like a big sperm on wheels
    • EtherGnat, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2The Tesla Roadster *is* being manufactured now, albeit slowly. Do you expect them to build a new model and not tell anybody about it first?
    • Philbert, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1As EtherGnat said the Tesla Roadster is available now, there are dozens of videos about it on Youtube.
      http://youtube.com/watch?v=y4tW9V64sBA
  • SilverBlade2k, on 07/04/2008, -3/+4When are they going to get around to actually building a real electric car that is AFFORDABLE? 60K is NOT affordable.
    • PinkChicken, on 07/04/2008, -1/+2Maybe for you, but I've got Kevin Rose money.
    • EtherGnat, on 07/04/2008, -0/+3I'm going to go out on a limb and say they'll build an affordable electric car when it's affordable to make an electric car that people want. Be thankful there are any electric cars now, and wealthy early adopters to buy them--they're the ones that will drive prices down.
  • sciencesays, on 07/04/2008, -0/+9Not affordable for everyone, no, but i's the same as a lot of those BMWs and Mercedes that seem to be EVERYWHERE. Seems like those are the people who are most interested in alternative energy anyhow.
  • cory849, on 07/04/2008, -10/+0Wake me up when you can refuel it and keep driving in under 10 minutes.

    Tesla Motors cars are dumb. As are the people who laud them.
    • barbobot, on 07/04/2008, -1/+1Why would you want to stop and refuel it?

      Stopping to refuel a car is a problem, being able to drive a car around town without refuelling seems like a pretty good deal to me.

    • EtherGnat, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1You're the dumb one if you can't realize that people have different needs. If you buy a Tesla Roadster presumably it meets your needs, or you have other methods of transportation at your disposal.

      I live 2 miles from work and could probably go a month between recharges in the Tesla. We take my wife's car for any long trips anyway. Yes, we all realize electric cars aren't for everybody yet. Thank you Captain Obvious, but that's no reason to be a jerk about it.
      • Ramble, on 07/04/2008, -1/+1Why don't you walk instead you lazy *****.
      • EtherGnat, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1Actually I'd *love* to bike to work, but it's two miles of dangerous two lane highway with no shoulder. Thanks for the constructive suggestion though.
  • norman619, on 07/04/2008, -3/+1Ah yes make these cars way too exp for the average person who just happens to be the one who really needs it.
  • strafefire, on 07/04/2008, -0/+9Its pricey because of the battery, nothing else.

    The Li-Ion battery is expensive to make. More expensive than the just as good NiMH batteries.

    The problem with NiMH batteries are that the patents for them are owned by Chevron Texaco:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_metal_hydride_ ...

    They do not allow people to purchase them in bulk without major surcharges [thereby making it cheaper to use the Li-Ion batteries].

    Now, Tesla could use just plain ole Lead Acid batteries, but they weigh a freaking lot, and there is a point where you would reach diminished returns because of the weight.

    Unless someone comes up with a way to cheaply improve Li-Ion battery chemistry, OR somehow get Chervon to pull their head out of their asses and jump aboard the electric revolution [which aint going to happen], electric cars are stuck.

    BTW, why is it that NO ONE on digg ever talks about Water Hybrid Vehicles? There are many communities out there that are using electrolysis to turn water into HHO, and sending the hydrogen into a car's engine to burn with the car's gasoline.

    Now, you may be saying that electrolysis is not economical, but it is....if you use Pulsating DC [PWM'd] vice just normal DC.
    Try here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=DL90PDiceQ8
    and here: http://www.panacea-bocaf.org/meyerswatercell.htm

    The purpose of this group is to take the OPEN SOURCE approach in replicating fuel cell and battery technologies. This way, it is believed that the information can get out sooner, and that no will accidentally commit suicide once work is completed...

    • jermm, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1NiMH is heavy, that's why laptops, iPods, PSPs/DSs, and the Tesla uses Li-Ion.
    • RationalXubrnce, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1 Maybe a presidential candidate will have the foresight to see we need better battery technology and propose some money to do something about it? People would love that idea right?
    • diggydougie, on 07/04/2008, -0/+3HHO doesn't work. No matter how you slice it . The energy it takes to break down the hydrogen from water will ALWAYS be greater than the energy provided by the hydrogen. It's basic physics.
    • robbiedo, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1When do the patents expire?
    • Ramble, on 07/04/2008, -1/+2What's the point in creating hydrogen and then burning it when you can use the electricity to directly power the motors? All you're doing is adding an extra step which makes the car heavier and less efficient.
    • nedzeve, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1So, like my cell phone and my laptop, at first, I'll get great battery life -- but within a couple years, I'll be lucky if there's enough charge to make it to the grocery store and back.
  • DDMX, on 07/04/2008, -2/+2Wishing we would have bought this instead of a Suburban we get 11 mpg from at the same price..
  • mfaith, on 07/04/2008, -0/+5They also said that they were in the process of creating a version in the sub $30,000 range that should be available a few years after that. So, while the $60,000 is not outrageous, the $30,000 is a great price point for major acceptance. Also, if this creates even more competition with other car makers, then that would be outstanding.
  • AsylumAleikum, on 07/04/2008, -4/+5Methink Tesla is in business of manufacturing press releases.
  • ibmetom, on 07/04/2008, -4/+0Tesla's are for magnates. Too pricey for me.
  • PabloIV, on 07/04/2008, -0/+5I was having this affordability discussion with a much wealthier friend of mine.

    And, he made the good point that most technologies are initially for the rich, with this money; economies of scale and new research bring down the price for the masses.

    So just give it time, it's a great first step.
  • aserer511, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2About 60% of the price of the Roadster. If it is marketed well and atleast 60% as quick, it'll be a hit amongst would-be 550i/E500 buyers, as it is just a tad pricier.
  • PinkChicken, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2I want one, I'll just get free energy from your outdoor outlets.
  • Number23, on 07/04/2008, -2/+1More tesla vaporware. The trans on the roadster has been a source of ongoing difficulty with no solution in sight. But we're expected to believe a 4 passenger sedan will be ready in two years despite the fact they have don't running prototype right now?

    The roadster got an exception from US crash specs, but the sedan won't be so lucky. They'll be lucky to have a working prototype in two years.
  • RationalXubrnce, on 07/04/2008, -0/+3 Is that 250 mile range with just the driver or with 5 passengers in the car? With as light as electric cars are 5 passengers adds a huge percentage to the weight.
    • init100, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2Electric cars are light? I think you forgot the heavy batteries.
  • Rickler, on 07/04/2008, -5/+1Damn, I really think they should go with a hatchback. Sedans are the typical american wastefulness.
  • StandardsDT, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2This article is basically stating what the original submission from 4 days ago said, just with company background information along with a celebrity/governor being mentioned.

    Original Submission:

    http://digg.com/tech_news/Tesla_to_produce_sub_30k ...
  • CarStan, on 07/04/2008, -1/+1I'm not good with physics, so here is a question to all the physics experts on Digg:
    Is it possible to use to earths own magnetic force field for use of transportation?
    • shoover, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1No, there is no magic free energy.

      Well, unless you consider tidal, hydro, sun or wind.
      • goodinohio, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1Free? By the time it gets to your house it will be much more expensive than what we pay now.
    • init100, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1No, it is far too weak.
    • Ramble, on 07/04/2008, -1/+1No, it is very very weak and it doesn't change that much (a changing magnetic field is needed to produce power).
  • goodinohio, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1If we go all electric cars what will we do with used batteries?
    • BESTenemy, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1Even before that, what are we going to do about all the added electric power consumption? Every car takes about 30 kW of energy to charge, plug all of those puppies into the grid and watch the power lines melt.
  • CaptainHarlock, on 07/04/2008, -2/+1"Tesla Building 225-mile Electric Sedan"
    Why is a dead man (zombie?) building a 225-mile long sedan?
  • grantmoore3d, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1Curious, how much would it cost to re-charge from "empty"?
  • motters, on 07/05/2008, -1/+1This is all fine for rock stars and celebrities, but what we really need are electric vehicles which are practical and affordable for the majority of people.
  • Kingpin100, on 07/06/2008, -1/+0Whoo!! nice car.
  • asr1rcom, on 08/14/2008, -0/+0it's very nice thanks
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  •  

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