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New Video of Tesla's Mass-Market Electric Car
Slatterz writes "The Tesla Roadster has almost mythical status among electric car enthusiasts. It's fast, with high torque over a wide RPM range, and can beat a Ferrari in terms of acceleration. Now Tesla has released new video of its upcoming new electric car, called the Model S, which Tesla Motors claims is the world's first mass produced fully-electric vehicle. Unlike the Lotus-Elise based Roadster, the Model S is a traditional sedan of the type millions of commuters might actually drive. Tesla claims it will fit seven people (if two of them are 'children under 10'), and has mounted a rather large 17in LCD in the dash. Key to Telsa's future will be the evolution of lithium-ion battery technology. Tesla Motors claiming the new Model S can travel up to 300 miles on a single charge, but the battery will still take 45 minutes to quick-recharge." (And for those in countries where it matters, this article mentions that it should also be available in right-hand drive.)
But we're back to square 1. Why am I spending $50,000 on a car with the range characteristics of my 1985 Bronco with the half-dead ignition system? For half the price I bought a fairly luxurious fuel-efficient petroleum-fuelled car that got me where I wanted to be without having to stop at all.
Maybe you want to stop in some of the deliverance-like towns the range compromise requires, but the less I have to do with such overpriced filthy disgusting holes the happier I am. With a vehicle of a certain range, I can pass all those towns over and stop only at the well-lit, clean, modern gas stations of the larger towns.
It's been a long time.