30K Tesla by 2016?

[MikesZ]

From allworldcars.com Tesla is reportedly working toward a sub-$30K all electric roadster by 2016. This is one plug-in company that I would consider buying from.

[Mr. Wyndham]

I wouldn't. They seemed cool on the outside when I first heard of them, in fact -- I was excited beyond measure when I first heard of them...but as you dig deeper, you find that that once touted 250mile range....wait...240...no, hang on 230....nevermind it's 200....actually drops to something around 50 miles when you "use as advertised". And then it's off to a 8+-hour charge.

They've got some work to do, and lowering the price ain't the way to do it, imo...

EDIT: Okay, so I would consider buying from them, ...but like I said...they'd have to improve a LOT.

[Mindz]

They're built around the corner from me, and there's not a lot of places to "fill 'er up". Plugging them in at home takes 8 hours, but if you live in an apartment, forget it. You have to park in a garage or on the street where there's no outlets.

I'd like to see what they do to improve though.

[FenwickHockey65]

Well...have fun sitting on the side of the road.

[MikesZ]

My understanding about the company is that they are heavily involved in the development of smaller-yet-longer range batteries and all-aluminum designs...so I think 2016 is a realistic goal. At least they are also committed to designing nice looking cars with performance aspects as opposed to some of the other bland designs we're seeing. More appealing electrics = more sales = less gasoline use = better for us all in the end.

[DeathChill]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

I wouldn't. They seemed cool on the outside when I first heard of them, in fact -- I was excited beyond measure when I first heard of them...but as you dig deeper, you find that that once touted 250mile range....wait...240...no, hang on 230....nevermind it's 200....actually drops to something around 50 miles when you "use as advertised". And then it's off to a 8+-hour charge.

They've got some work to do, and lowering the price ain't the way to do it, imo...

EDIT: Okay, so I would consider buying from them, ...but like I said...they'd have to improve a LOT.

When you use as advertised? If you're driving it super hard obviously the charge isn't going to last as long, just like you won't be getting 24 mpg in the Camaro if you're mashing the gas.

That Top Gear episode was staged:

The segment also showed the car's batteries running flat after 55 miles, saying that the recharge would take 16 hours and also that the car then broke down. Tesla Motors' spokesperson responded with statements in blogs and to mainstream news organizations that the cars provided to Top Gear never had less than 20% charge and never experienced brake failure.[96] In addition, neither car provided to Top Gear needed to be pushed off the track at any point.[97] Finally, although Clarkson showed a limp windmill and complained that it would take countless hours to refuel the car using such a source of electricity, the car can be charged from a 240V outlet in as little as 3.5 hours.[98][99] After numerous blogs and several large news organizations began following the controversy,[100] the BBC issued a statement saying "the tested Tesla was filmed being pushed into the shed in order to show what would happen if the Roadster had run out of charge. Top Gear stands by the findings in this film and is content that it offers a fair representation of the Tesla's performance on the day it was tested," without addressing the other misrepresentations that Tesla highlighted to the media.[101] After several weeks of increasing pressure and inquiries from the BBC, Clarkson wrote a blog for The Times of London, acknowledging that "that the film we had shot was a bit of a mess." [102] In the months that followed Clarkson's acknowledgment, the original episode -- including the misstatements -- reran on BBC America and elsewhere without any editing, though the BBC is still looking into Top Gear's journalism standards, according to British media reports.[103]

[MikesZ]

Top Gear has "journalism standards"??? It's an entertaining program, but c'mon!

[MCPOAJ]

it's like one of those old little plastic kids trucks that were electric

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by DeathChill

When you use as advertised? If you're driving it super hard obviously the charge isn't going to last as long, just like you won't be getting 24 mpg in the Camaro if you're mashing the gas.

That Top Gear episode was staged:

I'm sure it was...as is every episode they do. But their 'findings' are still relatively valid. You can't go on lengthy road trips with it, like you can in say, a Camaro or a 'Vette, and you'd be taking a risk by bringing it to the track for a day and expect to get home in that same car. Like you could in say...a Camaro or a Corvette.

I REALLY like the concept. massive torque, outrageously linear power curve...it's great! But they've got some work to do. I'd like to see a day when you can exchange x amount of 25lb battery packs at the "gas station", instead of parking it and waiting for a charge.

[The_Blur]

At the very least, we can credit Tesla for making the electric car exotic and desirable. On the other hand, these numbers are not surprising when considering that GM's pedestal-worthy Volt will only be rated to go 40 miles without a charge or gas.

[MCPOAJ]

Originally Posted by The_Blur

At the very least, we can credit Tesla for making the electric car exotic and desirable. On the other hand, these numbers are not surprising when considering that GM's pedestal-worthy Volt will only be rated to go 40 miles without a charge or gas.

though it has less battery space

[DGthe3]

I'm sure they can get an electric roadster in for under 30k, first step is to reduce the battery capacity. There are few times when you need to regularly go between 100 and 200 miles, so cut the capacity in half and you spend half as much on batteries. Add in some cost reduction measures and the fact that most engineering has been paid by then, sure its possible. Thing is, a $30k electric roadster will probably be the least practical car on the road, except for a few exotics.

[MikesZ]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

I'm sure they can get an electric roadster in for under 30k, first step is to reduce the battery capacity. There are few times when you need to regularly go between 100 and 200 miles, so cut the capacity in half and you spend half as much on batteries. Add in some cost reduction measures and the fact that most engineering has been paid by then, sure its possible. Thing is, a $30k electric roadster will probably be the least practical car on the road, except for a few exotics.

No less practical than any other sportscar. By the time they develop the batteries further combined with lighter construction materials would potentially provide a fun to drive, affordable, electric vehicle with much better range.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by MikesZ

No less practical than any other sportscar. By the time they develop the batteries further combined with lighter construction materials would potentially provide a fun to drive, affordable, electric vehicle with much better range.

No matter how you cut it, you won't be able to recharge a battery with a 400+ mile cruising range in a couple minutes for a cross country trip, or while spending an afternoon at a track. That's why it is less practical than any other roadster, which are essentially the least practical group of cars as it is. As such, this car will be limited to novelty status, probably as a 3rd (or 30th) car for someone to own "just because". And if the point of electric cars is to displace gasoline powered ones, this will fail miserably because its so horribly impractical. A cheap electric commuter? Great. A competitor to the S2000? Whats the point?