Tesla's Revenge

[rightsideout]

This weekend, some Tesla Model S owners will be leaving the Washington DC area to recreate the botched New York Time's journey from DC to Boston to show that the Model S is capable of the trip. They will be charging at the same Super Charger locations John Broder did.

But this time they will charge the cars the correct way and not charge it to only 90, 72 and 28 percent. And they won't drive it with 0 miles range in circles in front of the charger to wear the car down even more. We're still not sure what those antics were supposed to prove.

I'm actually car-sitting a white Tesla Model S now and the car is fantastic. I've been driving it around today running errands and taking my son to his different activities and it's been great. The car has 260 mile range and I still have 123 miles left before it needs to be charged.

I'm not sure why some folks in the press want to crucify the Tesla and EVs in general.

[Mnemosyne]

1. That is a beautiful vehicle, you are soo lucky! Thanks for sharing, very cool! nt

[rightsideout]

7. Thanks!!

I've had a great time with the car but will be returning it tomorrow. But after driving it, I really have more of an appreciation for what Tesla has done. It's a technological marvel!

[Mnemosyne]

8. Now if we could just get his ideas for powering the world working...

And I bet he'd love this car too.

[evilhime]

10. I always wondered

how long in time does it take to charge?

[rightsideout]

19. It actually depends on the voltage and current you're charging at.

With a 240 volt, 40 amp outlet (like your dryer) it can charge in 4 to 6 hours which is Level 2 charging.

110 volt at 15 amps it's closer to 24 hours which is Level 1 charging.

It also depends on the car. There are three models; 40kW, 60kW and 85kW.

The SuperChargers that Tesla is installing at public areas can charge the car in 30 minutes which will take you 150 miles. The SuperChargers are Level 3 chargers.

Most people will be charging overnight when less demand is on the grid.

[SunSeeker]

2. Gorgeous car. Me likee. Me wantee.

I have 36 solar panels on my roof and am ready for a good EV. Unfortunately, they're pricey. Especially these little beauties.

[awake]

5. And 36 solar panels are not pricey?

I would love to have a Tesla but unlike you my source of electricity is still from mostly fossil fuel, as most of us are in North America. EVs are a great choice if you can "fill them up" from a clean source of fuel like you have already created I hope the cost of EV and clean energy come down so we can all enjoy a car like the Tesla.

[rightsideout]

11. Solar can be pricey but it's becoming more affordable each year

We've been wanting solar for years and were were finally able to afford it last year by leasing it. We have 26 panels for 5.6 kW. The solar installers have more affordable financing options that weren't available a few years ago.

The prices will come down as well for EVs. The 160 mile version of the Tesla is just north of $50,000.00. That sounds like a lot but the Tesla Roadster was $109,000.00 a few years ago. Nissan Leafs are going for $29,000 and you can get used Leafs for $24,000.00. You can get used Chevy Volts for $29,000. Starting prices on those should also be coming down.

So it's getting more affordable each year.

[gateley]

27. Plus, all you WON'T be spending on gas!

[ellisonz]

36. +1

So tired of buying gas here in SoCal I saw a Tesla S the other night - it was so beautiful

[gateley]

43. I love everything about the Tesla company.

They were innovative in giving us a jaw-droppingly beautiful performance car to erase the "electric cars are golf carts" beliefs. Initially they were going to self finance by Roadster revenue, next car would be more affordable, the next even more affordable.

When Obama was first running all the candidates were yammering about hybrids, and I was always screaming at the TV -- bypass the hybrids! Tesla shows all electric can be done!

Now I think there's more acceptance and I couldn't be happier.

And for those who want a new electric car but the S is out of price range, there's always the Leaf, and probably others by now I'm not aware of.

But I was thinking, when I posted the "all the gas you won't be buying" that we look at the sticker price like we do any car, but we should actually be subtracting the cost of the amount of gas we won't be buying over however many years we think we'll have the car.

Electric cars just make so much more SENSE. And Teslas are so BEAUTIFUL!

If I'm ever able to buy a new car, it'll be one of these -- or at least all electric.

[Nevernose]

29. Not true

The comparable energy used to power the car, say gasoline versus coal-fired electricity, is about half, meaning that the cost of "fueling" the electric is still usually cheaper than has. More importantly, the electricity from the hypothetical coal-fired plant will put out roughly half the carbon and pollutants that the equivalent gas motor does (it varies rom 1/3 to 2/3, so "half" is an average). The electric car, even when powered with coal-generated electricity, is still the more environmentally friendly.

I'm with you on the total cost, though: a hundred thousand dollar car is just a teensy bit out of price range!

[awake]

47. This may be true if you live right next to a power plant

but as soon as you move away from the source you begin to lose a lot of the energy do to transmission loss, so with out a clean source of fuel near the charging station a EV may very well generate more pollution than a fuel efficient gas powered car, not to mention the environmental impact of disposing of the batteries.

[Nevernose]

48. I think that accounts for the difference

1/3 to 2/3 that I mentioned in my other post. And recycling the batteries would take care of the disposal costs; it's not like it was Walmart AA batteries.

I'm still with you on the overall costs, though: as an average middle-American, the price just isn't right. Maybe if I weren't working three jobs it would be something to consider.

[Politicalboi]

3. I saw a commercial today

About registering to buy car parts to buy a car for a kid for graduation or wedding. Grandma pays for the tires, mom and dad pay for the engine. I think that is a great idea. So hopefully more car dealerships will get on board with this. At least if we can't afford one, hopefully more kids will be driving them.

[rightsideout]

12. I think that was the Dodge Dart

The Dart has a program where you can buy parts of it for graduation.

I have to tell you, the new Dodge Dart is awesome. I saw it at the DC Auto Show last week with a sticker price of $14,800.00! It had a manual transmission but the car was tight. Beautiful interior. It's the perfect car to get a kid for graduation and you can get it for under $15,000!

[NYC_SKP]

4. Here is Tesla Motor's scathing response, on their website, NYT is Busted!

After a negative experience several years ago with Top Gear, a popular automotive show, where they pretended that our car ran out of energy and had to be pushed back to the garage, we always carefully data log media drives.

While the vast majority of journalists are honest, some believe the facts shouldn’t get in the way of a salacious story. In the case of Top Gear, they had literally written the script before they even received the car (we happened to find a copy of the script on a table while the car was being “tested”). Our car never even had a chance.

Read the full story at:

http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/most-peculiar-test-drive

[frylock]

17. fuck top gear..

I haven't watched an episode since, and never will.

[Logical]

21. I do not agree, here is there response.....

And let's face it. All electric is a pain in the ass for most people. Not ready for the average driver.
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/that-tesla-data-what-it-says-and-what-it-doesnt/

[rightsideout]

31. If you are driving an EV today, you are a pioneer

I've been driving my converted Ford Escort EV for 19 years. Over the years I've had the opportunity to drive alot of different EVs. It's a blast to try them all out. Driving the Model S is icing on the cake.

When the first automobiles were made it wasn't easy getting around. Most of the roads were dirt with big chuck holes in them. But that didn't stop progress from being made to improve the infrastructure.

Same with EVs. We're still getting the kinks worked out and the charging infrastructure in place. It seems in today's fast moving society people want instant results and perfection. They forget or have no idea of where we've been and how far we've come. Technology evolves like anything else.

[Logical]

44. I 100% agree with you, but a person pointing out issues is not wrong!

[Kennah]

32. The concise response from Broder would have been, "I'm a lying asshat!"

[Logical]

45. LOL, didnt read a word of it I can tell. Typical gut reaction! n-t

[Kennah]

46. Your clairvoyance is off. I read Broder, Tesla, then Broder. Please play again some time.

[ellisonz]

37. That reporter is a hack. n/t

[longship]

6. Even if you charge it off the fossil fuel grid...

it's still amongst the greenest miles driven in a car.

Too bad they're so damned expensive. I guess I'll stick with my 17 year old Volvo 940. Not the greenest, but it's what I can afford and it drives like a dream. Bought it last autumn. Cheap!

[JI7]

9. does it come in 4 doors ? i might like a dark blue or black version

i don't know much about cars. just want something with 4 doors, dark black/blue and where i don't have to spend too much on gas.

[rightsideout]

13. Yep, the Model S comes in four doors.

Another one of my EV friends just picked up his Model S last month. It's black.

Here's a picture of that one.

[JI7]

15. that's probably the coolest looking eco friendly car i have seen

not that it matters to me much compared to some other things. but it is now an option whenever i decide to get a new car.

[rightsideout]

22. That's a good point

Alot of EVs can be like bubble cars. Teslas look like real cars that people can relate to.

[Initech]

14. I'd buy one in 1/2 a second if it didn't cost $90,000.

But that is one sweet machine.

[JI7]

16. there is no way i could buy it if it costs that much

[rightsideout]

25. The white one I'm car sitting is less than $90,000.00

It's a 60kW version in the $70k range. The 40kW version is between $50K and $60K.

[Matariki]

24. +1

me too. kind of want one now...

[Logical]

18. NYT responds......

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/that-tesla-data-what-it-says-and-what-it-doesnt/

[Matariki]

20. What sort of outlet do you need to charge it?

[rightsideout]

23. 240 volt, NEMA 1450 outlet is the standard

Basically, it's a 240 volt 40 or 50 amp outlet, similar to dryer outlet.

Most people have a separate breaker installed in the main panel and a 8 or 10 gauge line run to the garage.

A 240 volt, 50 amp circuit can charge the car in 4 to 6 hours.

You can charge on 110 volts but on a flat battery pack it will take close to 24 hours. So it's pretty much a given you need a 240 volt outlet.

[Matariki]

26. Oh damn you Rightsideout!

I *never* get excited about cars. Never. They're a practicality. And now look what you did, I want, want, want one of these....

http://www.teslamotors.com/

[rightsideout]

28. LOL

Once you test drive one you'll be hooked.

[rightsideout]

30. Here are details on the "Recreate the NYT Road Trip"

http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/13792-Recreate-the-NYT-Road-Trip-and-show-them-how-its-done!/page12

[Kennah]

33. It's a beautiful car, but if I had the money ...

... I'd take a Nissan Leaf and bank the rest.

[Egalitarian Thug]

34. Are you really not sure of why, or was that rhetorical? K&R n/t

[d_r]

35. rightsideout - weird question

does the glass roof block out most sunlight? Or does it feel bright in there?

Love the car, just curious.

[trublu992]

38. Love this car can't wait for the suv to roll out.

[sakabatou]

39. I would like to see an EV that can do San Francisco to Los Angeles on one charge.

[Fumesucker]

49. A Tesla Roadster has gone 347 miles on one charge so it's right on the edge of doable

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1053258_347-2-miles-tesla-takes-new-production-car-distance-record

[Berlum]

40. Stylin

[Cirque du So-What]

41. Please, tell us about the torque

I *know* that electric drive develops gobs of torque, and it gives me a little thrill to imagine zipping around town without worrying about gas being guzzled from such maneuvers with an internal combustion engine.

[NYC_SKP]

42. I was given a ride in a Tesla Roadster. The torque:

First, you're sitting low to the ground and it's quiet, so everything seems different.

We were on a wide boulevard in an industrial park near the airport with very little traffic, but opportunities for some cross traffic.

We'd hit the pedal and be at the next intersection before anyone about to cross could see us and we had to decelerate a couple times to avoid hitting people beginning to cross who hadn't seen us.

Oddly, the regenerative deceleration is almost as impressive as the acceleration.