Tesla Motors Powers Up -(0 to 60 in about 4 seconds 250mpg )

red herring ^ | Jul, 19, 2006 | Joshua Davis

[Flavius]

he market has already spurned electric cars twice. First when cheaper gasoline cars and low fuel prices made them obsolete in the 1930s. Then again after General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Honda, and Chrysler revived them in the 1990s—and then killed them off.

Now, electric vehicles are getting a fresh jolt of attention. Oil is above $70 a barrel. Sony Pictures will release a documentary touting electric cars titled Who Killed the Electric Car? June 26. And Silicon Valley startup Tesla Motors said earlier this month that it has raised a $40-million Series C round of financing led by VantagePoint Venture Partners and Elon Musk, founder of PayPal and CEO of space travel startup SpaceX.

“We’re changing the way cars are,” says CEO Martin Eberhard. “Ten years from now, it’ll be obvious that electric cars are the way to go. They are more efficient than any other car on the road, and they are the ultimate multi-fuel technology, because you can make electricity with whatever comes along”

[Flavius]

esla Motors has placed a count-down clock on its website to help while away the days, hours, minutes and seconds until it unveils the Tesla Roadster on July 20th. Behind the timer is the Tesla Roadster itself draped with a shape, allowing us at least an indication of the car's profile. We've mentioned Tesla and its hyperbolic electric vehicle before, but the claims are too amazing to ignore. Imagine an all-electric roadster capable of reaching 60 mph in four seconds, returning the equivalent of 135 mpg, and going 250 miles per charge. It sounds impossible considering the SMART EV we posted on earlier reaches 30 mph in 6.5 seconds, top out at 70 mph and get you 70 miles per charge. We don't know what black magic, voodoo technology is under that sheet, but AutoblogGreen has already booked plane tickets to the unveiling in Santa Monica and we'll have every detail on the Tesla Roadster (including video) available early on the 20th. All of our questions will be answered in less than a week.

The Tesla Roadster’s specs illustrate what it does (0 to 60 in about 4 seconds) — as well as what it doesn’t (zero emissions, zero motor oil). With one moving part in the motor, no clutch, and two gears, it’s not only a joy to drive, but to own as well. There is no motor oil to change; no filters, belts, or spark plugs to replace; no oxygen sensors to mistrust before an emissions test — in fact, no emissions test required ever. Other than inspection, the only service we recommend for the first 100,000 miles is brake and tire service. July 1, 2003: Incorporation

This marks the date when Tesla Motors, named by american/serbian scientist, was officially born. Result of a swing-for-the-fences vision, tireless research, a truly eyebrow-raising business plan, and the support of some very forward-thinking venture capitalists.

Style 2-seat, open-top, rear-drive roadster Drivetrain Electric motor with 2-speed electric-shift manual transmission with integral differential

Motor

3-phase, 4-pole electric motor, 248hp peak (185kW), redline 13,500 rpm, regenerative "engine braking" Chassis Bonded extruded aluminum with 4-wheel wishbone suspension Brakes 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS Acceleration

0 to 60 in about 4 seconds Top Speed Over 130 mph Range 250 miles EPA highway Battery Life

Useful battery life in excess of 100,000 miles Energy

Storage System Custom microprocessor-controlled lithium-ion battery pack Full Charge As short as 3.5 hours

http://www.teslamotors.com/index.php?js_enabled=1

[Flavius]

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

I think that's a pretty attractive car; they'll some of those if they can get it out at a reasonable price.

[Echo Talon]

nuclear powered, never needs to be filled up... well... once every 20 years... LOL :)

[LS]

I don't dislike the notion of electric cars, but I'm mindful of Peter Drucker, the mgt./economic consultant who's "law" says that for a NEW technology to replace an existing technology, it has to be 10 times more productive. Now, "productive" can be a combination of improved actual productivity or cost/productivity.

This may offset the cost (long-term, fuel, etc.) to begin to overcome the inconvenience, the uncertainty of what happens if your battery craps out, and servicing, but I doubt it. Nice looking car, though.

[MAD-AS-HELL]

would you pay $80K to go ~250 miles? I'll wait for the new crop of diesel cars to come in. Hopefully they will kill of the ridiculous hybrid gas/electric cars.

[Always Right]

Now that GM is about bankrupt, maybe now they will come out with that car that runs on water.

[jra]

Unless I missed it, I didn't see the MSRP listed anywhere...?

Wonder if it's reeeeally expensive?

[Flavius]

well, the electricity has to come from someplace, and i guess waiting 3.5 hrs to charge it, would exclude traveling to far from your house outlet

also, i imagine the batteries will be expensive to replace much like prius things

maybe would be cool on a golf course?

[MarkeyD]

Electric will only be commuters. No road trips.

[sam_paine]

This is an electric car with a lithium-ion battery. This is not something shattering new from Galt's Gulch. But it looks cool. Ok Yay! There. How's that?

[Izzy Dunne]

going 250 miles per charge.

battery pack Full Charge As short as 3.5 hours

That's impressive, but still not enough, at least for trips.

At 60 MPH, that's 4 hours to go 240 miles, then another 3.5 to charge. So at the end of 7.5 hours, I'm 240 niles away. That's 32 MPH.

[Flavius]

but but it looks cool

[Toby06]

a diesel electric, like a train, would be pretty cool.

[Toby06]

Sure doesn't look as faggity as a prius.

[gregwest]

Now the big question, would I need to take out a mortgage to buy one?

[davisfh]

red herring

Yes, it likely is.

[MichiganConservative]

How does this car even exist? Since GW Bush is president, I figured that the only cars we would see are ones that get about 1-3mpg as payback to Enron and Haliburton. /end_idiotic_liberal_conspiracy_talk

[Cringing Negativism Network]

All this thing needs is the capability to charge it with a solar panel - and the rebirth of the American auto could be at hand.

Seriously. We need to build a better car. This is a better car.

[investigateworld]

There is no motor oil to change; no filters,

What, no dripping oil? It will never sell in the UK.