Posted on 11/29/2008 9:00:18 PM PST by reaganaut1
THE Tesla Roadster is an electric car that goes fast, looks sensational and excites envy. The seductive appearance, however, obscures some inconvenient truths: its all-electric technology remains woefully immature and dont-even-ask expensive. If enough billionaires step forward to inject additional capital to keep the doors of its manufacturer, Tesla Motors, open, Im happy for all parties.
If investors pass up the opportunity, however, why should taxpayers fork over the capital that Tesla needs? The Roadster is not much more than a functioning concept car that sells for $109,000. The company is requesting $400 million in low-interest federal loans as part of the $25 billion loan package for the auto industry passed by Congress last year.
The program is intended to encourage automakers to improve fuel efficiency, but should it be used for a purpose like this, as the 2008 Bailout of Very, Very High-Net-Worth Individuals Who Invested in Tesla Motors Act? Can you conceive any way that federal dollars could be put at greater risk and for no equity in return, keep in mind to benefit fewer people?
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
No. If the car was worth making and could turn a profit people would be beating a path to their door.
Only if it’s made in America.
If so, you bet.
It’s irresponsible to ignore the reality - we need an alternative to oil which enriches people who hate us.
For $109,000 I could start a small quick turnaround custom manufacturing service.
we should offer a prize for the company that comes up with the best electric car (remember the Robot Car Challenge?) but the govt should not specifically pick Tesla.
As long as Hugo Chavez isn’t making any profits on my daily commute — I’ll drive one.
Does it even have air conditioning? There's no way I'd buy any car for getting around town that has no air conditioning considering summer high temperatures where I live are often over 95°F.
how is a car that few will buy, an alternative to oil?
More likely the Pelosi GTxi SS/Rt Sport Edition!
http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2008/11/lemon.html
Its irresponsible to ignore the reality - this car is not sensible and you want to use public funds to make more of them.
perhaps, but even they wouldn’t spend over $100k for a smelly old horse with no AC.
Who said few will buy them?
Are few buying Prius’?
Will few buy the Chevy Volt? (IMHO, GM will be backordered for five years, when they come out next year)
Seriously. Just because gas dropped in price, doesn’t mean we should get stupid all of a sudden, and forget.
That’s how Detroit got in this mess!
“s irresponsible to ignore the reality - we need an alternative to oil which enriches people who hate us.”
We have it... it is called ANWR, offshore drilling and shale oil. The shale oil alone in THIS country DWARFS the oil in Saudia Arabia....
but the environmentalist wackos (Obama included) will not let us use it.
McCain actually put forward a similar idea, except it was for the battery itself.... which makes more sense.
I used to run over an hour in 100°F+ weather. It can be over 140°F inside a parked car that is sitting in the sun. Back in the pioneer days, there weren't carriages built anything like today's steel cars with very tightly sealed doors and windows.
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