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Tesla to be Profitable by Mid Year
Although extraordinarily difficult to close, the $40M financing round completed in December was twice the amount Tesla needed to reach profitability. Moving forward two months later, we remain on track with our cost reductions and production ramp, so it appears highly likely that Tesla will meet the goal promised to those investors of becoming profitable by mid year.
The main reason for this confidence is that Tesla is already in the fortunate position of being sold out until early November, something few automakers can claim, and will soon be sold out of all 2009 production. While we have had some cancellations due to buyers experiencing personal financial difficulties, new orders continue to flow in every week from the United States and Europe. We have now produced over 200 Roadsters for customers and there are more than 1,000 customers still awaiting delivery.
Due to our order backlog, it seems that owning a Roadster can be a good investment. Last September, as the financial and real estate markets began crashing, a Roadster was sold at the Sonoma Paradiso in California wine country for $160,000, well above the current list price of $109,000. Many Roadster owners who have taken delivery of their cars have already decided to purchase a second Roadster or Roadster Sport because they like the first one so much.
The continued strong demand is driven by the fact that the Tesla Roadster has no direct competitors in the marketplace. It is faster than almost any sports car on the market (our Roadster beat a Porsche GT3 on the Top Gear test track) and yet uses less energy and has a smaller carbon footprint than a Toyota Prius, even if you assume the worst possible case where all electricity comes from coal.
I expect sales demand to strengthen further as this awareness grows. After all, what’s the point of driving another exotic sports car when it is slower than a Tesla and damages the environment? Already, the Tesla Roadster is the car of choice among the technology, business and Hollywood A lists – this year’s Academy Awards will be a lineup of Teslas – and we have never had to give a discount to anyone.
Many customers also appreciate the fact that profit from their purchase goes towards helping Tesla develop more affordable, mass market electric cars. The same cannot be said for those who buy gas-guzzling sports cars from other automakers.
And owners aren’t the only ones impressed with the Roadster. Road & Track was the first auto enthusiast magazine to perform third-party, instrumented testing on the Roadster; they were “pleased to see its extravagant claims confirmed.” The Washington Post’s Warren Brown gushed, “Wheeeeeee! If this is the future of the automobile, I want it.” Dan Neil of the Los Angeles Times had perhaps the most colorful description we’ve ever seen to describe the Roadster’s scorching acceleration: “God has grabbed me by the jockstrap and fired me off his thumb, rubber band-style. Wow.” And we’ve also had a torrent of positive reviews in Europe, where deliveries begin this summer – including a Le Monde story with our favorite headline: “Le chic électrique.”
Unveiling the Model S and DOE funding!
On March 26th, at the Tesla design studio located within the SpaceX rocket factory, we will unveil a street-drivable prototype of the Model S four door sedan. Our objective with the Model S was to create one of the most functional, intuitive and beautiful vehicles on the road. Tesla Roadster customers and select VIPs invited to the event will have an opportunity to judge for themselves firsthand whether we have succeeded.
Regarding funding, I am excited to report that the Department of Energy informed Tesla last week that they may disburse funds from our $350M Model S loan application within four to five months. The Obama administration has thankfully made it a top priority to move quickly on the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan program, as this will both generate high quality jobs in the near term and lay the groundwork for a better environment in the future.
This will keep us on track for production to start in 2011. As a gesture of gratitude for their early support, Roadster owners will receive a $10,000 discount off the price of the Model S Signature series and automatically be first in line for the sedan.
Daimler Partnership
We announced last month at the Detroit auto show that we have been working with Daimler (maker of Mercedes) for over a year to create an electric version of the Smart car. Daimler has contracted with Tesla to build the battery packs and chargers for an initial run of 1,000 cars. Pending the results of that test fleet, the relationship could expand to tens of thousands of cars per year.
This is a very significant endorsement of both Tesla’s technology and our financial strength by one of the world’s most respected automotive companies. Daimler would not feel comfortable depending on us for this program if they felt that either our technology was easily replicated or that we were in financial danger.
Daimler was the first company to commercialize the internal combustion engine and has become a benchmark for automotive quality and reliability. It is an honor that they chose to work with Tesla after a thorough investigation of other options. The deal is likely to be the first in a series of strategic partnerships between Tesla and other auto manufacturers to engineer and produce electric cars.
My goal for Tesla from the beginning was to do whatever we can to help end the world’s addiction to oil. We’ll do that by making cars directly, helping other automakers develop cars, and serving as an example to the rest of the industry. Although the Roadster is still the only highway capable production electric car for sale in the United States, it was very encouraging to see that the central theme of the Detroit auto show this year was electric transportation.
New Tesla Sales & Service Centers to Open
We have reached agreement on Tesla store leases in Chicago and London’s Knightsbridge district, and we are close to finalizing locations in Manhattan, Miami, Seattle and Munich. All six facilities will open this year, and in the following months we’ll provide details about individual store opening parties. These new stores will offer prospective customers the chance to see and drive the Roadster in person – and they underscore Tesla’s commitment to looking at the auto industry with fresh eyes. Unlike traditional franchise dealerships, Tesla owns its stores and controls the customer experience. We think you’ll agree that our stores are a refreshing change from the way most people have bought cars for the last 50 years.
Roadster Sport
Tesla is now taking orders for the Roadster Sport, an even higher performance car that does 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. It comes with a hand-wound stator and increased winding density for lower resistance and higher peak torque.
The tires are upgraded to Yokohama Ultra High Performance and the suspension features adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars tuned to the driver’s preference – allowing for both softer and firmer rides than the standard Roadster. Deliveries are expected to begin in late June.
Upgraded Roadster Interior and Other Options
Tesla will soon offer an Executive Leather Interior that raises the level of luxury in the Roadster’s cabin. We are also offering a Clear Carbon Fiber Exterior Package to add an additional level of sportiness and highlight the lightweight material that makes up the Roadster’s body. Currently, the only exterior clear carbon fiber touch on the base model is the roll bar cover – but many customers and fans have asked if we could reveal more of this exotic, braided material. These packages will be available starting in June.
Prototype with executive leather interior.
Battery Replacement Program
One of the top questions customers ask about the Roadster is, “How long will the battery last and what will it cost to replace?” Tesla engineers have determined that a Tesla battery pack should last approximately seven years or over 100,000 miles under normal use.
Customers may pay $12,000, €10,000 or £9,000 up front and in return receive a replacement battery pack after seven years. Customers will also have the option of replacing the pack earlier at a premium or later for a partial refund. With the low production volume of the Tesla Roadster, the current replacement price of the pack is almost three times that number. The main reason for the relatively low cost up front — and why this is a smart purchase — is that we are arbitraging the relative cost of capital between Tesla and our typical customer.
Extended Warranty to Double Standard Period
Many customers have also asked to purchase an extended warranty. We now offer a doubling of the standard warranty, which means an additional 3 years and 36,000 miles or 60,000 kilometers, for $5,000, €4,000 or £3,800. This covers everything on the car except the battery pack. Should the motor, power electronics, HVAC or any other major system need to be replaced, this will be money well spent, and it provides peace of mind to many customers.
Thanks for your support!
Elon Musk
CEO & Product Architect
Cool. I’ll get one when I get the cash.
Two words come to mind right away:
“Sweet” and “Awesome!”
After lurking around here over two years, it’s great to finally have a peek at Tesla’s future, and to see the DOE and Obama getting behind this.
Here’s something I’d like to see: an interview with Elon on Coast to Coast AM. Between SpaceX and Tesla Motors, that would be quite a riveting show, not to mention the attention of approximately ten million late-night nuts like me.
Keep up the good work!
(Hydrogen car? What hydrogen car?)
Where so I sign up for the Model S? I would like one today pls k thx.
Will the pre-paid replacement battery pack incorporate improvements in the technology that will doubtless exist seven years from now? I’d hate to pre-pay $12k for a battery pack, only to find after seven years that the “standard” Roadster pack is 400 miles but they plan to give me the older 244-mile version.
What is the top speed of the Roadster Sport ?
Elon,
Congratulations! You’ve shown the fortitude to stick with your goals and negotiate well with the leaders of both California and the federal government to bring the current and future products to market. Good luck on your next set of achievements.
While in the Navy, being catapulted from an aircraft carrier was described to me as, “Being hit by a semi in the middle of an orgasm.” Sounds like the Roadster is close to that experience and much easier to park.
Flatten that Go Pedal, Tesla!
“The continued strong demand is driven by the fact that the Tesla Roadster has no direct competitors in the marketplace.”
Just…. please…. don’t get over-confident, *please.* If the Ford Fusion is an indication, The Big 3 can still turn out a rock-solid car if they put their minds to it, and when the shift toward electrics becomes the norm, you’ll finally have some worthy competition. Fight complacency, and you’ll stay on top; I want to be able buy a Tesla when I get enough money!
“On March 26th, at the Tesla design studio located within the SpaceX rocket factory, we will unveil a street-drivable prototype of the Model S four door sedan.”
Booyah!
“Clear Carbon Fiber Exterior Package”- That’s awesome with a capital AWESOME!
Going strong even in difficult times, lining up with a respected car maker …. the strategy appears rock solid!
Will be anxiously awaiting the uncovering of the S.
Profitable by Mid-Year… Wow! If you can why not Detroit? Offer them your consulting services for the sum of the $240M or so you need for the factory and the Model S. Let Detroit set you up in style. Great leverage for your future. What’s next? How about those Model S pictures previously talked about for Feb viewing? The teaser doesn’t count.
Cheers,
DD
sorry I gave you the wrong email address the first time. I’m not sure if you received the first comment I made. I’m currently working on a charging system for electric vehicles that you might be interested in. It will enable electric vehicles to have an unlimited range.
I think i can draw some profile for the roadster…
The electric cars should be made for the fun of people. I mean they should be made like bicycles, and only with two seats. It’s no use to make four seats cars for people who use them to go to work everyday!!! I hate that! You’re not making cars for families, you’re making cars for individuals! You get that into your head! I’m happy you make this kind of car! 
Government Loan? Why wait for them? “6 months maybe”, when the competition got thier money last month…. Giving Detroit an edge on your Model S. Government in motion this has to be suspect….
The car is amazing and i believe this is the future.
However, i still believe there is lot of scope for making the car more usable & tap into more renewable power generation options. I can think of atleast 5-10 options. I am sure you guys would have thought of it already.
Good luck !
I saw this article today from Science Daily that described the creation of a shock absorber that generates electricity from the waste energy in suspensions. Seems like a valuable asset for generating as many miles as possible and I was wondering if Tesla is going after this technology.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090212181904.htm
Finally, the promised Chicago Store! I am happy to see that SOME people can build cars and make money too…
Good Work, Tesla
Here’s a good idea to generate more power on the road:
blog.wired.com/cars/2009/02/students-at-the.html
www.physorg.com/news153505357.html
energy-recovering shock absorbers. Seems like it would a really nice way extend the range a little further. I’m sure you guys could contact them and work out a deal to get this into the Model S and Roadster. If it won’t generate enough power on lightweight cars then you can always use it for an SUV someday. The company they formed is called Levant Power Corp.
www.levantpower.com/
Can we start getting specs for the —
Mod S
Smart42 Electric
Range + Top Speed?
Price Point/s?
Where will they be sold/leased?
Will the new 09 Stimulus Bill offer any rebates/tax incentives?
Where can we sign up to purchase/lease them?
Thanks!
## On March 26th, at the Tesla design studio located within the SpaceX rocket factory, we will unveil
## a street-drivable prototype of the Model S four door sedan.
GREAT! At last some info about Model S. Still nothing technical, but at least we now know that it isn’t far to get some real info.
Looks nice!
Measured the car up in ms paint, by guessing the shoe of the man in the picture to be about 30 cm. the amount of pixels covering the length of the shoe is 50. 30 divided by 50 means 0.6 cm per pixel. You can measure the pixels by simply drawing a line and the length of that line (in pixels) appears in the right bottom of your screen. Stuff you do when you get bored at work
I came up with the following sizes, and was surprised that it seems to be a rather small car. Which is a good thing in terms of efficiency and would allow the car to travel further on fewer batteries. Better yet, if the drag coefficient (Cd) is around 0.26 (which is completely plausible) the small surface area of the car means that the sedan will have about the same amount of aero drag as the roadster! The sedan’s relatively small size would also keep the weight down considerably. And with the batteries (same type as roadster 18650) positioned in the floor of the car (a bit of intel acquired at the paris motorshow) the resulting excellent weight distribution and centre of gravity mean the handling is going to be superb. Battery technology improvements mean that the amount of batteries used is going to be less then in the roadster. probably around 6000 cells providing 62.5 kW when using 3.6 volt 2.9 ah cells. (these cells have been available since 2008 from Panasonic, an even more energy dense version of these cells will be found in laptops in the very near future and will provide 3.6 volts 3.6 ah, meaning a total amount of 12.96 watts per cel. Would be nice to see those cells used in 2011, plausible since by then these cells would have dropped in price considerably.) This would be enough to get a 240+ mile range. I expect the weight to be around 3100 lbs /
When will I be able to put a downpayment down for my Model S.?
rw
I like the optimistic tone in this TM update. Its the only way to go. We have to move on and make better and more efficient cars.
Although the world is in financial turmoil, it is nice to see that some major auto manufacturers are actually working on the delivery of their first electric car.
Denis Allen: Read the section Something for Nothing www.teslamotors.com/blog2/?p=24
Nice to have clarification on the business plan. I am sure some customers are disappointed at the reduction of standard equipment, and I don’t agree with the surcharge for the heavy duty cable since these customers paid $50k in advance and had to wait more than a year, but I certainly agree that future customers must pay a realistic price so the company can stay in business.
I am surprised that the new Roadster Sport doesn’t have improved batteries, at least as an option. The existing batteries are 18650 form factor 2.2AH and although much more expensive, there are better batteries available such as industrial.panasonic.com/www-cgi/jvcr13pz.cgi?E+BA+3+ACA4001+NCR18650+7+WW which are Panasonic’s NRC18650 rated at 2.9AH. Since they are the same form factor, building battery packs with these should be easy. I don’t imagine re-certification should be required as the safety certification was for the packaging, not the batteries. The software for control and charging would have to be changed. For those who can afford it, this would offer a 31% increase in range. In large quantities I found a web site that offers them at $5 each. I don’t know Tesla’s price on the existing 2.2AH versions but guess at more than $2, so an upgrade would cost 6831 * $3 = $20498. $20k is a lot of money, but since we are talking about a $120k car, I am sure some would be willing to pay $140k.
Can’s wait til March 26 for news on the Model S. I read a while back that the Model S has replaceable battery pack. I hope you haven’t bought into Agassi’s BetterPlace scheme. Personally I don’t think it is a workable idea..
* Everybody will use the battery swap feature as a last resort, because it will be much more expensive than charging.
* It will cost a lot of money to build a battery swap station, and have charged batteries on hand. There will be practically no customers and no profit from this end of the business.
* The scheme will make money from the lease arrangement where the lease holder will subsidize the swap station he will not use.
* You as a company loose control of picking the best technology for your car, and will suffer range. Yea I know, Who cares about range with swap stations?
* BetterPlace will have no desire to go to improved long-range batteries, as this will cut into their profits. Their only desire for improvement will be in lower cost.
* Will swap stations actually be convenient or will you have to drive many miles to find one? Low power charging stations on the other hand will be available at shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, camp sites, amusement parks… and be far more cost effective.
* Although the lease arrangement reduces capital outlay, the final cost will be much higher. Because you are not just leasing a battery but a high cost swap system.
* Part of BetterPlace’s scheme is that you have to have their charger in your garage. This means you pay their price for electricity and they take advantage of any off-peak rates.
* You will actually lose customers that think like I do.
* Battery swapping will be made obsolete in 5 to 10 years as battery technology improves. Who is going to swap batteries when they start off every morning with a full charge good for 500+ miles? Investors to-day may make some money, but in 5 years the battery swapping business will begin declining and investors at that time will loose their shirts as the business goes to zero.
I think the most important point for Tesla is the loss of control of battery technology. For next generation design, I think GM has it right with Lithium Manganese Polymer batteries from LG Chem. This battery type is also available from www.electrovaya.com/ . Li-Mn polymer would offer about 50% increase in range, longer life and lower price. Another possibility is www.superlatticepower.com/20080602/ also a lithium-polymer design. This one is harder to evaluate since I don’t believe they are actually in production yet, but promise twice the range of LiMn polymer! Tata Motors has also chosen Li-Mn polymer (from Electrovaya) for their Indica EV. Hyundai is using LG Chem Li-Mn polymer and Chana www.globalchana.com/tabid/83/Default.aspx?id=15 is bringing out an Electric version with Li-Mn polymer from Electrovaya.
After seeing many many articles of GM Chrysler needing billion in bail outs. I always leave comments that the money would be better spent giving it to Telsa. I do believe your car company is the future of this country and wish you would get even more money so we can make the future cars right here in the good old USA and let the dinosaur big truck die. Its beyond me why the big three are fighting the changes coming. I am really happy to see a company like this come up with smart silicon Vally know how. Keep up the great work and great idea on the owning your own show rooms. Very smart. I see this company being so lean and making profit and maybe being the next Microsoft of the car world.
I can’t believe you have not been able to build more cars. Don’t you have any mass production specialist helping you ramp up to produce more? I would pay 100k for a completely electric car that preforms as yours does. But I am a family man and don’t have an extra 100k to put into a toy; I need four doors. I understand four door cars will come, but I also understand if you can not deliever all the orders on your sports car that I will not see my sedan. You can not treat this product like a Harley, it is too important to the security of our nation. Please pick up the pace, I know you can do it. If for what ever reason you can not speed up production I would be open to the Federal Government seizing your product uder the War Powers Act and ordering the big three producing it in mass.
Dear Sir:
I think is incredible the car, and to be able to do over 250 miles before needing to recharge is even better, an incredible achievement in everyway, but i have one questions, one: how long does it take before the car is fully charged again for me to drive another 250+ miles again? i am working on a MFE system in which MFE stands for Magnetic Force Engineering, where it works solemly on magnetic force field alone, self generating, self relience, and self efficient, and as much as there are similar things around on show already like the MFE, i know it does not generate the power needed to push a car so efficient as a petrol one or like yours, as there is three elements missing in which no one has invented it yet, and that is what i am working on, in which then an MFE car can be build and sold at a cost to the same as a petrol family car, hope you found my information interesting… you are an incredible company and naming it after such a famous inventor i find it an honour that someone shows that his life work is appreciated, important and problaly a breack through in the future to come where Magnetic Force Engineering is of concern.
Carlos portela
when will it be available in China? China need Tesla Motors.
Roy, I think that Tesla also cares about the max power output of batteries to maintain their goals for acceleration performance. Do the batteries you mention trade off power flux for higher energy capacity?
Wouldn’t it be a great if Obama approached you to ask you to licence your Tesla electric motor technology to the big auto makers like GM?
They have the factories and experience to mass produce cars.
Combine this with your Tesla electric motor technology and the automobile industry in America will not just be saved, it will be booming! Not to mention that the dependency on oil could be greatly reduced in just a few short years.
I’m probably just being naive..
Carlos Portela:
You wrote:
## i am working on a MFE system in which MFE stands for Magnetic Force Engineering,
## where it works solemly on magnetic force field alone, self generating, self relience,
## and self efficient, and as much as there are similar things around on show already like
## the MFE, i know it does not generate the power needed to push a car so efficient as a
## petrol one or like yours, as there is three elements missing in which no one has invented it yet
Let me guess those three elements that has not been invented yet: self generating, self relience and self efficient? Sounds like yet another perpetual-motion machine to me claiming to break second law of thermodynamics. There is no free energy. You need to draw that energy from somewhere and that is why “self generating” sounds dubious at least.
If you mean some new ways to make electric engine or useful ways to storage energy in magnetic fields with high energy and power densities or transport energy efficiently to car from outside of car using magnetic fields then by all means tell us how.
Main point in electric engine itself is that it already is near perfect way to convert electric energy to kinetic energy IE. making things move. With efficiency percentage near or over 95% there just can’t be much better engines. Only thing that can really be improved is energy storage systems (batteries, SMES, flywheels, capacitors etc.) and some mechanical things like RPM range where it gives that 90+% efficiency. 100% efficiency is a boundary that can’t be crossed.
Roy: I agree fully to your comments about battery swapping. One point to add: It would also be more cost-effective to use high-power charging stations (battery to battery charging) than use swap battery stations. You only transport electricity and that is universal and constant no matter what kind of battery tech is used, so no tech limitations there.
Just something like 2000V200A would be 400kW which would charge Roadster battery in about 9 minutes. Only thing you need to solve is safety of high voltage in charging station. That 2000V alone is not that bad (doesn’t jump easily yet), it is the amps needed that makes it bad. If you find a idiot-proof safe way to connect charger to car with high volts you might be able to use even higher voltages than 2000V.
Roger: All the battery types I have discussed would be an improvement in peak power capability, as well as longer range. The acceleration would not suffer. For the current design, Tesla had to make a choice of the best available several years ago, and I think they made the best choice. Now new technology and improvements are available with even more promising on the horizon. Superlatice is my biggest unknown, as I do not have much idea how close they may be to production. Further off in the future, 5 years or so, promising research like Cui’s silicon nanowire anode suggest 5 times improvement is possible.
Timo: A lot of people point to the obvious fact that lower amperage and higher voltage would be an attractive choice for charging since it means thinner and easier-to manage cables can be used. However there is a price to be paid in converting 2000V to 400V in the car. This would require a large, heavy and high cost transformer and electronics in the car. It makes much more sense for high power charge stations to provide the voltage the car requires, in this case about 400 volts. 50kwh at 400v and 10 minutes = 750 amps. Diesel Electric trains have highly flexible cable designed for about 1000amps and are about 1″ in diameter. This would require 2 cables almost of this size to charge the Tesla. Although these cables would be heavy and awkward, it could be managed (suspension cables from the ceiling to make the power cable ‘float’ is one possibility) along with a safe new plug design. Also the idea of charge stations requiring stored power would be a rare as most factories, even small ones, have 440V 3 phase 2000A service or more and could easily charge several electric cars simultaneously. It is not a big deal for power companies to provide this service to commercial charge stations.
I am grateful for your efforts, people think they want this or that based on what they seen or experienced. Thank you for showing us what a sustainable energy efficient looks like, they will not know what they want until you show them the possibilities.
I am looking forward to the day you build cars for the rest of us, 40,000 -35,000 and down. So that I can purchase one. I have a wish list for my Tesla car, maybe this might help you shape that car? I am man with a active family. We live in the Pacific NW, snow boarding treehuggers. Subaru is king out this way, if you look at their sales as a company, Audi as well being a very capable snow car. My first thing I look at is safety job ONE!! followed by AWD in a family friendly platform sedan and or wagon PLEASE! Fully active suspension I think is a little over due, and has the potential of simplifying the car while expanding its capabilities it would be a big mistake not to look into it. I want my iphone to be integrated right into my dash board like a security key that can always find the car lost or stolen.
From the blogs you have posted Americans are of the same mind. You should move to Detroit and put Americans back to work building a sustainable future with innovative sexy cars! I know the president will get behind you, if I could decide how to spend my tax dollar it would go toward expanding Tesla car company. Why would I put American Tax dollars into a failed car company with old ideas with contempt for the people and planet. Yes we can. Do it better!
Please offer your dive train to Chevy so they put the Volt into production. If they don’t accept that will be why they failed perfect illustration of my point. I will be buying Tesla stock.
What bothers me about battery swapping is that one is likely occasionally to get a lemon pack, due to former abuse or otherwise, and possibly get stranded or encounter safety problems. Also, clearly, any battery swap option means that one would have to lease, not own, the batteries for the approach to make sense. Somehow, I’d rather purchase my batteries, validate them under warranty, treat them right, and have a high confidence I could rely on them over their warrantied lifetime.
Time could prove the swapping alternative preferable, but somehow I predict that the operating costs wouldn’t look nearly as attractive when each of us would be essentially buying insurance against those who abused the equipment.
I would love to be better educated about the relative advantages along these lines.
What a great concept! Tesla was an amazing man and the Tesla the band, they rock. Now I can finally put my license plate whtugiv on the back of a real automobile with the name Tesla. How cool is that? I commend you for all that you are doing for all of us on this big ball of spinning dirt and water. I look forward to meeting you in person. Thanks for the inspiration!
Personally I am not very enthused about the idea of battery swapping. I have no idea what the history of each battery is. I wouldn’t want to get a battery that has been thrashed and abused. I would also be reluctant to inflict it upon others by swapping it at the station at the next opportunity.
The main reason for battery swap stations is to enable greater range. However I am not convinced that many people need that range when there are planes, trains, buses and standard cars for those longer trips. Get me an electric car I can drive 600-700km with the heat on in the dead of winter, that looks good and drives decently for a reasonable price (in Canadian dollars). If I can get all of that in one package I will be willing to give up my current Diesel VW. If you could match the 1400km range of my VW I would be overjoyed, but I suspect it is going to take 8-15 years for battery tech to reach an attractive price point for that density of energy (roughly 4-5 times the energy density of Tesla’s current pack).
Oh well, change always happens slower than expected and never looks quite the way I thought it would when it arrives…
I am not all that concerned with the age of batteries that would be found in a typical battery swap. If you are going that route, you would have to expect that most of the batteries that you would get would be more middle of the road average performance. There would be some incentives to remove weak batteries from the exchange system over time, and assuming steady growth of the market there would be a pretty steady influx of new batteries being put into the system over time.
The actual process of exchanging the batteries would be the largest hangup, at least to me. Until you can get the weight of these things down to something man-portable (slightly heavier than three or four standard lead-acid batteries as found in a typical ICE automobile) and maintain the driving range (sounds like conflicting goals here), the actual exchange process sounds like something more for a shop akin to replacing the engine on most vehicles. It could be automated, but it still wouldn’t be an easy procedure. I’ve seen plenty of broken down car washes at gas stations to realize that complicated machines can and do break down when being maintained by minimum-wage convenience store workers.
Roy, do you have data on how big or expensive that transformer in car would be? I have been told that these transformers are actually quite small and efficient. I might be badly wrong, but my impression was that it is not that hard to convert 400 volts to lets say 1200 volts and other way around.
Point with fast charging using battery to battery charger is that it includes exactly same parts than battery swapping station, but it is cheaper and not limited to standardized battery types, sizes or techs. You only transport electricity from one battery to another. What you would need to standardize is connector for that fast charging. If you are going to use robots to swap batteries you could use that same robot to attach heavy foot diameter charging cable to car. I bet that cable would still be lighter than batteries.
Anyway, even with just standard ~440V three phase and with just 200A “slim” cable would give you about 50kW connection which would give your car about 200 mile extra range at 60mph in a hour. If you have large radius battery pack that 200 extra miles means quite a bit. For 400 mile battery pack that is 600 mile total and 11 hour driving with just one stop in your trip (as long as it is done after initial 200 miles). Very tolerable if you consider that you need to do that only few times a year. That wouldn’t even need any expensive systems or new standards. I bet most roadside restaurants already have that or more.
400 mile worth of battery. Drive 300 miles (5 hours). Recharge a hour (5+1=6). 300 mile worth of battery. Drive 200 miles (3hours +6 already used = 9), recharge a hour (10), drive anything under 300 miles (five more hours max). Full range 800 miles with two stops and without fear to run out of juice and driving time 15 hours. With faster charging you would still end up somewhere near 14 hours if you stop to eat something. One hour more. Not bad.
That hour charging time would be bad if that would be your only choice and you would need to use it regularly and you would need to drive somewhere to get that service, but you don’t. Most charging will be done at home while you are at sleep.
The battery replacement program sounds really overkill. I always assumed it would take at least 20k, so I must admit I am very impressed.
Furthermore, Tesla will go profitable by mid-year. Considering what’s going on, that’s another great accomplishment.
I just got to take a test drive in my friend’s new Tesla!!! Wow!!!! I can barely type I am so excited about it.
Oh.
My.
God.
The car is incredible. I got to take up the 210 freeway in Los Angeles.
The only thing I can compare it to is the Superman ride at Magic Mountain - you know the one where you go from 0 - 200 mph in like 2 sec via magnetic rails?
It feels just like that.
I’ve never driven anything even remotely like it.
I own a Miata and I autocross, so I’m familiar with small roadsters. The point of the car is not to just go fast (anyone can do that), but to ACCELERATE. And accelerate it does. Like mad. When I say it’s like the Superman ride, what I mean is that the acceleration is smooth, continuous, and powerful - not at all like a conventional sportscar where you must shift gears. The acceleration is truly mind-boggling. My friend who owns the car actually took professional race car driving lessons to be able to feel like he could drive it well - it is so frigging fast that it’s hard for most people’s reflexes to keep up.
When you merely lift your foot off the accelerator (can’t call it a gas pedal!), the regenerative braking kicks in. This takes a little getting used to, because the car really slows down. But that means that not one electron gets wasted.
Compare the Tesla to a similar performance conventional car - the Maserati MC12, which costs a cool $790k. The Tesla is a bargain for its performance. A similar Ferari is quite a bit less, but still about $180k.
Kudos to you, Tesla Motors! I’m totally sold. Let’s face it, we all want to solve the energy crisis, but this car is just plain BADASS.
Very excited about the Model S and all of your successes. A couple of questions:
1. Do you offer a complete zero carbon system, which would include some type of alt fuel generator (like a solar panel)? This would provide owners with the ability to truly determine their energy input as well as become a vehicle for the spread of solar technology. Everybody wins when power gen becomes local and the price of solar panels goes down.
2. How has the company responded to new potentially game changing technologies? What contingency plans have you developed for integrating (or opting out of) the Better Place battery replacement infrastructure? What types of new technology architectures and investments will be required if eestor ultracapacitors can demonstrate 5 minute full charges and greater energy retention rates than lithium-ion? Can this technology be easily incorporated? What are the patent obstacles (Zenn car has purchased certain production rights)?
3. What is the time horizon for a $25K vehicle that can be marketed in the US and abroad? I hate to sound impatient, but global warming hasn’t exactly asked for a timeout. Have you mapped out marketing strategies in RCIB group? Russia and Ukraine in particular may be good launching points for luxury products given their current consumer behaviors, however the other markets, China, India, and Brazil, will be impacted by a much lower price point. As companies like Tata and SAIC can attest, that price point will probably be even lower than $25K.
I’m Portuguese and I love this concept, this car, this company, this name (Tesla). everything. I do believe that you should target your investment in medium wealth people. In Europe that would have a major impact.
Even though I know that you have your project and guidelines well designed, I am really waiting for a Tesla car that I can effort to pay.
Anyway, thank you very much for your work. You are the best.
Do not give up on, or change the original idea and concept. Tesla have future! Nikola Tesla will be known for is work as well as Tesla (company) will be known too.
=)
PS: I do defend Linux and open source too. Linux does save electric power on computers by managing system resources and hardware. And it is free and.. Open Source. Please, if you do not, try to start using Linux. It could be a smart choice.
_Flavio Mocho
Robert wrote: “The actual process of exchanging the batteries would be the largest hangup.”
Add to this:
- Storage space required at exchange sites. Petrol Tanks are below ground and store thousands of “refills”. Only few service (gas-/petrol) stations could accommodate even correspondingly modest additional facilities.
- Capital cost of those batteries sitting there - at 20′000 $ apiece.
I would share the view that, barring a few exceptions such as public transport bus services or industrial uses, battery changes are an unlikely option for the future. Much more likely is that ranges will gradually extend towards and even beyond 1000 Km per charge: to the point when the drivers will have to be exchanged rather than the batteries.
- Alfred
Timo: Hi, transformers are simple devices and common, high voltage capability is easy. It is the high current capability that drives the cost and size up. Take a look at Hammond’s model MVK300RP (bottom of page 241) at www.hammondpowersolutions.com/upload_files/htp-08_sec11.pdf This transformer is fairly close to the requirements discussed, 300kVA 39″x34″x51″ and weighs 1550 lbs, more than half the weight of a Tesla Roadster! This is designed for 60Hz and clearly is far to big and heavy to put in a car. By going to higher frequencies you can use a smaller transformer. But now the design gets more complicated and requires seriously expensive high power transistors to chop the incoming high voltage into a high frequency to use a smaller transformer. Although this is certainly possible, it is neither cheap nor trivial. It just makes a lot more sense to leave this transformer at the charge station than carry it around in the car.
Matt: I know this question is directed at Tesla, but they are unlikely to answer directly.
1. Tesla has a working relationship with SolarCity (under Links in the left column of this page) and they will be glad to put solar cells on your garage or house to get you totally green.
2. I’ll answer this one backwards. Some people have suggested that Tesla should get into the battery manufacturing business. This is a bad idea as the technology is evolving so rapidly. By not doing this Tesla has the freedom to switch to any winning technology.
3. Tesla is working on a cheap consumer car, but they have to get the Model S on the market first. I think it will take Tesla 5 years to get to this point. The problem is that this market requires huge investment and high production. Tesla is not Ford, and despite their aspirations to get there it will take a lot of time. I believe when they assess this option, they will initially decide that a variety of vehicle styles aimed at the $50k market is the next step. In this light, as much as I would like to be a Tesla customer, I have my sights set on Tata’s Indica EV, which should be on the market next year in Europe. www.treehugger.com/files/2008/12/tata-indica-plug-in-electric-car-unveiled-bologna.php?daylife=1
Does anyone else question the marketing “brains” at Daimler who chose “ED”? Pfizer pretty much has a lock on “ED” advertising here in the USA! Maybe it’s actually a clever, guerrilla marketing strategy dreamed up at Tesla to get free airtime from late night comedians.
Hi, I saw you on the news last night and wondered if or when stock in the company is available to the general public, and would it be listed as the company name? I don’t have a lot to invest but I believe I would bet on your company. Thank you for your reply. M. Klausmeier
How does one become an investor in Tesla? When will Tesla consider a New England or Northeast marketing initiative? Will regional manufacturing centers be a consideration? Well done folks!!!
Matt: Reports abound regarding “The Current EV”, a sub-compact four door electric vehicle available today for US$28,995 from Colorado Auto Connection. They import Chinese gliders (automobiles without engines) via Pakistan and then add an electric drive train, batteries, a controller (probably from Azure Dynamics), a driver’s side airbag, dash improvements and side impact beams (according to the ride-report at AutoBlogGreen). The Colorado Auto Connection’s web site also offers battery pack upgrades from the default Yellow Top AGM PbA pack to Nilar NiMH or Foxx Power Lithium (LiFePO4) Polymer batteries (cost unknown).
This reminds me of Solectria’s Force; a professional EV conversion of a Suzuki/GM Metro glider in 1996. If Colorado Auto Connection in fact uses Azure Dynamics’ controller, the connection seems even more striking.
I just read news about Fisker Karma. It is build in Finland, In Valmet factory (same that builds Porsche Boxter) so it got over news threshold here. Some very surprising data.
For example range with electric engine only 80 km and battery size is 22.6 kWh. That’s little bit under half of Roadster battery, about 42% to be more exact. However range is only (assuming 244miles for Roadster) only about 20% Roadsters range. That is pretty nasty drop in range. Looks like range is only 50% of Roadsters range using same amount of electricity.
Of course Fisker Karma is much larger car, but still that drop in range is bad news. I hope Model S range is better than that.
Performance was also mediocore at best, 0-100km/h (about 0-65mph) 6 secs even that it uses two 150kW electric engines. With combined 300kW that size car should get about 5 secs to 100km/h. Apparently they have much weaker overall performance than Tesla.
Also range with ICE was only 400km. 400km. That’s only 250miles. Combined with EV only 50miles 300 miles. That’s weak. Very weak. Fisker homepage doesn’t say how bad that gasoline engine is, but they talk about “entirely possible to gain average of 100mpg”. Actually that is worse. They talk about users that commute less than 50miles / day who can achieve that. Apparently that is worse than average normal ICE car in longer road trips. 50 miles a day is only 25 miles at one direction for example at work. That’s nothing. Half a hour driving at 50mph average speed. With all the other driving that 50 miles gets short very fast. At my more active days I drove easily over 100 miles a day.
I hope Model S is better than that. At least it is pure EV. Three weeks and counting. Hope that this website gets some real info about that car at the same time it gets revealed at SpaceX rocket factory.
I hope that one day I own a www.flytheroad.com/ -style EV city car and Model-S type more serious car for longer trips (and a trailer for that more fun city car).
BTW that www.flytheroad.com/ fun car has about same performance as Fisker Karma.
This type innovation is exactly what is needed to jump start America’s engines. Is stock available?
technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5891194.ece
Good Morning,
have you seen the new advancement in Battery technology announced by MIT where they have developed Lithium batteries that are smaller, lighter, longer lasting and capable of recharging in seconds.
Please review Reuter’s article:
www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE52A6P420090312
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1161274/Scientists-develop-mobile-phone-battery-charged-just-10-seconds.html
How do you go about ordering a Car?
I really want that Smart electric car. PLEASE EMAIL ME THE INSTANT IT IS ON SALE : I WANT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT ONE BUT TWO SMART ELECTRIC CAR!
Isaac;
No public IPO yet. But if you have a few million you might get a nibble!
Bruce: At the top of this page, there is a tab labeled Buy.
Stradivariuus: The Smart car is made by Daimler Motors, not Tesla. Tesla did get the contract to supply batteries for the first 100 electric cars.
9 days to go for info on the Model S !!!
wow! that car is very awesome and look so expensive.. gallant..
Really looking forward to the S Car, and to a sales/service center in DC!
We need to show these politicians that electric cars work!
Tesla should evaluate the hybrid battery of ultra capacitors (recharge in 15 seconds) connected to primary and secondary Lithium batteries. This would have ultra capacitors doing continuous recharge of Lithium batteries and greatly extending the range.
Ken, ultracapacitors have much weaker energy density than lithium ion batteries so applying them would reduce range, not extend it. Also lithium ion primary batteries are non-rechargeable, so those would need swapping.
I don’t see logic behind your post. Maybe you should explain a bit further what did you have in mind.
Ontario, California will be the new Detroit. For the price of a Hummer, you can hmmm past 19th Century Technology known as the Internal Combustion Engine.
I have solar panels on my house that will one day power my Tesla. Who needs oil or coal and all the associated baggage? Not me.
What the US needs is a grassroots solar campaign to offset the oil and coal lobbies. We also need a grassroots electric car campaign to offset the Detroit lobby. I am doing that in my neighborhood. I founded an Environmental Club to educate my neighbors. My neighborhood now has 108 houses with rooftop solar. I tell my neighbors that I will use my rooftop solar panels to power my Tesla someday soon.
Thanks to the visionary leaders at Tesla. These leaders show us a prosperous future. The people in Detroit and Houston show us how to become a third world country. GO TESLA!!!
Thanks Tesla for being at Geneva this year !!
Can’t wait to discover the Model S !
Best regards, and keep up your very good work !
img213.imageshack.us/img213/4678/dsc01477.jpg
Fabio, Switzerland.
hey, any chance of Tesla releasing monthly sales numbers like the other automakers do?
Btw, as for @Fabio’s comment, I would like to greatfully thank you as well for being at the Geneva Auto Salon. The explanation I got from your team and the great opportunity to finally touch and see and sit in your great Roadster made me really consider to focus on start saving some cash for your incoming Model S instead of a E-REV model (Volt/Ampera-like).
I was really surprised to see that actual owners of roadsters even brought their fellow car from GB to Geneva. They were standing outside the Palexpo Hall, and potential customers could have the chance to test drive one of those. Guys, I love that way of having your current Tesla owners participate for the success of Tesla, community like.
If any of you Tesla Roadster owners live around in Switzerland, I’ll be very please to get in contact with you. My email address won’t be published here, but hope there is a way we could exchange contacts.
Cheers
Lawrence, Switzerland
I see Tesla has announced another piece of vaporware, a sedan, in hopes of getting Obama to fall for their line of hype. Your $92,000 car was two years late and now costs close to $110,000, and your company still loses money. Just the ticket for the federal government, wouldn’t you say?
Great to see pictures of the new Model S - it looks awesome!!!
Just one question - if you’re planning to open a showroom in London (and therefore I assume sell into England), does that mean a right hand drive model is planned? We drive on that side too here in Australia and I’d love to think I could be driving a Tesla here someday.
i like so much the design
How many cars you can produce?
Love the new Tesla S car !!
As I read though your website, I see that you have plans to open sale offices in Chicago and other markets, but don’t see any plans in the southeastern US. When will you be expanding to Atlanta or into Florida? For us on the east coast, the extra fees and potential costs around maintanence make us hold off on purchases.
Also, are you looking for investors?
Thanks……
congrats you have made a fantastic product.I always dreamt of such technology becoming reality.You should also give solar chargers along with your car and aslo a battery changer(automatic) so that people will charge one set and use another.It will then become a truely eco friendly product.i also have one more curiosity about the bottom side of the car can you please send a picture of the bottom portion facing ground.
Thanks,
Nilesh
At last finally a new model s and I wonder if San Diego will have a Telsa dealership showroom if it is possible if
please inform me.
Thank you receive email and I look forward to hear from as soon as possible.
I will be able to buy model s in the near future.
Thank you
Kris Beaton
1. You should open showrooms in Las Vegas and Jackson Hole as well. Let me know when you are going to do that and I will submit a resume. I think there would be great demand in resort areas for a small showroom and service center.
2. Are there existing meters to allow a restaurant, RV park, etc. to have (re-)charging stations for EV’s and monitor electric draw to determine cost of recharging? In that they report to a single location and can be reset.
Thanks,
Wink
Just when I move out of Chicago you open a store!
Oh well, when will Tesla go IPO?
I would leke to set up Tesla dealership - how do i get this done, and what is the process to do it. - Thanks
I admit, my twelve your old son made me sit down and look at this site (and is even doing the dishes so I won’t have any excuses not to take my sweet time learning more about Tesla). The Model S has my attention. I own a GEM car, bought it about 6 years ago. It’s a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) and has its flaws, but it does the job and is very fun to drive around. As long as I don’t mind holding up traffic (its max is 25 mph, on a good day, on a flat road) and have plenty of time to answer the same 10 questions I get from everyone who sees it. Lots of interest, but not a lot of buyers. It’s lonely driving an electric car, even in my super liberal Willow Glen neighborhood. The battery issues are one of the main frustrations I have with being an electric car driver.
It looks to me like the Model S solves the flaws that I’ve had with my electric car. I’m sure once my son picks up a vacuum cleaner, he’ll convince me to take an excursion up to Menlo Park to check out the show room.
Don’t forget to market to the 40 year old moms with teenagers out there. The Roadster may not be for us, but the Model S could easily be my next car, as I’m pretty tired of driving the giant Toyota Sequoia and want some fun without looking ridiculous/like I’m having a mid-life crisis.
Great cars, great company. Keep up the good work!
I’m concerned about the $7500 tax credit though. Many people who could realistically think about buying a Tesla car are subject to the AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax) and would find out at the end of the tax year that they are not eligible to receive this tax credit. I bought hybrids in 2006 expecting $5200 in tax credits but received nothing because of the AMT. This makes the S series base price $56.5K, not $49K, which could hurt sales.
Another customer for the S , from Australia -if you are making right hand drive for Great Britain , just make a few more, for Australia. We would love you to make these available here.
Have filled out an application on your website under “other ” for countries. Price is right for me. Am also going solar, so thats how I would charge it. (large solar system)
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am in London two to three months from now and WILL POP IN! WOW it’s looking great on web site! I must get a full brochure on both Model “S” and Roadster when in London. WOW this is great car and long awaited! (i am a BMW and Benz fan) Tesla got my attention, I just need to “rob a bank to purchase one of both modles - LoL” Well done guys, WOW!
I have been following Tesla for 3 years. I hope the best for the company, and I am optimistic.
BUT ELON GET YOUR BUTT IN GEAR!!!!
Detroit Electric will be marketing AND selling a full line of EVs NEXT year, and they are priced at about $25K and the design is pretty sharp. The Model S is beautiful and my hat’s off to all of you who have been working hard.
Check out this article published 2 days ago
detroit-electric.co.uk/media_centre.php?page=0
detroit-electric.co.uk/display_article.php?id=33
Go get’em Tesla!!!!
The same electric motor used to power the vehicle can also be the generator of recharging electricty put right back into the battery pack when the vehicle is coasting or better yet gown down steep hills. Has this been incorporated into the roadster or the sedan? I’ve heard of electric cars that have these electric motors RIGHT at the wheel. There would be minimal loss to friction unlike as in a configuration of a central motor and a drivetrain/transmission setup. The above generation of electricy in the coasting mode could be used with motor setup right at the wheel. It would also free up more space inside the car since theres not a need for a central motor location. Is this the setup in the sedan version or does it also have a central motor configuration as in the roadster?
Do you need salesmen for your Manhattan location and how would I be able to apply? In order to successfully sell a product you have to really believe in that product. Your cars are the only items to really believe in these days!
Jim
Great vehicles, I am definitely getting on the list.
With real ultracapacitors coming on line, this should be the next evolution in the development of ev’s. The ability to recharge in a few minutes if not seconds, nearly unlimited recharging and discharging capacity that would outlast the rest of the vehicle with no loss of efficiency, a 10th of the weight and completely safe from overloading and overheating makes this tech a must.
Tesla motors should at least look into this type of energy storage.
Tom
the sedan looks awesome!! if there was a dealership nearby and car was available now ,i would buy one.however i am finding it hard to justify the deposit with no actual price/options/delivery date,plus i think the competion is gonna heat up in this market and there might even be better vehicles out there by delivery date.however ,great job on the vehicle and can’t wait to see in person. i will definately be purchasing an electric car and will be keeping an eye on tesla,eagerly waiting to go green and get off the grid…. john in ct.
to whom it may concern, I have been following Tesla motors as a fan now for some time and I am in awe of your vision and foresight, In my humble opinion they should be a tesla dealership in every major city in America. There is not another car out there that can compete with, let alone come close to what u guys are doing, As far as I’m concerned TESLA MOTORS is “THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN CAR COMPANY” and you guys should bill yourselves as such ALL THE TIME : ) I personally believe that you guys at TESLA MOTORS are some of the most brilliant visionaries of our time and that TELSA MOTORS possesses the ability not only to be “THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN CAR COMPANY but also possesses the ability to fundamentally change the world for the better.
Also I’d like to share a couple of tech/design idea with you guys. I have a couple ideals that I believe takes the brilliant ideal’s u guys have developed and makes em, well lets say better, what would you think of a all electric vehicle that had the potential to get UNLIMITED MILES ON A FULL CHARGE, now read that again if you must but it wasn’t a typo, so let me say it again unlimited miles on a full charge. Here’s how, where the grill is located at the front of the vehicle, you replace it with a air intake scoop, inside the vehicle [what would be under the hood] you connect the air intake scoop to a round [ blower motor type fan ] the fan is connected to a small electrical generator, the generator charges the cars batteries. Now let me put this into a little perspective, a small wind turbine 3′ feet in diameter has the potential to power a small home using an average wind speed of 28 mph, average city speed limit in 30-35 mph, highway speed limit is 70 mph. the point is that a car traveling down the road creates or possesses the ability to capture an ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WIND ENERGY, far more that what is necessary to charge the batteries, so if you where to capture that energy and then convert it into electricity an electric vehicle has the potential to get UNLIMITED MILAGE. Now I’m sure that as brilliant as you guys are you have already thought of this, so I’m sorry if I bored you with something that is old hat to you.
Anyways PLEASE keep up the good work and keep fighting, you guys got you a winner, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
For your Know, I speak: For turbo can use magneto (natural): a roll with iron that atracted for magneto is interrupted by as valvule (the valvule is a my secret: litle force moving valvule and use force at magneto: more force. Is this that make moving. A external force, at tesla motor, move the valvules. Profit the natural magnetic force. Simple. But the valvule is secret. I know and have pleasure in put in your hands. She is a turbo-magneto for tesla motor: 100% natural, economic e very silent. Very force and speed. Very cheap. Atention for my, happy for you and money for us. And grace for nature, for Earth. This is possible.
First, the Model S is beautiful and I hope that the next post we see from Elon is that the government loan has been secured. I have for a few years done pilot testing of software designed to utilize laptop touch screens. There is a big difference in the way people interface with something the size of an ipod and a 17 inch screen. I really like the idea of eleminating dozens of buttons from the dash board of the Model S and the touch screen is cool and customizable and just a great step forward. I do beleive that having some kind of human interface device would nicely complement this idea. During the pilot testing I described we discovered that a high percentage of people would open up the laptop within the first hour and start using a combination of the touch screen and other interface devices such as a mouse or keyboard. Wouldn’t it be sweet to have a laptop touch pad or an ipod type wheel near where someones right hand rests., or a rollerball on the back of the steering wheel, maybe even consider several ports for plugging in a keyboard or video game controller.
I also noticed that the default GUI mimics what you might see in a traditional car. That thinking is really limiting. Traditional cars have to show dozens of buttons at the same time, this concept dosen’t. The customization part will be really neat and I really hope that all the GUI stuff is open source but most consumers will only use the standard default . Clearly you already have plenty of self proclaimed experts giving unsolisited advice so I’m sorry if I just wasted your time.
Looking forward to the day I can afford one. GREAT step forward in the automotive world. One question: are there any plans to install Heads Up Display? Works great on planes, and it’s much faster than looking away from the road, assimilating info, then regaining focus on what’s happening outside.
Beautiful workmanship but your Tesla electric car mosdels would sell better like havingCONSTANT GENERATION and UNLIMITED RANGE, NO PLUG-IN, NO RECHARGING, 0 - 60 in 3 sec., 150 mph, can travel from Westcoast to East Coast USA, DOES NOT REQUIRE OVERNIGHT RECHARGING, will power 18 wheelers, construction trucks, trains, boats, ocean liners, and inevitably aurplanes. It will be military friendly for DOD and will be a record breaker.
Your quest is to convince the public to buy your EV cars while with the introduction of a very appealing product with hardly no out-of-pocket energy propelant expense, dealership will be swamped with FCFS or first Comf First Served. t a big scramble for model and colors.
I AM OPEN FOR AN IN DEPTH DIALOGUE TOSOMEONE WITH FINANCIAL AUTHORITHY OR THE ceo OR Presideent
Mr. Musk,
I am entirely excited to see how all of your many endeavors will play into the future. I am currently an undergraduate student of Combined Sciences in the Bay Area, and have been earnestly following the progression of your business strategy over the past few years. I just recently took a course at Stanford which looked at reducing the CO_2 emissions across California some 50% by the year 2050; and of the many things I took away from that course, not the least of which was how your vision and die-hard American spirit of innovation continue to lead our society toward greater freedom and opportunity. I am wholeheartedly sold on your entrepreneurial skill and socially-furthering business objectives; and also on how such an ethos might go to strengthening the foundations of “free-market” capitalism in both the United States and abroad. So thank you and the team of individuals who make what you are doing possible.
As a side note: I would also really really really like to know about any options you might have for students, or otherwise financially pressed individuals to invest in your company. But I mean, who wouldn’t ?
Sincerely,
Matt