Welcome to the blogosphere! I’ve been tremendously impressed with what I’ve read and seen of the Tesla Roadster — I’ve yet to see anything but positive reviews from the critics who’ve had a chance to take a ride. I wish I could afford one…

A friend of mine said that his concern about Li-Ion batteries related to the combustibility of some models. If you could address those concerns, and perhaps add the explanation to the FAQ, that would be much appreciated.

Excellent explanation of benefits of all-electric car. I particularly like the idea of partnering with SolarCity to provide a source of electricity to charge the car.
Roadster sounds great. To help me convince my wife to buy one too, please make the top retractable like a Mercedes SLK55.

This is the best thing I’ve ever seen. How soon until I can get the 4 door version with a solar option?

I wish there were a way to turn the clock ahead a couple years. I can’t stand the wait. I’ll be saving my money for the third model.

Great work! just two quick questions:

I have not heard discussion of a tesla engine for semi-trucks. As I understand ‘electric motors’ (losely used, I’d rather avoid technical aspects like drive train, etc etc), the larger they are and the more power they involve, the more effecient they are. It would seem that a semi would be the ideal product for Tesla, since a semi requires a large engine (which would allow an electric motor to be most effective) and also has the available space for large batteries (or large amounts of not-so-large batteries). Could you please clarify?

Also

It appears that you folks are not publicly traded, nor do you offer investment opportunities. Any plans to change that? I suspect there are others, like myself, who would like to put our money where our mouths are concerning this type of technology.

Thank you.

I know a number of people, including myself, that would love to help with the development of this kind of technology, but can’t afford the price tag of $89k. What kind of investment opportunities are going to be available in Tesla? I’d like to know how I can help you develop that “low cost family car” even though I can’t afford the Roadster.

I learned about you guys through Morford’s blab in the chron. He is actually pretty good. I checked you guys our and when I called my wife over to see the car she said ” An electric car, that’s bullhalibut, I bet it’s ugly like those japanese things” Needless to say it is from ugly. I love the idea of going for the hot hi ender. My buddy just bought a prius - he’s a chemistry proff at UC. Young testosterone driven Wall Streeters, entrepeuners aren’t going to go Prius.. but they will buy what you are selling. Whatever you do make the design absolutely spot on. You screw that up you’re in trouble. I don’t know who did your current one but it looks great. I’d like to see one on the street.

Best of luck.

Thanks for the color on the solar option. I’ve followed your work at SpaceX, wasn’t aware of SolarCity. I had been assuming the solar option was with one of the companies the google guys were invested in.

If the roadster winds up at $89k, then the 100k signature with the extra options doesn’t sound like such a bad deal, really. Relatively speaking, at least ;^/

Still curious regarding calendar life on the pack.

I’m in love already. What a a gorgeous machine and amazingly innovative concept.

Nikola Tesla is someone I’ve become accquainted with only recently but I think he would be proud of your efforts so far. Here’s to praying for winning the lottery! Hurry with the more affordable versions…..

Also have to agree with David in Chicago. Tesla Motors will rule the automotive world if you stick to your plan. Imagine the US without forgeign oil dependence…imagine the possiblity of peace without wars over oil control….

Keep it up. Can’t wait to see them on the road!

awesome but I haven’t seen any specs on interior dimensions… are they available ? do you have to be a jockey to get in it?

I love this blog and I’m enjoying the current trend of environmentally concious companies such as yourselves and, in the UK, Innocent (who make smoothies - perhaps you should team up?).

I’m saving up for my Tesla, though I suspect I won’t be the first one in the UK to get one.

Keep up the good work.

Please let me know you are going public with your company. Will you trade on the stock market board.

Thanks

Michael

I like the sports car angle here, hoping the price will be around $50-60,000, that way US auto makers can finally push away the foreign oil and start with the cleaner, cheaper.

The look is awesome! Kudo’s to your Product Designers!!!

Are you developing a mini-van version? I will help in design for free…or set me up with one if you feel it neccassary to compensate for design time.

FYI I read about you in the International Herald Trib. while sipping on a barely passable espresso in Tokyo last week, so word is obviously spreading far and wide. Advise if you have any interest in Canadian distribution. I was selling Honda products when they first introduced the N600 and S600 30 years ago, and recognized a winner about to emerge at that point in time. I have just discovered the next gem.
All the best.

I need more videos to watch and see and imagine on this website, the body style, the frame, the motor, the sit down look from the steering wheel driving on a track. You know, the cool stuff.

My complete dream vehicle:
After seeing the Laremo specs, including the safety oriented body shell design,
they prove that 20 hp diesel is enough to propel a 1000 lb vehicle and get 157 mpg.
My idea is for a much smaller format.
That being said, the average commuter really needs a 2-3 person vehicle,
possibly in a 3 wheel motorcycle platform, that can top end at 75mph.
Design aspects would be geared to a quick fold system
for limited footprint when parked or charging.

My complete dream vehicle would also be to also be setup
in a Delta (1 wheel in front) three wheel tilting platform
(similar to the Carver 3 wheel tilter),
with individual electric motors on each rear wheel.
The overall weight would be in the 500-700 lb range,
to keep it pushable in case of any malfunction.
While regenerative braking is great, some kind of spring loaded system
from braking for initial off line boost would also be efficient.
Would love to be able to get a Retrofit type of unit,
to give older cars a new life, which will be good advertising.

I think I have given away too much.
(machinist with 20+ years exp.)
Am I hired as a designer?

Read about the car in Wired…great mag.

Wondering if the roadster as it ages, is designed to accommodate updated battery technology? What is the mftr warranty on the current model?

What kind of relationships are you looking for when establishing car dealerships? Will you create independents - meaning they will only sell Tesla? (Which I think would be a fantastic idea!) THat helps with the branding.

I am excited about your company product and mission. I raise a glass to your success. Look forward to being a future owner of Tesla in both stock and rubber!

I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your efforts, and that our family will strongly consider buying an electric car if it gets into the $30K range.

Keep up the good work!

It’s awesome that Tesla is not aiming to be just a niche player selling exotic sports car but wants to really change the whole market by aiming at the mainstream. Best of luck! I can’t wait to see the more affordable versions.. Hopefully they’ll look good. Something like the Mazda 3 or the new Civic would be perfect.

It would be worth trying to get this car on Oprah - give a few Roadsters away to the call-in audience. The number to call-in would only be a available from this website during the show. Include the SolarCity info and a plug for the Cris Paine Movie. Include the other quick electric cars too - ie: t-zero, Fetish, Wrightspeed… It would make a great episode! Especially if you were going to do a stock offering.

This is FANTASTIC, but unlike a previous post that read “this is what everyone is waiting for”, this isn’t quite it. Don’t get me wrong…FANTASTIC… I’d love one, but…….

Here’s the catch…most people can afford a car…they often can’t afford a second one, or a play one that is limited. If you want to build the ULTIMATE car, build an electric car with a hybrid motor that can be switched off. If I could do my daily commute all in electric, but switch to oil only when I wanted to do a road trip, it would be the perfect vehicle. I’d even come up with $80-90K for it, as I wouldn’t have to spend any on gas or a second vehicle. I’m sure this is an easy request

In the meantime… I’ll be saving my $$$’s to be able to get one of these beautiful pieces of engineering. Kudo’s

So how about a little fun fund raising? See if your neighbor George Lucas—who LOVES fast cars and TECH/Future would like to make a DVD about the Tesla. It would be a great story and an excellent marketing device.

The DVD could be in HD (IMAX–also) and have both the story of the “tesla pioneers” and crews as well as show casing all the info that everybody keeps asking about in these posts. Racing against other rods—Battery Charging—Endurance Drives (city/highway)—Drives with Famous Celebrities—cool compairisons to Oil, hybreds and how our cities and lives would change with this type of car.

Sell the DVD’s for $9.99 or more! and make $$$$$$$$ to get that sedan build sooner.

“The strategy of Tesla is to enter at the high end of the market, where customers are prepared to pay a premium, and then drive down market as fast as possible to higher unit volume and lower prices with each successive model.”

Your strategy is revolutionary! This goes against Clayton’s theory of Disruptive Technology that basically says tech that kills big companies moves upstream not downstream…

Who has a better chance of the $10,000 no compromise family car?

A Tata like electricmaker that works from the $2,000 car upstream or the $100,000 car that works to cut $90,000 off the price.

I wrote about you guys a short while ago and would love a drive.

http://postmanpatel.blogspot.com/2006/06/tesla-car-with-electric-performance.html

US is a big country , why do you need to go to UK to design / make the 2 models yuo have ?

A motor car company that outsources from the get go !

Read your white paper as well as your other press. Your solar panel idea will probably only fly with your highest end customers. Using your vehicle efficiency of 2.18 km/MJ, 50 miles a day would require 10.25 kWh/day…. which, depending on the location of the roof, would require a 3-6kW solar system = extra $30-60,000 (hopefully the solar tax credits in California will help the economics a bit).

A more affordable option (though currently less lucrative for you) would be spend $2-4/month on green tags such and the wind energy credits offered by Native Power: www.nativeenergy.com/coolwatts.html. Maybe you could team up with an organization like them and offer credits straight through the dealership. Especially so the more budget buyers of your 2nd and 3rd gen cars can afford to have a truly carbon free car too.

Best of luck.

Well I was wondering why restrict this kind of technology to the market of luxury sport cars, when you could easily market it to all kinds of cars. I mean Toyota and Honda are making a killing with their hybrids, and your specs seam to be superior. The Tesla Roadster seam to be able to compete with any kind of car in their specs, but it boils down to money, is it cheaper to drive a gasoline driven sport car of the same price/spec range than Tesla Roadster or a the Roadster? It would be really funny if it would be cheaper to charge your car by feeding gas to an electric generator, than to plugging it to the wall.

Perfect concept and great plan!

I am guessing that your initial production will be limited until the sales of the higher priced roadster gives you the funds to expand production.

By the time the lower priced cars are designed the funds from the sale of the high end cars will allow you to support a larger production base.

My suggestion, when you are ready to expand production, look into the Ford plant in MN. It is closing in the next year or so. I am betting you could get a good deal from the state of Minnesota considering the number of jobs you would bring in.

The range is perfect. Sure, it won’t work for everyone, but it will work for the majority.

Best wishes, thank you for the revolutionary conept!

Comments in response to other blog postings:

Solar cells on the car wouldn’t get you too much. They would look a bit ugly, and there isn’t enough surface area to get much charge in the batteries even if you parked it in the sun all day. The idea of putting them on your roof at home, and sharing with the grid that charges your car is much more practical.

In terms of driving the car SF to LA or some other > 250mile road trip:
#1: Tesla could consider a gas generator trailer like some other electric car companies did. Basically if you had to extend the range you can generate electricity as you go in a small trailer you pull behind the car. It could burn LPG, CNG, BioDiesel or whatever was your best alternative.

#2: Quick charge batteries are having some breakthroughs. Maybe the future will have a quick charge station at a nice restaurant in San Luis Obipso so you can get charged back up while having lunch?

Superconducting Motor Technology

Superconducting motors are new types of AC synchronous motors that employ HTS (high temperature superconductor) windings in place of conventional copper coils. Because HTS wire can carry significantly larger currents than can copper wire, these windings are capable of generating much more powerful magnetic fields in a given volume of space.

Advances in coil design make it possible for a superconducting machine to match the power output of an equally rated conventional motor with as little as one-third the size and weight.

www.amsuper.com/products/motorsGenerators/index.cfm

Here is a Tesla competitor (although more expensive, and ugly by comparison):
www.hybridtechnologies.com/media.php?mediaID=060212

This is a great car, yet the $89,000. price tag may be out of the affordability range of many people.

I guess it is mostly the 6,831 lithium-ion batteries that make up such a costly price?
A Toyota Prius is only something like $21,725.., and it is equipped with Double systems - oil engine+electric motor/battery(Ni-MH).

Wouldn’t it be a good idea to make the quantities of batteries optional?
1/4 of the range, 60 miles, would be enough for everyday in-city use and also fits in with the solar-panel capacity.
if you offer a Tesla roadster with 6831/4=1708 batteries, wouldn’t the price be something like $37,250.? (Let’s assume the car without any batteries costs $20,000.)
and, in a further option, if the buyer choose not to use the expensive Lithium-ion battery and adpot the cheaper Ni-MH battery(used in the Prius), wouldn’t the price be reduced to near that of the Prius?

Furthermore, you can build a removable backup oil-tank and a (also removable and optional) small intelligent / well silenced generator into the space left out by the 5123 batteries.

You can build a automatic recharge mechanism to take back the down-hill and braking energy? (like the Toyota Prius)

In this way, the Tesla-minor will turn into a Linear Hybrid, which is better than the Prius idea - Bilateral Hybrid, I do think the set of oil engine(Prius) is kind of a waste of money and adds extra weight to the car.

Elon,
I share your passion and anticipation of renewable energy solutions that can compete in cost with hydrocarbon fuels. The benefits for the environment are obvious, but there are so many other reasons why reducing (and eventually eliminating) our need for oil, coal, and natural gas will take America to the next level of evolution politically and as a world citizen. I commend you, Martin and the rest of the team for your efforts! And I look forward to the opportunity to purchase your sedan in 2008.

I have been following the electric automobile industry for quite some time (almost purchased a Sparrow from Corbin Motors - before they went bankrupt). I am extremely impressed with the results you’ve achieved so far . . . leveraging the former technology of Nikola Telsa is brilliant, and I’m compelled to get involved with Tesla Motors. Like you, I currently have a day job (VP technology for a national bank), but what you are doing is so important to this generation - I believe this is a once in a lifetime thing.

I will contact you via separate email with a proposal on how I could provide value - and help ensure Tesla Motors’ success.

The concept has a lot of potential.
What about distribution in Europe?
On which automotive shows will you be
presenting this jewel?
Keep up the good work!

With such high profile and wealthy investors it’s hard to imagine that the idea of an electic car that sill some day take over and beat the Internal combustion engine will be quielty silenced by oil companies or Ford Chysler et al. i.e. you’ll be “bought out”.

I can’t see how your plan can fail. It is quite simply brilliant! Please stay the course: let the rich and famous have their $100,000 sports cars (there are certainly enough of them in California). They will be happy, great advertising and inthe long run pay for our humbler vehicles.

Don’t be swayed by some of the comments or suggestions that have been posted - well intentioned though they may be - Your marketing strategy is quite brilliant and I am following your progress on a daily basis as well as “spreading the word” as I am sure many others are doing.

Bon Chance from Canada

The Roadster looks great and who wouldn’t want to support such a clean technology? However ,being married and having two children means I will most likely have to wait for your electric sedan. I’ll be the first to purchase on as soon as it’s available.

Thank you for getting this country off the big 3.
One way to help your cash flow would be to offer a Conversion Package.
This would restore life to the millions of older cars that have already been built. No safety standards have to be met… I have converted a couple cars now and I know there are thousands and thousands of do-it-yourselfers out there who would be willing to pay for the Regen capability alone. Sell conversion packages would increase your volume of the components, lowering the price faster.

Thank you anf all the best Luck.

Steve Richardson

I agree 100% with Reid Vinette above. Be very careful guys and girls. Once you start really making a difference, you had better have your own private security ready to do battle. This is no joke. HUGE money and power are at stake here for players whose families have been at it for more than a century. Take some of that money that is to be put back into R&D and put it into your own armed protection force.

BTW, I want one. I live in Florida. Florida would be one of the better states to have a sales center since it is sunny and warm year ’round. I’ll help run it …

That’s a great plan and I wish you luck.

Anyone else see the documentary ‘Who Killed the Electric Car’? I urge all members of your company to see it. It’s not a conspiracy, it’s just common sense that any disruptive technology against locked-in industries will be met with harsh resistance. So you really need to prepare.

What should you prepare for? Well as you may know, importing electric cars into this country from Europe is ILLEGAL. If the government went so far as to outlaw possible mainstream electric cars here, I expect the government, namely the NHTSA to block your future mainstream vehicle and call it unsafe for highway, no matter how safe it is. You will be sued by companies that hold battery patents even though you own the rights to license your batteries. The oil industry will run ads in the NYT and other media slandering electric vehicle technology, as they did in the late 90s. And that’s just the start of it… I won’t even speculate any further.

Well what can you do? As a start you’re making the right decision about being open about your plans. You need to get people and consumers excited about the technology. Use the people to push your technology through any roadblocks. Post videos on Youtube and Google Videos, make a MySpace page, submit stories to digg, reach out to alternative media. Broadcast to us anytime you hit a major barrier that seems unfair or purely politically motivated. Use the power of the people. If a company takes the lead and shows a no-oil future is possible, the people will get behind it.

The old industries could spend millions even billions to stop you, but we have potentially millions even billions of people on our side. Forget the Middle East… the question if we can stop using oil in the next few decades is the real World War III. It’s the war to end all wars. If we fail all life on earth will come to an end. A mass extinction like 250 million years ago when there was so much methane in the air 95% of all life died. It could happen again.

Companies like yours can create a new future and I really hope you succeed. And hey, you could get rich doing it… so why not?

Your claim of 250 miles to a 3.5 hour charge is obviously without running any of the amenities included in the vehicle. With much of ordinary driving being done in the cold of winter and the heat of summer, What is the range with either the heater or air conditioner running full blast? (I am assuming that other amenities power use would be negligible.)

No one has asked the biggest question of all…

Will it hold my golf clubs ??

(:^)

Seriously though, Kudos to a job well done ( so far ) I’m crossing my fingers that this dream-come-true doesn’t fizzle out before becoming a reality.

-Jim

Your target for the family sedan - is probably more of a luxury sedan. If its going to be 40-45k you are facing off against performance luxury sedans. BMW3 or 5 series and the like. That’s fine, take the same approach and beat them at their own game. Then you will be in a position to make the leap to a family car - a 4 door hatchback, 20-25k, sporty again, say something like a Mazda3 hatch. You can play the same platform to a sedan, and something like a Mazda5 wagon as well. Then you can follow with something sub 20k on a par with at Honda Fit or Scion.

Ok, Get back to work - we’re waiting you know.

afdcmap2.nrel.gov/locator/FindPane.asp

Use this to help gauge how far you could drive, u have to use the fuel picks to get a range circle. Tesla you could ad this or similar to your faq to get people to understand how far 250 miles can get you. It shows we don’t need fuel except for the non stop cross country trips and that could be the phev/fcev. Again it will only get better in time, never back down.

Saving for later

land of sky blue water

This is great stuff. I really had hoped that the Majors would follow this route on the Hybrid tip, but the push was never made.

My one concern is about the mechanical supply/support train. Where do I take a Tesla if it breaks down? Can I get spare parts at regular retail outlets? Etc…

Do you read this blog? Someone from Tesla Motors should regularly comment on the responses here.

There are some good ideas here, and you should at least acknowledge them, even if you don’t want to release any information.

Comments of public offerings are nice, but as a simpler plan for the time being: you could just offer a method for public donations. I’m sure many would be willing to donate small amounts. It’s as easy as PayPal. Sure, in the scheme of things, the donations may not amount to much, but at least us that cannot afford to buy one could feel proud to support your efforts.

You have the right idea: Assist the Private Funding of R&D by the (hopefully) high profit margins of the Roadster. It will generate income quickly, and help spread the word quickly.

I don’t want to come off as a conspiracy theorist like one previous poster, however, I urge you to be very careful, especially considering the current US administration and the threat you could eventually present to the US budget and those individuals who are rich and becoming richer by constantly and unmercifully overcharging us for gasoline.

Some posters are correct: there are those that cannot afford a 2nd vehicle that is their “toy”. I agree. However, most middle class families do own more than one car, and when your EV sedan comes out, those could use their other, gasoline powered, car for their long trips where they want to be able to drive more than 250 miles before charging. The rest of the time, they could use your EV sedan for the majority of their driving. It’s what I would do. It would work perfectly until there was a better way to make long trips. That said, I’m willing to bet you will attempt to, and likely succeed, in solving that problem before the family sedan is released.

In your white paper “The 21st Century Electric Car”, you state “the ‘electrical-outlet-to-wheel’ energy efficiency of the Tesla Roadster is 2.53 km/MJ x 86% = 2.18 km/MJ”. Does the 2.53km/MJ number take into account the inefficiencies in the motor, in the Power Electronics Module, and losses in electrical cables and connectors? If so, what efficiency percentages are used for the motor and PEM in the calculations to figure the 2.53km/MJ number? What would that km/MJ number be for a driver who likes to accelerate hard and often?

Note: The following calculations use the average days in a month (365.25days per year / 12 month = 30.4375 days per month).
I don’t wish to discourage, but I want real numbers, not inflated (or deflated) numbers. According to the $0.01 per mile statement on your website, we would figure a maximum of $2.5 every 250 miles (one charge), or an average of $76.09 a month, if you drove 250 miles each day of the month. However, your $0.01 per mile statement takes into account the zero emissions incentives, discounts from off-peak electricity usage when charging, etc. How about you give us a more realistic, day-charge-time, not counting incentives, cost per mile quote? Better yet, here is one based upon my current electricity bill:
I pay $0.09548 per kilowatt hour. That converts to $0.02652 per mega joule ($0.09548 / 3.6 = $0.02652).

Now, 2.53 kilometers per mega joule is equal to 1.57 miles per mega joule (2.53km/MJ = 1.57 mi/MJ)

Also, 1.57 miles per mega joule times 250 miles per charge equals 392.5 mega joules per charge (1.57 mi/MJ * 250 mi/charge = 392.5 MJ/charge)

So every time we charge the car from completely dead batteries, we use 392.5MJ.

392.5 mega joules per charge times $0.02652 per mega joule equals $10.4091 per charge (392.5MJ/charge * $0.02652 per MJ = $10.4091 per charge)

That results in $316.83 per month! Of course, that assumes you drove 7604.167 miles in that month!!!

I wish Tesla Motors the best, and will be watching for the family sedan (or maybe there is a mid-sized SUV coming?)

Travis

Response to the poster who said Tesla needs a “security force” to protect themselves.

The risks from the gasoline incumbents wouldnt likely come is such a direct way.
As others have suggested, the risks of taking on the established industry are more likely:

#1: Lobbyist change laws that make it difficult or impossible to legally operate, sell or service such a vehicle. (Things are a little two sided - some will offer incentives, others will offer obstacles)
#2: Lawyers sue over various claims: safety, false advertising, patent infringement, etc.
#3: Insiders receive outside money to pick less attractive technologies for the company (being kinder than saying “bribery for sabotage”)

Tesla appears to be run by seasoned, successful people who know of such things and how to work around them, so I think we are in good hands in this regards. My bigger concern is that it is hard to get the economies of scale in place to build a cost effective product which results in a business plan that makes money. There are some deep pockets here, but I am sure there needs to be a profit somewhere down the line for the product to stay in production.

Like most posters here, I am eagerly waiting for your expanded product line. I also have faith that as battery and recharging technology improves, you will be able to retrofit your first models, mostly so that the cars can become more than a close-to-home transportation solution.

I have one question (not that I’m expecting an answer but it struck me as, well, funny): The solar panel idea…since the first models will take a few hours to recharge, and (speculating that) your first customers are likely to be people who are away from home during the day, I would expect most of the home recharging to be done at night. So, how much power do you get out of that panel under the moonlight? Just kidding. Maybe we’ll see a lot more telecommuting in the next few years.

Wow, the roadster looks terrific. I live in Maui, Hawaii. How would owning this car in Maui work for service? I’m extremely interested in the Roadster, my wife would like the sedan!!

Regards,
Bruce Miller

Regarding “Power Plant Emissions”, this problem arises in the USA. But for a lot of countries (northern european countries or France), this problem is not even under consideration as their power plant mainly use geothermal, hydro, solar or nuclear material.
And if you consider companies such as nanosolar, you’ll see that the future is bright for 0 emission technologies.

Great news about your new car. When and how can the average person invest in your company? Dose your business plan incllude an IPO, or will your capital requirements be self funded with the resources of the initial investors and profits?

Prototype #1 was just shown at a bay area electric vehicle gathering. The Tesla hosts were very gracious and did an excellent job of answering questions of all sorts. Although rides weren’t given, the car was driven there and people got to examine the car about as closely as you could want with out actually driving it. The more people that get to see it in person, and watch it go, the more believers there will be that this is real and not just a dream.

Some of my questions that got answered:

* No current plans for AWD/4WD, and no front wheel regren braking… Although rear wheel regen can still get about 80% of the energy you would hope to capture with a 4 wheel system.

* Safety has been an utmost design consideration and the battery pack is unlikely to pose any special safety issues.

* Li-Ion is the battery of choice due to the economies of scale that has gone into the laptop production business. The laptop modules are already R&D cost depreciated and offered at agressive prices due to competition. Much Tesla R&D has gone into controllers that manage the properties of the Li-Ion cells, so it is a little unlikely that they would switch to another battery technology anytime soon. (Although they are looking at everything of course)

* This car is attracting as much attention from pure sports car enthusiasts (who may not care what powers it) as it does from EV enthusiasts who appreciate the Li-Ion, advanced motor design, range and all that.

It was more or less confirmed that the first 100 cars will be $100k, and then additional hundreds per year will be sold at about $85K.

They hope to follow-on with a 4 door sedan of some sort with an approx $40k target price as soon as they can.

When asked where they would like to be in 10 years the response was something like “having 4 or 5 models and selling 100,000+ cars per year”. Lets hope!

It might be a good idea to have a removable battery, so that you can keep one at home being charged while you use the other. Most likely a special device would be needed to get the battery in a out of the car, but I guess it would not be a real obstacle to make this idea work.

Therefore, recharge time ? Less than it would take to fill the tank

And maybe service stations could keep charged batteries, so you could drive in for a battery change. Maybe the battery is too expensive to trust someone would not trade in a bad battery for a good one; this could be solved by a apecial seal and or by a computer check which would tell the real condition of the battery is being traded in.

Think about it !!

To the fellow who wonders how he will servce his Tesla in Hawaii: is that a job relocation offer? ;^/

TEG wrote up a good summary of the EAASV meeting. I have a slightly different set of notes:

The *base* price of the vehicle is planned to be at $85k. Of course, things can happen between now and then. The $100k “special” does come with some optional equipment.

The sports sedan follow-on was said to be “below $70k, maybe below $60k — a sports sedan”. So, still expensive, but an obvious decrease in price and increase in utility (if not speediness). They are hoping to reach the same range as the sports car in the sedan. That would seem to be quite an achievement to me. Many people that hope for $30k or $20k cars are going to have a wait, or will need to look elsewhere.

They’re response to the low cost car interest seems to be one of marketability concern . If the market broadens to allow for such low cost cars (these necessitate 100 thousand car-sales volume, not to mention much more expensive, and therefore riskier, investments), then the auto-majors are likely to be there. It isn’t clear how they would be successful under such a scenario.

[I guess my thinking is that the personal computer didn’t sell nearly as cheaply, nor nearly in the volume, of the typewriter, but that didn’t stop it from being successful.]

The subject of calendar life of the batteries was broached. It was artfully dodged ;^/ However, it appears that Tesla has some propietary methods on liquid-cooled battery technology. Patents were mentioned. I might try and dig around for them, but I haven’t yet. For those who wonder why there’s a connection, battery longevity is a function of average temperature, average voltage, and time. I don’t know if Tesla is using the full voltage range on their batteries. I expect they are, given some of their answers — pointing out that “dead” in the industry means “80% of original capacity”, and that losing only 20% of range when range is 250 miles is a lot more forgivable than losing 20% of a 40 mile range. Also, to the question “can I upgrade the batteries when my old ones wear out?” their response seemed to be “uhm, we haven’t really given that a lot of thought — our current battery focus is on next vehicle…” They seemed more concerned about impedance aging. I am not sure which environmental factors play a greater role in that specific type of aging.

Their CTO is talking to every battery company he can get his hands on. I believe he said he was off to the East Coast tomorrow…. These guys are pretty serious, and if their battery replacement forecast is correct, they’re getting a pretty good deal. [And frankly, if batteries keep on their 8% per year trajectory, we’re going to start looking really quite good as time wears on.]

Safety seemed to be a primary concern here. They don’t want a brand new brand sullied by a bad experience. I won’t spend a lot of time on this one, but, for all the things talked about here, safety seemed far more important to them. Their pack will survive a catastrophic failure to a cell, for example.

Tooling for the body is done — the car being driven around is apparently off of the honest-to-god line. Having seen it, I’ll say a couple of things. As not everyone has had the chance to drive an Elise, if you’ve seen a Miata, you have a pretty good idea for the size, if not the shape. The thing is *low* to the ground. I would be concerned driving it in some of the parking lots (speed bumps), and the suspension must be pretty stiff. The only bit that didn’t look solid was the hood (the hinge looked very delicate — it’s not holding up a 200 pound piece of metal, of course, but it looked a little light anyway). The trunk apparently had to be closed carefully. I didn’t hear the story behind that.

Everything else was halibut cool. As the crowd was large, I walked away from it while they drove the car around the parking lot. Forget the silly ICE engine noise replacement, this thing needs Lucas ILM sound effect treatment The car does have a speed-dependent whine which is somewhat reminiscent of the higher frequencies of Star Wars vehicles. Add the dull throb sound effect, and you’re good to go.

They’re aiming pretty low saleswise in 2007. Their 2009 numbers are *very* aggressive, however. I hope they make that many sales.

Hope that helps some

-Dave

(responding to “Guy Marriage”):
Yes, they made a point of making it easier to get in and out of (compared to an Elise).
They also made it more safe in all likelyhood.
Further, by many accounts (including my own) they made it look better.

They are a bit defensive about it not being _JUST_ an electric Elise. There is a lot of Lotus DNA in there, but this vehicle has a lot more engineering applied to it than Lotus would likely have been able to do on their own.
If Tesla had started with a clean sheet of paper, not including Lotus along the way, I think they would have come up with something similar anyways. Having the Elise technology as a basis just shaved a few years, and millions of $ off the project.

Travis wrote:
“That results in $316.83 per month! Of course, that assumes you drove 7604.167 miles in that month!!!

The average suburbia would be probably around 2000 miles per month, so that puts us down at $83.33 per month, or 1 1/2 tanks of gas for a pickup truck or SUV at today’s prices.

Beware of centralized power (plug-ins) and keep pushing toward individualized power sources. Pull the grid and make something useful out of all that copper.

Two candidates once ran for governor– one of them asked for large campaign contributions from wealthy party supporters, while the other passed a jar around to everybody else and asked each of them for two cents. The man with the jar won because he gained a wider support base of people who were invested in his success. This blog is a great idea– we can all put in our two cents worth, but it would also be great if we could invest money in your company too, however small. We all think your product is great.

First, I am glad that someone from Tesla responded to the multitude of posts, and I hope it becomes a regular happening here. Thanks for sheading some light on the “master plan”. I am glad that considerations are made for the masses in delivering something that is beneficial to the environment and serves a usefull purpose. Perhaps, we can get a monthly post detailing the accomplishments of the company and the direction as well. It will give us something to look forward to.
Socondly, I have to believe that there is some resistance to having all-electric cars on the market. If there wasnt, we would have these vehicles right now at an affordable price, since the technology to make this happen has existed for at least 5 or more years. I dont know the politics of it, but I do know that the resistance exists. I hope that Tesla doesnt fall prey to the resistance.
Lastly, there needs to be a better marketing plan to, at least, get the word out. Word of mouth is good but that will only get you so far. Getting the news in a major magazine and keeping Tesla in the news till at least the 4-5 seater version comes out will be beneficial to all. Here’s to making Tesla the new “Model T”. I wish Tesla all the luck, and I will support it by buying a 4-5 seater version. Keep up the good work.

Many auto parts stores now offer free battery recharging, so it is not inconcevable that in the future, they could offer EV recharging for a fee.

Would wildly popular, mass produced and marketed electric cars, as well as other green solutions to our environmental woes make a difference? Yes. Will the combined effect of these alternatives end war in the Middle East or other regions where the struggle for control of resources results in the annihalation of peace, people and culture? No. Despite the technological advances we have wrought, we are still a savage and simple species, and will always find an ideologic excuse for war. We can hope though to go on killing one another in a cleaner environment.

It seems like a great car. Hopefully after a couple of years it will be at a low enough price for family’s with not a lot of money to buy the car. I have one idea that your builders have probably thought of, but since the engine is in the back you could put some turbines in the back of the grill in front of the car so when your on the highway going 60-70mph the turbines catch the air and there for charge the car up.

My engine is the most powerful Rotary Piston Engine. At 1/4 the size of today engine, The 16in, rotary putting out over 1600 foot pounds of torque at 800 rpms.
At 3600 rpms over 3200 fot pounds of torque…This is not a joke.
I have a patent on this and want the engine to go into a car..
Its able to get 300 + mile to the gallon, car weight could be under 6000lb.

The 3-piston rotary engine fires every 120 degrees, having a 350 degree power stoke.
the size of the piston is only 1×4inch with a 8in crank, fires at TDC and causing the piston to go in circle is what gives the power torque. This engine is over 85% eff.
Thanks for your web page….Tommey L. Reed Us patent # 6,860,251

I have been working on a new electric dc motor that has a rotor and a stator design, this motor use less amps then any dc motors out there.
every hp waste 746 watts of power my design waste only 1/3 of that….
The secret is use the magnet flux by pushing the rotor then of spinning in a circle…
like a rail gun. Elctric charge capacitor stores the energy discharge into the stator.

Love the roadster. However, with a family of four it is not practicable for me. But sign me up for the family sedan along with the optional solar equipment - the sooner the better. Can you tell us how far along you are on the sedan - idea, design, testing? Good luck and keep up the great work.

Regarding the comment on the Elise. It is hard to get in and out of. However, I’m 6′3″ and 225 pounds. Hardly tiny. But I fit fine.

Clearly guy is much larger than me or he has never been in an Elise.

Dear Mr. Musk

I can hardly put into words how excited I am after thoroughly (read: greedily) devouring the information on both your website and blog. Surely many from my generation remember being promised electric and even flying cars when we were growing up in the late eighties. Well, sadly you car does not fly…instead it jets in a way I never thought a pure electric car could! Amazing, amazing, amazing! Your car and company is the best news I have heard since before a nefarious shrub sadly took office. Our roads are clogged with gas guzzling SUVs, clogged with overheating cars, overheating tempers all because the price of oil has run too high. We, America’s soldiers, America’s youth are done paying the price for our country’s dependence on oil. Thank you for granting us the independence we have been waiting for, a choice that calls with the voice of dissent, a choice that will carry us into a cleaner and brighter future. Thank you.

I would like to open a Tesla Motors car dealership and repair shop in Milan Italy, how much do you want to let me do that?

Ciao Paolo

The battery solution is here and am surprised no one’s mentioned this. JPL and a private firm called Altair, together invented a new lithium polymer battery that is not the garden variety lithium ion, rather called “polymer lithium-ion” (PLI) nanotech battery. It is a dry battery and won’t explode therefore if it accidently shorts out such as in an auto wreck or malfunction due to vibration or jarring, you aren’t propelled vertically out of the wreck by a battery turned bomb. Present lithium ion batteries and NiHH do have liquid inside and therefore will explode (and have..cell phone incidents are the more common) if the electrodes on the battery touch and short out. Shorted out liquid batteries can spray extremely hot corrosive fluids and aeorsols onto victims just as exploding gasoline tanks or gas tank contents have incinerated victims/bystanders/rescue workers of car wrecks. This new battery doesn’t have those threats.

Anyway, the new PLI charges in five to ten minutes for a car sized battery which is about the same amount of time it takes to fuel up at a gas station and holds ten times the charge as a standard Li or Ni ion battery per weight and size, and deliver peak amps when you need them such as hill climbing or fast acceleration. In addition they take over a hundred thousand charges as opposed to a much less capacity of standard LiMH or NiHM batteries. Learn more here:
www.altairnano.com/
from that private sector inventor company which worked with JPL… and the licensee in China who now produces the batteries for sale:
www.zqpt.com/zqenglish/page3.htm
…and that company says it will custom make batteries for whatever application…and I would bet to include Tesla Motors cars.

I want to sell them. I am in the New York City area.

I am very intrigued with the product. Any investment information would be appreciated.

What is this car going to cost? I know it won’t come cheap…but the savings on gas alone will probably make up for it

Since I am already producing a surplus of Solar Photo Voltaic power I want a EV as soon as poossible. I have been seriously considering the Toyota synergy drive vehicles with the CalCars type of conversion so that I can take advantage of my surplus. I like the Tesla Roadster except the high cost is way beyond my retirement budget. A mini van style is more appropriate to my current needs but a 4 doorr sedan is what I have (Chrysler 300M).

The 30 K price range is what I would like to see for an EV for me, might swing 40 K considering that the mechanical components should have at least a 25 year life expectancy based on other traction motors (locomotives and streetcars). The Li-ion batteries are much better than deep cycle lead acid if charged and discharged correctly as I am sure the Tesla charging controller is designed to do.

The advent of computer controls for the motor/generator controls and charging circuits are the major improvement in EV technology that makes EVs more practical today.

Congratulations on the Tesla Roadster. If it is a commercial success, Great!
Is Tesla the name behind the disappointing Free Electricity project from the late Nineties, that caused so much bitter argument regarding Permanent Magnet Motors? I have been trying to follow that subject for a number of years, but they will no longer talk to me, Was that a Scam?

The Tesla engineer who drove the car to the EAASV meeting was 6′4″ He fits in the car. It is a low sports car and is harder to get in and out of than a typical car, but even tall drivers can fit and enjoy driving it.

===

The idea of having swappable battery packs has some merit, but some complications.

On the one hand no one would be having fears of how long the batteries will last if there is a depot constantly replacing the aged ones with fresh ones. On the other hand, the infrastructure to keep fully charged packs at the ready in convenient locations would be much more trying than simply having electrical outlets for charging.

Further complicating this idea is that the battery packs are not simply easy to change like flashlight batteries. The pack is one big unit that is very heavy, and has a lot of connections not the least of which are coolant lines. The battery pack is much more wired into the car than a simple 12v battery with only two wires. Also, keep in mind that the battery pack is a safety hazzard. The high voltage DC (if exposed) could be lethal and a fire hazzard. There would need to be some complicated quick disconnect system (for both high voltage DC, coolant and control lines) that would add weight, cost and complexity. Maybe someday, but I don’t think they want that for the first model.

I think GM talked about swappable packs for the EV1 but never did it.

Some places where you get BBQ propane cylinders switched to a swap system.
Propane cylinders are safety rated and safety tested for a limited number of years.
After a few years no one will refill your old cylinder anymore. These days swapping for a fresh, filled one is good because you don’t have to worry about yours getting too old.
In some ways, things that you know will be obsolete or out of date quickly do make sense to lease.
I could see that someday you would buy the car and lease the battery pack, so that you could expect to get an updated version as soon as available without having to buy it outright. In a way it is insurance against having out of date battery technology.

I noticed that cable and satellite TV have switched more and more to a lease/rent system for their boxes. They know that their receiver technology keeps changing rapidly so having leased items that they can “force” the customer to upgrade is preferable to have a lot of customers with outdated equipment that may not work as the company would like.

Can’t wait to see it. Will it be equipped with high mileage tires also, to reduce that waste?

What a great car! Now if you’re really interested in the planet first, you’ll let the many thousands of your instant fans invest, along with the billions in smart green money, in an immediate IPO to raise the Billion $ needed to rush the thrid gen vehicle for the millions right away.
And borrow more, sell more stock at every opportunity to build it faster. We really don’t have the luxury of waiting even 5 years for the ultimate family car, the climate is too close to the tipping point to delay another moment.
I sure don’t have $90K for a car, but I’d invest plenty in this. If you’re worried about losing control, just sell non-voting shares (like Ford), we’ll still invest.

Are you7 using supercapacitors to deliver power fast? or just hte Li ion batteries?

RMM

I love the concept, but I am a fan of large coupes, the likes of Honda Accord Coupe or Mercedes-Benz CL, as roadsters while fun are impractical, and family sedans are boring as hell. I would definately buy one from you, if you were to make one around $30K, and with range from LA to Las Vegas. That would be great!

Joe Kearney: I think they plan to “stick” with performance tires. This car is more about performance than ultimate range.
Wen H Lin: I think these guys are masters at generating publicity.
Tommey L. Reed: These guys want proven technology, not something that was rumored to work in a lab.
Robert Metzger: No ultracapacitors (yet). They are Li-Ion for now.
Travis: Tesla has more chance for success because they have lots of venture money to make the dream real, unlike those other companies you mentioned.
Michael Clark: check this out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS3WbXb1baY

Very exciting concept — if this is version 1 can’t wait for 2 and 3. I wonder about distribution though — seems like auto dealers will lose out on all that service revenue from replacing oil filters and engine maintenance. Looks like a great car — I want one!

Finally, a car worthy of plugging my iPod into!

I’d like a blue sedan, and throw in a set of solar panels for the garage.

While I’m waiting for delivery, where can I purchase a Tesla Motors t-shirt?

For every thousand people that commits one thousand dollars to help R and D you would have an extra million with which to work. You could offer people the option to put a one thousand dollar down payment on a potential future car. Each person that buys one could simply claim a one thousand dollar credit toward the purchase. If you could get a million people internationally to put a thousand dollars down, you would have a billion dollars with which to work. You could also make a deal where you commit to honor one million contracts when one million people have signed up. Even if only ten percent follow through you will have one hundred million with which to work. This is the critical mass approach that is being used by the so-called hundred dollar computer project.
I just want to be sure that this company is not being prepared to be sold to the highest bidder. Some large company, or group of large companies, can surpress this technology. I am willing to put my money where my mouth is to make certain that this technology is not suppressed. Like the original Macintosh computer, I want the mission of your company to bring power to the people.

As mentioned above, there are plenty of people out there who would love to invest in the green technology that Tesla is developing, but simply cannot afford the $89k Roadster. How about you come up with a “Future Lease” plan!? I’d love to start paying you car payments for my $30k sedan that will be ready in 3-5 years. Heck, I could have the car paid off before I drive it, and you’d have the money pouring in, ready to use for development!

So if you take the idea, you’ve got my email address. You’ll know where to send the royalties… or my Roadster!

Tesla Motors,

You guys nailed it! The days of the garage-built, nerd-mobile, electric car are over. The result of your innovation and determination is what everyone else will be compared to. It will be interesting to see what kind of response comes out of Detroit.

Lawrence A. Kalina
IDSA

hi, what a fantastic car! I really really want one!

Please please please release a right hand drive version into the UK! (we ARE building it you know, oh and our tiny island isn’t much bigger than 250 miles either!)

Is it worth talking to Lotus to see if they have any plans?

keep up the great work.

jk

I’ve heard that electric cars generate electromagnetic radiation. I’ve even heard they expose their passengers to something like 30x more electromagnetic radiation than living under power lines does.

Is this true?

If so, has Tesla found or is Tesla currently developing a solution to this problem?

If so, how have they done or how are they doing so?

Thank you,
I’m extremely excited about this company

—-

Editor’s Answer: Check out the FAQ.

Is there any danger from electromagnetic fields in the Tesla Roadster?

When do these come down to Australia?

Have you considered retrofit technology packaging to outfit older petrol powered cars? Is there a market for that - I daresay there would be in the future with fuel to hit AU$1.80 per litre for standard unleaded down here.

Sure this car is expensive; but if this takes off like it should, construction costs will come down - that’s the whole point. I’m sure, relatively speaking, combustion cars were considerably expensive when they debuted.

As I mentioned on Autoblog for those muttering about the electric grid - it would be better to build a handful more plants and have the fuel-to-energy inefficiences concentrated amongst those plants, than have the sum total of the inefficiency of millions upon millions of cars. I think it’s less than 30% of fuel energy in modern cars goes into the motion of the car, the rest is noise, heat, and sound. It would make more sense to build 50 more COAL plants than have millions upon millions of wasteful cars, trucks, busses and planes. Plus you can utilize additions to the grid, like solar arrays and hydro sources, to keep the use of fuel for powerplants down.

Tesla should take James advice (scroll up) and let individuals purchase a “Thousand Dollar Pre-Payment Agreement”. Take the money and create the best possible electric sedan and all wheel drive vehicles. Investors could decide to purchase and then be eligible for a one thousand dollar “credit”. If they didn’t like the cars, the money would convert to stock or the individual could decide to “gift” the money to Tesla. This is a win, win, win, win opportunity (except for big oil and GM).

I live in miami and am waiting to buy. I think one of the biggest possibilities the company has is to change the automotive industry isn’t just energy effciency of the products but to go to a direct sales internet based model such as Dell. Existing car companies can not do this due to state franchise laws that protect their dealer networks.

I think Tesla could build a just in time inventory system that would allow them to hold zero inventory, In addition , there would be no dealer markup on cars, no dealer inventory to finance. Outsourced manufacting labor would not have to be burden by high legacy costs such as healthcare benefits for retirees. This could give the company thousands of dollars in cost savings versus traditional automobile companies.

This is the real secret to this company competing in the long term.

All the best luck!

I usually buy a new car every 5 years, the reason for me is that at 5 years cars start to become a risk. Belts break, cylinders leak, transmissions fail, hoses leak, pumps die and so on. The Tesla roadster looks like a forever car. Even given the current costs I could easily compare a new battery set every 80k-100k miles with gasoline and the cost would be similar for much better performance in the electric.

I’m not talking like a green freak, just someone who loves driving and doesn’t like having a car break down on me. Knowing that this car will reduce my personal auto pollution in my state by something close to 90% doesn’t mean that much to me for this discussion, I’m purely considering the car on a cost/benefit.

Is there any information on how long you see the motor and transmission lasting?

LED lights last forever and take little power so that’s a bonus.

I worry about all the typical car parts that are still in the Tesla. The convertable top, the door latches, the ruggedness of handles and knobs. Did Tesla take short cuts with all of these to meet weight?

I know I’m being greedy, but I’d like a car built to last along with have great performance.

I like John R’s idea about the future lease plan, you guys should make that happen!

First of all I really admire your motivation and ideals, but I am a bit skeptical how you will make an efficient family type car using this technology. Looking at the car diagram, the batteries take up the space of two seats. How will you be able to have a 4 seat car, have room for luggage and still make it run for around 250 miles? The weight of a family car with 4 people + luggage as opposed to this sports car…..

Hello,
I long for the day when I can afford a great electric vehicle. Years ago I bought an electric van that I loved. I love all things solar and truly believe that if I had an electric car I would be able to support it (at least on the home end) by a bank of solar panels. Has that been a viable method used by anyone?
I will be watching, waiting and hoping that soon I will be able to drive one of your vehicles in the near future. All the best luck.
N

I just wanted to say that I’m very excited about this, and I’ll be first in line to buy one of the more-affordable models! Thank you for being a responsible businessman. This is great.

Last week I fell into a blue funk after watching a broadcast on the Discovery Channel called Global Warming - What You Need to Know. Tom Brokow was the host and he presented a very convincing argument that our world is heating up and that if we don’t reduce CO2 emissions, the consequences will be dire. Towards the end of the show several scientists, who were all certain that global warming is a fact, stated that they were optimistic that we (as a country, as global citizens, as humans) would find a solution to this problem. Many of them were convinced that technology and market forces would drive the economy green and that we would be able to reduce green house gas emissions and avoid a world wide enviromental disaster without economic recession or collapse.

It is my hope that your company is rediculously successful and that you continue to on the path to make cars that all of us can afford. It is also my hope that you are able to license your technology to the big auto makers so that we can change Detroit forever. The invisible hand that keeps the economy moving foreward is about to give the oil companies a big push to becomming diversified, greener, renewable energy companies. Those companies that do not diversify will get slapped insted.

Your company and its excellent web site have lifted the cloud of CO2 that was following me around all week. I have two daughters, ages 3 and 5. It is my hope that the first cars (or seeing as we live in TEXAS, should I say TRUCKS) I buy for them are Teslas!

I read the white paper “21st Century Electric Car” again today. In the paragraph ‘Electric Cars’ the energy efficiency for the Tesla is quoted as 2.18km/MJ. However, the paragraph headed “Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars” you state “and we can assume the same 2.78 km/MJ vehicle efficiency as with the electric car.” 2.18 versus 2.78 ? Please explain.

Thanks

—-

Editor’s Thanks: In the ‘Electric Cars’ paragraph, we are talking about electric outlet-to-wheels efficiency (which includes charger inefficiencies), while in the “Hydrogen Fuel Cells” paragraph, we are talking about energy storage-to-wheels efficiency, which does not include the charger. However, the number in the hydrogen paragraph was indeed wrong, and should have been 2.53 km/MJ, not 2.78 km/MJ. This mistake made the fuel cell solution look better than it should have. The white paper will be updated soon to reflect this correction.

i am very impressed with your philosophy, goals and what you have accompilshed so far.
I am looking forward to owning an affordable electric vehicle and even better, one that can
be powered from electricity i can generate from a renewable source. Using the figures you
give for the sportscar I don’t see getting 50 miles from a roof mounted solar panel. (as much as I wish it were possible) 2.53 Km/mj works out to 11kw at, I assume, 100km/hr. A 208 watt solar panel is about the largest that you could fit on the roof, and that would only give you 10-15 km.
A van roof however with 8m2 could approach 10kwhr and 50 miles per day.
Is my math way off or did you have some other system in mind.Did you mean mount a number of panels on the roof of your house? the solarcity site doesn’t help explain.
I am working on a solar powered water purifier for villages in a third world country, and I am finding it very difficult to get any help or information from solar panel or cell manufacturers about concentrator systems and non retail pricing. Is there anyone at solarcity who could help?
Thanks

Congratulations on hitting 100!

How about something really radical for #2? Something virtually no automobile company has been willing to build in 25 years? A small stationwagon! Call it a crossover or whatever to keep the marketing people happy, but a vehicle somewhere between a 1990 Civic Wagon and a Subaru Forrester. With a kammback (not as radical as the Prius), it would be possible to build a four passenger vehicle with headroom for everyone and still keep the co-efficient of drag under 0.30. The Civic Wagon hit 0.34. Enough ground clearance to survive a few potholes? Enough room behind the second seat for a big dog?

Mind you, I’m not asking for 4-whell drive… yet.

Hey Elon

I am under the impression that Li-ion batteries are not recommended for deep-cycling (squeezing close to all of their charge) before the next recharge as that diminishes their amp-hours.

Please comment vis-a-vis the Tesla powerplant.

Nitin

—-

Editor’s Surprise: The answer to your question can be found on the Charging and Batteries page.

I ‘m italian and I owe a lotus elise … I’ve been looking forward to make its convertion to EV since many years..
is the chassis of your roadster exactly the same??
will you put on the market a conversion kit easy to fit to my elise in the next future??
thanks and all the best

Cold Fusion was NOT a hoax, not bad science, and is alive and well!
Check www.lenr-canr.org and look at some of the myriad of technical papers and/or lay-person articles.
Research is going on privately by a dedicated international group of about 1000, who care more for humanity and truth than their professional careers. (14th int’l conference coming up)
ANYWAY, the point is this:
Cold fusion has the energy density, low cost, and cleanliness to be THE answer for electrical vehicles, in spades.
When it can climb out of the tremendous PR travesty about it, there had better well be an electric-only vehicle WORTHY of such cheap, abundant, local, and lightweight power.
Added advantage - easy fill-ups. Fresh heavy water (deuterium based, from sea-water) gets pumped in, perhaps some new electrodes (paladium or hopefully soon nickel) get replaced and you’re up and running for perhaps 1000 miles or more.
If you can GENERATE the electricity onboard with ZERO harmful emission, which CF promises, the charging issue is no longer a problem, nor is the battery issue a problem.
ULTIMATE dream car - Tesla four-door with onboard cold fusion generation and perhaps some ultra-capacitors which get self-charged by the vehicle 24 hours a day!
Before you laugh … or flame me… check low-energy nuclear reactions out for yourself, even briefly.

I LOVE this car - the concept and the reality are LONG overdue - WELL DONE. However, as a father , I will be waiting for the sedan/SUV affordable option. Humanities lecturers/academics don’t earn big bucks here in the UK! .

I have wanted to be energy self-sufficient and totally green for about 20 years now. when you have gone past step 3 it sill tiie innicely with my future plans of solar panels on my roof, plus the wind turbines and borehole in the garden!

All the best and good luck to you and the whole company.

Seradr and family

Wow! I am so impressed. I hope and pray that your long range plans will work for us all. Just don’t sell out and don’t let the power mongers kill you! Nicola Telsa would be proud. It is too bad our world was not ready for all of his inventions. Too much greed. We would all have free non-poluting energy if it were up to him.

The batteries are still too less energy for the size of them…New to redesign the electric motor to get the most out it.

I think what you are doing is fantastic i love the care, i mean i really love the car, i hope you will concider the uk market, i hope one day i will be able to afford the tesla roadster, this is the kind of stuff we need to save the earth, this is what we need to stop our dependancy on oil and give all our children a future, dont give up i hope one day you are bigger than all the motor companies i hope you become as wealthy as bill gates for if you pull this off and go mass market with it, you will be, you are the pioneers of today the knights of tommorow the saviours of our planet, my god bless you and help you along this road to bring about a greener planet, thank you.
dave jackson

I am really, really hoping you guys are incredibly successful! It makes me proud as a resident of the Bay Area that Silicon Valley is leading the charge towards a more sustainable future, not only with electric cars but with solar energy as well.

I just have 1 comment or suggestion regarding your plans for the sedan. From what I have been able to gather the proposed pricing is around $40k to $50k and the size is something along an Audi A4. I was hoping that within that price range you would be looking at something like a Mercedes E class or BMW 5 series or Audi A6.

I am currently driving a BMW 530. Great car, but I am hoping it is the last pure gasoline car I ever buy. It would be great if my next sedan were a Tesla….

THANK YOU! Finally! A solution that will work. Now I can offer my children a glimmer of hope against global warming.
Conservation has never been the answer. Advancing technology is. I’ve always viewed the whole pollution problem as just an awkward phase that humans need to evolve past. Hybrids are too little too late. The big car companies should’ve done this a long time ago. It’s not rocket science. I only wish you guys could ramp up faster and gobble up market share. I’m sick of my medieval gas engine and I’m sick of oil. I can’t afford the roadster but I’ll be waiting in line for a family sedan when the price is competitive. I don’t really care what it looks like, I’ll buy it anyway.

By the way have you guys looked into EEStor? It’s supposed to be double the energy storage density of Li-Ion and it charges in 5 minutes. It was listed on Forbes as a disruptive technology. I’m surprised you guys weren’t listed too.

By the way, you made the right choice by not advertising. You don’t need to. I’m all the way out in Boston and I’m spreading the news like wildfire.

Thanks again. I hope you guys get filthy stinking rich for doing the right thing.

Thank you.

This is capitalism with a soul. Corporate America please take a moment to acknowledge a business plan focused on profitability without losing site of humanity. Perhaps Tesla’s profits by 2020 will merely be $7 billion as opposed to $12 billion. What a disservice to their shareholders. What a terrible example of ruthless capitalism.

As a 24 year-old business person who works closely with Fortune 100 organizations, Tesla is a breath of fresh air (literally). I can only hope that my generation takes notice of the sentiment of your mission. You can make boat loads of money and “make the world a better place”. If I were on the West Coast I’d be at the front doors of Tesla pleading for a chance to join this type of organization… At the least, I’ll work on saving up enough to trade my 350z in for a Tesla Roadster later this decade.

Once again, to all involved with Tesla Motors, on behalf of my generation especially, thank you for setting this example.

We, (the people of planet earth) are extremely pleased to see your company forming, and your world-changing product offering. I don’t know how you’re doing it (not being bought off or killed by the oil companies), but we are behind you 100%. I, for one, have told every one I know about you. Unfortunately I don’t know anyone with the means to purchase a vehicle at that price point. But I tell them about your plans to offer competitively priced family cars as soon as you can, and suggest that they generally promote you, etc. The one suggestion I have for you is to consider offering the roadster with half the battery pack, as soon as possible. I am sure it would increase (pre-order, pre-paid) sales for you to offer a vehicle that is cheaper, lighter, and higher performance, even though it would only go half as many miles on a charge. People really don’t care about that feature as much as you (or even they) think they do. Everyone I talk to understands immediately when I explain that the electric car will get its’ start with two car families, and that, replacing as many miles driven as possible, is the goal. Therefore, whichever member of the household has the long commute should drive the electric, even if it is too dead to use in the evening, after the long commute, they can just take the ICE car for the short drive out for the evening (or the long vacation trip). It’s great that you offer the 250 mile version, as it makes some of them take notice of ev’s for the first time, however, once they think it through, I feel they will opt for the 125 mile version every time. I think it will sell you more vehicles, and help us replace more miles driven, sooner. Thank you for all you are doing.

The emergence of the Tesla roadster is one of many pieces to a very complex puzzle…let me explain…
I am familiar with the genius technological breaktrhoughs of Nikola Tesla…one of which was the Tesla electric car…
The other was harnessing electricity from the ionosphere…
I was wondering if there are any plans to build Tesla towers in the future…as an infinite source of electricity to power your cars…
We know the technology exists.
Creating a plasma state in the ionosphere..H.A.A.R.P…
Success would mean two big blows to global warming…
So,
I suppose the question is, gentlemen,
why the secrecy?

I want one, I want one, I want one … but I can’t afford $100,000 !

Please commence with the mass production of your vehicles. Get the price down into the ‘teens or low ‘twenties and you will have an overnight success story that will beat ALL entreprenuer stories.

Go man !

Valdez, you have your facts wrong, I made the same mistake at first too. Altiarnanp and PLI have made a remarkable breakthrough in lithium batteries, long cycle life and safety. These batteries are expected to last over 100,000 cycles compared to present day 1000 and be completely safe in fire and crash conditions. However they are not higher energy density, but actually less than the batteries used in the Tesla Roadster. They are equivalent to NiMH batteries in energy density. See www.polyplus.com for high energy, but that is still in development.

A lot of people seem to be under the impression that electric motors are the same as gas in that smaller means more economical. Not true as pointed out by Tesla on this web site. Electric motor efficiency has to do with motor and controller design and a properly designed system can be over 90%. This is independent of motor size so there is no decrease in mileage cost by going to a smaller motor. But there is potentially more recovered energy during brakeing by a more powerful motor, so the increased re-generation would mean better economy for a bigger motor.

Can’t wait to hear more. I’ve been dying for a cool car that will make a blonde look great without harming our tiny planet.

I have been following Tesla for the last five months. Last year I worked on Capitol Hill as an intern and researched alternative energies. I am also a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and one who believes that our future security and prosperity as a nation is tied to technology just like this. I love what you are doing and as soon as I have enough money to purchase one of your amazing cars I assure you I will. Thank you for being innovative and having the guts to pursue this. You folks are the Preston Tucker’s of this generation. Fortune favors the bold.

The Tesla company, is a new model of company that is designed with a concept of helping the individual learn to use their actions to claim back individual power. Most other companys have a goal based upon materialism, but Tesla believes in working with nature, not against it. Tesla’s energy feels so much better than most. It appeals to the intuitive side of man, and it is this type of thinking that will show others how to validate their idealism. Telsa can set new standards for others to observe and learn that they too can create such companies. And do it successfully.

Wow. Amazing! Im halfway through to my BS degree in Chemistry and willing to work for cheap once I get it!!

lol. you hiring?

—

Editor’s comment: Check out our employment page.

If you make an affordable, reliable electric car (~20 to 40k), I’ll buy it for sure. Keep up the great work.

Joseph
Chesterfield, MO

Mr. Musk,

Thank you for your interest in electric vehicles. Your intellect is needed on this difficult challenge. So it is with respect that I comment on your master plan.

1. You won’t make money on a sports car. No one seems to be able to do this. Not the Bricklen or the De Lorean, or any others. The EXISTING sport cars brands (Jaguar, Astin Martin, etc. are all money losers held by major automakers for prestige value.) There just aren’t enough people around that can afford $100,000 cars. You and the Page brothers should go out in cognito and hang around some Taco Bells or Target stores, and note how real world people have to live.

2. All-electric is a non-starter. To get a 100% electric car with satisfactory range, you need to devote 50% more resources (extra batteries) to get 5-10% more utility (range beyond 50 miles). This makes no sense, given that plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are buildable today. Even if a PHEV had to use fully synthetic fuel, it would still be cheaper to operate overall than a fully electric vehicle. Why haul around 300 lbs and $40,000 in batteries you use 10% of the time? Better instead to haul around 150 lbs and $1500 in an engine that you use 10% of the time.

3. Don’t use NG in your calculations for electricity generation. Yes it doesn’t produce much CO2, but there simply isn’t enough of it around. North America is quickly running out of it and it is hard to ship in. You sound like you’ve been listening to CARB or EPRI too much. The rest of the world either burns coal or reacts Uranium to get their electricity. NG has no long term future in electricity generation.

4. Affordable (perhaps highly affordable) PHEVs can be built today. Heck, even I figured out how to do that. (beyer(at)novodynamics.com) A retrofit business (for Prius and Ford Escape hybrids) makes more sense as 90% of the car has already been built and tested by someone else. Yes, you can’t go more than 40 MPH all-electric, but again, that’s good enough for us average Joes that end up sitting in traffic daily rather than zipping around in our Ferraris.

I cann’t wait to see the maintenance involved in running your vehicles.

It seems that the batteries are the crucial part of your vehicle and I hope you get a solution that would be both durable and effective. I also do not think that other manufacturers would sit idle waiting for you to produce the perfect transportation. It has been seen that high-level industrial competition does not hold back any of the means to achive the corporate goals.

Your idea is nice, however I expect to see you either:

1. Get absorbed by a mamooth car manufacturer
2. Get ridiculed by the same
3. Remain as an exotic car producer in very, very limited numbers

I wish I could sound as positive as you are, unfortunately, today’s world of economy is one big evolution of nothing, and revolutions such as yours are simply not permitted.

If I had a million I would give it all to you to help you make this work. To me you are the leading edge of saving our economy and way of life. When I think about the amount of money (billions) that have been spent on the war in Iraq and what that same money would have done if we had put it into the education system in America or into research for alternative fuel, where would we be now?

When Foxpro first came out with their database software, they had a cute term for purging the database. It was called “FLUSH”. We all had a little toilet handle symbol on our monitors as a joke…… They have changed it now because of the negative connotations it had, but that is what the efforts in Iraq remind me of and who can not wonder if it is not all about oil.

Keep up the good work and when the cars are down to the affordable level, I will buy two.

Cv
Seattle, WA

May I sincerely, and with best possible intentions, recommend that you (Tesla executives) and all your bloggers start to play the game of “spot the ’spoiler’ blog”, starting immediately? Here’s why, and what I mean by this:

A number of your (self-proclaimedly) learned blog contributors are beginning to question the value of Tesla’s contribution. The interventions of these ‘doubters’ fall into a number of clear categories which I’ll summarise as:

1 “You can’t succeed because no-one has ever succeeded at this (sports car making / battery-power / taking on the majors, etc etc) before”.
- May I commend to everyone Dava Sobel’s wonderful (and short!) book, “Longitude”, which offers a perfect map of the tendency of government and the scientific establishment collude to reject true innovation. This effect can only be overcome when a tipping-point of perceived popular utility is reached, at which point the establishment suddenly has a bout of collective amnesia about their earlier denials. (Same story many times over, historically, of course - from Gallileo onwards…)

2 “It’s inefficient to carry batteries around”. Rather as it’s inefficient to carry around a full tank of gas, perhaps? Or to carry around a SUV chassis which itself weighs a ton or more? (Come on, Detroit, you can find a better argument than that, surely?)

3 “This technology is not a solution and never will be.” This very much reminds me of the IBM’s famously short-sighted take on the prospect of home computing, back in the 70s. The language of these contributions, let alone their content, points to a thought-process rooted in volume-producers’ vested interests. Consider the successes of some other new-tech challengers of vested interests: Dyson taking on Hoover with a bagless vacuum-cleaner; Bayliss bringing clockwork (i.e. battery-less) radios and laptops to the third world; thin-film solar panels (sorry, can’t remember who, but you know who I mean). On this point, it was deeply depressing, at a high-level environmental science conference of the UK Government last year, for me to witness a “leading and respected” Professor of Transport rejecting electric traction out-of-hand with the words “it will never be more than just batteries on a trolley”. Given that this “expert” was advising ministers of state setting future national policy on alternative transport, my immediate thought was “Who pays this man’s research grant?”

So let’s be vigilant for any who claim, in a smooth way, that Tesla can’t possibly have the answers. From a position of some expertise in this field, may I remind readers that the “you-don’t-understand-how-our-industry-works” argument has been the policy instrument of choice for numerous corporate fraudsters and protectionists down the ages (Enron, anyone?). New York’s energetic DA, Mr Spitzer, has made a fine career out of challenging such thinking in the finance sector (with the simple rejoinder: “WHY does your industry work like that? Against customer choice?”). And then of course there’s the entire consumer movement (remember Flaming Fords? remember “Unsafe at Any Speed”?). We can and should ask the same questions of the conventional auto industry.

The good news is that genuine innovation will out - as long as ordinary consumers are able to find it and buy it. One of the early lessons of the twentyfirst century, thank goodness, is that the old-school, browbeating style of corporate communication - terrorising one’s customers into rejecting alternatives - increasingly fails as people wise up to making decisions based on their own independently-gathered information about benefits and risks. (Interestingly, a popular reaction against “selling by fear” is also now happening in the political field. Now why might that be?) As a consumer, one doesn’t have to agree with the in-ya-face techniques of anticorporate critics like Michael Moore and Morgan Spurlock to still subscribe to the view that we can buy what we want to buy. We no longer want to be told by old-tech that new-tech is inherently suspect. Isn’t it old-tech that brought us dependency on oil, climate change, wars over energy sources?

So c’mon people, how about a reward system for “spot the spoiler”? I’m all for free debate on the issues, but some of these blogs smell rather like the work of paid old-tech corporatists trying to sabotage your success. Challenge such interventions with the greatest possible vigour, and let consumers decide for themselves!

I am for free debate as well. And I want our vehicles (and everything else) to use energy sources that we don’t have to import. And I do want Tesla motors to succeed, as well.

That’s why I am asking why they did not consider a plug-in or pluggable hybrid configuration. A lot (but not all) of the hard stuff has been done, including the planetary gear gadget that allows both engine and electric power to move the wheels. Yes, dual power systems are kind of a bother, but so is $10,000 worth of battery pack, especially when competing (low-end) vehicles need to sell for $10,000 - $15,000 for the whole car.

Tesla reasons for not pursuing PHEVs is not clear to me, and remain so.

As you move forward, I would think you could also bring the Roadster further into the mass-market affordability range as production capability is realized. More units produced > lower unit cost > more demand as more people can afford one > still more reduction in unit cost. The sedan becomes an option for middle class families and the “more affordable” third presumably similar to an economy model that singles & commuters would own. I am confident that you guys understand market appeal, which is highly encouraging that the third model won’t be a Yugo look-alike

We may not “need” another sports car, but how much of our economy and living habits in the 21st century are “need” vs. “want” at this point? Do I really need a HDTV & DVD player? I have read some of your other writings and wholeheartedly agree with you that space is a necessary step in our “evolution” and survival long term. But its not need that will put us there, its want. I want to get us there as well, and if the rate of survival on space shuttle launches was only 1/3 times getting back alive there would still be millions behind me in line to go. Not because we needed to… And when private spacecraft are somewhat common (likely well after I am dust) I’d make a substantial wager they look a lot more like XWings than TIE Fighters as well for other reasons than just aerodynamics.

Making a sports car, even if & when they are the most affordable cars on the market, was the right choice. If it’s only a 2-seater and can only hold a limited amount of cargo - it better look good. Otherwise the market shrinks a lot because as I noted somewhere else - a great many people don’t want to drive a “golf cart” or “Kiddie Kar” down the highway or to the store. There is no reason why a car *shouldn’t* look and perform well other than the marketing use of justifying the cost of a better-looking and performing model (like say a Dodge Neon vs. a Challenger - by the time they pass 100,000 units or more are the costs so greatly different?).

I’d like to someday own one of your cars. In that vein I’ve always favored a sports car, if I need hauling ability, I have a crew cab truck. The next question is when will we see 4X4 EVs capable of hauling trailers etc on the mass market?

As for accessories, a trickle charger mounted in the roof panel would likely provide a way of commuter recharge while the car sits in a parking lot (and I believe you actually have that as an option somewhere if I recall correctly). For home charging, I just mounted a 3.4Kw array on my home here in Colorado for a net cost of just under $6k by the time the subsidies & tax credits come in. Doing that again in 2007 I’d have enough energy on average at my house to power both the home and an EV for almost all my usage (in fact I calculated out a roughly $200-400 a year profit in net metering with a 7Kw array for my projected use if I had an EV to charge with it). If the cars were affordable to the average consumer now with the subsidies in place in various areas there are several thousand families that would be “energy positive” in short order. That soon would get noticed and the arrangement would quickly catch on to be mainstream in most urban/suburban settings. The cost factor would be the resistance to this flow of change as not everyone has subsidies available in their area, and those in existence will dry up in time.

As to the current makeup of our power grid, I work at a coal fired generating station nearing 50 years in age. We can’t not run - the generation capacity is needed at least in the peak times, and startup & shutdown times means we must run 24/7 if we are to run at all. My own thoughts are: learn to love the atom. If we as a nation were smart about placement we would be able to use nuclear power for hundreds of years to come with much less effect on the overall environment (localized contamination yes, but there are solutions like storing waste in a dispersed state in a neutral medium underground for later recovery and reconcentration when that becomes economically viable). Solar power is a good augmentation and reduction of overall energy needs for some applications. Wind power is also good when it’s available. Hydro is outstanding, but it does have effects on waterways and surroundings that the same people that picket a nuke plant cry over if you try to dam up a river. There is also a limited amount of hydro generation opportunities based on water flow and elevation drop. Nuclear is the only mass demand substitute for the combustion of carbon fuels to generate energy - for motive or any other uses. Unfortunately its a tough sell, but I can tell you that I’d rather just avoid going in an inner containment vessel and use remote robotics to handle rods than deal with coal dust, ash and the myriad other accommodations (chemicals) necessary to attempt to cleanly burn coal. That change would take the mileage and carbon reduction ratings of your EVs out of sight.

Thank you so much for naming your company for my hero. If i ever come back in another life, i want his brain, i am sure that even in the conditon it is in today it would be much, much better than what i have?

Monte

I just wanted to say that I am quite impressed. I just watched “who killed the Electric Car” and was motivated to find out what is being done to break away from the big car companys and big oil! I even wondered what it would take to start an independant car company when my girlfriend sent me your website. Thank you for what you are doing… and I hope someday to actually be able to afford one of your vehicles (hopefully a pick-up and jeep like vehicle is in the master plan?!)

PS…. I put one of your banners on my MYSPACE page.

Elon -

I hope you’re checking the comments once in awhile. I’d love to have a Tesla Roadster (and yes, I could afford one), but I simply can’t fit. I’m 6′5″ tall, and the specs on the cockpit (especially the head/legroom) are just too cramped.

I just bought a 2006 Lancer Evolution IX…a sporty four-door sedan that fits my lifestyle (one young child). I’d like to look seriously at your 4-door sedan, but it REALLY needs to have enough head- and legroom for me. If it’s too tight, I simply can’t consider it, much as I might like to. As you know, the average height of Americans is growing every year, so the more you can accommodate the 95th percentile today, the better (as we’ll be the 70th percentile in 5-10 years).

I really WANT to go green…I was hoping you were partnering with Nanosolar, as I think they have the best chance of really bringing down the cost of residential solar energy. But I applaud your efforts in any case, and hope that I can join in with your next-generation vehicle.

hey guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m doing a fundraiser for my school, my goal is to buy a solar panel at the end of the year to generate the main office, i dont know which solar panel to buy, i am wondering which one i can get for around $400.00 post on my blog. thedoors.learnerblogs.org/

I beleive that the whole idea behind the Tesla roadster is amazing as well as the vision of the future. If i had the money right now i would buy it immediately. i live in brooklyn NY and drivee to work every day….the air is so halibut polluted that you can’ t even open my windows. I work at the hospital in pediatric department and yesterday I found out that 100.000 childeren here in Brooklyn have asthma,,,,,if we do not surpport ideas and concepts such as those of Tesla Motors soon we will be walking around in space suits scking oxygen through a mask.
And guys please hurry up with this …more afordable model:)

Wie Geht’s??
With 33.3 years of automotive industry experience, I would like to place an order for your first Tesla vehicle. We developed the hybrid concept some fifteen years ago and placed in on the shelf, when gas was selling at .75 per gal. Congress, the House of Rep, is about to cut the generous tax credits to the oil & gas industry, with the intent to channel those resources into alternative fuel and transportation concepts. This is the correct direction, over the long run. Keep up the good work!
Danka, Thomas H. Semelbauer - Kalamazoo, Michigan

A quick question for Tesla — if you have a 4-door sedan in mind next (I assume 4 passenger capacity) what platform are you thinking about to develop?? The Lotus chassis doesn’t seem logical — is there a partner you have in mind???

Is Tesla motors using United Laboratories (UL) standardized electronic components? Nickoli Tesla invented a type of natural atmospheric static electricity that was harnessed into free energy that was transmitted and recieved wirelessly from towers to the public at large. Henry Ford used the Dodge Brothers manufacterers of car parts to mass produce an assembly line produced automobile, For $300.00 bucks (approx. 2 years of available income) the average American could get the famous “model A”, back then a first rate vehicle, then after a few years the famous “model T”, bigger and better. Likewise in the early seventies Honda’s first car had a 750cc motorcycle engine, NOW look at Honda’s cars. The (UL) standardized electricity is a bottleneck technology, inhibited by politics, capitolism and the social elitists that keep the common public good, equal to their bank statments, where would we be if a lightbulb lasted 30 years or where would general electric be if a lightbulb lasted 30 years. The oil industries have invented a formula of 1 part raw petro fuel and 5 parts natural H2O in a relatively easy process to create 6 gallons of gasoline. Where is the public good now, the jobs people must have to survive this day and age, this is our delimma, AND THE PEOPLE KNOW IT. My Question To You Is This: Are you able to take these blogs seriously and provide the American People with The Way Forward out of this delimma, If we as Americans can pull together and create an economy where corporations can survive on thier own merits instead of on the backs of middle class ( and lower ), then Tesla Motor’s can first build a car that Real American’s (like Homer Simpson and Hank Hill) will make great, The public at large is what makes America great AND THE PEOPLE KNOW IT. Be the TESLA of a hundred years ago, use his technology, use his vision, use the wisdom from the true Era of Inventors, and your legacy will find its place in history. Thank you for allowing this open forum, Sincerly Brian Nightingale.

Congratulations! Solar is the way to go! I am ready with my $20,000 for the first reasonable little electric car that comes along.

If you sell em in the UK, maybe you could offer an incentive scheme to owners to spread the word and encourage new advance orders. From what I heard about the RAV4 EV several people a day came up to their drivers and wanted to know about what it could do, where they could buy one, etc. If these drivers got some kind of bonus like airmiles or vouchers towards another Tesla EV they would serve to accelerate the already heady demand for these types of vehicles in old Blighty, where a few hundred miles is the maximum range before driving off a coastline anyway, and where fuel costs £0.90/$1.80 per LITRE. I own a mondeo, but would buy an EV equivalent with a loan if need be to make the switch cos the only time I travel long distance is for pleasure, and I can use trains, planes and maybe Infernal Combustion Engines for hire to do that. Or a plug-in EV hybrid with a petrol powereed range extender to power the electric motor.
Save Europe again please!

Hey, if anyone gets their hands on practical EVs please would they send their petrol car to the crusher for all to see. It may be a loss of money now, but as EVs take off and the technology evolves to cater for all driving needs those old petrol cars are gonna become obselete and valueless real fast. Does anyone sell VHS tapes anymore when they get a dvd replacement for their movies or do they just junk em/give em away? If family/hatchback type EVs get as good as the roadster petrol cars will become as worthless as VHS tapes very quickly. Itd be funny to watch GM execs faces if people shred their petrol cars en-masse lol!

NB Leeds is the best place in England UK to sell EVs because a) its in a nice central location for England, and b) because I live there loL!

Hello Tesla,

I am patiently waiting for a four door sedan/hatch Tesla commuter car. The day where I can buy one cant come soon enough.

Oh yeah, make it around $25k please.

Oh god thank you master of the clean skys. Please hurry and get something my poor butt can afford. Average Joes need the ability to be clean too.
~Chris

You guys really rock man… Please come to Singapore… The oil price is a killer here…

Congratulations! Finally a “real” electric car is produced and available !! Not just this hybrid junk .. I wish, someone here in Germany would have had the guts to do the same as Tesla Motors. As soon as I can afford one of your cars (in the pipe) I will definetly buy one.
It feels good to see this kind of things emerge from the US, despite — you know.
Tons of luck and may Tesla Motors prosper and grow as fast as possible!

Cheers,

Matthias

This info on the technology is impressive. I think you guys could come up with a series hybride for a larger offroad vehicle or passenger van type. From what I have read I am not optomistic about ethanol, wind or solar power in the near decade. We will still be tied to fossile fuel and nuclear alternatives for some time. Most Kyoto countries are realizing this as they fail their emmissions targets. Coal dervied synfuels mixed with cellolouse ethanol will probable be the mainline for gas fuel vehicles. Hydrogen is not yet viable or economical and there are problems with storage and transport. Fuel cells are not yet economical for present auto drivers due to membrane materials and fabrication.

Nuclear has been made very safe and Chernobyl was a water cooled graphite modulated reactor design not used in most other countries, especially not in the US. It blew up due to poor management, running experiments that would have been prohibited anywhere else and a lack of safety oversite. This type of reactor is not used stateside as it is a inheritantly dangerous reactor design. The Soviets were using it then primarily for weapons material production. Three Mile Island never was in danger of breaching containment.

And although I can’t argue with advantages of going to an electric automobile, global warming is not the best reason. Global warming is due to the suns variance and the melting polar ice on MARS proves it. Just look up ‘The Deniers’ on www.canada.com. We are just in the peak off the current warming phase and the begining of the next ice age is about 10 years from now which means we better start preparing for it and peak oil now!

I think Tesla Motors along with other auto manufactuors are heading somewhat in the right direction. I hope incentives rather then government mandates are stressed as the bureaucracies tend to screw things up more then they solve. Just because gas is realatively inexspensive at the present time does not guarentee it in the near future and price controls will only make worse. So make plans now.

My first reaction: Stunned! I am both excited and anxious for your sedan model and would be willing to pay a premium for the technology (with the offset in fuel and maintenance costs ultimately mitigating the lifecycle costs, of course!).

I am very disappointed that I had not heard of this company or its vision sooner, I happened to find the website while looking for an EV conversion company to convert my Honda.

My personal background: I work for the second largest Nuclear utility company in the country as a Nuclear Engineer and I can speak to our safety record and lack of emissions (truly environmentally friendly and cost competative, take note Wall Street). Nothing would please me more than to be able to purchase an electric car and drive it to work to ‘plug in’ at my plant.
I will be glad to answer any questions from bloggers on nuclear waste or safety as this is the prevaling issue today and I don’t take it personally if I have to defend issues based on technical grounds (no fear mongering please).

I have a few comments on some of the blog content:

1. As a matter of simplicity our approach to energy management in our world as a whole needs to focus on consolidation rather than to decentralize generation and utilization (as is the plan with the illusion that is the Hydrogen Economy). How far does the rabbit hole go?
a. eliminate fossil fuel searh teams and equipment research
b. eliminate drills and the companies that make them
c. eliminate transport mechanisms and pipelines
d. eliminate refineries
e. eliminate ship super tankers
f. eliminate storage tankers
g. eliminate gas stations (employees, corporations, inspectors, etc.)
h. eliminate oil and combustible fuel stations (Jiffy Lube, bye bye!)
i. eliminate combustible repair stations and part stores
j. eliminate combustible part companies, factories, etc.

an on and on and on….

2. Regulatory oversight and technological advancement can then be concentrated on the pollution problems of our electrical generators. Real scrubbers for coal, carbon sequestration, Spent Nuclear Fuel reprocessing, complete emissions elimination (forget about carbon credits and caps), LNG terminals and transport solutions, hydro environmental impacts, etc. These are real problems that we can focus on rather than LA smog.

3. Mass production of your sedan EV vehicle could be accompanied by a modular repair program, where you simplify the electrical board components and battery replacements to a plug-and-play format. Include redudant and diverse systems to accomodate failures and have a mail-in program for part replacement (don’t perpetuate the repair shop hijacking we are in now).

4. A real customer feedback design process and make cars that are reliable, safe, efficient, and look good.

I continue to be so excited about The Tesla. I have been dragging my feet about giving my downpayment because of the cost. However, the more I think about it, I think that I do not want to waste any more time. I want to be a part of making history by buying and driving the first car that is good for the planet , beautiful and super fun to drive. Usually the only things I regret in life are the things I do not do.

Jennifer Helland

As the owner of 2 Priui, I am ready and waiting for better. Tesla is that next better thing, far better thought out than anything else out there. If you build that less expensive model, I’m there with checkbook. The demand is backed up like everything and waiting to explode.

I live in Vegas. Where can I test drive a Tesla car?

—-

Editor’s Answer: I have forwarded your details to the sales team. 

Hey!
I think you guys have a great product and a very good marketing strategy. However I would suggest that you keep the Tesla Roadster image pricey through and through. Maybe even come up with more features for the same car keeping it a luxury and sport comodity, even making it more expensive possibly. I would suggest expanding both ways simultaneously. Into more expensive and more affordable models. This will help you speed the recovery of investments.

In the case of the average customer, I understand you are headed to completely change the configuration of the existing automative market. You definately have a great start a changing the perception we have of electric vehicles simply by launching a sports car. Thats a brilliant way to go! You could also go a step further than most car companies and even offer a buy back of cars and yourself recycle or dispose its parts as fit. Who would know better about all that in a new market than you.

Overall you guys are headed in the right direction and at the right time. I wish you ALL THE BEST!! If I was able to afford the roadster, I’d pay my desposit right now! Until then. However, if I cannot afford one about 7 years from now, please offer me a job!

Best Wishes,
Komal Bajaj

Amazing acheivement, proof that environmentally friendly doesnt have to be boring.
Wish you all the best though it doesnt seem you need it. With high levels of electric vehicles acting as grid balancing systems when not in use, plenty of local renewable generation available, and a high capacity nuclear grid in high demand areas we can have a far more efficient and sustainable way of life and still have all the funky high tech stuff that we all love. This is only a taste of whats to come!!
Thanks to you all and everyone else who has made positive comments and wants a new future

I have a modified track version of the Elise and love what you guys have done with the Tesla platform. I am planning a large Solar array at home and would like to integrate a REAL(sub $50K) electric vehicle into my daily routine(50 miles total). I would prefer a small hatchback or wagon along the lines of the Golf five door or the Jetta Wagon. I have been disapointed in the quality of the current electric car offerings out there. I am very interested in making a commitment to a renewable energy source.

Chart gives too much effiiciency to the FCX. Must be something wrong with the calculation or dealing with a pre-charged batteries. FCX does use the batteries heavily since hydrogen doesn’t have enough umph. 1 KG of Hydrogen needs at the minimum 2KG of CNG.

As quite a few of the postings have indicated, many people around the world will surely dontate to Tesla Motors because they believe in the cause but cannot yet afford the buy the car. Let us give you money… you will need all the momentum possible to infuse American and the world with such an amazing product.

Hey guys,
Have you thought about installing a wind powered turbine generator that can augment the battery power? With today’s super magnets and generator technology, it should be feasible to do so. This could extend the range of a charge and at highway speeds might even keep the batteries charged.

—-

Editor’s Sigh: Take a look at an earlier blog from Martin where this question is addressed. 

I would like to hear how you will address economic viability of energy companies after this shift. i would think that most of them won’t have the resources or talent to transform their business. massive unemployment and abandonment of capital investment would result if there is no transition plan for those companies. it would require analysis and acceptance by those companies or the road will be an uphill one with obstacles not necessarily related to the achievability of the vision.

Has there been a IPO if so what is the symbol for the Co. Thanks

For the recreational market, electric trail motorcycles could go many places the noisy bikes can’t go.

Environmental responsibility and a touch of luxury is an irresistable combination. Just where and when can I get hold of one here in Germany? Is there a European based sales point or do I have to import?

Tesla Motors, I applaud you deeply. I’m looking forward to the chance of buying your third-series model when it comes out and am highly anticipating the day when I’ll be able to drive that car, powerful and enivronmentally-friendly and all! Keep up the awesome work you are doing! I’ve already told 6-7 people about you already!

im going to have to drive a gas car for a few years before i can afford a used roadster.. but i applaud you.. no anti-government, anti-big oil comments because we all know them already.. i cant put into words how happy the idea of this makes me.

Having lived in London and NYC for the past ten years I have always used public transportation and do not own a car. In fact, I have not been to a gas station since I last rented a car over a year ago. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on ones point of view) I am moving to the Bay Area and need a car. I would buy the two seater straight away however my wife and I recently had TWO kids so we need a “family” car. It would be great to know when the four seater will be available so we can anticipate how long we will have to endure gas stations in the mean time.

Hands Down:
I Hope this don’t become the next Tucker!
I am sick of Big Oil Big Auto and wasting time with Tec. that will never produce a car.
One Question! Think about it..
Fule Cell: waste is water?
Add Hydrgon and o2 and make water?
the hygron is from a Compressed Bottel… Where do they get the 02 from? Oh my last breath!
Ok so lets pour Carbon monxocide into to to atmephear for 100+ years then draw out the 02… After we cut down 60% of the tree’s… sounds like DEATH To Me.

I am the manager of the Site Design & Material Management Group of Site Engineering for Nokia/Siemens Networks. Our headquarters is in Irving, Texas. I am very much interested in the Tesla Roadster Battery Pack. We are trying to build next generation Cell Sites which are capable of providing service through all types of conditions, including terrror attacks, Force Majeure, and vandalism, etc. Can you tell me who builds the Tesla Roadster Battery Pack? We would like to know if they would help us by building a battery pack for cell sites. Thanks.

Regards,
Bob

—

Editor’s note: Tesla Energy Group develops the battery packs for the Tesla Roadster. Find out more here. 

Power plant emissions vary greatly, In the US, on average, generating a KWH of electricity produces 613 grams of CO2. In France, it’s only 83 grams, due to their extensive use of nuclear power. The point is, with an electric car, there is a choice of how the electricity is produced and how much CO2 is emitted. With a gasoline car, there is no choice but to pump the oil out of the ground and burn it away into the atmosphere. And the government will give you a tax break to buy a Hummer!

With regard to the master plan, the key is not just reducing cost through mass production, but even more importantly improving the battery technology. What is desperately needed are batteries with twice the longevity, twice the power capacity, at a quarter cost. Then the electric car can truly become mainstream, and hydrogen will disappear like the Zeppelins.

Bring It !!
I love what you are doing.

I predict it will be the start of a very lucrative move in car production; at this point the electric car concept has been a flop. This will change all that and pave the way to the future as far as cars are concerned.
I think the writing is on the wall for Oil Company’s people’s interest in cars like this will do more to bring oil prices down then anything else. They wont want too many company’s jumping on this technology.
Well that’s what I think.

I hope someone from Tesla reads these comments. Not because they will learn something from what I’m going to write, but because they need to know that we, their future customers, know these facts as well as they do. As I’m writing this, oil is approaching $80 per barrel. At these levels, the market will eventually react and demand will increase for alternative energy sources. When this happens to a significant extent, I have no doubt that OPEC will manipulate the supply of oil to crash prices and therefore kill any other competing technologies. We know they’ve done this in the past.

My purpose for writing this, and what I want Tesla to realize we know, is that a lot of consumers are aware of these market manipulations by the oil industry. And even if our government doesn’t have the foresight to counter these manipulations, I can in my own small way. I will not be dissuaded by gasoline prices falling close to or under $2.00. I know that this will be a temporary drop meant to keep us hooked and prices will surely rise again.

What I’m saying is that even if gas prices should drop to a dollar, it won’t change my commitment to get off of the petroleum merry-go-round. I still will not purchase another petroleum powered vehicle. I want to encourage you to persevere in your plans. No matter what happens with fuel prices in the short run, you have a customer here waiting for that mid-size SUV under the $50,000 price level.

In your estimation, will Tesla always remain private, or will you eventually go public, i.e., purchase stock, etc.

Interesting business plan and I wish you success. If you never make a moderately priced vehicle, you will at least advance the technology and show that all electric is feasible. I think too, that many people around the world do not know the history of the automobile, but more importantly, the history of commercial transportation. Before the internal combustion engine made its debut, delivery trucks were predominantly electric as were many automobiles. The problem always came to batteries; i.e. energy storage.

For those of us that are more price conscious, an interim vehicle will most likely be something like the Nissan Mixim or the Peugoet Flextreme with very efficient IC engines operating only to charge on board batteries and drive the traction motors. Most do not realize that an IC engine could be built to operate over a very narrow rpm range and only enough HP to drive the generator and traction motor requirements. On board Li-Ion batteries could be used only for acceleration requirements or short-trip all electric operation. Typical IC engines have to produce much more HP than that needed for cruising at normal roadway speeds just to get the vehicle moving and get some momentuum. Whereas electric (and steam) produce maximum torque at stall conditions. That is what made diesel-electric locomotives so popular as well as the reduced maintenance costs versus steam power.

There are other places in the world that you might consider marketing your all electric vehicle other than the US or in addition to the US. Such places are Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore. All three “cities” are beginning to tackle major pollution problems and all electric vehicles will end up with HUGE tax breaks. Most trips here are relatively short. Even a 200 mile range capacity would require charging about once a week, and as you are aware, all electricity here is 230-250V. In addition, there are many here that would find US$98,000 well within their price range.

From one car enthusiast and engineer to another: I hope you beat the snot out of traditional car companies since we’ve known for 30 years they aren’t interested in saving the planet.

Now here’s food for thought: say all-electric vehicles catch on and in 30 years the vast majority of vehicles in the world are all-electric. That would mean the future of pollution in terms of transportation shifts to the aerospace industry (the one in which I work). Both Boeing and Airbus are pursuing alternative energies but both are similarly caught in the fossil fuel cycle and I personally don’t drink the Kool-Aid. What would the prospects of scaling up the power output and endurance of the EV cells to those which would make aerospace applications feasible and economically desirable to the end-customers (airlines)?

With all the excitement of electric cars out there, has there been any thought of designing an electric motor for farm equipment..i.e. combines and tractors? These farm machines cost us a bundle in fuel…more of us are organic…but we can’t beat the fuel man…..there already is a company in Canada building better combines at 1/3 of the price of a new John D. Please keep us informed. We are green!!

I was wondering when/if you company will ever trade publically?

How about a battery pack exchange process where the user has one battery pack on charge at the Solar House while driving the car with the charged pack?

How about a long range battery trailer towed behind the Electric Car complete with a Solar Panel charging roof?

What about a Green House cover over Solar panels with one way glass (mirror on the inside)?

How about using mass to generate electricity during braking?

What about this:

money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2007/08/01/100138830/index.htm

How about a Sales Method where a Solar and Wind Farm charges exchange batteries, runs a Taxi service, leases, and sells Electric Cars?

Here is a design for a Power House or Eco-Home

www.jetsongreen.com/2007/12/prototipo-di-ca.html

Construction costs are lowering as deflation sucks out currency. There will aways be a demand for POWER; at least until power is cost-less.

Why not build a low power cost home while powering up the home with renewable power? Why not network homes to pool power independently? Use it or lose it? How about use it to store more power by pumpling water, producing hydrogen from water, pressurizing both, and removing greater quantities of dependence?

www.zenncars.com/specifications/specs_index.html

Above is a link to an electric car.

I always look for and have trouble finding the cost per mile or cost to charge.

A way to make that cost/benefit relationship user friendly would be a cost per mile/cost per month conversion applet.

Example:

Fill in the blanks and then press enter or ‘calculate’.

Variable ——————my current example

Cost per kWh ——————-.13 cents (electric bill from California Edison)
Cost per gallon gasoline ———-3.00
MPH of current vehicle————20 (Ford F150) or 30 (Honda Civic)
Miles per month average ———-700

Enter

—————————Ford———-Honda———-Electric
Cost per mile ———–.15————.10—————-.04

www.ecoworld.com/Home/articles2.cfm?TID=373

Wild guess

Enter (continued)

—————————-Ford————-Honda————-Electric
Cost per month——–$105.00———-$70.00—————$28

—————————-Ford————Honda————–Electric
Cost per year———$1,260.00——-$840.00————–$336.00

Cost per year for a fleet of 100 cars………………

Cost per life span of vehicle plus maintenance costs…………..

Cost per mile when home is generating Electricity with Solar Panels.

Cost change when gasoline goes up 1 dollar a gallon…..
Cost change when electricity goes up .10 cents per kWh….
Cost change when gasoline flow stops and electricity flow stops or is intermittent (embargo of gasoline, gas lines, black outs of electricity, peak usage of electricity over-charges, etc.)

Genius. Pure genius. Not only is the concept amazing, I think the business plan has the real possibility to revolutionize the car industry. Not only is this a smart idea, but very smart execution (which is a multitude as important in a startup as the idea, which is something I am sure you are aware of). Congratulations on getting the financing round from sergey and larry. Good luck in execution, and looking forward to buying the roadster when I sell my first startup.

Cheers,
Soutrik

Great! I hope I can buy the cars soon in Austria! Also your Joint Venture with the Norwegean EV Producer Th!nk , which will start selling a small city car soon in Europe, is a fantastic Idea and a good Investment. here is a link to the Electric Car Producer in Europe: blog.microsolar.at/?p=139 or www.think.no

It really is about time that a company featuring Electric Vehicle products on this sort of scale has come along. I am serioulsy impressed with Telsa’s vision and their business strategy for promoting evs.

The pairing of solar panels and EVs is a match made in heaven; and with the eventually reduction in cost associated with photovoltaics, and more affordable vehicles offered from Telsa for the average customer, I am optimistic that we will see more and more EVs on the road in future.

I am really curious about what the future sedan model will look like, and how reliable it will be on really cold days.

Fascinating technology - interesting business plan too.

Whilst I understand the power struggle concept i don’t think it will reveal itself in the doomsday quasi-mafia format that is suggested by some. I think, based on my interepretation of the current US administration and its vested interests in the oil industry, that you should seek to expand your company by making your business international. Several European countries which are strongly of a green-ethic/mind in many ways, ’support’ your business. I imagine that if a company becomes internationally recognised and prolific and there is a significant amount of success generated by your company on a multinational level, the US adminsitration will be hard-pressed to use special operatives to ‘dissappear’ you and your company. Ultimately, if oil really is running out anytime soon, i can’t see how the US could maintain a grip on its power with regard to oil control. If there ain’t none, and someone else leads us into e new era relying on a different energy generation format, then I don’t see that there’s a fat lot they could, or would want to do to stop you. I’m looking at this very superficially I appreciate, but may main point, is simply to get known. NOT simply in America. Get your technology/business up and running in Germany, France, Holland, Belgium - you will be supported in your efforts. 90,000 dollars? That’s naff all for a car of the level of performance you’re offering, not to mention the exclusivity factor you’re offering, IF you market the product well (however one may do that, I won’t comment as I don’t know). Ferrari’s start at $210000/£102000 in the UK. I’d be curious to know how many of these sports cars you sell a year and where. London has some very well off people in - you could sell 50 a year no problem in London just as novelty toys to rich kids. That’s 4.5M dollars basic turnover…so surely worth trying to flog some in a few other prosperous economies without quite the samepolitical standpoint as the US?

OK, long-winded, and I’m sure you’ve considered all of this, but I am in the UK and I see so many people with Range Rovers BMW’s Audi’s and many SUV’s costing FROM £40000…GET THE PRODUCT OUT THERE. GOOD LUCK.

I love that there are car designers that want extreme efficiency. I also can wait for a practical, commuter plug in electric car that will travel the 85 mile round trip to my work and back. Keep up the great work.

Teslar is going to be a massive success with a business plan like that. If and when you go public on the stock market make sure you give me notice because I will be investing .
I think the Electric Car will be a great thing for our world. I can imagine with companies like yourselves we will get some really efficient, sexy cars. With price drops like you are describing I’m guessing that the Roadster will also drop in price. Imagine selling that for under $50k that would really undercut any competition like porche in efficiency and price!

I hope the electric car industry is a bit like the computer industry where things are developed extremely quickly constantly out doing their last achievement etc. Unlike the current car industry who haven’t done any efficiency gains since 1970. My 2008 GM Holden Commodore (Australian car) uses 12Litres per 100km where my old 1981 commodore uses 14Litres per 100km. Its been 17 years with 2Litres efficiency gains, that just doesn’t make sense to me, I hate GM and oil give me electric!

Elon, I saw a special on PBS last night which discussed the Tesla Roadster. There was a recurring point made about the energy infrastructure for hydrogen vehicles not being “there” yet. However, with your car, the US has the infrastructure - electricity! As an owner of an all electric car, I would want the ability to re-charge my vehicle at home at night. I would also want to get a quick re-charge on the road, much as I do now when I pull in to fill up my car with gasoline. Since the electrical power companies have the infrastructure, I was wondering if you had contacted them about opening “fueling stations”. I would think that they would want to increase their profits with minimal investment, i.e. “fueling stations”. According to the information on the PBS special, it takes app. 3-6 hours to fully re-charge the Tesla at home. Why not add a quick charge circuit (capacitors) to your vehicle so that an owner could drive into an electric fueling station and within a few minutes be fully re-charged? I’m saving up to buy a Tesla, and hope that the new models are out soon. Thanks for your investment, which will help us get off the use of middle eastern oil.

So far your company, I think has the technology that could be implemented in other vehicles. Do you engage with other companies globally to develop other vehicles like an electric bus. I live in the Philippines and it needs a vehicle like yours. Public Utility Vehicles congest the streets here than privately owned ones. The jeepneys (an extended jeep) are the main mode of transport that carry up to 22 individuals an costs at around $10,000 but are also the main pollution contributor from the transport vehicles. Thank You

I sure hope that this really works. I believe that the US will either stop or make the car impossible. Our economy is government run {socialism} and all politicians are paid for by big business so it is going to be tough. I really dont care what the family model looks like , just sign me up. I saw the Leno site and I’m ready to buy this technology today. As an American CITIZEN I am aware that we are going to have to stand up and demand some of this electric technology. Most Americans are really COWARDS and talk big but dont show at events or rallies,so those of us that are willing to do so must work extra hard to help make this vision a reality ! I’m glad to see that those with means have a vision of purpose and a willingness of commitment for others not just themselves. My hat is off to these few who are willing to help make this a healthier and more affordable society . Thank you ,Mr. Elon Musk

Congrats on the of production of the Tesla! I hope to own a Tesla someday soon, In fact i have put off buying a new car for nearly 3 years trying to come up with the down payment so i could place my order.We may not all be able to come up with 110k for a roadster but I do have some ideas and they seem to work for other corporations,
1) Please consider going public with stock or bonds.Almost every blog that i have read on your site people are ready NOW and more than willing to invest in Tesla and EV technology.

2) Raffle off a Tesla once a month!
No I’m not kidding The National Corvette Museum does this and very successfully to add to their cash flow every month.
During times when cash is tight because of a special projects like the expansion to the museum they are currently experiencing they increase the number of Corvettes raffled per month.
This June there are 3.

1) The National Corvette Museum has begun a Corvette raffle fundraiser featuring a 2008 Black Corvette Coupe – limited to only 500 tickets available at $250 each . The winner will be drawn on Thursday, June 5 at 2:00 p.m. C.T . Winner need not be present to win.

2) The National Corvette Museum has opened an exciting opportunity to win a new 2008 Indy Pace Car Coupe replica with a limited production of only 500. Tickets are available at $100 each and only 2,008 tickets will be sold . The drawing will take place on June 11, 2008 at 2:00 PM . CT at the Museum

3) SOLD OUT!
The 427 Limited Edition Z06, number 2 of the 427 to be built for sale in the United States, features a Crystal Red tint coat exterior, the first Z06 ever offered with red metallic tint coat paint. It also features graphics on the hood and fascia that evoke the style of the famed “stinger” hood design and graphics that were offered with 1967 models equipped with the 427 engine. Also unique to this model are “427” hood badges. Each example is numbered and signed by Wil Cooksey, retiring Corvette Assembly Plant Manager and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Only 427 will be offered in the United States and Canada , with 78 more exported outside North America . This unique Corvette also includes exclusive new chrome wheels, body-color rear spoiler and door handles, exclusive dark titanium custom leather-wrapped interior, special Crystal Red interior trim plate graphic pattern and Wil Cooksey autographed console armrest. It also comes with 427 embroidered seats and floor mats, and Z06 sill plates. This raffle is limited to only 500 tickets available at $500 each. The winner will be drawn on Tuesday, June 24 at 2:00 p.m. CT.

I know that i would buy a ticket once a month at the very least for the chance to win a new Tesla Roadster …
I Know A lot Of People Would BECAUSE I ‘ve Read Your Blogs!
For the Record I haven’t missed a Corvette drawing in over 4 years!!

4) The winners of the raffles drive their new Tesla’s in their home towns which is good for marketing because there are people in their towns ,city and state that have heard of Tesla ’s but have never seen one in person and do have the money to purchase right away.

Remember A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words!

Please help The Good Old USA by making EV’s less pricey and more attainable for Americans.We need electric vehicles NOW

Then maybe we won’t have to start another humiliating week watching our President beg our enemies for oil while they line their pockets with our hard earned money

Thanks for being so tenacious can’t wait to drive a Tesla!
Kathy Hilding

PS
I would be glad to volunteer to help at Tesla in any way that i can to expedite EV sales across America.
Most people in America have never seen the Tesla Roadster except for TV, Magazines or the Tesla website
People Across America need to see the Tesla Roadster in person.
Parked downtown at City Hall or at baseball stadium, at the Mall, at High Profile Airports an Train Stations across the Country, at County and State Fairs
Also it might be fun to have a design contest for the sedan and a future suv let the people who do the driving give Tesla some tips!

In response to someone’s comment about the lithium batteries combustability, they do not in fact explode or combust. Rather, they vent, though quite rapidly. I recently saw something on PBS regarding the Tesla Motors design to prevent this being an issue. From what I recall, they have isolated the lithium batteries so that in the unlikely event that one should vent, it will not spread from one battery to another. Also, it should be noted, that lithium battery venting isn’t as common as the press it tends to receive, and when it does occur is typically from over or undercharging. Tesla motors no doubt uses protected lithium cells, which will largely prevent that from happening.

Now.. if only I could afford one of these. Its good to hear that Tesla has plans for vehicles beyond the pricey roadster. I am greatly anticipating the release of the 2nd model, and my pocketbook is ready for the payout, even on my meager income.

i’ll take 2

Sounds great except for the part about nuclear being a negligible carbon emitter. When the whole nuclear fuel cycle is considered, nuclear is about equal to natural gas in carbon emissions when all goes smoothly, and much worse than coal if things go terribly wrong. Additionally the tremendous cost of nuclear power takes money away from true solutions like renewables, conservation, and for that matter, things like the Tesla.

Wondering what it costs for a new battery bank, and where i can get the new 2008 economy model of your fine machine.

sir edmund

This is SO exciting! Great explanations about battery life, efficiency, and emmissions. I second Chuck McKibben’s comment. I want an off-road version! I hope I will soon be able to replace my aging Subaru Outback with a more efficient alternative and Tesla could be the answer.

This is so awesome. Anyone who argues that this type of car is not feasible is probably in the oil business trying to perpetuate rumors so that people don’t buy these cars.

BUY THESE CARS !!!

SO THEY CAN MAKE MORE OF THEM !!!

SO WE CAN GET OFF OF OIL COMPLETELY !!!

I would buy one of these cars if it only went 60 miles per charge, and it took 10 hours to charge. I am not kidding or exaggerating. If I want to go on a road trip, I’ll rent a gas guzzler. Or even more likely I’ll just fly, because we need to make gas a thing of the past. And we need to do it fast.

You’re a brave man in the “brave new world!” I’d love a new Tesla pick-up truck and pray that my old 1988 Ford F-250 holds up until you develop a replacement. I don’t want to buy another Detroit Gas Dinosaur in this lifetime. Are you planning on going public? I’d love to get in on the I.P.O.

Thanks for “thinking out of the box!” — Mike

Your teams product is S-o-o-ooo exciting and ultimately has a huge potential to become a page of history for all of mankind, and in a positive way. This is the kind of technology that comes out of this “silicone valley”, the internet, etc. I don’t know why maybe this area is like an invisible magnet for creativity and good will. I have lived here all of my life and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else on this earth. My name is Leslie Cantu and I work in the Quality Department of one of your prospective sheetmetal sub-contractors and even if you don’t let us have the opportunity to make parts for you I am excited and overwelmed with all the messages these people have to say. It seems like people are finally ready to wake up and do what we American’s do so well and that is lead the way . Kudos to the Tesla team, Kudos; everybody’s hat’s off to you ! ! : )

I would like to know whenever Telsa becomes available on the Stock Market, if you are what is the Ticket Number?

Thanks, great company!!

If I won the lottery…
The very first thing I would do is reserve one of your cars. It sucks to be poor!

Excellent blog. Might I add — how about built in solar voltaic cells on the body of the vehicle (ie. roof, hood, etc.) to capture more energy while parked in the sun and/or while driving? Someone might commute to work in the morning, leave it parked out in the sun all day, then come back to a charged or partially charged vehicle to drive home. This will certainly extend the range.

… and LOL, Bob Soper.

What are the safety specs on the Roadster and the upcoming Model S. Are they as safe as or safer than Internal Combustion Engines than we have today.

If a Range Rover were to smash into the back of a Tesla Roadster at 50MPH what would happen.

Would the battery acid leak all over the passengers?
Would it be safer than an internal combustion engine because the vehicle is lighter?
Does Tesla Crash Test?
Does Tesla run Eco-Friendly Crash-Simulator Software?
What materials make up the body of the Tesla Roadster.

BTW don’t think I’m taking a shot at Tesla I love the car, I just want to know if its as safe or safer than my Audi A4 B7

-Grey

NO CATALYTIC CONVERTER

I would like to see Tesla add “No catalytic converter” to its home page credits - 100% electric, 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, etc.

Some background is necessary here. I grew up in the S.F. Bay Area in the 1960s-70s and clearly remember the low/ground level pollution that pre-catalytic converter vehicles produced. I remember riding in the family station wagon(!) on freeways around the bay area and when pollution was bad and you could not see beyond a quarter mile, if that, because of gas and diesel vehicle produced ground-level pollution. While catalytic converters have since “burned off” that low-level pollution, it is at an equal if not higher price. I understand that gasoline combustion takes place at about 193 degrees. Exhaust gas heat from the engine warms up the catalytic converter and by design it raises to its operating temperature in the 600 to 700 hundred degree range. Even if you use the low end temperature of 600 degrees, while we have reduced low level atmospheric vehicle pollution we are also raising the temperature of the volume of the air used by a given vehicle from roughly 200 degrees pre-catalytic to 600+ degrees post-catalytic! Exhaust at 200 degrees is global atmospheric warming. Exhaust at 600+ degrees is global atmospheric burning.

I also think it would make for an excellent study - university or corporate (Stanford/Tesla?) - to estimate the total volume of atmosphere heated to 600 degrees by traffic produced in a given locale or worldwide by motor vehicles.

Please add “No catalytic converter” to your list of opening credits! I hope someday to be able to afford a Tesla!

Paul

I agree with Chris. You have a great concept and product. I will never be able to afford a Roadster but I would like to help in other ways. I am not a big investor but I would like to invest in Tesla Motors. I know a lot of people who also are not big investors but feel the same way. Is there a way we can buy Tesla Motors stock directly with out a broker? Think about how much money Pres. Obama generated because of his cultivation of “small investors.” Good luck!

As a dealership department director for a “Big 3″ dealer I am very eagerly looking forward to the day where we can keep most if not all production back in the USA while leading the world in a less wreak less environmental future. I too must become a preferred stock holder the day Tesla goes public!

This is for Elon. I watched your David Letterman show last week . It was a great to see the progress you’ve made on the product development into the full sedan. However after you revealed the model 2 on the show you were about to make a statement about what was the most important item/advancement of the new car when David cut you off to talk to the “models”. Could you finish your thoughts on the car and the technology for the blog and email me the response as well. I think people need to hear where you are leading this technology. Thanks. MRW

I WANT TO BUY STOCK!!!!! When do you plan to go public? This is the best plan I’ve ever seen.

Please keep me informed if, or when, your stock can be bought through the exchange?! Good luck and greatly appreciated!

I am also interested in if or when stock will be available. Please let me know.

I have read about the Tesla sportscar in the past and think that it certainly is a tribute to the late Serbian inventor genius, Nicola Tesla.

I do, however, have a chief concern in regard to the Tesla, and for that matter all electric vehicles, as well as hybridized automobiles in general.

These battery cells give off very powerful and dangerous EMF (electromagnetic fields) which can cause cancer. What type of insulation is being used in which to ensure that these fields are being contained?

I have followed the TESLA Motors information from the beginning in 2006 I am very interested like many others about the ability to invest in Tesla as well as owning a Model S in the future.