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The Tesla Roadster - Electric Car

259 messages,  Last post on Jul 09, 2012 at 7:04 AM

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What is this discussion about? Tesla Roadster, Alternative Fuels, Concept Cars, Future Vehicle, Coupe, Convertible

Messages Page 22 of 26

#210 of 259 The Tesla at $50,000 ???? by sunray1

Jun 19, 2007 (7:38 pm)

I saw a video the other day featuring the head guy at Tesla, and he was saying that his vision was to start with a more expensive car, then work his way down to something most people can afford....
 
Here's the thing. I'll bet you dollars-to-donuts that when the price of a Tesla vehicle comes down to, say, $30 grand or so, so will the relative attractiveness of the vehicle.....
 
I want the Tesla roadster for $30 grand....or 40, not some Hyundai-looking sedan....Maybe I'm paranoid, but if that actor from Oceans 11 bought one, he may be upset if Tesla offers the same cool vehicle to the masses......
 
Maybe I need a better-paying job.....

#211 of 259 Re: The Tesla at $50,000 ???? [sunray1] by tpe

Jun 20, 2007 (4:32 am)

Replying to: sunray1 (Jun 19, 2007 7:38 pm)
I don't think that he was ever talking about making the Tesla Roadster affordable for the masses. I've read several interviews with this guy and I believe what he is saying is this. The nature of EV technology right now necessitates that they will be expensive, very expensive. That being the case he started out building an exotic car aimed at people that aren't all that concerned with practicality or cost. As EV technology matures and gets more affordable he will build completely different vehicles targeting different markets.
 
I've said this before and people have disagreed. I personally feel that Tesla will be bought out in the next few years by someone like Ford or Chrysler. We'll see.

#212 of 259 Re: The Tesla at $50,000 ???? [tpe] by gagrice

Jun 20, 2007 (6:09 am)

Replying to: tpe (Jun 20, 2007 4:32 am)
Has the Tesla really broken any new ground? It seems like off the shelf pieces in a cool body. We had 150 MPH electric race cars competing in the late 1990s. I agree the electronics and motors are ready for prime time. Battery technology is still in the dark ages. I see it the same as hydrogen fuel cells. Lots of promises and little progress after decades of R&D.
 
I am hopeful someone will find the solution. I think the EV is the only way we can become somewhat free from fossil fuels.
 
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/wheels/flc.htm

#213 of 259 Re: The Tesla at $50,000 ???? [gagrice] by tpe

Jun 20, 2007 (6:41 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Jun 20, 2007 6:09 am)
Has the Tesla really broken any new ground?
 
I don't know if it represents any new technology, maybe just the refinement and repackaging of existing technology. Totally new technologies don't come along too often anymore. More often than not when people talk new technology they are primarily referring to just a new application. However, there are some proprietary aspects involved in Tesla's Roadster. I know that they are actually selling their battery packs to Think Nordic. If it was really off the shelf pieces why would they buy from Tesla?
 
I've stated numerous times that I actually think battery progress has been pretty significant and steady. I was just pricing a Dell laptop. You can get a spare 9 cell, 85 watt-hour battery for $79. That's $20 cheaper than a couple years ago and about 15% more energy per cell. In fact it's about 25% more energy per cell than what's being used in the Tesla Roadster.
 
I'm also starting to re-think my negative position on fuel cells. The actual fuel cells have advanced tremendously. The main roadblock has always been hydrogen storage. I never believed that storing hydrogen in big tanks under enormous pressure had much potential. A lot of promising work is being done towards storing hydrogen in a solid state. This could potentially allow for home production and refueling, using grid or solar/wind electricity as your original power source. Essentially hydrogen is nothing more than the battery and stored the right way it might prove better than Li-ion.

#214 of 259 Re: For an electric infrastructure... [gagrice] by knightskye

Jun 20, 2007 (9:24 am)

Replying to: gagrice (May 16, 2007 5:56 am)
[quote]The all in one EV may never be built. At least in our lifetime. Too many logistical problems to overcome.[/quote]
 
Fast-charging stations can be added onto gas stations. If there's no gas station on the way to where you're going, you're doomed no matter what kind of car you're driving.
 
We have cars now that can go over 200 miles on a charge. Who's to say we won't have one that can go 300 soon? EESTOR, that Texas-based company that doesn't have a website or release a lot of information, is working on an energy storage system that can be recharged millions of times without degradation (more than the life of the car). If it has that many life cycles, it's sure to have an awesome range. I wonder how much it'll boost the price of Zenn's cars, though.

#215 of 259 Re: For an electric infrastructure... [knightskye] by tpe

Jun 20, 2007 (9:42 am)

Replying to: knightskye (Jun 20, 2007 9:24 am)
I wonder how much it'll boost the price of Zenn's cars, though.
 
I've read that EEStor's energy storage device is not supposed to cost much more than lead acid batteries. And since it wouldn't need to be replaced the lifetime cost will actually be much cheaper. The big question is whether or not they can actually deliver. My guess is no. Certainly not this year, which is when ZENN's website previously stated this energy storage device would be available in their neighborhood electric vehicles.
 
I'm a big EV proponent so I hope that I'm wrong but EEStor has been hyped for some time now and have provided no product for testing/demonstrating their claims. The companies that I take more seriously are the ones with actual working prototypes being tested in the field.

#216 of 259 Re: The Tesla at $50,000 ???? [tpe] by gagrice

Jun 20, 2007 (7:45 pm)

Replying to: tpe (Jun 20, 2007 6:41 am)
I was just pricing a Dell laptop. You can get a spare 9 cell, 85 watt-hour battery for $79.
 
I hope that is not some cheap knock-off you are considering for your laptop. The 9 cell 85 WH I am looking is now $159. That is $16 more than last year.
 
Dell Battery

#217 of 259 Re: The Tesla at $50,000 ???? [gagrice] by tpe

Jun 21, 2007 (5:04 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Jun 20, 2007 7:45 pm)
I hope that is not some cheap knock-off you are considering for your laptop
 
No, it was for a new laptop from Dell's website. If you go to the battery option for this laptop you can see here this it comes with a 6 cell battery. An additional 9 cell battery is a $79 option.
 
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=DNDWEA3&s=dhs
 
I do see that buying replacement batteries through Dell's website is pretty expensive. Maybe they are trying to steer you towards buying a new laptop, which skews the price.

#218 of 259 Re: The Tesla at $50,000 ???? [tpe] by gagrice

Jun 21, 2007 (8:58 pm)

Replying to: tpe (Jun 21, 2007 5:04 am)
They want to sell you two batteries as they know you will still need a replacement a couple years down the road. A spare would be of little value to me as I usually have my laptops plugged in.

#219 of 259 Re: The Tesla at $50,000 ???? [sunray1] by mr_hybrid

Jun 26, 2007 (9:02 pm)

Replying to: sunray1 (Jun 19, 2007 7:38 pm)
Hey Sunray1,
 
I hear that! Pricing such a nice car out of reach is a strange idea, but I'm hoping that the masses will eventually be able to afford such a car. It's great, however, to see such a fast car that is not gas powered. I mean, 0-60 is less than 4 seconds is pretty impressive. I've even seen videos where the Telsa has shamed many other powerful cars (gas powered, no less!!)...

Messages Page 22 of 26

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