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Over 500 ordered for 2008, with up to 800 manufacturing capacity.

http://www.mercextra.com/blogs/nauman/2007/07/23/tesla-500-roadsters-and-counting

Good Luck
Andrew

I have a kidney for sale if anyone is interested? Offers starting at $100,000 please (better hurry though, the deals off if I can't get one of the first 800 tesla roadsters):p

Hi Andrew:

___It would be great to see a company like Tesla succeed in the long run but those costs have got to come down. Having Lotus manufacture the chassis is just too darn expensive. Having one of the big 3 do the same would yield far lower costs, they would muck it up somehow :(

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I hope they keep the Tesla $100,000 or more as a base price....

It is the best way to put in the more expensive technology into the car... and it is also the best way to beat the heck out of the bad image most people have about electric cars.... A electric car that the masses can identify like they do a Lamborghini , or other high end expensive cars that the masses can not afford.... makes them want it... as a status symbol... then car makers to fill the demand will make cheaper less advanced versions like they did with the corvettes and mustangs, that give people an idea of driving a more powerful car but who can't really afford a truly high end car....

the image the masses have of electric cars is I think the biggest barrier they have to the consumer.... and a high end expensive advanced electric car can crush that image....

So keep the Tesla the $100,000 or even $200,000 top of the mountain.... high end advanced un-affordable car it is to crush the electric car stereo types.

Then they or some other company can make the more cost effective corvettes and mustang lower cost EV versions ... then make the economy commuter versions.... but keep the Tesla the standard.

my 2 bits

Ian.!

Tesla is going to build a $50,000 (gosh now it's in my price range!! :-)) The White Star. And has plans for a $30,000 one. I think at that point we start talking about a larger no. of people being able to buy this. (I don't know what the years are.) BTW, Jay Leno wrote an excellent article about rich people paying for R&D-- and actually a great review of the car.

All EV cars are easier than plug-in hybrids so you do have the possilbilty of smaller players here.

--des

Without a motor in there I think it will be still be a niche type of vehicle. We have a long way to go for mass adoption of EV vehicles. But at least we are on the way. The more PHEVs on the road the more likely the infrastructure to recharge them will spread and be usable to EV vehicles. I can't wait to see that change.


Which leads me to think about hydrogen cars. There is no path to get there. I think even though ford touted having one available in a few years that there will be no adoption. They powers that be can try to force them down our throats, but ultimately I think the technology is doomed to failure.

Tom, I tend to agree with you -- unless a mid 20K car with over 100mi between charges can be made.

At that point for most people it will be easy to only charge at home. If you want to go on longer trips occasionally you could always rent a car.

As for hydrogen, that is definitely a non-starter. Unless we hook filling stations up to nuclear plants, the energy conversions don't even make sense. The reason oil is so effective is because it takes way LESS energy to extract and refine it than you get out on the other side burning it. You can't do that with hydrogen because it binds to everything and takes more energy to extract than you get back out by recombining it. The lack of an infrastructure for distributing and the fact that there are no reasonable ways to store enough to come close to the range of a conventional car are really just extra nails in the already closed coffin.

From my point of view electric only vehicles are absolutely the future -- I just wish it would get here quicker!!

I agree as well-- you gotta make the hydrogen. I think eventually the prices will come down on the plug-ins and straight EVs and they are more likely to lead somewhere vs on the road to keeping the EPA from getting tough with them (though i dont' see the Bush administration EPA getting tough on anything).

--des

Tom, I tend to agree with you -- unless a mid 20K car with over 100mi between charges can be made.

At that point for most people it will be easy to only charge at home. If you want to go on longer trips occasionally you could always rent a car.

As for hydrogen, that is definitely a non-starter. Unless we hook filling stations up to nuclear plants, the energy conversions don't even make sense. The reason oil is so effective is because it takes way LESS energy to extract and refine it than you get out on the other side burning it. You can't do that with hydrogen because it binds to everything and takes more energy to extract than you get back out by recombining it. The lack of an infrastructure for distributing and the fact that there are no reasonable ways to store enough to come close to the range of a conventional car are really just extra nails in the already closed coffin.

From my point of view electric only vehicles are absolutely the future -- I just wish it would get here quicker!!

Hi Andrew:

___It would be great to see a company like Tesla succeed in the long run but those costs have got to come down. Having Lotus manufacture the chassis is just too darn expensive. Having one of the big 3 do the same would yield far lower costs, they would muck it up somehow :(

___Good Luck

___Wayne

IIRC Tesla picked Lotus Elise because it was the off the shelf chassis that fit their model of light weight and high performance the best. The big automakers don't make much that fits in that niche. It would be cool to see one in a 'vette though. (either corvette or chevette:))

Does anybody know anything about Tesla orders from Germany or Europe? German Museum of Technology is looking for a Tesla-car on loan for an automobile exhibition. Thanks for your help!

:)Does anybody know anything about Tesla orders from Germany or Europe? German Museum of Technology is looking for a Tesla-car on loan for an automobile exhibition. Thanks for your help!


I think you will have to get in touch with them directly. Although as yet they have only a few prototypes it may be difficult, when the production version comes out, you may be able to borrow from one of the lucky 500, (Try :Hi Arnold, I would like to borrow your Tesla) Hopefully they will soon start to sell in Europe and Japan as they received permission from the UN to ship as a normal car.

Go Silicon Valley (Bye Bye Big Auto);)

Good Luck
Andrew

I thought they were in production, but I don't really know. I am all psyched re: the new plant comign to NM. (I'm saving my pennies now.)

BTW, I thought Arnold, if you are speaking of the Governator, has a hydrogen powered Hummer. Gosh knows where/how he fuels up.

--des

:)


I think you will have to get in touch with them directly. Although as yet they have only a few prototypes it may be difficult, when the production version comes out, you may be able to borrow from one of the lucky 500, (Try :Hi Arnold, I would like to borrow your Tesla) Hopefully they will soon start to sell in Europe and Japan as they received permission from the UN to ship as a normal car.

Go Silicon Valley (Bye Bye Big Auto);)

Good Luck
Andrew

I thought they were in production, but I don't really know. I am all psyched re: the new plant comign to NM. (I'm saving my pennies now.)

BTW, I thought Arnold, if you are speaking of the Governator, has a hydrogen powered Hummer. Gosh knows where/how he fuels up.

--des


The H2 Hummer Arnold Drives around is a research vehicle / prototype... it is not in production at all... he only drives it to specific press events , such as the opening of new H2 pumping stations.... Arnold has been pushing to get more H2 pumping stations and such in Ca.

As for where he fuels up... They have a state link of where they are putting and will be putting H2 stations
http://www.hydrogenhighway.ca.gov/facts/cah2net_maps.pdf

He could also install a Hydrogen Electrolyzer at his home or any office.... They are expensive but have been on the market for years...

Also H2 vehicles get about the same 100 to 200 mile ranges EV's can get.... EV's have better cycle efficiency of the energy use... H2 Vehicles can be refueled faster than EV's can.... both are cleaner than what we have now.....