Tesla Roadster
Sponsored links:
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FUEL ECONOMY:
n/a MPG n/a L/100km
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BODY TYPE:
Luxury
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TECHNOLOGY:
Electric
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BASE MSRP:
$98,000
Tesla Motors achieved instant rock star status in 2006 when the company announced details about its Roadster, a screaming-fast, all-electric two-seater sports car built on the frame of the Lotus Elise. Since then, it’s been a nonstop media lovefest for Tesla and its heroic efforts to revive the dream of a mass-produced zero-emissions electric car. There’s a lot to admire about the idea of a Tesla Roadster: 0 – 60 mph in less than four seconds, 135-mpg equivalent, 200-mile range, and a brilliant tech design that wires together nearly 7,000 mass-commodity rechargeable lithium batteries.
Much of the excitement results from Tesla’s plans beyond the Roadster—to reinvent the entire auto industry in the model of a Silicon Valley start-up. The high $98,000 price tag for the Tesla Roadster should be forgiven because—according to company statements—the first e-sportscar is only a stepping stone to a larger, more affordable, mass-produced electric or plug-in hybrid car.
Tesla has faced serious technology hurdles in delivering its first vehicles; perhaps as a result, the leadership has been shaken up. In August 2007, Martin Eberhard, the company’s founding CEO, stepped down and was replaced in the interim with Michael Marks, an early investor in the electric car startup. By November, the company hired a new chief executive officer, Ze'ev Drori, an executive from Clifford Electronics, an automobile security company.
Mr. Drori inherited a host of technology and business challenges. Tesla racked up $43 million in operating losses from 2002 to 2006. After missing two scheduled release dates for their first production vehicles, the company had to compromise the Roadster’s much-ballyhooed four-second 0-60 performance. The first set of Roadsters will use an interim single-speed transmission in place of the planned two-speed unit. Meanwhile, the company will continue to develop a two-speed unit that can achieve the intended dragster level of speed. In keeping with Silicon Valley culture, Tesla plans to offer a free upgrade to its first customers, once the two-speed unit is available.
Another compromise came in the area of safety. Tesla sought and received a waiver from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to build the Roadster without advanced, occupant-sensing airbags for the first three years of production. Instead, the car will be equipped with lower-cost standard dual-front airbags.
The jury is not yet out on the 200-mile driving range.
These challenges notwithstanding, the first Tesla Roadsters have been shipped, breaking open a new era of possibility for electric cars. The company plans to produce 625 Roadsters in 2008, and another 1,600 annually for 2009 and 2010.
So, is it coming to public in Sep-2007. Perhaps the rich Arabs & Russians could afford this car.
I hope they reduce the speed to reasonable 80 mph and range to 120 mile and sell it for around 30-35K.
Important thing is it should be a 4-seater.
A convertible is lighter, you can't get a hybrid convertible yet.
Beautiful car, being put together by Lotus in Norfolk, England. Just a little way away in Peterborough is another all-electric sports car, the Lightning Car Company: http://lightningcarcompany.com/ who are producing a similarly powerful beast. Looking forward to taking a school trip to their premises later this year!
Max- isn't it better if they buy a far more efficient Tesla than some high end gas guzzler?
And, I've read that Tesla are already planning more affordable models. Quoting Elon Musk:
"Without giving away too much, I can say that the second model [code name: White Star, scheduled for 2008] will be a sporty four door family car at roughly half the $89k price point of the Tesla Roadster and the third model will be even more affordable." (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08/tesla_motors_ev.php#ch02 )
The industry has to stop making cars with fast accelerations. That is the way to the waste of energy (no matter if it is an electric or gas engine).
But a lot of people like fast acceleration. It's fun. If this car is a more efficient way to have that fun, then it's a step in the right direction.
Introducing this as a high-end sportscar is a good strategy. The folks who always want speed will pay the premium for the new technology and allow Teslar to work down the learning curve.
This will allow them to absorb the early premium costs while planning more affordable mass market applications.
The first company to break through the cost barrier for lithium batteries will have a major coup.
Andres,
While I agree that accelerating wastes energy, making an EV that can accelerate fast doesn't waste energy. With an electric motor, torque (which is responsible for acceleration) is proportional to current. Current comes from reducing resistance in the motor. The resistance in the motor is also what wastes energy through heat generation. This means that as you reduce the waste (or increase the efficiency) of an electric motor, you also increase its torque.
Granted, accelerating from 0 - 60 in 4 seconds uses slightly more energy overall than accelerating from 0 - 60 in 15 seconds, however, the difference is actually not that great, however, accelerating from 0 - 60 in 15 seconds in a car that CAN do it in 4 seconds uses a lot less energy than doing it in a car whose maximum acceleration time is 0 - 60 in 15 seconds.
The Tesla 3 - 4 times more efficient than a Prius. Why knock it if it can be fun sometimes as well.
Those of you who comment on fast acceleration us "unneccessary" obviously have not tried to enter some of the highways in Texas froma dead stop to 70 miles per hour in the slow lane. While some may argue efficiency, it is bad press to die trying to get onto the highway in a slow car.
They keys to much of this are about who will be prodcing new LiIon batteries in a size that car makers could use and in quantities to supply the car market. Once we have that, we will have more affordable hybrid electrics. I have one bye the way.
Cut the price in half and I'll order one today.
Convertibles are actually heavier by a few hundred pounds. You need much more bracing to meet crash test standards when you take away a structural support element like the roof.
Passion and engineering will always open doors. Here is a machine that was made to blow the doors off. Rock On!
Why can't they make an electric car that charges itself while it moves?
Learn a little about mechanics of a normal car first. Anything that works against the motor, will cause them to draw more current to maintain the same speed (more fuel in a petrol.) That's why regenerative braking is the most efficient means of charging the batteries as of now. Just need a couple solar panels well integrated on the car or two small low drag wind turbines up in the typical radiator position (ford gt, ferrari F50 style) might prove worthy :/ LOL
Awesome car though and an awesome start against the injustices faced with the EV1!
Convertibles are typically a lot heavier.
they do have solar panels for the roadster
yeah cuz i have that much money to spend on a car...NOT!
this car rocks
I SUCK PENIS
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