Tesla Model S drive

[stockholm12]

A perfect spy-car, maybe something for James Bond ;)

[fearmeyo]

maserati gran turismo front and jaguar xf rear lol

[MurcielagoBarchetta]

my grandma was run over by one of these... She didn't hear it coming. BABUSH! :(

[oasisinternational]

Its got spinners

[sorich]

It has an electric turbo!

[MarcusBratske]

Aaahhhhhh, finally.. Tesla brings peace and QUIET to the streets! =)

[crazcarlove82]

OMG did you hear the take off!? unf!

[curtis74guy]

hydrogen is better

[Andy87GDR]

Oh yay!! now we could get outdoor libraries!!!

[Waclaw111]

America finally made great usable car!

[knaus560]

i wish i would be that driver

[bluedodo296]

To think that in just 1 years time, you can pick one of those up for the price of a Mercedes e-class... Dear Santa, ...

[MrMatz45]

I fckin love that sound...

[glock727]

i want it..

[flo160]

I usually do not like the design of modern cars but this one looks great! Wow!

[AnonymoussourceL0L]

It does make a sound but it sounds like the star-ship enterprise starting up!

[kruppenstein]

Bzzzzzzzz... <3

[zlozlozlo]

That thing is so quiet I bet you could hear a mouse fart while it's driving by.

[BumbleBeeGS]

@zlozlozlo Its so quiet you can hear the oil companies losing money.

[TheGoalSetter]

Illegal U-turn....c'mon people

[crewguru93]

@Deafcold definitely an Aston Martin

[chinhhhhh]

we don't need all that fancy navigation, big rims, cool looks, put a damn card board box over that thing for all i care... So that everyone can afford one.

[carrie6711]

@chinhhhhh thats true i agree! but i think with their first "afordable" sedan they were trying to impress people with looks,style, and preormance. they could probobly make a 2 door hatchback with 14inch rims and no ac and just normal perormance and it would cost less, but they didnt want to start like that because then all the knucle heads would think ev's are ugly and slow

[TheGoalSetter]

@carrie6711 Tesla started with the roadster because that business model allowed greater revenue with less products. Tesla doesn't have a big assembly line that would crank out a bunch of cars. So they had to create a few amazing cars (roadsters) and sell those to millionaires so they could get the capital to make the Model S. The capital raised from the S will help pay for the big assembly line so they can mass produce cheap cars.

[TheBroodwhich]

@TheGoalSetter Wow, thanks for putting that into perspective.. makes a lot of sense. Can't believe I didn't think of that haha.

[aznarmodon]

@TheGoalSetter they sold the original roadster at a loss. theyre just now starting the break even with the roadster. the roadster wasnt meant to raise capital for them. it was to get their name and tech out there. it was to show how a car can be eco friendly and still pack tons of performance. and they have an assembly line already. theyre using that to build the model s, not the other way around. they bought an old toyota plant. they needed it in order to receive gov grants.

[TheGoalSetter]

@aznarmodon Thanks.

I hate that they went public and got gov grants...too much managerial influence.

BTW: I am saving for a Model S...only 10% saved so far, but I'm getting there. Hopefully by the time I save up for it, the model should have most of its kinks worked out. Still, I hope they offer some sort of basic to advanced mechanic's workshops I live in GA and would don't want to take my Model S to a normal garage.

[aznarmodon]

@TheGoalSetter well it was that or go bankrupt. personally, i think i'm gonna skip the model s. waitin for the mass market to follow after it.

[chinhhhhh]

only thing now is to make it more affordable

[OFFICIALDAVIDGUEVARA]

People it looks like a tesla model S

[drbos]

looks like that four door Porsche...

[somehowsane]

@drbos eh, i say it looks like a cross between a Masarati granturismo and a Jaguar XF.

[66Metalforlife66]

hmmm we need to do everything we can to help them

[gottawachit]

for a moment there i thought i put my laptop on mute

[madrokka]

i'd like to get one but how am i going to charge it? everyone lives in apartments in asia with no electric outlets in the garages?

[Afrocanuk]

@madrokka I have the same exact problem here in Canada.

[SladkaPritomnost]

EIA (energy information administration) says:

U.S. Motor Gasoline Consumption is 8,989,000 barrels/day

1 barrel = 1.7MWh

1 nuclear reactor can produce 1GWh (quite big one).

That means US need 636 new nuclear reactors to get a rid of oil completely.

[trekgeek1]

@SladkaPritomnost

@SladkaPritomnost

Good analysis. However, that does assume that the efficiency of gas engines and electric motors are the same. Assuming gas engines have an average efficiency of 20% and electric motors have an efficiency of 80%, you need 1/4 the energy to run the same amount of electric cars. 700 plants becomes 175. The change would also be slow and allow for nuclear plants to be built while cars are switched to electric. We'd have easily over 10 years. Also, solar,wind,etc

[SladkaPritomnost]

@trekgeek1

You right. I forgot for efficiency.

I would suggest that recent gasoline cars are more efficient. At least 25%.

And 80% efficiency of electric motor is good, but there must be also losses of transforming of energy (I suspect at least 5%).

25/75 = 1/3

The result is approx. 200 nuclear reactors.

It's double than US has now! Some of them are old and need to be switched off or rebuilt. But I don't like to be just skeptical. The idea is great indeed. Arabs have 66% of world's oil!

[SladkaPritomnost]

@trekgeek1

Since I don't speak super well English. Maybe I forgot for something...

Is here difference between gasoline and diesel in phrase "U.S. Motor Gasoline Consumption"?

Because in Europe, here is at lest 25% of cars that use diesel fuel.

[trekgeek1]

@SladkaPritomnost

I do not know if there is a difference. I believe I did my calculation based on barrels of oil used. This would include gasoline and Diesel. Also, it causes my estimate to be high since some oil is unusable and turns to a waste product. But again, 200 reactors is if we only use nuclear. We can also use tidal generators, solar, wind, and geothermal. This would greatly reduce the number of nuclear reactors. Great discussion. I appreciate your analysis.

[seamaster007]

No need, it will be in Laptop computers within 2 years. Well it will be ready within that time. They will use a special configuration of Lithium Iron Sulphate, instead of Lithium Cobalt. The Lithium Ions in the Iron sulphate crystal structure, pass through it, at higher speeds, and the more power applied, during charging, the quicker they pass through. Supplying the same charging power to Lithium Cobalt batteries would result in overheating. LiFePO4 is more stable.

[teamkvs]

i buy one if it has a nuclear reactor built in

[PaladinHludwig]

The Future!

[MiserereMe]

Sounds like KITT. Without the noise of a Pontiac.

[isti1122]

I love the sound that it makes

[twylightsky2007]

wow that's quiet.

[crystalclear506]

I'm saving my money just for this !

[Mo00X]

I want this!

Can't wait for 2011.

[gekados]

You have to make a reservation now if you want one in 2011...

[SOPM2007]

Beautiful automobile with outstanding technology - sweet! :-)

[evtech0]

Please Cali Roads do suck, But living here is the sh!t. So many wealthy investors to make a buck on! Were do you think Tesla Got there money to make those expensive bad ass electric cars....

[Fromthecenter1]

why are the road so bad in california they need to drill for oil so the can afford to repave there roads!! california your broke and your talking about car that no one can afford except the rich!! what will you do with out your gas tax revenues!!

[Martialsmash]

they're working on a $30000 model.

Smart rich oil people will invest in non-gas fuels with their big big money and still make more big big money to fix their roads.

[solodude23]

You're a ra-tard.

[seamaster007]

Deafcold: Spot on! It does look like a maserati, especially the nose of the car. Everything is good about this car. They seem to have got many things to work properly with it.

It all comes down to the final piece of the jigsaw, which is mass production, and whether there will be any dirty tricks by the larger corporations.

With a special battery pack, it will be possible to travel a distance of 800 miles on a single charge!

[NosoCOMINSOON]

I dont think thats true. It says 300 miles as their highest on the website

[seamaster007]

By the time they reach full production, newer batteries will be on the market. These new batteries will hold a charge for longer, and recharge, fully in 5 mins. This new battery technology is at least 2 years away. The maximum distance on a single charge will change continuously. The only competition will be fuel cell vehicles, which may be developed to kill off the pure electric vehicles. It also depends on marketing, the best technology does not always win.

[EnigmaNZ1]

The capacitors being developed hold similar levels of charge, but can take more energy from braking than batteries, recharge as fast as filling the tank on a gas powered car, and not wear out. Current Li-ion batteries may seem impressive, but they are not the end game. A lithium silicon battery may store up to ten times more energy that todays li-ion batteries, but currently are too fragile but work is going on to solve that problem. Future cars will likely have combo battery/capacitor storage.

[linkinfan12]

@NosoCOMINSOON that version is 77k.

[AlyxanderWilliams]

It's really quiet, I'm liking this thing

[Deafcold]

Anyone else notice that this car nearly resembles a maserati, or aston martin?

[mbdulka]

@Deafcold it also looks like a modern Jag, BMW, Audi, and a few others ... it fits right in. I love the motor noise .. sounds like my STi's turbo a bit ... lol! Want one!

[bonds911]

@Deafcold yeahh ahah is much better good looking than the 4 door aston martin and more spacious

[BumbleBeeGS]

@Deafcold It looks like a high tech Aston Martin DB9 and I love it. Its gorgeous.

[pjdsfavs]

@BumbleBeeGS, at a fraction of the cost of the DB9, you can actually drive your whole family around in the Model S. ;)

[BumbleBeeGS]

@pjdsfavs yeah definitely a real alternative fuel car to consider

[twittertwat08]

@Deafcold that's why it looks nice.

[Blober112]

@Deafcold a beautiful, beautiful Aston martin

[MrJeguar]

@Deafcold lol i was just thinking the same thing, but the more you look at it the less it does

[h8tow8ck]

Nice job crossing the yellow line there Elon :)

[turboman808]

This is the first electric car that people would really buy. Hurry up and get it to market guys alot of us are waiting. 4 door luxury car that is cheap to run. Got a winner! I won't be laying down the 10k deposit then wait 3 years for delivery.

[bluekarma4]

Love the humming sound, looks similar to the Aston Martin

[quatlen]

the only thing americans need to do now is build an electric car that can charge in minutes and make eletric fueling stations more abundunt, so electric cars are more usable long distances

[kaje01]

I disagree that super quick charging should be a priority, especially since anything better then 30 minutes might not ever be cost effective. I think that's just one of the sacrifices you make by switching to electric. People (republicans) will get used to it eventually.

As far as power stations go, just look at what cali did for the ev1. Though I don't think there will need to be quite as many charge stations as there is gas stations since %99 of all charging will be done at home.

[toocoolforu]

or maybe replacable batteries, just like propan bottles or 5 gallon water bottles.

There has to be a standard access for that first. another decade to wait i'm afraid :(

[Octamed]

@toocoolforu they are doing replacable battery stations now. Look up 'better place'

[linkinfan12]

@quatlen The few that are around charge in 45 minutes. That is about a lunch break. We just need more of them.

[tipoomaster]

Nice!

[ZFerret]

love the sound it makes!

[Barton518]

Very very awesome car! I want to buy one!

[bgdexter]

Wow! That is the coolest engine sound I've ever heard from any car! Thank you Tesla for making my childhood SF fantasies become real!

[happylanding1]

I wish it was already 2011 ;-)

[2win2rbo]

Man, man. The future is here. We're about to claim our freedom from fossil fuels!!!

[kostea13]

And the true is that they are since 1900 and remeber the EV 1 and dont forget the Toyota Rav EV wich are on the roads today ! SO the ELECTRIC technology is here from many ears but the OIL companies did their best to stop it especialy the battery development and Solar panels devolepment !!!

[jononioo]

not exactly, but we are alot closer!!!

[djvinnie112]

We sure are, but im gonna miss the sound of the inefficient combustion engine! :S

[MarcusBratske]

@djvinnie112

Ever tried to watch a movie with your window (from your house) open? :p it's awful the noise!!

And don't come with the sh*t that its dangerous if you don't hear a car coming when you want to cross the street, because thats bs..

[SladkaPritomnost]

@2win2rbo

I have read that if USA wants to get a rid of all oil fuels then US need of around 700 nuclear power planets to substitute oil energy completely.

700 nuclear planets are now hidden in oil fuels.

Do you think this is cheap and safe?

[messager3000]

@2win2rbo it's been 2 years now ... wtf are they doing at Tesla ? Is the future still the future ?

[jednoucelovy]

@2win2rbo, sorry to burst your bubble but you still need fossil fuels to generate electricity to recharge the electric car. Considering the USA, the Tesla model S is running 37% on petroleum, 25% on natural gas, 21% on coal, 9% on nuclear energy, and only 8% on renewable (i.e. non-fossil) energy sources. Hence any electric car in the USA runs 91% on fossil fuels. Still better than gasoline-powered cars though.

[2win2rbo]

@jednoucelovy The USA is not the only country in which electric cars are appreciated. In countries like Australia and New Zealand, power from micro-generation is the norm if you want electric cars. In NZ, we have a massive wind power potential. As micro wind turbines get more and more efficient in power generation, more and more people tune into this kind of technology. You can also connect to one of our companies which do not use fossil fuels. They use wind, tides and water instead.

[EnhancedNightmare]

@jednoucelovy Electric plants use fossil fuels more efficiently but yeah you practically drive on fossil fuels (depending on your location). Still it is way cheaper than petrol.

[Soul2Light]

@jednoucelovy where are you getting all those fake facts... stop crying and get real! if you want you could charge the car just by using solar panels at home

[israelnothanks]

@2win2rbo I think you're right, but if we want electricity, we have to use fuel to generate electric power, we have to search a new way to generate electric power, like fusion nuclear plants, or something like this.

[2win2rbo]

@israelnothanks This freedom from fossil fuels can be felt here in NZ where a power company generates through wind and water only. If this an all-electric car is connected to that power company, it's generally free from hydrocarbons.

[israelnothanks]

@2win2rbo Here in Spain wind power, hydropower and solar power it's insufficient. I think the future of clean energy is in fusion nuclear plants, they are secure and generate a lot of power.

[Arc91]

Awesome car.

[kimjune01]

The brakes aren't actually like the ones on a conventional car. What the brakes do is called "regenerative braking", which is sucking up all that mechanical energy into battery chemical energy by using the same electric motor that drives the wheels. It's very interesting if you do a little research.

I like the idea of an electric car having a faster launch speed and automatic speed control and valet mode and low marginal cost

[0453567]

They should also have regular brakes though, important for safety, peace of mind, and more importantly for performance or emergency use.

[MarcusBratske]

@0453567

??? you actually think the breaks aren't save? :p haha

[0453567]

@MarcusBratske oh no lol, that was in response to someone I don't even remember who anymore. I was just saying that running a car with just regenerative brakes and no conventional brakes would be unsafe even if you didn't use the conventional brakes in regular driving.

[MarcusBratske]

@0453567

But what makes you think the regenerative brakes alone aren't save enough, don't perform as well as normal brakes or won't do good with emergencies? =)

[0453567]

@MarcusBratske Regenerative braking power is limited by gear ratio and vehicle speed and comfort. Also they only brake with the drive wheels, in this case the rear wheels which is very unsafe and not as effective to panic stop with. Also regenerative brakes become less effective as vehicle speed decreases so they are good for slowing down, not so much stopping.

[MarcusBratske]

@0453567

Olapola :p I didn't know that, but how do you know all that?

[0453567]

@MarcusBratske I read a lot. Also I'm an Automotive Technology student with a personal passion for electric cars

[bellaggio1770]

Are the 'fan' wheels shaped that way to cool the brakes? I think a flat wheel would be more aerodynamic, or is there a purpose for that?

[vindigga6]

tesla dosent say that but theyre most likely for that purpose. most high end cars wheels are designed for that.

[noplan724]

Nice!! Sounds like cars from science-fiction movies :)

[ekuwa69]

Love that sound.