Tesla Motors

[Flexin]

I don't know why people compare the Telsa to a gas car. If you are looking at a Telsa you want an electric car to be green to for an electric car to beat around the city when not using your gas ride. If you want to compare it to something, compare it to other electric cars or maybe even hybirds.

James

[goof2]

Originally Posted by Flexin

If you are looking at a Telsa you want an electric car to be green...

That is part of the debate. Just how "green" is the Tesla? Nobody really knows other than it isn't as "green" as people like to think. I don't believe anybody would really care about that (or that the same statement applies to hybrids), except a portion of those who buy these cars (or hybrids) base a large part of the purchasing decision on the questionable ability to feel superior to anyone driving a conventional car. Since owners of these vehicles generally insist on comparing the morality of their car to that of conventional internal combustion vehicles they can expect their car's practicality and expense to be compared similarly.

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by Flexin

I don't know why people compare the Telsa to a gas car. If you are looking at a Telsa you want an electric car to be green to for an electric car to beat around the city when not using your gas ride. If you want to compare it to something, compare it to other electric cars or maybe even hybirds.

James

No way.

That car wasn't built for it's "green" possibilities. No way. It is a car first - built with a different option on the motor. So, it will be compared to other cars in the class that it was built. Comparing it directly to other Lotus options is more than fair.

[pauldun170]

Originally Posted by azoomm

No way.

That car wasn't built for it's "green" possibilities. No way. It is a car first - built with a different option on the motor. So, it will be compared to other cars in the class that it was built. Comparing it directly to other Lotus options is more than fair.

Agreed...
However sticking the "green" label on it allowed Tesla to tickle the grapes of congress and get some big fat federal funds last year.

[Flexin]

Originally Posted by azoomm

No way.

That car wasn't built for it's "green" possibilities. No way. It is a car first - built with a different option on the motor. So, it will be compared to other cars in the class that it was built. Comparing it directly to other Lotus options is more than fair.

I disagree. If Lotus built it then I could agree. It was built by a company that wanted to build an electric car that was still fun to drive and be a performance machine. They liked the Lotus and used that as the body/frame work for their car.

James

[derf]

Originally Posted by Flexin

I don't know why people compare the Telsa to a gas car. If you are looking at a Telsa you want an electric car to be green to for an electric car to beat around the city when not using your gas ride. If you want to compare it to something, compare it to other electric cars or maybe even hybirds.

James

Because electric cars won't be marketable to the masses until they are on par with gas cars. To really gain a foothold they have to convince the general public that they are a value (or cheap enough to be fashionable for the upper middle class) to buy. Everyone I know that has a hybrid bought it as a second car or is trying to convince me that they save money on gas, which is true, until you factor in the extra 10k cost of the car vs a comparable gas model.

And if the car company and people really wanted to save on gas, VW sells a diesle in europe that gets 75mpg on a regular diesle engine. The tech is there, but car companies don't think thats what we really want.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blog...s/4219904.html

[Flexin]

Originally Posted by derf

Because electric cars won't be marketable to the masses until they are on par with gas cars. To really gain a foothold they have to convince the general public that they are a value (or cheap enough to be fashionable for the upper middle class) to buy. Everyone I know that has a hybrid bought it as a second car or is trying to convince me that they save money on gas, which is true, until you factor in the extra 10k cost of the car vs a comparable gas model.

And if the car company and people really wanted to save on gas, VW sells a diesle in europe that gets 75mpg on a regular diesle engine. The tech is there, but car companies don't think thats what we really want.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blog...s/4219904.html

It has to be developed and be used by more people before the price comes down. It has to start somewhere.

The people buying the cars now with the higher prices are kinda investing in this technology. Just like the people that bought some of the first tvs.

James

[Flexin]

Originally Posted by derf

Because electric cars won't be marketable to the masses until they are on par with gas cars. To really gain a foothold they have to convince the general public that they are a value (or cheap enough to be fashionable for the upper middle class) to buy. Everyone I know that has a hybrid bought it as a second car or is trying to convince me that they save money on gas, which is true, until you factor in the extra 10k cost of the car vs a comparable gas model.

And if the car company and people really wanted to save on gas, VW sells a diesle in europe that gets 75mpg on a regular diesle engine. The tech is there, but car companies don't think thats what we really want.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blog...s/4219904.html

I know there are diesels out there. The US doesn't seem to want to go that way.

I would like to get a diesel...under the hood of a Peterbilt.

James

[Flexin]

BTW the reason I like the car because they are trying to do something other companies are doing but do it a bit different.

To win over gas lovers they need a fun ride. Yes they need to work on the range but they all need to do that.

People seem to think that I love this car because its going to save the world. I have an suv sitting in my driveway. I just think its a cool little car. I wouldn't mind owning a Lotus.

James

[goof2]

Originally Posted by Flexin

To win over gas lovers they need a fun ride.

I disagree with this. Look at the vehicles that sell the largest volume. They are trucks, Accords, Camrys, etc.. The majority of vehicles sold in America are boring as shit. To win over internal combustion buyers it needs to be practical and comparably priced. The Tesla is neither.