Not quite…
How are those gas prices treating you? Thought so. Good news, though, as plug-in hybrid cars aren’t too far away. In fact, if you’re keen to wait only 18 months, you could soon be driving out of your local dealership while thumbing your nose at Big Oil. Big Oil is Evil, remember.
Cars like the Chevrolet Volt, which is due for release in 2010, run on both electricity and gasoline. They’ll get something like 40 miles per charge, and then a gasoline engine takes over at 80-100 mpg. That’s to get you to the next charge station.
Such cars are expected to hit “critical mass” at around 2015. That’s when car manufacturers are expected to be cranking them out full bore.
Or, you can wait till the new, affordable Tesla comes out. At the very least, Tesla has a proven track record, and its cars don’t look like toys.
Tesla Motors has hired former Chrysler Executive Michael Donoughe to oversee the company’s engineering and manufacturing processes as executive vice president.
The 220 miles-per-charge electric Tesla Roadster that sells for more money than most people make in a year will soon be joined by a more consumer-friendly four door sedan. Donoughe should be well-suited for his new role, as he “previously headed the global mid-size vehicles program at Chrysler,” according to San Jose Mercury News.
Tesla also announced that it’ll build a new production factory in the San Francisco area instead of New Mexico, citing tax incentives offered by California.
Greenwich Time, the newspaper for denizens of Greenwich, Connecticut, got to look at the Tesla Roadster and came away awed, if a little empty. Greenwich is a town famous for being the home to many New York millionaires who wish to lay their red, pulsating egg sacs under stately old oaks. Colin Gustafson, a “special correspondent” (read: someone related to one of the editors) rode along with a rich man named Gary Patrick on his first test drive of the Tesla Roadster.
What did this rich man have to say about the car? He was impressed enough to put down $108,000 to buy his own and he really enjoyed going fast while still helping the “environment.”
“We’re in a wealthy area,” Patrick added, “so, while gas prices aren’t as much of an issue, you can still feel like you’re fulfilling your green responsibiltity [sic] and reducing your carbon footprint with a car like this.”
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California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is holding a press conference tomorrow with Tesla Motors, makers of some of the coolest electric cars on the planet, to announce their 4 door, 5 passenger sedan slated for release in 2010.
Not much information right now but rumor has it that it will be called the Whitestar and should be as efficient as the Roadster model now making the rounds.
The Roadster costs $109,000 but the sedan should be slightly less given its “green family” appeal. We’ll be there tomorrow for some on the scene reporting. Here’s hoping Gov. Schwarzenegger screams “Come with me if you want to live” to the assembled press and then says “Do it, do it now” to the plan to increase the number of electric cars on California roads.
Update: The new sedan will not be called Whitestar. Also, this is some sort of partnership with the state of California, it isn’t just an endorsement or random appearance by Schwarzenegger.
Update 2: The announcement is that Tesla will manufacture the sedan in California, instead of going to New Mexico, thanks to a $9 million incentive package.
We’re fans of the Tesla Roadster, the all-electric hot rod that may well change attitudes towards electric cars as well as luxury cars. And the sports car is getting an update, with a new powertrain that replaces the 2-speed gearbox with a 1-speed box for a smoother ride and faster acceleration.
It’s also more power efficient, though to what degree isn’t clear. The electric motor is also getting an upgrade, making it a capable of higher torque for better top speed and faster acceleration as well. Altogether the roadster’s getting an upgrade, though the novel battery system remains intact. And it’s free for all upcoming cars, though there’s no word if first-gen Teslas will get an upgrade kit.
The car that may go down in history as game-changing, the Tesla Roadster, has officially started production, according to the manufacturer.
For those not yet caught up, the Tesla is an all-electric sports car capable of top speeds beyond 125MPH, with super-fast acceleration and good looks. The prototype was powered by laptop batteries, and can go up to 600 miles before running out of juice.
If you want one, you’ll have to pony up $100,000, but if you have the scratch there’s no geekier car out there today.
Tesla starts full-scale production [Yahoo! News]
How does this even work? I’m really confused. Essentially, these are two Tesla coils sending out signals based on MIDI input. But how do you control the frequency of the shock to make the music? There are no speakers involved. Engineers? A little help?
via Make
