Tesla Motors "Breaks Logjam", Electric Roadsters Start Shipping
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 07.14.08
Tesla Electric Roadsters Finally Ship to Customers
As they say, if you never fail, you're probably not trying. It took a long time, and some even lost faith in the young company, but Tesla has now "broken the logjam", in the words of Ze'ev Drori, its president and CEO. Tesla electric Roadsters are now shipping. "Already 9 production Roadsters have arrived in California, another 3 arrive this weekend, and they will keep arriving at the rate of 4 per week" until December when production should ramp up to about 25 per week. There are currently 27 Roadsters in various stages of assembly in the UK Lotus factory, and a transition to "Powertrain 1.5" (which should increase performance) is scheduled to happen in mid-September. We wish Tesla the best of luck, and especially hope that their plans to create new less expensive and more mainstream electric cars will go smoothly. At the end of the day, their biggest impact on the market might be to inspire people who weren't interested in electric cars and pressure other automakers, though. Thanks to Willy Bio for the tip.
More Tesla Motors News
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Well, thanks for giving me props for bringing this story to your attention. :/
Whateves.
You anti-Tesla wingnuts can suck it hard. :D
I am happy Tesla is shipping product.
Any new car startup is a very hard go. Here, Tesla took various parts and put them together.
The motor and most of the drive train came from an assortment of do-it-yourselves backyard mechanic efforts, then was refined and made better.
The electronics came from Silicon Valley.
The Battery was originally made to power lap top computers.
The car itself is a slightly modified Lotus Elise, one of the lightest and best built true sports cars with a full racing history. This gets it past most all regulations on crash worthiness with full marks.
The production factory and contract manufacturer is Lotus.
Is it overpriced? Yes. But it is still a great car and will be "collector material" ...
This is fantastic news. So often young companies lose focus and try to take on too much, especially with a new product. The fact that Tesla is focusing on the their single model will allow them to provide a 100% solution to that niche market. With that experience and knowledge they will gain will allow them to expand to other areas and provide solutions for many different price ranges. Congrats and godspeed to them.
A fundamental change in our driving habits is now required.
The Automobile Industry is going to be in the same position as the Airline Industry in the next few months. Unless we get away from gas combustion vehicles, including Hybrids, the automobile industry (as we know it) will die.We need to make drastic moves. America needs to move to ELECTRIC. The vehicles are not as fast, not always as fun to drive, but the move will save Americans money (Billions) and help bring change to our automotive companies. Let's "Be Green"!!!!!!!!!!!! BG Automotive Group Ltd. has a car that will travel 80-100 miles per charge for $15,995. Finally a car that most Americans can afford. Did you know that 80% of all drivers, drive less than 50 miles per day? This new car will cost an equivalent of $0.20-0.25 cents/gallon (depending on electricity rates in your area). Why send $700 Billion per year to OPEC (now buying up U.S. companies) when we can use this money for our schools, health care, social security for all Americans, etc, etc, etc. We can make the difference if WE change.