Comments on: Tesla CEO Says Model S Equivalent Cost to a $35,000 Gas Car: Does This Mean Volt Will be $21,000?

By: JoeLP

JoeLP — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:37:39 +0000

Sorry, have a hard time believing Tesla’s crap after they took deposits on their sports car promising one price, then jacked up the price afterwards and refused to honor their original quoted price.

By: koz

koz — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:05:50 +0000

Dave D #91

Look at my comment at #72. These costs are factored, except $5,000 for battery replacement (12kwh less than Roadster and replacement in 2018). It doesn’t pencil bad unless you don’t think a used $57,400 BEV will be worth much more than a similarly used $35k ICE vehicle.

By: Dave D

Dave D — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:36:34 +0000

On the comparison to a gas vehicle….

What is not mentioned is the eventual $12,000 new battery pack replacement for the Tesla S. (12,000 is the staed replacement for the Tesla Roadster, maybe the S will be less). So does that come at year 7 or 10?
Also worth considering, what is the added electric cost for your nightly plug in. If the CEO assumes gas goes back to $4/gallon, he should also look at the $/kilowatt hour to charge the thing.

Sounds like he is giving all the positives, and conveniently ignoring the added costs.

By: koz

koz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:03:09 +0000

gamepoch #88

So how do you extrapolate your dislike for President Obama’s policies to no demand growth in India, Brazil, China, etc. etc.? Listen to Fox entertainment much?

By: Greg C

Greg C — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:18:06 +0000

#67:
“I like the concept and most likely I would only drive farther than the 160 mile range ion rare occasions (2-3 times a year, like driving to the beach)- but what do I do, have a second car just for those occasions?”

my reply is that is not a very good reason. What do you do if your children and grandchildren come to visit twice a year, does that mean you drive a 15 passenger van everyday?

what do you do if you have to put a new roof on your house? Does that mean you have to drive a flatbed every day?

This does seem to be the mentality of many people. ” I occasionally haul some lumber from the Home Depot, so my everyday driver should be a 1 ton dually???”

When I need a special vehicle, I either borrow or rent if I have to. you could do that for your trips to the beach….

By: gamepoch

gamepoch — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:22:53 +0000

Whenever folks like musk calculate the conventional wisdom of gas at $4 a gallon, I think they crazy or full of it. Considering the great things Obama is doing to increase fuel efficiency and the lousy things he is doing to prolong this global recession we’ll have cheap gas for the next decade. The profound economic environmental and national security benefits demands the shift toelectricity but let’s be honest with the numbers.

By: Herm

Herm — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:59:18 +0000

You could easily unbolt and remove the genset, easier since there is no transmission. Pull the plug on the fuel pump, cap the lines, insulate the power connector carefully… I would leave the exhaust and gas tank in place, the radiator could also come out unless its also used to cool the motor/batteries.

may also need a reprogram but perhaps not..

Car will definitely be a lot lighter in the front :0 .. maybe 200-400lbs, add some batteries as ballast.

I bet a lot of people will try this..

Here is a 50kw diesel genset, only $12k

http://www.tqmachinery.com/Cummins-50kW-Generator.htm

……………………………………………..

#83 jefro Says:
March 30th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I want to remove the range extender from the Volt.
For the one time a year I drive past 60 miles, I could rent a car.

By: CS Guy

CS Guy — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:29:54 +0000

@ 15
Which Benz are you comparing the Tesla S to? Let’s just do some internet searches for Benz… Hmmm. They do NOT seem to be a better choice before *or* after adding in the fuel and maintenance costs…

1. 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
5styles priced from $98,500
2. 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
5styles priced from $89,350
3. 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
1styles priced from $63,000
4. 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
2styles priced from $70,700
5. 2009 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
4styles priced from $107,900

Acura?
2009 Acura RL, $46,680 to $54,100 seems comparable but the Tesla S still wins when you factor the costs of ownership (due to Acura’s 16/22 MPG – ouch!).

How about a Bimmer?
1. 2009 BMW 5 Series
6styles priced from $45,800
2. 2009 BMW 6 Series
2styles priced from $78,200
3. 2009 BMW 7 Series
2styles priced from $80,300
4. 2009 BMW M3
3styles priced from $54,850

Well, it looks like the Tesla S is actually at a good price point even without the tax break – that’s just $$ icing on the cake.

About the range anxiety, here’s a quote off the teslamotors website
“With the 45 minute QuickCharge or a 5 minute battery swap, you can drive from LA to San Francisco, Washington to New York or take even longer road trips in about the same time as in a conventional car.”
– A 5 minute battery swap! Anyone who can still have range anxiety after hearing that may have some other kind of anxiety (’now how am I gonna sell off my oil stocks’ anxiety?)

If you’ve got a couple bucks extra, get one of these. And if you’ve got the money to buy a Tesla S you are not likely to be driving your own car on trips anytime in the future so there goes that argument as well, but if you did you’d be able to swap the battery for unlimited range.

==NOPLUGNOSALE

By: Koz

Koz — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:21:43 +0000

Who has anxiety from something that is 100% in their control? They need to see a shrink. If you need a car with more range and rapid refill, don’t buy one that doesn’t have it. If you don’t think you will need it, then consider the Model S. Simple as that, but nobody should be telling other people what the need or don’t need, want or don’t want.

By: N Riley

N Riley — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:49:37 +0000

I don’t know if I agree with Mr. Musk or not. But one thing I certainly can agree on is that the Model S is a BEAUTIFUL car. I wish I could afford one and it was ready now. I would be on it like white on rice.