Report: Tesla Model S costs one nickel per drag race [w/video]

Filed under: Tesla, Electric

Historically, the intersection between electric vehicles and drag racing has been really small – or so we guess, at least. But the advent of Tesla in the auto marketplace, and the subsequent performance offered up to drivers by way of battery-powered cars, has caused even racy publications like DragTimes to get in on the action.

Having posted several YouTube videos featuring the Tesla Model S doing pulls at the local strip, DragTimes encountered questions about just how many races that car might be able to run before needing to re-juice its battery pack. The publication monitored the energy being used by the Tesla during full-throttle, quarter-mile runs, and determined that the net use (after energy from the regen braking was added back in) amounted to just 0.5 kWh per go. Considering that the full battery capacity is 85 kWh, DragTimes figured that the Model S is good for a remarkable 170 races before needing a recharge. By that math, and using electricity costs in DragTime‘s home state of Florida, each race would cost just a nickel and a penny’s worth of electricity.

With respect, that theoretical number is probably way too high. For starters, the car would expend some energy getting to and from the starting line between races. Perhaps more critically, the system is designed to not allow for a completely full charge or deletion of charge, so the car can’t use all 85 kWh. Still, 100 runs is in the realm of possibility. In the video below, the narrator makes mention of 150 runs, which is optimistic but more likely. Cheap thrills, in any case (once you’ve paid for the car).

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Tesla Model S costs one nickel per drag race [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #224: Tesla and Top Gear fight, new Beetle, M5, Galibier and Hemi Wrangler

Filed under: Concept Cars, Podcasts, Etc., BMW, Bugatti, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Volkswagen, Shanghai Motor Show, Tesla

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Autoblog Podcast #224 is here. It’s staffed this week by stalwarts Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman and Dan Roth. We talk about Top Gear and its ongoing fight with Tesla Motors, Volkswagen’s decision to unveil the latest Beetle with MTV as a partner, the new BMW M5 Concept headed for Shanghai, Bugatti saying “go” to the Galibier and the possibility of a Hemi-powered Jeep Wrangler. Your feedback in our Q&A module winds us up, and we’ve embedded that in the post below, as well. Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #224: Tesla and Top Gear fight, new Beetle, M5, Galibier and Hemi Wrangler

  • Top Gear’s feud with Tesla
  • New Volkswagen Beetle coming
  • BMW M5 Concept headed to Shanghai
  • Bugatti green-lights the Galibier
  • Hemi Jeep Wrangler?

In the Autoblog Garage:

  • 2011 Dodge Journey
  • 2011 Chrysler 300
  • 2011 Suzuki SX4


Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman
  • Runtime: 01:15:17


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Autoblog Podcast #224: Tesla and Top Gear fight, new Beetle, M5, Galibier and Hemi Wrangler originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear presents its side of story about Tesla Roadster [w/video]

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Government/Legal, Hatchback, Tesla, Electric

Tesla vs. Top Gear

Tesla vs. Top Gear – Click above to view Top Gear’s review after the jump

Tesla has gone to great lengths to publicize its libel suit against Top Gear for the program’s 2008 review of the Tesla Roadster. The suit claims that TG‘s review of the car was rigged, and its assertion that the car doesn’t work in the real world had been decided even before Clarkson drove the car.

Until now, there had been no response from the BBC or Top Gear, other than to say they would defend themselves. According to Top Gear producer Andy Wilman, it’s their policy to hold back any comment until the matter goes to court. Since Tesla has been so vocal about the case, though, Wilman decided to issue a response.

Wilman responds to Tesla’s claims that the show lied about the car’s brakes being broken, that its range is only 55 miles and that an overheated motor immobilized the car. Top Gear says the 55-mile range claim came from Tesla engineers who studied data gathered from the car after the test day. Wilman stands by his show’s claim that the brakes broke, saying a blown fuse in the vacuum pump made pedal effort abnormally high, and that Tesla wouldn’t let them continue the test until the problem was solved.

Whatever side of the matter you stand on, the facts of the case will have to shake out in court. The only thing that seems certain at this point is that the case will likely be long and messy. Click past the jump to see Top Gear‘s original review and draw your own conclusions.

[Source: Top Gear]

Continue reading Top Gear presents its side of story about Tesla Roadster [w/video]

Top Gear presents its side of story about Tesla Roadster [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla lets us peek in on Model S development

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, Hatchback, Tesla, Electric

Tesla Model S Development Facility

Tesla Model S Development Facility – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s not every day that an automaker invites you inside its R&D center. In fact, it’s rare for any OEM to allow journalists into a room that hasn’t been swept floor-to-ceiling for any hint of what’s around the corner. Then again, Tesla isn’t exactly your average automaker.

The electric upstart, with its roots firmly entrenched in the Wild West idealism of Silicon Valley, is in the process of developing and testing its all-new electric sedan – the Tesla Model S – before series production begins next year. So in the Valley’s spirit of openness and transparency, Tesla threw open its doors, corralled a few engineers and execs, and let us poke around its Palo Alto powertrain facility to see how development of the Model S is coming along.

Gallery: Tesla Model S Development Facility

Tesla Model S Development FacilityTesla Model S Development FacilityTesla Model S Development FacilityTesla Model S Development FacilityTesla Model S Development Facility

Photos copyright (C)2011 Damon Lavrinc / AOL

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Tesla lets us peek in on Model S development originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Tesla Model S-based crossover coming to Frankfurt? [UPDATE: Nope]

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Crossover, Tesla, Electric

Tesla Model S

Tesla Model S – Click above for high-res image gallery

Up to this point, the only actual vehicle Tesla Motors has offered for sale is the all-electric Roadster. But the Silicon Valley-based automaker has drummed up a ton of interest and money by showing off its next planned product, the Model S sedan. It looks as if that trend will continue, as a report from the fine folks at Car and Driver suggests a new crossover will be shown off for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This makes some sense, since Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that we’ll get to see the Model X before the end of the year.

Assuming this report is accurate, it’s worth noting that the CUV’s appearance in Frankfurt will mark the first time Tesla has used a major auto show to introduce a new model – both the original Roadster and the Model S sedan were both unveiled in smaller, private events.

The CUV will be based on the same underpinnings as the Model S sedan, which was designed from the start to allow for future model expansion. C&D speculates the crossover will sport all-wheel drive, though it’s not known exactly how such an arrangement will work. It’s possible that Tesla will craft a second powertrain unit that will power the front wheels independently of the rears. We’d expect a similar lithium ion battery pack to be used in the CUV as is planned for the sedan.

Following the unveil of the crossover, development of both a coupe and a larger, likely three-row sport utility vehicle will move forward in full force. There’s also been talk of a carbiolet and possibly a minivan or MPV. Of course, all of this assumes that the startup automaker, which has partnered up with both Daimler and Toyota, doesn’t run out of money before any of these future vehicles come to market. Here’s hoping.

UPDATE: According to our sources at Tesla, we won’t be seeing the Model X in Frankfurt, but it could debut sometime late this year.

Gallery: Tesla Model S in motion

tesla-model-s-large-4tesla-model-s-large-2tesla-model-s-large-1tesla-model-s-large-3tesla-model-s-large-5

[Source: Car and Driver]

Report: Tesla Model S-based crossover coming to Frankfurt? [UPDATE: Nope] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla Model S begins first phase of road testing [w/video]

Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Tesla, Electric

Tesla Model S
Tesla Model S road testing – Click above to watch the video after the break

The last time Tesla Motors released a video about the Model S, it was a lot of talking from the company’s vice president and chief engineer for vehicle engineering, Peter Rawlinson, about engineering the vehicle. Today, new video shows just the opposite. No talking, just pretty pictures.

Almost eerily silent, the video shows the first Alpha build Model S (tons of details on the car here) cruising down rural roads, and it’s a beautiful sight. The car looks like it handles well and makes us the need to get behind the wheel yesterday. Tesla’s Vehicle Dynamicist (we’re guessing thats fancy talk for test driver?) Graham Sutherland said in a statement that:

The first Alpha is amazingly agile for a car of its size. It has great handling balance and poised ride with communicative steering. Just goes to show what combining a low center of gravity with a very stiff body structure can achieve.

Sounds – and looks – good. Let’s hope it gets better. Watch the video after the jump.

[Source: Tesla]

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Tesla Model S begins first phase of road testing [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Tesla says Model S will be profitable thanks to cheaper batteries

Filed under: Sedan, Technology, Earnings/Financials, Tesla, Electric

Tesla Model S

Tesla Model S – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s not exactly a surprise that battery costs for electric vehicles will go down over time, but the big question is by how much and how fast. Tesla Motors, which uses small lithium-ion cells similar to the kind found in laptop computers, believes that lithium-ion pack costs will be low enough to make the $57,000 Model S profitable even though it’ll likely sell in smaller numbers than all-electric competitors like the Nissan Leaf.

That’s what Tesla’s chief technology officer J.B. Straubel told Bloomberg, adding that Nissan has “a cost challenge that will be more difficult to solve. It will require a lot higher volume before they really get to a cost point that is internally sustainable.” Nissan, of course, paints a different picture because it has been developing li-ion technology for almost two decades, but there you have it.

Nissan’s annual sales target for the Leaf, once full production gets going, is in the hundred-thousands, while Tesla hopes to sell around 20,000 units of the Model S a year. The big difference is in the price per kilowatt hour (kWh). Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard told Bloomberg recently that he thinks Tesla’s battery packs might cost just $200 per kWH, while the large-format cells in the Leaf (and most other plug-in vehicles) could cost around $700 to $800 per kWh. Nissan has previously said the Leaf pack costs just under $750 per kWh.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Report: Tesla says Model S will be profitable thanks to cheaper batteries originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Tesla Motors share price drops as IPO lock-up period ends

Filed under: Earnings/Financials, Tesla, Electric

Tesla Motors logoTesla Motors (TSLA) shares were hammered hard near the end of last week and are still dropping as word of the expiration of a 180-day post-IPO lock-up agreement continues to make the rounds. Starting today, 75 million Tesla shares, which had previously been subject to a lock-up agreement restricting their sale, will be eligible for registration.

The automaker’s recent 10-Q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission noted that a fall in share price could possibly coincide with the expiration of the 180-day post-IPO lock-up agreement. The filing’s actual wording reads:

The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of sales of a large number of shares of our common stock in the market in the future, and the perception that these sales could occur may also depress the market price of our common stock.

Tesla shares are currently listed at $25.44, a drop from the $29.36 that they were trading at in early November and a decline from the $32-plus price recorded near the middle of last week.


[Source: Forbes]

Report: Tesla Motors share price drops as IPO lock-up period ends originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla SEC filing reveals Model S has 3,000 deposits

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Hatchback, Earnings/Financials, Tesla, Electric

Tesla Model S SEC filing page

In an 8-K filing posted with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday, Tesla Motors revealed that, by the end of the third quarter, it had already lined up 3,000 buyers, each of whom has coughed up $5,000 required to reserve the automaker’s long-promised Model S. Additional information mentioned in the report suggests that the Model S will eventually obtain a five-star safety rating, feature more cargo room than any other sedan on the market and be designed to accommodate battery-swap technology.

The SEC filing details Tesla’s numerous deals with other automakers, which are briefly outlined below:

  • Tesla received an initial order for 1,500 lithium-ion battery packs for the Smart ForTwo ED
  • Tesla anticipates selling 500 lithium-ion battery packs to Daimler for use in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class electric.
  • The automaker’s cumulative sales to Daimler topped the $12-million mark earlier this year.
  • Tesla expects revenue of $60 million for its part in developing components for the Toyota RAV4 EV.

To read Tesla’s 8-K SEC filing, which is jam-packed with graphics that detail the automaker’s intentions, click here.

Gallery: Tesla Model S

[Source: Securities and Exchange Commission via Tesla Motors]

Tesla SEC filing reveals Model S has 3,000 deposits originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Dec 2010 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla takes a tip from BMW, creates psychedelic Roadster art car

Filed under: Convertible, Tesla, Design/Style, Electric

Laurence Gartel Tesla art car

Laurence Gartel’s Tesla Roadster art car – Click above for high-res image gallery

We love ourselves some art cars. Be it a Warhol-liveried BMW M1 or a crochet-covered Morris Minor, few things flip our collective switch quite like the melding of art and automobiles. Tesla has introduced its first foray into the scene with a Roadster worked up by Laurence Gartel. The artist covered each and every one of the electric sports car’s body panels in a vinyl wrap with a trippy digital swirl design. Gartel has a history of working in digital art having begun experimenting in the medium in the ’70s, and Tesla is a company that identifies with individuals with a technology bent.

Tesla showed its Art Roadster at the Miami Art Basel Festival over the weekend, and the company spent some time motoring around the southern-Florida city during the event. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Laurence Gartel Telsa Art Car

[Source: Tesla]

Continue reading Tesla takes a tip from BMW, creates psychedelic Roadster art car

Tesla takes a tip from BMW, creates psychedelic Roadster art car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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