Tesla gets 500+ Model S bookings in first week
Apr 3, 2009 Auto Tech, Green Technologies, Social Initiatives, Startups
A week after unveiling the all electric Model S sedan, Tesla says that 520 customers have shelled out $5,000 each for reserving the car which is scheduled to be on roads in 2011.
The base price for the Model S, which will be available starting in 2010, is $57400, before a federal tax credit of $7,500 in US, a bargain compared to the Roadster’s $105000 price tag. A limited edition of the Model S is also available for a $40,000 reservation fee.
The base Model S will do 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds (compared to the Roadster’s 3.9 seconds) and has an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph. The car will be available with a variety of battery options with upto 300 miles per charge.
Tesla Model S is here
Mar 27, 2009 Auto Tech, Green Technologies
Tesla Model S
After teasing us for months, Tesla took the wraps off its Model S, its all electric family sedan. It is currently accepting bookings. So, if you are interested, you could head over to their website and place your order now, though production will start from 2011!
The standard Model S does 0-60 mph (0-100 kmph) in under 6 seconds and will be electronically limited to 130 mph. Sports versions will have under 5 second 0-60 mph time! Just like the Tesla Roadster, the Model S will have a single speed gearbox.
The Model S will offer various battery configurations with a range of upto 300 miles (480kms). It will carry its charger onboard and can be recharged from any 120V, 240V or 480V outlet, with the latter taking only 45 minutes.
Model S and Roadster
So one could go out for a drive in the morning and let it charge at a public charging outlets being set up by Better Place or Coulomb Technologies, while you enjoy your lunch and then drive off into the horizon! When these start offering battery swap stations, you could also swap your discharged floor mounted battery in less than the time it takes to fill up at a gas station and make a scorching getaway.
The interiors are no less alluring, with a 17-inch touchscreen with in-car 3G connectivity allows passengers to listen to internet Pandora Radio or consult Google Maps, or check their state of charge remotely from their iPhone or laptop!
All this comes with prices starting at $57400 and thats before a government tax credit of $7500 further sweetens the deal in US.
US allocates $2.4 billion for greener automobiles
Mar 24, 2009 Auto Tech, Green Technologies
US President Obama
US President Barack Obama reiterated his promise for a greener US, at his latest speech at Edison Electric Vehicle Technical Center in Pomona, California, announcing plans for a $2.4 billion infusion into the US domestic electric vehicle industry. The funds will be drawn from the $787 billion economic stimulus law and will include plans like a $7500 tax credit for purchasing a plug-in hybrid.
The new funding for electric vehicles will be divided between the automakers and the parts suppliers. The automakers will receive $1.5 billion, while parts makers who are building electronic vehicle components will get $500 millions. These will be in form of loan guarantees and other investments. The remaining $400 million will be devoted to research and on building infrastructure. Both electric vehicle repair centers and community charging stations are targets for this funding. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Barack Obama, EV, Solyndra
Renault looking at an electrifying future
Feb 28, 2009 Auto Tech, Green Technologies
Renault EVs coming soon!
Renault is stepping up its electric vehicle research and development efforts with the grand goal of having a third of its vehicle line-up go electric within a decade. In the recent future, Renault plans to have three battery-powered models on sale by 2011: an electric Kangoo van, a Clio-sized five-seat hatch and a larger saloon designed primarily for Israel but which would also be sold across Europe.
All three new models will use NEC lithion-ion batteries, jointly developed with Nissan, and have a range of at least 100 miles. Nissan-Renault has tied up with Better Place in several countries like US, Denmark and Israel to simultaneously set up public charging points and release electric vehicles.
Perhaps to hedge its technology bets, sister company Nissan is working on hybrids and fuel cell vehicles.
Tags: Better Place, Coulomb, EV, Nissan, Renault
Tesla teases with another Model S shot
Feb 23, 2009 Auto Tech, Green Technologies
Model S
Tesla has just released another teaser shot of its Model S sedan, that will be unveiled to the public on March 26. The Model S will be first available to the early adopters of the Tesla Roadster.
Tesla must be happy with the passing of the recent economic stimulus bill in US, as it is awaiting government funds for its future plans. It must also be feeling encouraged by the setting up of more public electric vehicle charging points, which will encourage the adoption of electric vehicles.
Tesla had released another shot of the Model S last week. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: EV, Model S, Tesla, Tesla Roadster
VW-Toshiba to collaborate on EV tech
Feb 14, 2009 Auto Tech
Volkswagen UP!
VW and Toshiba have just teamed up to develop electric drive systems and power electronics together. So, sometime in future, near or distant, you may find these electric drive systems being used in battery-powered versions of the New Small Family (NSF) cars, the production variant of the Up! series of concepts first seen in 2007.
Volkswagen has been planning to use the Up! derivatives for global small car platform under its different brands (and in different countries, including India) and an electric motor may be one of the powerplant options. It remains to be seen if Volkswagen, which gave the world the Beetle, the original “People’s Car” can rework its magic in the electric vehicle market by coming up with an affordable yet practical EV.
Startups like Better Place and Coulomb Tech are already putting in place public electric vehicle charging stations in anticipation of EV and plug-in hybrids’ rollout. And Tesla and Fisker are challenging the conventional carmaking giants with their own products, the Roadster, Model S and the Karma.
GM releases teaser shots of Volt for Europe: Opel Ampera
Jan 28, 2009 Auto Tech
Opel Ampera
Chevrolet Volt, the extended range EV, on which rests the big weight of turning around GM’s fortunes, may be seen in European showrooms as well, but rechristened as Opel Ampera. GM released a teaser shot today and we may find out more details at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.
The Ampera looks almost the same as the Volt with the Chevrolet bowtie being replaced by the ‘electrifying’ Opel logo. Its 60 kmpl figure also matches the Volt’s touted 40 miles per gallon. But who cares? There is no such thing as too much of a good thing and we will be happier to see such cars in India and China as well. It may also be shipped to UK under the Vauxhall brand.
Read more at GM’s Fastlane Blog and Driving Conversations Blog.
Shelby debuts world’s fastest electric supercar
Jan 28, 2009 Auto Tech
SSC Ultimate Aero
Shelby Supercars (SSC) has come out with details of its upcoming electric supercar. Tighten your seat belts before you read the specs: the SSC Ultimate Aero EV will have an electric motor producing over 1,000 horsepower that will power the vehicle from 0-60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds and then to a top speed of 208 mph!
No word on the pricing yet, but this definitely is the electric vehicle with the most drool quotient.
And this staggering performance isn’t all. The company claims that charging the Aero EV’s battery could be done in 10 minutes, which will provide enough juice for 150-200 miles.
SSC is also touting the scalable nature of its All-Electric Scalable Powertrain (AESP) which can come in different specs, from 200 horsepower for economy and midsize cars, to 500 horsepower for light trucks and SUVs, and up to 1,200 horsepower for delivery trucks, heavy-duty equipment, buses and military vehicles!
If SSC can deliver on its promise to start Ultimate Aero EV deliveries as early as fourth quarter 2009, Tesla will be left in the tyre smoke.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: EV, SSC, Ultimate Aero EV
Tesla CEO sends email and invites for a meeting
Jan 25, 2009 Auto Tech
Tesla Roadster
Trying to combat all the negative publicity after its recent price hike for its Roadster, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk has now sent an explanatory email to all the disgruntled buyers. It has also announced a set of town hall meetings, scheduled for the 26th and 27th at its Los Angeles and Menlo Park stores, respectively and hosted by Elon and other staff. The events can be attended in person or by phone.
The almost apologetic email explains the price increases by linking the need for Tesla Motors to prove that they can make a profit, to securing loans to advance the making of the Tesla S sedan. It also informs how the cost estimates have increased spectacularly amindst delays and engineering challenges.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: EV, Solar cells, Tesla Motors
Tesla buyers face new uncertainities
Jan 21, 2009 Auto Tech
Tesla Roadster
Tesla has stirred up a hornet’s nest of controversies by telling a number of people who had already placed hefty deposits (as much as $50,000 dollars) for its Roadster and picked their options that their spot in the line was in jeopardy if they didn’t re-option their rides.
The problem is that the buyers who had placed deposits were told that they would need to pay more for the vehicles that they had already ordered and optioned to their liking. The price of a Roadster with the standard feature set has been increased by $6,700.
The cost of the High Performance Charger that allows owners to recharge the batteries in the Roadster in as little as 3.5-hours was increased in price to $3,000 according to Autoblog. The previously stock set of alloy wheels is now a $2,300 upgrade. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: electric cars, EV, Tesla, Tesla Roadster