Tesla's Model S Sets a New Standard for Battery-Powered Cars

[AVANTI R5]

Until now, there hasn’t been an all-electric car fit for road-tripping. But Tesla’s Model S, due out late in 2012, is made for extended drives. Its battery goes up to 300 miles on a charge. Its cabin is spacious enough for seven passengers. And it can get up to cruising speed fast—the Model S accelerates from 0 to 60 in 5.6 seconds.
BIGGER BATTERY

At 85 kilowatt-hours, the Model S boasts more than triple the battery capacity of the Nissan Leaf. Its thousands of lithium-ion cells use a new electrode chemistry from Panasonic, which could allow them to store more power than other comparably sized cells.
FAST CHARGE

Tesla plans to install proprietary 440-volt charging stations (first along the I-5 Corridor between Los Angeles and San Francisco) built to match up with the Model S’s circuitry. They will provide a full charge in an hour. Standard chargers will require a full night.
TEMPERATURE CONTROL

To protect the motor, circuitry and battery from heat, channels filled with liquid coolant run through the components. Pumps cycle coolant through a front radiator and a pair of A/C condensers. This helps the motor deliver twice the power of its Roadster predecessor.
Tesla Views: Tesla

LIGHT BODY

To increase the sedan’s range, the designers of the Model S kept its weight low with a body constructed from 97 percent aluminum. They added heavier structural steel only where necessary for safety: in central supports and front-end crash zones.
ROOMY CABIN

The Model S’s batteries sit beneath the floor in a large flat pack that spreads the width of the car and about two thirds of its length. This arrangement leaves ample space in the trunk for cargo or two backward-facing jump seats. The main interior holds five adults.
Top Speed:130 mph
Range: 300 miles
Seats: Five adults, two children
Price: $77,400

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[eagle98ak]

I saw one of these at the Detroit auto show and the center consul is hideous.

[elirentz]

Originally Posted by eagle98ak

I saw one of these at the Detroit auto show and the center consul is hideous.

Agreed it doesn't win anything in the looks department as far as the center consul goes. The screen is just too big and seems kind of gimmicky and I'm not sure how nice a touchscreen will be for controls. I still want one though.

[my name is joe]

If this was the same price of Prius you could see the market dropping for Toyota lol

[Aczwild]

Hmmmm 7 seater? Old wagon style jump seats in the rear damn cant imagine that would pass crash tests well for rear impact

[Rootus]

Originally Posted by my name is joe

If this was the same price of Prius you could see the market dropping for Toyota lol

The battery alone probably costs a lot more than an entire Prius.

[sxotty]

Tell me what the warranty is on he battery, then I will decide what I think about it.

[Stanley]

Not to belittle this car - I think it's very cool on many levels. However a 300 mile range does not a road trip car make.

[sn13]

But 300 Mile range takes it from Toy (Leaf/Volt) to Usable for the Group of Americans who commute more than 10 minutes each way. I personally drive 100 miles round trip every day. 300 miles is a good range. 40 miles, is not.

[Indocti Discant]

Originally Posted by sxotty

Tell me what the warranty is on he battery, then I will decide what I think about it.

8 years, unlimited mileage.

[sxotty]

Originally Posted by Indocti Discant

8 years, unlimited mileage.

What does that mean though? Have you read the nissan leaf and volt warranties. They are both 8 years, but they are not at all the same. If you lose 10% after 8 years do they replace it? 20%? 30%? etc. Their website did not say though last I checked.

[GooseMan]

For $50-60K, I'd love to get one of these

[elirentz]

Originally Posted by GooseMan

For $50-60K, I'd love to get one of these

You can get them in that price range (after tax credit) but the range is reduced. IIRC there are three different battery packs of varying size and price.

[Balantz]

I want something like this in the worst way in a few years. God, it's beautiful.

[SCRAPPYDO]

I cannot say it is ugly but it is not beautiful by any means. The new 2013 fusion looks better

[Stanley]

Originally Posted by sn13

But 300 Mile range takes it from Toy (Leaf/Volt) to Usable for the Group of Americans who commute more than 10 minutes each way. I personally drive 100 miles round trip every day. 300 miles is a good range. 40 miles, is not.

There are a lot of folks who can get by with a commuter that has a 40-50 mile range. Isn't "average" annual mileage 12,000? Assuming 100% of that is commuting and you have 3 weeks vacation during which you don't drive at all, that's still less than 50 miles a day. For a family, having a road trip worthy car and an electric commuter makes perfect sense even at a 50 mile range.

[sxotty]

Originally Posted by Stanley

There are a lot of folks who can get by with a commuter that has a 40-50 mile range. Isn't "average" annual mileage 12,000? Assuming 100% of that is commuting and you have 3 weeks vacation during which you don't drive at all, that's still less than 50 miles a day. For a family, having a road trip worthy car and an electric commuter makes perfect sense even at a 50 mile range.

The median distance is more important than average since long distance trips skew the results. The median and average are both covered by 40 miles. The leaf exceeds that, but will wear down. The model S seems fairly pricey to me for just commuting, but to each their own.

[White out]

Great car.

Nick

[CryderSpeed]

This is the first electric car that I could easily own. Would still need a gasser(and an SUV at that) though.

[Len]

Originally Posted by SCRAPPYDO

I cannot say it is ugly but it is not beautiful by any means. The new 2013 fusion looks better

I actually think the car looks great in person. Has a Maserati GT vibe to it. As for the center console, it's not pretty especially when it's turned off, but I would guess that for a car like this, it's more important to look futuristic than pretty.

[Indocti Discant]

Originally Posted by sxotty

What does that mean though? Have you read the nissan leaf and volt warranties. They are both 8 years, but they are not at all the same. If you lose 10% after 8 years do they replace it? 20%? 30%? etc. Their website did not say though last I checked.

you should call them up and ask them.

Originally Posted by sxotty

The median distance is more important than average since long distance trips skew the results. The median and average are both covered by 40 miles. The leaf exceeds that, but will wear down. The model S seems fairly pricey to me for just commuting, but to each their own.

You are obviously not their target market then.

[Masterauto]

So what do you think will happen to the Fisker Karma you all spent $520 million US tax dollars to build a similar car costing $100k, Obamabucks? At least Tesla spends his at home in USA.

[Indocti Discant]

Originally Posted by Masterauto

So what do you think will happen to the Fisker Karma you all spent $520 million US tax dollars to build a similar car costing $100k, Obamabucks? At least Tesla spends his at home in USA.

Charlie sheen show replaced him with demi moore exhusband will drive it now but cancel soon it will be though it is in california.

[HipToBeSquare]

Lithium batteries the entire width of the floorpan of the car?

And what about a side impact crash won't structurally compromise, short out, and potentially incinerate a pile of "thousands" of lithium cells?

Volt has problems starting fires three weeks after the fact, and it's batteries are in the center of the car, as far from crumple zones as they can be, and yet are still affected by impact.

This could burst into lithium fueled flames (1500+ degrees), before people are extracted from the car.

Where was that Audi A7 article again... So much better than this.

[JC]

I definitely want a Model S but I have no where to charge it. Hopefully in a couple years it will make sense for me.

Originally Posted by Masterauto

So what do you think will happen to the Fisker Karma you all spent $520 million US tax dollars to build a similar car costing $100k, Obamabucks? At least Tesla spends his at home in USA.

The money we lent to Fisker is for the Nina, which is built in the US, not for the Karma. All tax payer funds from that loan are required to be spent in the US.