I know I haven't RTFM or RTFA on this but perhaps someone here with the knowledge can answer for me just how much hurt this will have on my wallet with regards to my electricity bill?
Unlike gasoline, free electricity is easy to find. For example, hotels would never fill up your gas tank for free. However, if you happen to be staying at a cheap motor inn where the car is parked right in front of the door, being an extension cord and charge the car for free.
If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it.
Seriously.
These cars are what Woz would call "Pricey--even for a first generation."
I am waiting for the Chevy Volt. I don't care what I have to do, that is my next car. If my current car goes FUBAR, then I am buying a Diesel. I just have to find out an American-made diesel that isin't a Mack truck...
The Tesla website says that it will cost you less than 2 cents per mile to charge the battery. It takes 4 hours to charge the battery from dead to full - I imagine this is using the at home charging station and not the mobile charger that can be plugged into the wall.
Plus, they say that the only routine maintenance that you need to have done for the first 100,000 miles is to check the tires and brakes every 12,000 miles or 12 months.
They said the batteries shouldn't see any significant performance drop in the first 100,000 miles.
Now I hope these same, "Green" thinking people making the Tesla will also consider making a more affordable electric car. I'd love to see the day when a simple, small, comfortable, not bare-bones, electric commuter car will cost about the same as a gasoline powered one. I have my fancy-schmanzy people mover mini-van which I use maybe 3 to 4 times a week (less than 125 miles/week). But I do use my 07 Jetta every day to commute to and from work and anywhere in between logging in over 380 miles per week, at least. I would love to trade that car in for a small yet comfortable (think Honda Fit) electric car that won't rape my bank account. And please don't say that these cars: http://www.electric-bikes.com/cars/ready.html#The%20Sparrow are the answer.
I think this is exactly what the Tesla people are after. I read something when this first was announced that their goal was to make a performance car, to convince people like you and me that fully electric is indeed a viable option... not just for the Green-tree-huggers, but also for the extreme performance crowd. I believe that their next project will be a "normal" car, suitable in price and performance for the masses.
This is essentially PR for them, and it seems they have done a great job. I'm looking forward to the next generation along with apeguero...
Given that Woz owns several Hummers, I don't think he would be that sticker shocked by a Tesla. Not that you can buy one now, but they only went for ~$100,000 until they sold out their initial production run.
Yes, you have to be fairly rich to get one, but there are plenty of exotic cars that go for much more. Hell, the Lexus LS08 Hybrid Starts at $104,000, makes the Tesla look down-right affordable.
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I know I haven't RTFM or RTFA on this but perhaps someone here with the knowledge can answer for me just how much hurt this will have on my wallet with regards to my electricity bill?
If you can afford to buy one of these cars, it won't hurt at all.
a lot less than the equivalent you pay for regular gasoline...
Unlike gasoline, free electricity is easy to find. For example, hotels would never fill up your gas tank for free. However, if you happen to be staying at a cheap motor inn where the car is parked right in front of the door, being an extension cord and charge the car for free.
If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it.
Seriously.
These cars are what Woz would call "Pricey--even for a first generation."
I am waiting for the Chevy Volt. I don't care what I have to do, that is my next car. If my current car goes FUBAR, then I am buying a Diesel. I just have to find out an American-made diesel that isin't a Mack truck...
The Tesla website says that it will cost you less than 2 cents per mile to charge the battery. It takes 4 hours to charge the battery from dead to full - I imagine this is using the at home charging station and not the mobile charger that can be plugged into the wall.
Plus, they say that the only routine maintenance that you need to have done for the first 100,000 miles is to check the tires and brakes every 12,000 miles or 12 months.
They said the batteries shouldn't see any significant performance drop in the first 100,000 miles.
Thanks Brian.
Now I hope these same, "Green" thinking people making the Tesla will also consider making a more affordable electric car. I'd love to see the day when a simple, small, comfortable, not bare-bones, electric commuter car will cost about the same as a gasoline powered one. I have my fancy-schmanzy people mover mini-van which I use maybe 3 to 4 times a week (less than 125 miles/week). But I do use my 07 Jetta every day to commute to and from work and anywhere in between logging in over 380 miles per week, at least. I would love to trade that car in for a small yet comfortable (think Honda Fit) electric car that won't rape my bank account. And please don't say that these cars: http://www.electric-bikes.com/cars/ready.html#The%20Sparrow are the answer.
apeguero -
I think this is exactly what the Tesla people are after. I read something when this first was announced that their goal was to make a performance car, to convince people like you and me that fully electric is indeed a viable option... not just for the Green-tree-huggers, but also for the extreme performance crowd. I believe that their next project will be a "normal" car, suitable in price and performance for the masses.
This is essentially PR for them, and it seems they have done a great job. I'm looking forward to the next generation along with apeguero...
Given that Woz owns several Hummers, I don't think he would be that sticker shocked by a Tesla. Not that you can buy one now, but they only went for ~$100,000 until they sold out their initial production run.
Yes, you have to be fairly rich to get one, but there are plenty of exotic cars that go for much more. Hell, the Lexus LS08 Hybrid Starts at $104,000, makes the Tesla look down-right affordable.