Tesla Model S platform to be used for electric vans and other vehicles, airbrushing optional

Tesla Motors may now be banking on its Model S to help it snag a bigger piece of the electric car market, but it looks like the car's platform may be the real key to the company's near-term success. As just revealed in an official blog post by VP of Business Development Diarmuid O'Connell, Tesla will also be using the platform for a range of other "derivatives," including a minivan, a cross-over utility vehicle and, yes, a full-fledged utility van for both industrial and civic use. Unfortunately, O'Connell didn't have much to say about anything like a launch timeframe or any other details, for that matter, but we wouldn't let that stop you from your starting to plan out some van art. Trust us. It's coming back.

[Via Autoblog Green, image courtesy dcdan]

[Bosco Posted Sep 29th 2009 4:18PM]

The Elvis graphic is good. But a unicorn would be better.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 4:21PM]

But is it *really* optional?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 4:24PM]

Elvis = awesome

[000000 Posted Sep 29th 2009 4:25PM]

Cash for clunker graveyard.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 4:28PM]

I like the Neverending Story conversion van a lot more...

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 4:33PM]

I want a King Of Pop van

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 8:09PM]

Children will love it, in so many ways.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 4:34PM]

if ya gotta have da king at least let it be the slim one

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 4:34PM]

I always did get the biggest kick out of that van whenever I walked by it in DC. (Almost always along C St NE around 7th)

[One Love Posted Sep 29th 2009 4:55PM]

"Tesla Inside"

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 5:14PM]

Marylin Monroe, Elvis and John Wayne all on one van? Add Michael Jackson and it will be a rolling hard-on.

[ramifications Posted Sep 29th 2009 5:39PM]

People dont buy minivans anymore... they buy "SUVs" and "crossovers". Why are they wasting their time/money producing a minivan?

[Mushrooshi Posted Sep 29th 2009 7:30PM]

Last time I checked, SUV/Crossover owners aren't the crowd most likely to look for the environment. If anything, minivan owners are.

[telepheedian Posted Sep 29th 2009 5:42PM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Vq6-S_7a9U