CAMARO6 - View Single Post - Tesla Motors

SuperFly03 · 07-01-2010, 11:36 AM

I thought I would throw my 2 cents in here.

At the end of the day a 160 mile range is perfectly acceptable for a significant majority of Americans on a day to day basis (think 80%+). Now, the obvious draw back is long road trips would be a hassle but if this were a second car or instead you rented a car for trips then you would be good to go. On a 300 mile range battery pack (granted that's probably another 15k, or so idk) then you should be able to work with it as a primary vehicle save trips from FL to TX. It has it's drawbacks compared to gas cars but at the same time it is very inexpensive to charge and at the same time eliminates emissions and actually makes the world a bit quieter (not something some of us Camaro owners may like *cough* loudmouth exhaust *cough*). It may take 4-5 years to break even at current gas prices (assuming a Model S vs a 40k sedan alternative) but then again there is more to owning an EV car than saving money. It could also take 8-10 years if you compare against a 30k sedan... that is a decision and calculation that has to be made on an individual basis.

Who cares if the power source isn't 100% clean? The idea here isn't to have this awesome alternative which everyone is happy with on day 0 or is a magic bullet to cure every world problem. Instead it is a step in the right direction such that we can ween ourselves off of petroleum which everyone, without exception, should agree has a finite supply and an increasing marginal cost. So what if this isn't a perfect EV vehicle. It is one of the first ones that doesn't completely suck *cough* Nissan Leaf *cough*. Are there better alternatives in terms of value, range, etc? Yes, 100% but someone has to be the early adopter.

I'm actually considering it as a second vehicle (addition to my 5th Gen in my garage) because on an average day I drive in the neighborhood of 60-80 miles total and I need a 4 door sedan. The allure of a $4 fill up, even if it takes charging overnight, is appealing. Additionally, you can fix the cost of your electricity via fixed rate contracts with the power company which adds a certain stability to a family's expense level. With oil you are subject to the whims of investors and OPEC. A study done in 08/09 (forget which) found that more than 50% of all positions held in oil were speculative and held by people who never intended on taking delivery of the oil they purchased. As we have seen there can be significant volatility in the price of gasoline which isn't going to go away. At least with fixed rate electric contracts you don't get sticker shock. You know going in what it will cost you for a year or two or whatever term you choose. Then you visit your contract again when its time to renew but again you know the cost going in.

Do I think it is ready to replace gas engines? Nope, not yet. However, Tesla (and to an extent Nissan and Chevy) have made EV vehicles and brought them to market that can be purchased (Model S in 2012). That is reality and the first step. You have to get something to market that can actually be purchased if things are ever going to move forward.

You can argue the pros and cons and the value aspects all day and you'd be right to do so but regardless. This is progress.

07-01-2010, 11:36 AM	#39
SuperFly03 Drives: 2010 Kona Blue GT500 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 540	I thought I would throw my 2 cents in here. At the end of the day a 160 mile range is perfectly acceptable for a significant majority of Americans on a day to day basis (think 80%+). Now, the obvious draw back is long road trips would be a hassle but if this were a second car or instead you rented a car for trips then you would be good to go. On a 300 mile range battery pack (granted that's probably another 15k, or so idk) then you should be able to work with it as a primary vehicle save trips from FL to TX. It has it's drawbacks compared to gas cars but at the same time it is very inexpensive to charge and at the same time eliminates emissions and actually makes the world a bit quieter (not something some of us Camaro owners may like cough loudmouth exhaust cough). It may take 4-5 years to break even at current gas prices (assuming a Model S vs a 40k sedan alternative) but then again there is more to owning an EV car than saving money. It could also take 8-10 years if you compare against a 30k sedan... that is a decision and calculation that has to be made on an individual basis. Who cares if the power source isn't 100% clean? The idea here isn't to have this awesome alternative which everyone is happy with on day 0 or is a magic bullet to cure every world problem. Instead it is a step in the right direction such that we can ween ourselves off of petroleum which everyone, without exception, should agree has a finite supply and an increasing marginal cost. So what if this isn't a perfect EV vehicle. It is one of the first ones that doesn't completely suck cough Nissan Leaf cough. Are there better alternatives in terms of value, range, etc? Yes, 100% but someone has to be the early adopter. I'm actually considering it as a second vehicle (addition to my 5th Gen in my garage) because on an average day I drive in the neighborhood of 60-80 miles total and I need a 4 door sedan. The allure of a $4 fill up, even if it takes charging overnight, is appealing. Additionally, you can fix the cost of your electricity via fixed rate contracts with the power company which adds a certain stability to a family's expense level. With oil you are subject to the whims of investors and OPEC. A study done in 08/09 (forget which) found that more than 50% of all positions held in oil were speculative and held by people who never intended on taking delivery of the oil they purchased. As we have seen there can be significant volatility in the price of gasoline which isn't going to go away. At least with fixed rate electric contracts you don't get sticker shock. You know going in what it will cost you for a year or two or whatever term you choose. Then you visit your contract again when its time to renew but again you know the cost going in. Do I think it is ready to replace gas engines? Nope, not yet. However, Tesla (and to an extent Nissan and Chevy) have made EV vehicles and brought them to market that can be purchased (Model S in 2012). That is reality and the first step. You have to get something to market that can actually be purchased if things are ever going to move forward. You can argue the pros and cons and the value aspects all day and you'd be right to do so but regardless. This is progress.