August 29, 2007
SFist Photo: Tesla Motors' Roadster- the Electric Edsel?
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom zipped around the Wharf today in an extremely swift all-electric Roadster from San Carlos-based Tesla Motors. How many electric vehicles can you see in this photo?
Well, Edsel might be going back a bit too far, but how about Segway Inc. as an apt comparison? Remember 2001, when an electric-powered transportation device backed by famous tech kingpins, politicians, celebrities and $100 million or so in development money was revealed? It was supposed to rock our world? Did IT?
Are there any similarities here with this car? Some hyperbolic coverage from the MSM makes us wonder a bit. Here's an opinion from Washington Post-affiliated Slate - the author was "unbelievably stoked", even after a self-imposed cooling off period. "It's Electric!" Mmm.
If you would like to view the press release from Tesla and Hyatt describing today's trip from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe via Sacramento (will Arnold Schwarzenegger show up to the pit stop?), click here. And if you want some corporate-approved coverage, click here.
But if you would like a more nuanced viewpoint (and a few more photos), see you after the jump!
First of all, this thing accelerates very, very quickly. Fine. Fast electricars are quite the thing these days what with heartthrobs George Clooney and Matt Damon showing interest.
But speed is just what we would expect from a project that, basically, takes lots of new-school batteries and puts them in a carbon fiber-skinned and lengthened Lotus Elise. Our question is how are people going to feel about their vehicles a few miles down the road? Wikipedia is usually a good source for information but last time we looked, a section that included criticism was edited out.
Here are some nuanced views. Play Devil's Advocate here. Learn a little history here. Is conspiracy your bag? Or are you a newshound? Are you a digger? A cranky blogger? There are enough perspectives for all.
We're not yet sure that the hype surrounding this particular car (and the more useful follow-up vehicles that are promised) is justified. Edsel produced about 111,000 vehicles. Will Telsa Motors do more than that? Just asking.
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The day I spend $100k on a car is the day I've won the $250 million Mega Millions Lotto jackpot. Until then, I'll consider a $22k Prius if/when I buy my next automobile. These ZipCar ads are very persuasive though, you know.
Nice Post!
I'll probably never be able to afford one...or even test-drive it. But they seem pretty cool. Really, it's just a sports car...a kick-a$$ sports car.
Hey, did it mess Gavin's hair?
From what I've heard and seen, from people close to the car, it is quite a fine automobile if you can afford it.
He's looking a little hunched-over in that last picture, so he's probably avoiding having his hair touch the headliner at all costs. Eeeuuww! (Sorry, I just don't get hair gel.)
Don't knock Segways until you've driven one. Assuming they'd last 5 years, it would be cost about the same to buy one for every citizen of SF as to operate Muni (and I'd bet you'd get a discount if you ordered 700,000 of them.) Electric technology is expensive: $5K is not unreasonable for lithium ion batteries, regenerative braking, and, according to the Segway guy I run into all the time on BART, enough power to get you over the hill from Berkeley to Orinda. I test drove one a few months ago, but I'm keeping my beater motorcycle for now.
Nothing is going to slow down global warming except for reduced driving. Anyone who thinks some magical car is a panacea that will cure everything is a f**king retard.
Guest [4]:
Driving doesn't cause global warming. Pollution causes global warming. (Concentrate, I know it's hard.)
Apparently, you're unaware of the lead released into the evironment by the batteries in electric cars. Lead emissions = pollution.
The power plants that provide their electricity pollute. Power plants providing electricity = pollution. Should I go on?
Do some research. I know it's hard. Ass.
Lead emissions? The anti lead argument is still being flogged by Limbaugh-style bullshit artists. No current mass-production hybrid car uses lead-acid batteries any more.
The Tesla uses LiIon batteries, one reason it's so expensive. Priuses, Civics, and Fords use NiMh, a little less likely than LiIon to catch fire if mishandled. No lead (except for maybe the 12v accessory battery.)
Lead-acid is a pretty poor choice for mass electric car technology. Even though it's easily recycled, the performance, weight, and environmental effects make NiMh a better choice, and eventually they'll figure out how to mass produce LiIon batteries
I may not be able to afford the $100k model, but i'm salivating at the thought of the $30k models that hopefully will be Tesla's next project. Hope the stars buy up a lot of these to keep them in business.
Does it come with a coke holder? If so I'm sure the guy test driving in the picture will order one.
Great post! Very balanced! Not!
Re: the Segway's designer
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.03/segway_pr.html
"His boldest claim came when he predicted in Time that the Segway "will be to the car what the car was to the horse and buggy."