Tesla Model S: The Future Of EVs
Tesla is the only real player in making production electric vehicles at the moment. While GM struggles to get its Chevrolet Volt onto streets and other car companies are building test fleets, Tesla already has 250 electric roadster sports cars sold and more on the way. But, in order to make electric vehicles a household item, you need more than a falshy sports car, you need a practical sedan. That’s where the Model S comes into play. Remember the name, you’ll be seeing it in history books alongside the Ford Model T before long.
What makes the Model S so special? First of all, just look at it. The car is beautiful. No counter-culture styling like the Prius, no eye-hurting body choices like Honda’s thankfully retired first-generation Insight. The Model S is already being compared to top of the line Jaguars, Maserattis, and Aston Martins, and that is heady company for an electric car. What separates the Model S from those vehicles? Aside from the all-electric drivetrain, the price tag is significantly lower. A 300-mile range Model S will have a cost of about $55,000, and the current U.S. tax rebates for electric vehicles will drop that price by about $7,500 in some states.
Tesla is not just making revolutionary steps in vehicle design, though; they’re also revamping the sales structure. The Holy Grail for electric vehicle producers is range. The top of the line Model S will have a range of 300 miles. But the extra batteries needed to reach that range adds cost that could hamstring the car in the market. So, Tesla is planning a number of trim levels. You can get a 160-mile range model, a 230-mile range, or the 300-mile model. This gives consumers a variety of choices that can fit their lifestyles, and makes the Model S much more viable as an everyday car.
Is the Tesla Model S going to be all show and no follow-through? Don’t count on it. The car may be incredibly eco-friendly, but it’s going to provide a lot of performance. The battery cells are built into the floor of the car and the motor is mounted at the rear between the wheels. This provides a low center of gravity, which will help handling, and the motor produces an astonishing 402 horsepower.
When will the Model S hit the streets? 2011 is the goal, and it looks like Tesla will make the deadline. They’re in the process of receiving a $450 million loan from the U.S. government, part of a federal program to finance alternative energy vehicles, which will enable them to build a new factory. Other car companies may talk about their plans to revolutionize the automobile, but Tesla is actually doing it. 2011 can’t come soon enough.
