Tesla Roadster = $100,000 Brick

[Track Addict]

I again ponder why anyone would pay a HUGE markup for a slower, less reliable, less powerful, significantly heavier Lotus?

I really hope this happens to every Tesla owner, bunch of tree hugging sportscar posers.

I can't imagine trying to purchase a used *insert hybrid/electric* car in 15 years. These cars will never be "barn finds" unless you plan to build a house out of them.

 

[sahtt]

Tesla has taken notice and responded - http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/plug-it

February 24, 2012
Plug It In
By Tesla Motors
TAGS: CORPORATE / ELECTRIC / ROADSTER /
14 comments
A single blogger is spreading a rumor about electric vehicles becoming inoperable. “Bricking” is an irrational fear based on limited information and a misunderstanding of Tesla’s battery system. Here is why the rumor is unfounded:

Of the many pleasures that Tesla owners have, one of the most appreciated is nearly worry-free maintenance of their vehicles. As an owner, you no longer have to worry about constant oil changes, exhaust checks, or spark plug replacements. You can drive it for many years by simply plugging it in when needed, and performing maintenance once a year. If anything goes wrong, call us. We’re always happy to hear from our owners. Tesla routinely provides exceptional service that is above and beyond what people have come to expect.

In return, we ask that you remember to charge it. A plugged-in Tesla is not only charging its battery, it is also keeping key systems within the car functioning properly. Tesla owners around the world keep their cars charged on a daily basis without any issues at all. If ever the battery in your Tesla runs low, the car is designed to let you know with repeated visual and audible warnings. If you continue to ignore the warnings, they will persist and increase. The vehicle also protects the battery itself by communicating with other systems in the car to conserve energy when the state of charge gets too low. Starting with Roadster 2.0, owners can also elect for their car to contact Tesla headquarters once the state of charge falls below a specified level, and we can then contact the owner.

Even in cases of neglect, the latest Tesla batteries are industry leaders. The earliest Roadsters will take over two months to discharge if parked at a 50 percent charge without being plugged in. From that starting point, Tesla has consistently innovated and improved our battery technology. For example, a Model S battery parked with 50 percent charge would approach full discharge only after about 12 months. Model S batteries also have the ability to protect themselves as they approach very low charge levels by going into a “deep sleep” mode that lowers the loss even further. A Model S will not allow its battery to fall below about 5 percent charge. At that point the car can still sit for many months. Of course you can drive a Model S to 0 percent charge, but even in that circumstance, if you plug it in within 30 days, the battery will recover normally.

All cars require a certain amount of attention to perform properly. If you drive a gasoline engine with no oil it will fail completely and need to be replaced. The same happens if you drive without sufficient coolant or a broken fan belt and don’t heed the warning signs displayed by the car. At Tesla, we provide many redundant visual and audible warnings if your battery ever needs attention. And from Roadster 2.0 and beyond, your Tesla can even let us know it needs your attention. If that happens, we simply contact you and suggest you charge your car.

Owning a Tesla is easy. We design our cars to require minimal maintenance and have included many ways for the car to take care of itself. We have also continually advanced our technology with each new model released. Model S and Model X will have batteries that can sit unplugged for over a year when parked with only a 50 percent charge. And when that year is up, all you need to do is plug it in.

 

[CL65 Captain]

And if the battery does die, that will be $40k please. I think that's great that Tesla speaks out and says our shit doesn't break. But obviously in real life it does and they aren't going to do anything about it.

 

[passline]

"With more research and incentives, we can break our dependence on oil with biofuels, and become the first country to have 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015." .........

Barack Obama, Jan. 2011

 

[steveny]

And if the battery does die, that will be $40k please. I think that's great that Tesla speaks out and says our shit doesn't break. But obviously in real life it does and they aren't going to do anything about it.

I find it strange they didn't address the price. When I was at the factory/ I was told battery replacements were 15k.

If diesel makes sense but is not being implemented its most likely a result of the proper people not profiting. Im gonna guess a lot of money has been spent pushing hybrids. Who makes the profit is more important than what actually works best.

 

[kookoo4nsx]

who makes the profit is more important than what actually works best.

this^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Aluminsx]

I think Tesla's response is pretty darn good. I still don't like battery powered cars but if there is a market for them and folks are willing to pay 100k for one then so be it.

Tesla has taken notice and responded - http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/plug-it

February 24, 2012
Plug It In
By Tesla Motors
TAGS: CORPORATE / ELECTRIC / ROADSTER /
14 comments
A single blogger is spreading a rumor about electric vehicles becoming inoperable. “Bricking” is an irrational fear based on limited information and a misunderstanding of Tesla’s battery system. Here is why the rumor is unfounded:

Of the many pleasures that Tesla owners have, one of the most appreciated is nearly worry-free maintenance of their vehicles. As an owner, you no longer have to worry about constant oil changes, exhaust checks, or spark plug replacements. You can drive it for many years by simply plugging it in when needed, and performing maintenance once a year. If anything goes wrong, call us. We’re always happy to hear from our owners. Tesla routinely provides exceptional service that is above and beyond what people have come to expect.

In return, we ask that you remember to charge it. A plugged-in Tesla is not only charging its battery, it is also keeping key systems within the car functioning properly. Tesla owners around the world keep their cars charged on a daily basis without any issues at all. If ever the battery in your Tesla runs low, the car is designed to let you know with repeated visual and audible warnings. If you continue to ignore the warnings, they will persist and increase. The vehicle also protects the battery itself by communicating with other systems in the car to conserve energy when the state of charge gets too low. Starting with Roadster 2.0, owners can also elect for their car to contact Tesla headquarters once the state of charge falls below a specified level, and we can then contact the owner.

Even in cases of neglect, the latest Tesla batteries are industry leaders. The earliest Roadsters will take over two months to discharge if parked at a 50 percent charge without being plugged in. From that starting point, Tesla has consistently innovated and improved our battery technology. For example, a Model S battery parked with 50 percent charge would approach full discharge only after about 12 months. Model S batteries also have the ability to protect themselves as they approach very low charge levels by going into a “deep sleep” mode that lowers the loss even further. A Model S will not allow its battery to fall below about 5 percent charge. At that point the car can still sit for many months. Of course you can drive a Model S to 0 percent charge, but even in that circumstance, if you plug it in within 30 days, the battery will recover normally.

All cars require a certain amount of attention to perform properly. If you drive a gasoline engine with no oil it will fail completely and need to be replaced. The same happens if you drive without sufficient coolant or a broken fan belt and don’t heed the warning signs displayed by the car. At Tesla, we provide many redundant visual and audible warnings if your battery ever needs attention. And from Roadster 2.0 and beyond, your Tesla can even let us know it needs your attention. If that happens, we simply contact you and suggest you charge your car.

Owning a Tesla is easy. We design our cars to require minimal maintenance and have included many ways for the car to take care of itself. We have also continually advanced our technology with each new model released. Model S and Model X will have batteries that can sit unplugged for over a year when parked with only a 50 percent charge. And when that year is up, all you need to do is plug it in.

 

[jond]

I think Tesla's response is pretty darn good. I still don't like battery powered cars but if there is a market for them and folks are willing to pay 100k for one then so be it.

I'm not sure I agree 100%. They seem to acknowledge the issue while placing blame at a reporters feet. 'All you need to do is keep it charged' is their answer?

Look on ebay at how many miles people drive these. There's two 4 year old ones, one with 600 miles and another with 4,000 miles. They're nice weather weekend toys.
I would imagine it would be very easy for someone to park it in their detached garage that they rarely go in, with the charge almost empty, and forget to plug it in. Obviously it's not happening to 50% of owners, but the question is, does it happen...

With this new knowledge, there's little excuse for owners, but prior to this, if the owners didn't know any better...

.

 

[Tom239]

I find it strange they didn't address the price. When I was at the factory/ I was told battery replacements were 15k.

He may not have been telling you what's in the fine print :smile:

From what I've read on the web, the low battery price was if you
pay in advance, as described in their Battery Replacement Agreement:
"Tesla will provide a one time battery replacement for your Tesla Roadster,
which you may redeem (with exceptions indicated below) after the seventh
year of ownership from the original vehicle sale date."
That plan applied if "you execute this Agreement within three months of
taking ownership of your Roadster."

We can infer how much the batteries cost right now from the pricing
of the Tesla Model S, which varies according to what size battery you get:
40 KWh: $49,900
60 KWh: $59,900
85 KWh: $69,900

If diesel makes sense but is not being implemented its most likely a result of the proper people not profiting. Im gonna guess a lot of money has been spent pushing hybrids. Who makes the profit is more important than what actually works best.

A big part of why diesel isn't seen much in passenger cars now is that the exhaust is dirty.

 

[queenlives]

They seem to acknowledge the issue while placing blame at a reporters feet. 'All you need to do is keep it charged' is their answer?

simple handwavium.