Tesla Model S News

Projected EPA Range Ratings Emerge for All Versions of Tesla Model S

Eric Loveday — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:00:45 +0000

Pick your Tesla Model S based on required range. Is it 265 miles? 200 miles? Or is 140 miles sufficient?

Tesla Model S Range Exceeds Even Tesla's Expecations

Eric Loveday — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:55:56 +0000

Tesla compares the range of the Model S to the Roadster at constant speeds under the 2-cycle EPA test procedure.

Video: Tesla Tests Model S in Snow and Sub-Zero Temperatures

Eric Loveday — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:16:55 +0000

This past winter, Tesla was busy testing its upcoming Model S in the snow and frigid temperatures. Now, the automaker released a brief video showing how the Model S coped with the extreme conditions in Buadette, Minnesota, one of the coldest cities in the continental US.

Tesla states:

"This winter Model S took a trip to Baudette, Minnesota, one of the coldest places in the continental United States. Tesla engineers worked for days in sub-zero weather in order to put Model S through a rigorous set of demanding winter driving tests.

"The Automotive Enviro Testing facility offered us 820 acres of snow and ice and 19 different courses of varied winter terrain.

Carlos Ghosn, the Undisputed Electric Car Leader in Geneva

Laurent J. Masson — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:59:07 +0000

Carlos Ghosn unveils the electric Renault Zoe in Geneva.

There was only one new electric car in Geneva this year. Some had expected an electric version of the wonderful new Mercedes A-Class, but it wasn't there. Nor was the plug-in hybrid version of the new Mitsubishi Outlander. There was only a mock-up of its drivetrain next to the standard diesel version. It will be introduced later this year in the Japanese market, before being available globally in 2013.

Tesla Video: Model S Will Be Best Sedan on the Planet

Brad Berman — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:42:37 +0000

In a new promotional video released today by Tesla Motors, the company confirms that it will introduce the Model S electric sedan in 2012. Moreover, Tesla executives set the highest possible level of expectation by reiterating its claim that the Model S will be, “the best sedan on the planet.”

Those are the words of Franz Von Holzhausen, the vehicle’s chief designer. He’s not saying the best electric car, but the absolute best performance sedan available to consumers.

Von Holzhausen attributes his lofty claims to the unique architecture of the Model S. “There's no car out there designed around an electric powertrain, around a battery pack in the floor, and around the motor and the gearbox between the rear wheels,” said Von Holzhausen.

Poll: Tesla Model S Buyers Willing To Spend Big for Extra Range

Eric Loveday — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:53:59 +0000

Tesla sets a new trend by offering its Model S with varying degrees of range. Meanwhile, "encore" versions of the Tesla Roadster will be offered with new features.

According to a poll of potential buyers at TeslaMotorsClub.com, more than 51 percent will opt for the performance version of the 2012 Tesla Model S with an 85 kilowatt-hour battery pack. This version boasts a driving range of 300 miles, and can carry a price tag exceeding $92,000. In contrast, only 16 percent would opt for the least expensive 40-kWh version of the Model S. When equipped with the 40-kWh battery pack, the Model S's range dips to 160 miles. What about the middle ground? Nearly 20 percent of potential Model S buyers would opt for the mid-level, 60-kWh version of Tesla's electric sedan.

Misreading Tesla’s Stock Price, and Future of Electric Cars

Brad Berman — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:13:27 +0000

Tesla stock was downgraded by Morgan Stanley despite the upcoming launch of the 2012 Tesla Model S.

As 2011 closes, electric car fans are wondering if the momentum established this past year can build into a breakthrough year for EVs in 2012. The signs are positive, with a dozen or more new plug-in models for consumers to consider in the next 12 months. But at least one indicator—namely the assessment of Tesla Motors by Wall Street—suggests that the expansion of exciting new electric car offerings might not mean wide popular acceptance of EVs in the coming year.

In other words, even stellar new products like the Tesla Model S might not be enough to satisfy common perception on Wall Street and Main Street.

Exclusive Interview: Elon Musk Shows Cool Confidence About Tesla's Future

Jim Motavalli — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:32:06 +0000

Elon Musk: 320-mile range in the Model S, a unique charging system, and big plans for half a million cars a year. (Jim Motavalli photo)

Elon Musk keeps his cool, whether he’s touting Tesla Motors’ latest innovation, disparaging the competition, or predicting where the business is going. In conversations by telephone and in person over coffee at the Tesla showroom in Los Angeles, Musk (named Tech Innovator of the Year by the Wall Street Journal Magazine recently) demonstrated command of the company’s business down to the molecular level.

Tesla's Elon Musk Named Innovator of the Year by WSJ

Eric Loveday — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:25:51 +0000

Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk wins prestigious award.

Few New Details Emerge from Customer Event about Tesla Model S

Brad Berman — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 22:02:50 +0000

Last weekend, Tesla held an event for customers who preordered its upcoming $57,400 Model S sedan. The event was designed to accelerate buzz for the vehicle, which is less than two years away from production. According to Reuters, the main message from Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk was to ask the crowd to "talk up the car."

Customers were not given the opportunity to drive, but the ride from passenger seats was described as very quiet and refined. Beyond the promotion, what concrete items did we learn about Tesla’s second model? Here’s the beginning of a list.