Tesla Model S Named 'Car of the Year' 303
A reader writes with news that Automobile Magazine has named the all-electric Tesla Model S its Car of the Year. Quoting:
"We weren't expecting much from the Tesla other than some interesting dinner conversation as we considered 'real' candidates like the Subaru BRZ and the Porsche Boxster. In fact, the Tesla blew them, and us, away.
Actually, the Model S can blow away almost anything. 'It's the performance that won us over,' admits editor-in-chief Jean Jennings. 'The crazy speed builds silently and then pulls back the edges of your face. It had all of us endangering our licenses.' Our Model S was of Signature Performance spec, which means its AC induction motor puts out 416 hp and that it blasts to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. ... You'll note that we haven't even discussed Tesla's raison d'etre, which is, in Musk's words, 'To accelerate the advent of electric cars.' That's another credit to the Model S's overall execution and seductive powers. 'The electric motor does not define this car,' says Nelson. But it is, at the end of the day, what makes this very good sport sedan an absolute game changer. The Model S's range, rated by the EPA at 265 miles with the largest battery, finally fits the American conception of driving."
"Model S" (Score:3, Interesting)
Did anyone else get the "Model T" reference? Like Tesla is taking a step back from the harmful environmentally dangerous combustion vehicles and redoing the whole thing. I have to admit this impresses me.
I bet we'll look back in few hundred years from within the confines of our brain jars and enjoy some very fine dream-inspired brandies and smoke about the wonders of the physical world and how foolish we were to think that was a good place to dwell for all eternity.
But until then let's enjoy these new environmentally friendly cars! To go from nowhere to nowhere for no reason other than your boss wants you to, and doing it all in style, without a bad environmental footprint apart from the scrap metal each of these will become one day.
Just showing up is 90 per cent (Score:3, Interesting)
1) Tesla is leading the electric-car market mindshare for the simple reason that they've actually shipped a product, unlike perpetual bullshit machines BYD and Coda, who ship nothing but vaporware (wait, no - I think BYD eventually managed to get a few dozen out the door a few months ago, or something like that).
2) Think and Smart are/were doomed because they shipped crap that no-one was interested in. WTF is a "neighborhood electric vehicle"? I want a fucking ELECTRIC CAR, not a low-speed electric shitbox.
3) Series hybrids have a niche (garbage trucks and buses, mostly), and passenger cars are not that niche. This is why the Volt and Karma are failures.
4) Where are the lithium-air batteries?
5) The E 300 Bluetec HYBRID is cool.
Re:Exactly Re:Exactly. 78k is luxury territory (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm really happy for the technology to keep rolling forward, and maybe someday the electric car becomes an economical choice.
Re:Exactly Re:Exactly. 78k is luxury territory (Score:5, Interesting)
I think EVs are economical now. That's why I bought one! Because it was the cheapest option.
There are some caveats, though. In order for them to make sense, you first need to be in a position to buy a $35K car, and you need to have a long-enough time horizon for the lower electricity costs to pay for the premium over a comparable gas car. You also need to have driving patterns that stay within the electric range, with enough time between trips for recharging. Related to driving patterns, if you ever drive well beyond the range of the electric, you need a cost-effective alternative. In my case I already have two gasoline-powered cars and needed a third vehicle (there will soon be five drivers in my house!), so it's reasonable for me to fall back on the gas cars when necessary. Another alternative, if you don't need to make longer trips often, is to rent. Finally, you need to get tax credits. Without the available tax credits the EVs are middle-of-the-road options. Not terrible, but not great.
Of course, all of this will get better: range will improve, charging time will decrease, cost will come down. But there's a chance that an EV may be an economical choice for you now.
Re:You can buy an EV today at affordable price (Score:4, Interesting)
lol, what do you haul things with, or do you rent a truck from Home Depot every time you want to pull your boat, trailer, etc?
Toys...
I just got a 2012 Leaf (which I love -- awesome little car), and I also have a camp trailer (28'), a boat (20') and an ATV trailer, so I think I'm well-positioned to answer your question:
I pull the toys with my Dodge Durango. I commute and go to the grocery store and take the kids to school and etc., etc., in the Leaf.
Does that answer your question?