Tesla in the real world...

[Xcentric]

2013 sales of electric and plug-in hybrids = 0.6% of total vehicle sales. Yep...that's how far we've made it even with enormous subsidies and tax credits. I'm waiting for you guys to thank all the rest of us for subsidizing cars that 99% can't afford. Meanwhile, the really viable technologies, like clean diesel, are ignored by policy.

OTOH, I saw a Fisker Karma on the road today. How rare is that? What a beautiful car. Love to have one with...say...a honkin Chevy V8.`

 

[BlackICE]

I hope no one is counting on electric cars becoming a collectable. The market will be real small, only for those like EP, that never drive them. All of the batteries and electronics will be worn out of broken down and obsolete with no replacement parts in the future. Think of them as expensive disposable razors, or more accurately like any other electronic consumer product, cell phones, TVs, computers...

 

[twobjshelbys]

Just drove I- 70 from Vail Co. to Pittsburgh in 2 drive days of about 12 hrs each. No trailer just my 20014 F-150 Eco Boost Truck. The mileage not so good with the Max Trailer Tow axle..(about 15 mpg) . Cruised at about 85 mph and ran into snow and ice storms in Co. and in Ohio/ West Va. Many, many smaller cars and trucks in the ditch. Eighteen wheelers crowding the center lane and stopping at the "Chain-up stations" especially near Vail Pass.. Very cold and salty slush everywhere. A rugged environment.
But with the F-Series, 36 gallon fuel tank, 560 mile range , 4 WD and a good set of tires, I never have any range-anxiety or worry about not being able to go where I want , when I want ...unless I get caught in a 50 car/truck pileup ...like on the Ohio Turnpike . But then...everyone is stuck, not moving , trying to keep warm , using fuel .
I guess each vehicle has its plusses and minuses, but for me I never want to worry about range or bad weather...
Trucks
ajb (andy)

Oh you must have hit the same storm we drove through on Vail Pass to Idaho Springs. We drove through it yesterday morning. By that time it was only snowing still on (mostly) the eastern side of the tunnels. When we exited the western side (going west) it was like night and day difference, but the ice pack on the road was a white knuckle drive. We were towing a trailer which added to the excitement.

 

[RALPHIE]

With the prediction that the Monterey Slope is quite a bit bigger that the Bakken, and others being found, it looks like the fuel from oil is going to be around for quite a while longer. There's a prediction that the US will soon become an oil exporting nation!

 

[Empty Pockets]

Wifey and I love the looks of the Tesla "S"...but, neither of us can get past the lack of an aux engine to charge the battery(s) in the event we exceeded the car's range and such were needed.

Regardless, from the standpoint of reality, the Tesla's range should MORE that cover any distance that wifey and I would normally travel away from home. If we intended to travel beyond that, we have other cars we could take.

Still...:willy:willy:willy

 

[BlackICE]

Wifey and I love the looks of the Tesla "S"...but, neither of us can get past the lack of an aux engine to charge the battery(s) in the event we exceeded the car's range and such were needed.

Regardless, from the standpoint of reality, the Tesla's range should MORE that cover any distance that wifey and I would normally travel away from home. If we intended to travel beyond that, we have other cars we could take.

Still...:willy:willy:willy

I am quite confident that if you left your home with the T S fully charged it will always meet your "driving" needs.

 

[Specracer]

I have zero interest in a car that runs exclusively on a battery. I really don't want a car with a battery that does anything more than start the IC engine. However this opinion is slowing coming around with kers use like in the 918 and P1. Ill be dammed if I will ever drive a Prius or volt etc.

 

[Brombear]

Considering all the controverse discussion going on in the automotive communities Tesla must been doing something right. If their offering is for anyone or only a niche market is something to be found out. I am quite happy about the changes Happening in this market, quite frankly there was not soo much drastic progress in the last 20 years (revolution vs. Evolution). It will be more than interesting to see how this going to end up, but who'd thought that such a small player coming out of nowhere could make such a buzz.

PS: no tesla at home, none ordered nor invested into stock (which would have offered some nice earnings during the past 12 months)

 

[Cobrar]

I have zero interest in a car that runs exclusively on a battery. I really don't want a car with a battery that does anything more than start the IC engine. However this opinion is slowing coming around with kers use like in the 918 and P1. Ill be dammed if I will ever drive a Prius or volt etc.

You can drive my new Prius at Carlisle in June and then make an informed judgment. In the interim, I asked for a special parking place at Carlisle ~ Lance indicated over by the dumpster would work. :rofl

 

[Cobrar]

.. nor invested into stock (which would have offered some nice earnings during the past 12 months)

Be careful going forward, Tesla is clearly being valued as a technology stock, not a manufacturer. Last I looked, I think Tesla's market cap was around ~ $30B. Unless they come up with come breakthrough battery technology that Panasonic needs (soon), you may find better risk/reward alternatives.

 

[Vincent998]

With the prediction that the Monterey Slope is quite a bit bigger that the Bakken, and others being found, it looks like the fuel from oil is going to be around for quite a while longer. There's a prediction that the US will soon become an oil exporting nation!

It already is, and has been for years. Check it out!

 

[Brombear]

Sorry, I should have clearly Expressed that this is NOT a FUTURE stock Invest advise. I was just stating the past.

 

[Cobrar]

Sorry, you were very clear. I was just restating the semingly obvious. Some folks are speculating that there is another $100/share near term.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I have zero interest in a car that runs exclusively on a battery. I really don't want a car with a battery that does anything more than start the IC engine. However this opinion is slowing coming around with kers use like in the 918 and P1. Ill be dammed if I will ever drive a Prius or volt etc.

You might change your mind if a network of nationwide 'battery swapping stations' were to be set up. IOW, places where one could drive in, swap ones depleated battery "A" for a fully charged battery "B", and be 'off' in the same amount of time as one spends refueling an I.C. car.

But, something like that would require 'standardized' batteries be installed in every all-electric car in a standardized way...and a whole host of other considerations.

(Since an all-electric car uses zero gas and therefore its owner pays zero in gas taxes, what do you suppose govt will do to recoup the lost tax $$$ [and you know it will!])? My bet is the car's license tabs will end up costing something like $137,428.00 per year...YRMV depending on what the mandatory, sealed, factory-installed 'mileage tax meter' reads at license tab time.)

 

[RaceDeck]

You might change your mind if a network of nationwide 'battery swapping stations' were to be set up. IOW, places where one could drive in, swap ones depleated battery "A" for a fully charged battery "B", and be 'off' in the same amount of time as one spends refueling an I.C. car.

But, something like that would require 'standardized' batteries be installed in every all-electric car in a standardized way...and a whole host of other considerations.

(Since an all-electric car uses zero gas and therefore its owner pays zero in gas taxes, what do you suppose govt will do to recoup the lost tax $$$ [and you know it will!])? My bet is the car's license tabs will end up costing something like $137,428.00 per year...YRMV depending on what the mandatory, sealed, factory-installed 'mileage tax meter' reads at license tab time.)

No doubt a highway 'user tax' will be coming soon with all of the MPG regulations and EV / Hybrids hitting the roads, to make up for the fuel tax revenue losses.. I agree, Tesla and cars like it are not likely to be collectors in the future, these are daily drivers. On the note that they are disposable after time? maybe, but the way the Tesla is built is all modular...the battery swap takes about 90 seconds, the motor is a simple contained bolt-in system that could be swapped out easily... the rest is like any other car to upkeep and/or restore... I don't see myself owning mine more than 3-5 years, unlike my GT and other collectables that I plan on keeping for a long while...

 

[Xcentric]

No doubt a highway 'user tax' will be coming soon with all of the MPG regulations and EV / Hybrids hitting the roads, to make up for the fuel tax revenue losses...

Exactly. And why should they be exempt? They wear out the roads like the rest of us. Well, maybe not as much, unless they can do burnouts.

 

[Specracer]

Yeah... In the dumpster.

Lance indicated over by the dumpster would work. :rofl

So what happens when China cleans up its raw materials mining, and on the comment below? Good luck there....

Im sure my opinion will change away from IC, maybe in the LONG run, but nothing in the foreseeable future interests me.

But, something like that would require 'standardized' batteries be installed in every all-electric car in a standardized way...and a whole host of other considerations.)

 

[Empty Pockets]

...I don't see myself owning mine more than 3-5 years...

Knowing everything you now know, would you buy another?

 

[Cobrar]

Im sure my opinion will change away from IC, maybe in the LONG run, but nothing in the foreseeable future interests me.

The good new for you and I, there are many years remaining for IC product. Enabling technologies continue to come to market and complementary chassis light weighting efforts serve to extend the timeframe out a bit.

But, look for (lower budget) Porsche 918 hybrid-like stuff to help us transition our way to the future... :wink

 

[Specracer]

And we will probably be gone, before the cars that do finally interest us, have non repairable issues, and become boat anchors

But, look for (lower budget) Porsche 918 hybrid-like stuff to help us transition our way to the future... :wink