Tesla making a $30k EV for the rest of us

Weren’t we just talking about why there aren’t any cheap electric cars? Seemingly reading our minds, Tesla is coming up with a $30k sedan that the average Joe has the chance to own. While a $100k electric roadster is pretty cool, it’s not like the majority of us will ever get to enjoy it. Okay, so they’ve tried to connect with the little people to some extent with their $60k plug-in sedan. But still, that’s something that is way out of most of our budgets, despite the fullness of our EV-lovin’ hearts. So finally, a $30k EV that we ecogeeks have a good shot at owning.

Tesla still has no idea the details on the car, let alone when it will arrive. But it seems likely that with the success of their roadsters, they’ll be able to come up with something good. It better be good, because they’re thinking of putting out about 200,000 of whatever they come up with – a whole lot more than the relative handful of roadsters and sedans they’re putting out, and a whole, whole lot more than the number of EVs other car makers are currently putting out. I wonder if it'll look half as cool as the Lotus, or if they're going to tone down the flash to match the price...

Tesla is banking on the growing infrastructure for EV recharging to help the car for the masses venture farther from home than around town, which would be a factor for average consumers who need a car to do more than turn heads. Considering advances being made in San Jose, Oregon, Japan and other places for EV charging infrastructure, it seems like a safe bet that in the next few years, or however long it will take for Tesla to turn out this new, cheaper EV, we’ll have some reasonable resources to keep it charged up.

Via GoodCleanTech, Technoride, CarCentral; Photo via jurvetson

source: http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1966/69/

Dispute between electric car makers Fisker/Tesla heads to arbitration

The spat between California electric carmakers Tesla Motors and Fisker Automotive will be decided in arbitration, a court ruled June 11.

An arbitrator could be appointed by the end of next week, with a decision coming within three months, a Fisker lawyer said.

Tesla sued Fisker Automotive, CEO Henrik Fisker, a related design business and another executive April 14 in San Mateo Superior Court, alleging theft of design secrets and poor design work. Fisker has denied the allegations.

Fisker performed design and interior work on Tesla’s WhiteStar sedan, which Tesla has said will reach the market by 2010. Fisker plans to launch its own hybrid, a plug-in called the Karma, in 2009.

Fisker had asked the court for arbitration, which it says is a condition of its contract with Tesla. It doesn’t plan to counter sue.

“I feel very good about it,” said Henrik Fisker, a former Aston Martin designer. “We got exactly what we wanted out of it.”

Tesla spokesman Darryl Siry was in France and did not have an immediate comment on the ruling. A lawyer for Tesla did not return two phone calls June 12.

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies, which Fisker says developed the hybrid technology for the Karma, was added in May as a defendant in the case. The company hadn’t made a court appearance as of the ruling, and wasn’t covered by it.

Meanwhile, Fisker maintained his Karma sedan remains on pace to be launched by the end of 2009 and said the company has received 750 orders for it.

source: http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080613/FREE/407875759/1065

F1 ITV SHIT

They posts a Monaco GP highlight video BUT I CAN'T watch IT. They don't allow people outside the UK watching it.

Nothing in youtube now... accept the one in the last post --> but I understand nothing.

Hamilton won Monaco grand prix yesterday. He's coming back now.

Article from formula1.com

After McLaren’s whitewash in Monte Carlo last season, few were predicting a Ferrari victory in this year’s race. However, all that changed after the red cars locked out the front row on Saturday. What no one could have predicted, however, was how just how unpredictable Sunday’s race would be.

On a day when it all went wrong for Ferrari, with both team and drivers admitting mistakes, McLaren made the best judgement calls. That, allied to some stunningly consistent pace from Lewis Hamilton, was enough to put the Briton back in charge of the championship standings…

McLaren
Lewis Hamilton, 1m 18.510s, P1
Heikki Kovalainen, 1m 17.282s, P8

It all seemed over for Hamilton after he punctured his right rear tyre after hitting the wall exiting Tabac on the sixth lap, but McLaren switched to a one-stop strategy and got him going quickly enough that he only dropped to fifth. He passed Alonso and Raikkonen when both made early stops, then outran Kubica and Massa and was thus able to refuel on lap 54 and stay in the lead. The final safety car could have ruined it for him, but he kept his head for a brilliant triumph which he described as the highlight of his career. Kovalainen’s car wouldn’t engage a gear at the start of the formation lap so he had to start from the pit lane with a new steering wheel. When he got a clear road he flew, but eighth and the final point was the best he could muster on another unlucky day.

See also video from youtube

Tesla test drive in Cannes film festival

So... I try to up my blog after ONE YEAR!!! Please don't ask me why... just do a phd you will know by yourself :)

I just see this in youtube. Sorry it's in French....

A journalist from leblogauto.com testdrives Tesla Roadster in Cannes Film Festival. In the clip he's with Diarmuid O'Connell - Driector of Corporate Development at Tesla Motors. His French isn't bad at all. He uses English when he doesn't know French word.

Tesla weights 1200 kg with aluminium chassis and carbon fiber body. He said that Tesla works with Lotus on this issue. So the battery is 7000 cells - Litium ion that cost 20000$.

If you understand French just go to leblogauto.com to read full article.