When you hear electric car, do you think Prius?

[Matblack]

Not any more

http://www.teslamotors.com/

0-60 in 4sec
140Mph
200 miles on a charge
Built by Lotus

Looks like this



WOW!

OK it probably won't take off but it looks like the tech is developing which will allow viable electric vehicles in the near future and this doesn't even use NI-NH it uses Li-Ion cells.

MB

[Daz]

base price: $92,000

Harsh!

Impressive though considering the technology. When I hear electric car, I think milk float!

[Matblack]

Originally Posted by Daz

Harsh!

Impressive though considering the technology. When I hear electric car, I think milk float!

I think the price is expensive but it certainly isn't probihative considering the first intended customers are in California and the (frankly rubbish and not particularly eco friendly Prius is the car of choice for econut filmstars.

If you take into account that this is brand new tech and that it will get you from 0-60 in 4 secs and is built by Lotus, I honestly think this is the first viable electric only car, most of the others ae quite frankly only one step away from invalid carridges.

MB

[Will]

That's not a bad price considering really... The thing I don't like about electric cars is the lack of "feel" and the flat torque you get, there's no peak in power and generally no feedback from the engine. However they are pretty cool thouhg

[kaiowas]

heh, funnily enough I was already thinking "Tesla" before I clicked the thread, but then I've known about this for a while and see them driving about sometimes.

[Flibster]

Haven't they built *or are planning to build* something like 200 of them - and they're all sold.

They look pretty good, and certainly shift, but the main thing I'm worried about it the weight. It's a full 1000lbs heavier than a Lotus Elise... Thats with a carbon fibre body too. Even worse, most of that weight will be at the arse end of the car. For an arse happy car to start with that really not a good idea.

They could have stuffed a load of the batteries up at the front to balance the weight out a bit.

But I suppose it is an American car so good handling isn't a requirement.

Still wouldn't mind a go in one though.

Simon/~Flibster

[Garp]

oh wow.. definately wow... looks gorgeous.

To be honest though, they can make all the advances they like with electric cars, what they need to get sorted out is the charge times.

I don't mind a car that needs charge every 200 - 300 miles or so, provided it doesn't take any more than say 10 - 15 minutes to recharge. Under those circumstances even long distance travelling isn't so much of a bind in such a vehicle.

[mejinks]

Aren't they making something similar in Wales?

[Mondo]

I am wondering, how come they can't self charge themselves while the car is in motion? Same way when you use wind to turn a turbine that charges a battery, if you use the motion in the wheels driven by the engine, and charge a second set of batteries while the 1st set is running. When the first set is flat, some kind of switch over and do the same back. The energy needed to power the car is no doubt more than it can generate but surely you would go on miles and miles and miles !

[kaiowas]

Originally Posted by Raymond Lin

I am wondering, how come they can't self charge themselves while the car is in motion? Same way when you use wind to turn a turbine that charges a battery, if you use the motion in the wheels driven by the engine, and charge a second set of batteries while the 1st set is running. When the first set is flat, some kind of switch over and do the same back. The energy needed to power the car is no doubt more than it can generate but surely you would go on miles and miles and miles !

Because Newton would turn in his grave, that's why