Tesla unveils world’s first mass-produced, highway-capable EV
Model S sedan has anticipated base price of $49,900, up to 300-mile range and 45-minute
QuickCharge capability
March 26, 2009
HAWTHORNE, Calif.--(BUSINESS
WIRE) —Tesla Motors is now taking orders [ http://www.teslamotors.com/buy/buyshowroom.php
] for the Model S [ http://www.teslamotors.com/s ], an all electric family sedan
that carries seven people and travels 300 miles per charge.
The Model
S, which carries its charger onboard, can be recharged from any 120V, 240V or 480V
outlet, with the latter taking only 45 minutes. By recharging their car while they
stop for a meal, drivers can go from LA to New York in approximately the same time
as a gasoline car. Moreover, the floor-mounted battery pack is designed to
be changed out in less time than it takes to fill a gas tank, allowing for the possibility
of battery-pack swap stations.
The floor-mounted powertrain also results
in unparalleled cargo room and versatility, as the volume under the front hood becomes
a second trunk. Combining that with a four-bar linkage hatchback rear trunk and
flat folding rear seats, the Model S can accommodate a 50-inch television, mountain
bike *and* surfboard simultaneously. This packaging efficiency gives the Model
S more trunk space than any other sedan on the market and more than most SUVs.
“Model S doesn’t compromise on performance, efficiency or utility -- it’s truly
the only car you need,” said Tesla CEO, Chairman and Product Architect Elon Musk.
“Tesla is relentlessly driving down the cost of electric vehicle technology, and
this is just the first of many mainstream cars we’re developing.”
Tesla expects
to start Model S production in late 2011. The company believes it is close to receiving
$350 million in federal loans to build the Model S assembly plant in California
from the Dept of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program.
Building on Proven Technology
Tesla is the only production automaker
already selling highway-capable EVs in North America or Europe. With 0-60 mph in
3.9 seconds, the Roadster outperforms almost all sports cars in its class yet is
six times as energy efficient [ http://www.teslamotors.com/efficiency/well_to_wheel.php
] as gas guzzlers and delivers 244 miles per charge. Tesla has delivered nearly
300 Roadsters, and nearly 1,000 more customers are on the wait list [ http://www.teslamotors.com/blog2?p=71
].
Teslas do not require routine oil changes, and they have far fewer moving
(and breakable) parts than internal combustion engine vehicles. They qualify [ http://www.teslamotors.com/blog2?p=69
] for federal and state tax credits, rebates, sales tax exemptions, free parking,
commuter-lane passes and other perks. Model S costs roughly $5 to drive 230 miles
– a bargain even if gasoline were $1 per gallon.
The anticipated base
price of the Model S is $49,900 after a federal tax credit of $7,500. The company
has not released options pricing. Three battery pack choices will offer a range
of 160, 230 or 300 miles per charge.
“Model S costs half as much as a Roadster,
and it’s a better value than much cheaper cars,” Musk said. “The ownership cost
of Model S, if you were to lease and then account for the much lower cost of electricity
vs. gasoline at a likely future cost of $4 per gallon, is similar to a gasoline
car with a sticker price of about $35,000. I’m positive this car will be the preferred
choice of savvy consumers [ http://blogpreview/blog3/?p=117 ].”
The standard
Model S does 0-60 mph in under six seconds and will have an electronically limited
top speed of 130 mph, with sport versions expected to achieve 0-60 mph acceleration
well below five seconds. A single-speed gearbox delivers effortless acceleration
and responsive handling. A 17-inch touchscreen with in-car 3G connectivity allows
passengers to listen to Pandora Radio or consult Google Maps, or check their state
of charge remotely from their iPhone or laptop.
Tesla is taking reservations
online [ http://www.teslamotors.com/buy/buyshowroom.php ] and at showrooms in California.
Tesla will open a store in Chicago this spring and plans to open [ http://www.teslamotors.com:80/blog2?p=70
] stores in London, New York, Miami, Seattle, Washington DC and Munich later this
year.
About Tesla Motors
San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla Motors Inc.
designs and manufactures electric vehicles with exceptional design, performance
and efficiency, while conforming to all North American and European safety, environmental
and durability standards. The Roadster, which has a 0-to-60 mph acceleration of
3.9 seconds and a base price of $101,500 after a federal tax credit, is the only
highway-capable production EV for sale in North America and Europe. Tesla expects
to begin producing the Model S sedan in late 2011. Details [ http://www.teslamotors.com/s
] and photos [ http://www.teslamotors.com/media/image_library.php ] are available
at www.teslamotors.com.