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Tesla Trips Limousine Service Approved In Portland, Will Use Model S Sedans

10 2,316 views Jul 25, 2013
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2013 Tesla Model S

2013 Tesla Model S

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Want to move around the city with minimal stress?

If you live in Portland, you'll now be able to do so in the back of a Tesla Model S, thanks to Tesla Trips.

The company, which normally organizes road trips around Oregon in the cars, applied back in April for a license to serve Portland as an executive limo service. The City of Portland has now granted that license, the company now enjoying Executive Sedan status.

Tesla Trips majors on wine and beer tours in the state, with routes organized to pass some of Oregon's top vineyards and watering holes.

As a limo service they'll be serving a different sort of clientele, but we'd be surprised if Tesla doesn't sell a few more Model S off the back of a quiet, speedy ride from hotel to airport and back. After all, we already know that getting bums on seats is the best way to find electric car customers.

We'd not be surprised to see similar services appearing in other cities, either. Combined with fast charging, Model Ss could prove formidable in the executive limo market--with only the whims of city officials really standing in the way.

So if you're going to Portland and looking for a comfortable, zero-emissions way of getting around, you've probably just found it.

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Comments (10)

  1. dRanger avatar dRanger Posted: 7/25/2013 11:52am PDT

    "Getting bums on seats". I did a double-take on that until I remembered that you're not from around these parts (US). You'd think that years of Benny Hill would have conditioned me, but...no.
     
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  2. fb_61206378 avatar Antony Posted: 7/26/2013 4:40am PDT

    If the U.S. has an interchangeable colloquial phrase suitable for use on a family-friendly website I'd be glad to hear it for future use :)
     
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  3. john_v avatar John Posted: 7/26/2013 11:48am PDT

    @Antony: We would say "butts in seats," since over here, "bums" means vagrants, more or less.

    In fact, we have said it!

    http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1081045_how-to-boost-electric-car-sales-get-butts-in-seats-experts-say
     
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  4. MorinMoss avatar MorinMoss Posted: 7/27/2013 11:14pm PDT

    Unless you want to shock your UK & Australian readers, don't say "fannies on seats".
     
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  5. john_v avatar John Posted: 7/28/2013 4:44am PDT

    @Morin: Indeed! Although Antony being British, he'll know that quite well already ... :)
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  6. fb_1559222512 avatar fb_1559222512 Posted: 7/25/2013 11:54am PDT

    That is one expensive taxi.

    Is there going to be stretch version that has twice the battery size?
     
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  7. fb_1452540089 avatar Chase Posted: 7/26/2013 12:10am PDT

    We've had plenty of interest so far just in using the "stock" Model S, but we came across this other post on Green Car Reports http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1080445_stretch-nissan-leaf-electric-limo-for-sale-on-ebay-what-would-you-pay
    It'd be pretty tempting if they made one using a Model S.
     
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  8. Goodgulf avatar Goodgulf Posted: 7/26/2013 3:09pm PDT

    Given the somewhat vertically cramped back seats of the S, it seems like sort of a bad idea for a limo/taxi service doesn't it? Now, the X would probably be pretty cool, although one suspects there will be a bit less range available on that (I'd like to be wrong there though.).
     
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  9. fb_100001133620618 avatar Roy Posted: 7/29/2013 6:22pm PDT

    I do not expect the same mileage from the Model X, but if you order the 4-wheel drive version, theoretically you could get more regen off the front wheels than you do off the back. This extra regen will contribute to better mileage at least for city stop & go traffic.
     
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  10. Goodgulf avatar Goodgulf Posted: 7/29/2013 8:54pm PDT

    I had not considered that. Good call!

    However, I wonder how much the weight will change between the two models. Given the relatively light weight of electric motors (Plus the fact that the rear motor could be slightly smaller than the regular version for the 4X4 model to maintain the same power.) and half-shafts, it might be fairly trivial I suppose. Either way, I'm pretty excited to see how this pans out.
     
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