Tesla Roadster News
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The Global Green Car Challenge took place this week in Australia. Participants in numerous categories faced off for supremacy. One vehicle, the Tesla Roadster, set a new world record in the battery powered production vehicle class. Driver Simon Hackett and co-driver Emilis Prelgauskas set out in the 2008 Tesla Roadster with a goal in mind, betting the existing EV record for production vehicles. They knew they were up against some decent numbers. Earlier this year, the Roadster achieved 241 miles on a single charge in the Rally Monte Carlo d'Energies Alternatives. The Roadster's EPA...
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Tesla Roadster, Toyota Prius, VW Touareg Crash in DenmarkHere's a frightening scene from the streets of Denmark submitted to Autopia by reader, Lars H. A Tesla Roadster was involved in a three-way crash with a Volkswagen Touareg and a Toyota Prius earlier this week. Apparently the Roadster was stopped behind the Touareg when the Prius rear-ended the...
Robert Scardino -
Tesla Roadster Leadtimes Shrinking?From the source linked below, the following is an excerpt from a recently published newsletter from Tesla Motors: "If you custom-order your car online, in showrooms or by phone today, you could have your car in time for Christmas." The source then speculates that Tesla Motors sales must be down...
Jason Hendler -
Want $42K Off A New Tesla Roadster? Call Your Colorado Cousin[REVISED UPDATE, October 23: For awhile, it seemed too good to be true. The full text of Colorado House bill 09-1331, "An Act Concerning Incentives For Efficient Motor Vehicles," turns out to include a cap of $6,000 on the tax credit available for any low-emission car. The all-important phrase...
John Voelcker -
eWolf Unveils It's New EV Supercar PrototypeThe e2 Seems To Be Aimed Squarely At Tesla
Jon Vandervelde -
Tesla Taxi? Hybrid Cab Owner Customizes Electric RoadsterAnyone in the world who's ever seen a movie set in New York City can recognize a New York taxi. It's yellow with black graphics. So would you mistake this 2009 Tesla Roadster Sport for a taxi and hail it on the streets of Monaco? Probably not, but it's a tribute to the hacks of New York just the...
John Voelcker -
If Panasonic gets its way, your average laptop battery could be the electric vehicle power source of the future. The Japanese consumer electronics company announced Thursday that it has developed a method of binding standard lithium-ion batteries together (Tesla Motors style), for use in automotive applications. The company says the new technology should cut EV battery manufacturing costs in half, because it can take advantage of existing production facilities and know-how. Until now, battery packs in EVs have been specially designed and in some cases, assembled by hand, to meet the needs...
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Tesla Engineering and Manufacturing Chief ResignsThe revolving door of Tesla Motors leadership keeps turning. Today, executive vice president of vehicle engineering and manufacturing, Mike Donoughe, is calling it quits, just over a year after he started the job. Formerly employed by Chrysler, Donoughe was charged with overseeing engineering...
Robert Scardino -
Tesla Planning Sub-$30,000 Vehicle For 2016Tesla Motors wants you to know that they won't be a niche automaker for long. CEO, Elon Musk has repeatedly affirmed that he expects his electric vehicle company to compete in the mainstream market with the big boys. With a lineup consisting of two-seat sports cars costing more than $100,000, and...
Robert Scardino -
Car and Driver Reports Dodge Circuit EV is Likely to Reach ProductionReviewers have praised the 2011 concept Dodge Circuit EV. Many have driven the prototype model and Chrysler previously announced that the vehicle would be produced, then speculation came suggesting the program was canceled especially in light of the economic issues. However, there is now new...
Eric Loveday -
Renew America Roadtrip Heads Out For Cross Country Trip In EVBack in 1998, a little known group called Renew America Roadtrip headed out on an adventure that was unheard of at the time. They drove cross country in a fully electric EV1. Their goal then was to prove that an EV could capably motor across our nation using the existing infrastructure. Well...
Eric Loveday -
Dutch Website ZERAuto Announces EV Poll Winner DuraCar Quicc Diva, Runners Up Include Volt and Tesla RoadsterA Dutch website that is dedicated to hybrid and electric vehicles has been conducting an online poll asking visitors to rank their top choices in the EV and hybrid categories. The list of entrants include among other the Tesla Roadster, the Chevy Volt, the Pininfarina Blue Car, and the Think...
Eric Loveday -
Tesla Motors announced today that they're partnering with Bank of America to offer financing on their Roadster. This begs the following question: If you need to finance the Roadster, should you be buying one? Tesla has always been very protective of their customers' identities, but we know at least two of them: George Clooney and Will.i.a.m. One is a filthy rich actor and the other is a dirty rich musician. Neither of them need a bank loan. We'll go out on a limb and say that the average Roadster customer doesn't need Bank of America's help. The good news is, if you're a regular schmuck like...
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Tesla Dealership to Open in New York City July 14thTesla Motors freshly infused with nearly a half billion in loan guarantees from Uncle Sam will now be expand its dealership base from the Golden State to the Big Apple. On July 14 the electric car maker will open its first dealership for a media preview in New York City. The store will be in the...
Lyle Dennis -
California HOV-Lane Stickers For Hybrids: Worth $1,200 To $1,500Imagine a special sticker that let you use those high-occupancy vehicle lanes, zipping past stop-and-go rush hour traffic, blissfully alone in your car. If you live in California and were one of 85,000 lucky hybrid owners, you know exactly what I'm talking about. In 2005, California decided to open...
John Voelcker -
Koenigsegg To Produce Quant Solar-Electric SupercarWhat do you get when a niche Swedish supercar company, Koenigsegg, buys the common man's Swedish car company, Saab? Apparently you get the capacity to produce electric supercars in volume. Realtid.se has reported that Koenigsegg's recent purchase of Saab was intended to give the supercar company...
Robert Scardino -
Tesla Battle Gets Uglier: Founder Eberhard Sues CEO Elon MuskThe 2009 Tesla Roadster is an absolute blast to drive. It will make an electric-car fan out of every single person who drives one, or even rides shotgun. The company that makes the car, however, is not such a blast. In its short 7-year life, Tesla has had many missteps, multiple CEOs, layoffs...
John Voelcker -
VIDEO: Attack Of The Tesla Roadsters! Owners Celebrate 500th DeliveryOver two dozen Tesla Roadster owners hit the streets of L.A. on Saturday to recognize the San Carlos, California, based electric car company's 500th delivery. Sixty miles of driving and one Malibu barbecue later, some impressive videos of the event appeared on YouTube. This was no ordinary car...
Robert Scardino -
The Chinese-built Coda sedan will arrive in autumn 2010--ahead of the Chevrolet Volt
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More Details on Tesla, Daimler EV Collaboration and the Future RoadsterTesla Motors is collaborating with Daimler AG on two affordable EVs planned for production within the next few years. In an interview with Green Car Advisor Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, confirmed that in addition to the previously publicized Smart EV, the two companies have been working on another...
Robert Scardino -
AWD and Back Seats for Next Tesla SportscarBy all accounts, the Tesla Roadster is a stupendous drive. It's fast, it grips the road and it doesn't use a drop of gas. For all of this, the driver is treated to one retractable cup holder and one passenger. Got luggage? Forgedaboutit. This green machine is intended for two things - looking...
Robert Scardino -
Tesla Recalls 345 RoadstersIt's official. Tesla is a legitimate automaker. The electric car company is recalling 345 Roadsters because of an under-torqued rear hub flange bolt, which could become loose, resulting in poor handling and a rubbing noise from the back of the vehicle. The other possible consequence of this loose...
Robert Scardino -
Tesla's New BFF (And Savior?) Is Mercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz parent Daimler AG announced today it would buy 10 percent of Silicon Valley electric-car startup Tesla. What does it all mean?
John Voelcker -
Tesla CEO To Refund Buyers if Company Goes UnderCar buyers today fear the worst. What would happen if you purchased a new vehicle from General Motors only to learn tomorrow that they declared bankruptcy and will not honor warranty claims and will not be able to provide parts to fix your vehicle? The federal government vows that they will...
Eric Loveday