Tesla Motors — a Silicon Valley startup backed by entrepreneur Elon Musk, the South Africa-born cofounder of PayPal — is making plans to roll out its second electric car. The company has released the details of its Tesla Model S. The Model S is promising a 300-mile range — this is not just an about-town commuting car — and the ability to recharge the battery within 45 minutes. The Model S is also much larger than Tesla’s earlier Roadster, making it possible for a family to consider it.
Still lots of questions and things to consider prior to our personal transportation all going electric, but the only way to move forward is to start stepping. Let's be sure we consider all of the challenges and consequences as we do this.
Specific to Tesla: why are they building an assembly plant in CA? The largest talent pool for manufacturing in the US is in the northern mid-west. The cost of living in CA is at least 5x higher. How will Tesla attract the best educated and seasoned engineers and managers and best skilled operators, maintenance, supervision, skilled trades, etc, etc required to operate a mfg plant without offering wages that will upset their plan to build an affordable vehicle?
Instead of moving the mfg base to CA it seems that it would be much easier - and cheaper - to move the entrepreneurs to the mid-west.
New technology is always expensive, but you have to start somewhere. The only way to develop and progress this technology - and uncover any hidden problems in the vehicle and/or infrastructure required to support it - is to do it.
Like other technologies out there the prices will eventually come down. Although, I still question the wisdom of an assembly in such a high-cost state as CA.
Sadly, the work ethic isn't there in the rustbelt anymore, and it is expensive to do business there.
This is why Toyota, Honda, BMW and Mercedes Benz have built their new factories in the SOUTHEAST. Even GM opened a Saturn plant in Kansas, and another in Tennessee!
I AGREE California is a very bad place to start or run a business. I have friends and business associates out of the state for that reason. However, going to Detroit would be worse.
While the car is very expensive, if it goes into production I will likely buy one. I am an ideal candidate for a "standard" electric car, like the Think City (darned Ford). I only need about 80 miles a charge maximum, so three hundred would allow us to visit my in-laws, about 180 miles away.
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Tesla Shows Off Family-Friendly Electric Car
Posted by: Erika Morphy March 27, 2009 03:31 PMTesla Motors — a Silicon Valley startup backed by entrepreneur Elon Musk, the South Africa-born cofounder of PayPal — is making plans to roll out its second electric car. The company has released the details of its Tesla Model S. The Model S is promising a 300-mile range — this is not just an about-town commuting car — and the ability to recharge the battery within 45 minutes. The Model S is also much larger than Tesla’s earlier Roadster, making it possible for a family to consider it.
Specific to Tesla: why are they building an assembly plant in CA? The largest talent pool for manufacturing in the US is in the northern mid-west. The cost of living in CA is at least 5x higher. How will Tesla attract the best educated and seasoned engineers and managers and best skilled operators, maintenance, supervision, skilled trades, etc, etc required to operate a mfg plant without offering wages that will upset their plan to build an affordable vehicle?
Instead of moving the mfg base to CA it seems that it would be much easier - and cheaper - to move the entrepreneurs to the mid-west.
Any thoughts?
Like other technologies out there the prices will eventually come down. Although, I still question the wisdom of an assembly in such a high-cost state as CA.
This is why Toyota, Honda, BMW and Mercedes Benz have built their new factories in the SOUTHEAST. Even GM opened a Saturn plant in Kansas, and another in Tennessee!
I AGREE California is a very bad place to start or run a business. I have friends and business associates out of the state for that reason. However, going to Detroit would be worse.
While the car is very expensive, if it goes into production I will likely buy one. I am an ideal candidate for a "standard" electric car, like the Think City (darned Ford). I only need about 80 miles a charge maximum, so three hundred would allow us to visit my in-laws, about 180 miles away.
Its real cheap , a real production product and though sparse is a real game-changer.