Tesla ready for production!

I did a calculation the other day to find the environmental impact of the Roadster.  According to the Tesla website, it uses 31 kWh per 100  miles.  Based on the California power grid mix, that would produce about 25% lower CO2 emissions than a Prius, but based on the average US power grid, it would produce about 20% greater CO2 emissions.

 

I was rather disappointed by that.  I presume it's because the Roadster is a sports car and thus uses a lot of energy.  Generally studies have shown that EVs should create much lower CO2 emissions than hybrids based on the average US power grid mix, and even if most of the energy were to come from coal.  I don't know what sort of EV specs these studies were using, but I assume they were for an EV more like a sedan than a sports car (like the Miles Javlon, for example).

 

I'll have to look into that further sometime.

It will definitely be interesting to see how all the numbers play out once the Roadster is really delivered.  Tesla Motors well-to-wheel study of course shows the electric car to be far more efficient than other technologies and emit far less CO2.  But you're right.  It'll really depend where the driver is getting its electricity.  And I'm sure the Roadster draws quite a bit. 

 

I think one of my favorite things about the Roadster is still the partnership between Tesla Motors and Solar City.  I haven't heard too much about that lately but here's an article from Gizmodo (December 7, 2007):

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One of the problems we can see with the Tesla Roadster is that you still have to suck up pollution-causing power to run the thing, even though it doesn't directly pollute the air with noxious internal combustion engine fumes. Now Solar City has teamed up with Tesla to provide solar panels that you install on the roof of your house, and then those panels feed power to the outlet for the Tesla Roadster. So now you can go from 0-60 in 4 seconds, guilt- and gasoline-free.

 

The way Solar City figures it, if you have a daily commute of 40 miles, you'll require 500 square feet of solar panels on your house's roof to power the Tesla Roadster for a 40-mile commute each day. Install a 20x25-foot array of solar panels, and then you're on your way to carbon-neutral driving.

 

But cost is another matter. The Tesla roadster will be $100K, and though Solar City's not talking price just yet, add another, say, $10K for these panels, and energy will be about the only thing you're saving. But if you can get rebates for such things where you live, and it's always sunny there, this just might be worth it to you.

 

 

[Source: Gizmodo, Charlie White, 7 Dec 2007]

That partnership is a really good idea.  If you've got the money to pay for a $100k car, another $10k for solar panels probably isn't a terribly big deal :)

Thought I'd update this - I just discovered that the power grid mix for Pacific Gas & Electric produces about two-thirds the CO2 emissions as the EPA estimated average California power grid mix.  So if you're recharging the Tesla Roadster or any other electric vehicle on the PG&E grid, the net emissions will be very low.  Somewhere around 50 g/km for the Roadster, which is half the CO2 emissions of the second-gen (2004-2008) Prius. 

 

In other words, the equivalent CO2 emissions of about 100 mpg.  Not bad for a speedy sports car!

Edited by dana1981 - Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:46:50 UTC

 

Just to be nitpicky...Elon Musk isn't actually the founder of either company.  Martin Eberhard (formerly the CEO) is the Tesla Motors founder.  And Lyndon RIve and Peter Rive are the SolarCity founders. 

 

Musk is the Chairman and the primary funder of both companies (which of course earns him considerable sway).  He is however the founder and CEO of SpaceX (a space launch vehicle company), the PayPal founder, and the Zip2 founder.

Gotta give credit where it's due, right?

Edited by stins - Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:23:12 GMT

Oh, snap!  Take that, Deej! :-)

Today is March 17th.  St. Patrick's Day.  Day of clovers.  And what else is it?

 

Oh that's right.  The day the Tesla Roadster finally got to regular production.

 

Here's a little snippet from the Tesla Motors' CEO blog:

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In my last posting on this blog I emphasized that my primary goal as the new CEO of Tesla Motors was to get the car on the road. The potential of this company is vast but it is dependent on meeting our commitments and that starts with delivering the 2008 Tesla Roadster to our customers.

 

Since my previous communication we have obtained all the required regulatory approvals for the sale of the Roadster in the US and delivered the first production Tesla Roadster. We also set at that time a date of March 17th 2008 for the start of regular production of the Roadster. I am pleased to report to you that we have met this commitment and have begun regular production.

 

(read the rest at Tesla Motors)

 

For SURE field trip.  I mean...really.  Who wouldn't want to visit this [from Elon Musk's blog]:

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Howard Schultz often refers to Starbucks as a “third place,” somewhere other than work or home where people can gather. We want Tesla Stores also to be a “third place” as well. Customers are always welcome to hang out in our comfortable lounge, whether they’ve owned your car for a day or 10 years. Like Starbucks, there will always be fresh, high quality coffee, tea, and snacks available, but it will be provided at no charge to Tesla customers.

 

In our lounge area, you will find free, high speed Wi-Fi. Since cell phones sometimes die, have poor reception, or don’t work in a particular country, Tesla Motors will also offer free international landline calls. There will be LCD screens with the news running and a selection of national and local newspapers. Tesla Stores will also be available to rent for functions at night.

 

COOL! Party!