US Automotive Start-up: Tesla Motors!
Here I was dreaming of a US automotive start-up to provide further evidence that US workers aren’t all to blame for the lack of innovation, progress, and competitiveness from Ford and GM…. But I needn’t have been just dreaming! All the while there was a pretty interesting boutique automotive start-up less than 30 minutes from my house!
Tesla Motors, based on San Carlos, is attempting to introduce the first “performance” electric hybrid. Armed with a “carload” of laptop batteries for power, this machine can do 0-60 in under 4 seconds. V-r-r-r-oooooom!
The San Jose Mercury News reports “That’s nearly as fast as such gas-powered sports cars as the 2007 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and the 2007 Porsche 911 GT3.”
Price? 100K. Range? 250 miles.
I’ve heard mixed reactions to the vehicle. So I did my own unscientific survey. I polled 8 golf buddies. Those that owned BMWs were intrigued, definitely a good sign. Those with kids said “how about half the laptop batteries, not quite so fast, and drop the price to 40K.”
It will be great to see how Tesla’s story develops. Here’s a link to their blog. Their car looks sweet – take a gander:
Here is something similar to Telstra but at a much lower end. http://www.zapworld.com/cars/xebra.asp
Subraya Mallya
08/22/06 9:41 AM at 9:41 am