Feature: U.S.-made electric car Tesla aims to be world's best car
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E-mail Xinhua, July 1, 2013
A newly opened Tesla car store in Brea Mall in Southern California has attracted many visitors with its luxury design cars, equipped with the ability to run 260 miles (400 km) with one charge.
To the surprise of many visitors, the Tesla cars are totally different from the cars people are driving now: No engines, no oil tanks, no water cooling systems, no transmission, and of course, no emission.
The dashboard is also distinctive. Traditional mechanic switches have been replaced by a 17-inch automotive touch screen, through which nearly all controls are done.
There is more inside room and load space: besides the traditional rear trunk, an additional trunk takes shape out of the space traditionally designed for the engine.
The appeal of Tesla partly comes from its connection with Space X, the world's first private company that sent payload to the International Space Station on May 25 in 2012 .
Tesla Motors is co-founded by Elon Musk, an inventor and entrepreneur who is best known for founding Space X and PayPal.
Musk's goal is to make Tesla the best car in the world and to show that an electric car can be the best car in the world.
Blake Ludera, assistant store manager at Brea Mall in California, told Xinhua that till 2012 Tesla has sold 2,400 electric cars, and their goal in 2013 is 20,000 units.
He said the prices for the Model S cars vary on the battery qualities. The 40-kilowatt per hour (kWh) pack is good for about 140 miles (220 km) for one charge with the price of 58,570 dollars before tax. The 60-kWh battery will last for 200 miles (320 km) for 68,570 dollars and the 85-kWh pack goes 265 miles (420 km) for 78,570 dollars.
"So far no other models can beat Tesla in the category of electric cars," said Ludera.
He said customers can have 7,500 dollars of tax deduction from the federal government and 2,500 dollars from California state government, so the total subsidies amount to about 10,000 dollars.
Also, Tesla Motors will buy back with half price for any car with three-year driving history or more.
According to Ludera, owners of Tesla cars can charge their cars at home with home electricity outlets. What's more, some big malls in California and other states have electric car charging stations for customers to use.
Tesla announced last month significant expansion of the Tesla Supercharger network. Supercharging enables Tesla Model S drivers to travel long distances for free infinitely.
The expansion of the network builds upon the success of the Tesla Supercharger network that covers from California to Nevada on the west coast, from Washington DC to Boston region on the east coast.
The Tesla Supercharger network has enabled an estimated 1 million miles of driving distance since its first post in October 2012. Superchargers are designed for intercity transport, enabling Model S electric vehicle drivers to travel for about three hours, take a 20- to 30-minute break to grab lunch, soda or coffee, and get back on the road charged up for free.
A year from now, the Tesla Supercharger network will stretch across the continent, covering almost the entire population of the United States and Canada.
Right now Tesla Model S is ranked as luxury car, but Musk told the press that in three to five years, Tesla is possible to sell models at around 30,000 dollars, and that will be affordable by many Americans. Endi
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