Tesla Direct Sales Petition

Show your support for Tesla, and against the outdated protectionism that dealers and the politicians they pay are trying to impose.   Sign the petition that would stop individual states from preventing Tesla selling you a vehicle directly, eliminating the dishonest leech that is known as a dealer.
Petition


*Update:  7/2/13  100K sigs reached before deadline.  Not sure what will come of it or how much influence these petitions have but it's nice to see that people responded.

Why Tesla's Battery Swap Makes Sense

I've never been a big fan of the battery swapping model, and it was one of my many criticisms of the Better Place business plan.  The basic concept of a quick swap was sound but the execution always seemed to have a number of details that could not easily be addressed.  Additionally the actual need for swapping capability seemed limited.  Once again Tesla has thought a few steps ahead, dealt with those potential issues, and created a system that may prove to be useful.  First of all, unlike BP, Tesla had an existing successful business model that was not at all dependent on battery swapping, but they built the capability into the Model S, and X, from the beginning.  This actually makes some sense from a manufacturing standpoint, on the assembly line you need to be able to quickly install a pack with machinery for high volume production, so you might as well make it able to go both ways.  This makes any potential service much easier, and it also makes any future pack upgrades easier as well.  What Tesla has introduced is a giant battery pack vending machine, allowing current and future Model S and X owners a quick and easy way to future proof their vehicles by installing the latest and greatest battery pack when available, or at least swapping in a larger pack for the occasional longer trip.  For now they will simply supplement the supercharger network in heavy use areas and allow travelers to swap out their depleted pack for a full one.  Or not.  Elon has said they will install them to meet demand, and the choice will be free supercharging for 20 minutes or so, or paying $60-$80 for a 90 second swap.  It's an interesting experiment to see what people will actually choose.

Conservatives Should Support The EV Tax Credit

I often hear people say they don't want to support EV development and that the $7500 tax rebate offered for the purchase of an EV is taking "their" money.  In essence this is true since all government funding comes from the tax base that we all pay into.  For Tesla's 20,000 Model S vehicles they are projecting to produce next year this amounts to around 50 cents per US citizen, and is a drop in the bucket compared to other tax breaks that some individuals and companies get but others do not.
However I'd argue that the outrage is entirely misplaced for those conservative, and libertarian, individuals and does not fit with one of their basic philosophies.  Supposedly one of their large concerns is too much taxation and too much misuse of those funds by big government.  Following that logic any program which allows even some citizens to hold onto their tax money and get it out of the hands of government should be seen as a good thing.  Who knows how better to spend that money than the people who earned it?*
Another aspect of the rebate that seems to bother them, especially in the case of Tesla, is that the rebate mostly goes to the wealthy, which makes it even worse.  However, isn't that the basis of trickle down economics, and the supposed reason they oppose increasing taxation on the rich?  Allow them to keep more of their money and they will buy more stuff and create jobs with it, right?

In truth I suspect the anti EV rebate talking point is something they use without much thought in an attempt to support their inherent anti-EV bias.  It's not rational and does not even mesh with their own philosophies.  I will point out that there are some conservatives who do support EV's and do understand the benefits of the tax credit, unfortunately they seem to be under represented.

My own feelings on the topic are that I'm quite willing to see the EV tax credit go away, one second after all the other much larger tax loopholes are filled.  I'm waiting....


*Actually I'd argue against that concept since many people squander their cash with complete disregard for financial responsibility and the rest of us are left to pick up the pieces, but that's another topic.

Winning!

The awards keep coming for the Tesla Model S:

http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/car/1301_2013_motor_trend_car_of_the_year_tesla_model_s/

The mere fact the Tesla Model S exists at all is a testament to innovation and entrepreneurship, the very qualities that once made the American automobile industry the largest, richest, and most powerful in the world. That the 11 judges unanimously voted the first vehicle designed from the wheels up by a fledgling automaker the 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year should be cause for celebration. America can still make things. Great things.

http://www.automobilemag.com/features/awards/1301_2013_automobile_of_the_year_tesla_model_s/viewall.html

 We weren't expecting much from the Tesla other than some interesting dinner conversation as we considered "real" candidates like the Subaru BRZ and the Porsche Boxster. In fact, the Tesla blew them, and us, away.

Of course, practically every new car claims to be revolutionary. But this one actually feels like it is, to the point that many of us were reaching outside the automotive lexicon to describe it. "It reminds me of the first time I used an iPhone," gasped associate web editor Ben Timmins.

http://ca.autos.yahoo.com/news/2013-yahoo--autos-car-of-the-year--tesla-model-s.html

 the Model S may not be a rocket to outer space, but it is the most significant automobile to land on our roads in many a moon.

http://techland.time.com/2012/11/01/best-inventions-of-the-year-2012/slide/the-tesla-model-s/

I expect more to come.

1000th Model S Body Produced

Saw this little update on the TMC forum and had to post it:

V proud of Tesla team for completing 1000th Model S body. More cars made this month than entire rest of year pic.twitter.com/k8XWaEth

1000 Model S Bodies

A nice milestone, especially in the face of the supplier issues Tesla has been struggling with.  Here's hoping the suppliers can get their shit together and help Tesla keep building their revolutionary Model S.

Quality Is Job One, At Tesla

Tesla's plan has always been to start out with low production volume, one car a day, to carefully check vehicle assembly and catch any issues early in the game before too many vehicles are delivered and it becomes more difficult to fix any problems.  This is exactly what they have been doing.  Apparently there were some problems with the quality of chrome on the door handles so they switched suppliers, which caused a slight delay.  There was also an issue with a sensor, that also caused a recent delay, but that too has been addressed.  Detractors of course jumped on these minor issues as a sign of Tesla's failure, but in reality they simply prove that Tesla is handling things in the best way possible.  People are getting their cars and loving them, and reviews have been very enthusiastic across the board:

Having driven the Tesla Model S on the neighborhood roads back-to-back not only against most of the other electric cars in the market today, but also comparing it against other premium cars such as Rolls Royce Corniche, I came to this startling conclusion: The Tesla Model S is so superior that it seems that it's just a matter of time until all the other car companies will have to file bankruptcy.

 Production rates are increasing, and while they may not hit the year end target of 5000, it really doesn't matter in the long run as long as they can eventually achieve a rate to allow the planned 20,000 cars next year.  There is still time to hit the 5K mark this year, and I wouldn't bet against them doing it.  They seem to have gotten fairly good at doing what supposedly can't be done, I expect them to continue.  Now I'm just looking forward to the planned announcement of the supercharger network that is supposed to entail more than what people are expecting.  Should be interesting.