Organic Picks Blog » Tesla Delays Delivery of Electric Roadster

Tesla Delays Delivery of Electric Roadster
September 27, 2007

Posted by CindyC in : Transportation , trackback

Earlier this week, Tesla Motors delivered some mixed news for green car enthusiasts: a delay in shipment but improved mileage per charge for its highly anticipated electric Roadster.

According to Tesla’s letter to customers, full production of the Roadster has been delayed to first quarter of 2008. The company hopes to build a small production batch (about 50) this year and deliver them early 2008.

Earlier testing on the prototypes found the distance range had dropped from the original 250 miles estimate to about 200 miles per charge. The company has since addressed some design and efficiency issues and in recent tests, the Roadster went 245 miles on a single charge (235 for highway and 255 for city driving).

The Tesla is currently priced at $98,000 with a wait list. If you had plunk down a $50,000 reservation, you became a Premium Club Member and have priority claim on production cars. If you could only afford $35,000, you have to be patient and wait behind the Premium Members. Just to get on a waiting list now (with no guarantee of delivery) will cost you $5,000.

Although the Tesla is a testament that electric cars can be beautiful, sporty and in-demand, for an average family like mine, it’s still just something to gawk at in the showroom. By the way, for those gawkers living in the Bay Area, Tesla will be opening a new showroom in Menlo Park in 2008. I think that’s as close as I am ever going to get to a Tesla….

CindyC atOrganicpicks

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