14 DAY TRIAL // The Tesla Motors automotive company revealed yesterday its first all-electric, long-range, 5-seat sedan, destined for the average American family. The first highway-capable, mass-produced vehicle was presented in Hawthorne, California, by Tesla Chairman and CEO, Elon Musk, who said that the S-Model would hopefully roll out of the production lines by 2011, at the latest. This is the second variant that the company releases, after last year's launch of the Roadster model.
The new vehicle consumes no fossil fuels, but relies on packs of lithium-ion batteries for propulsion and for operating the interior facilities. The company stated that each battery charge was able to propel the vehicle for as much as 160 to 300 miles (257 to 482 kilometers), depending on the conditions. The futuristic machine is more than capable of handling any other cars it may encounter on the highway, even if it will not be able to participate in high-end races anytime soon.
The vehicle was expected to cost more than $57,000, but Elon Musk pointed out that a federal tax refund, in the amount of $7,500, would lower the base price to under $50,000. The move is part of a governmental effort to encourage people to buy fuel-efficient machines, hybrids, or full-electric cars.
Musk emphasized the fact that, while the price seemed high at first glance, the vehicle didn't require too much maintenance or large amounts of money for fuel each month. In addition, several key cities in the United States have already begun to install power sockets in public places, where people can “refuel” their car for a small fee.
“It's incredibly important that we wean ourselves off oil as soon as possible and that we make the transition to electric vehicles rapidly. Even at 20,000 cars per year, we won't come close to affecting the electricity grid, and you will be able to charge this car at home. It's capable of taking a wide range of currents and voltages, and the charge is built into the car so you don't have to worry about 'Is there a charger at the destination that I'm driving to?',” Musk added, saying that the company would produce some 20,000 vehicles per year, from an undisclosed facility.