Tesla Model S Sedan? Whatever.
When I read on Engadget that Tesla has a prototype of its Model S sedan set to debut March 26th, I flipped back through our previous updates on the green sports car. Let’s look at some highlights:
- December 2007: Tesla battles transmission issues, mainly finding something strong enough to handle gear shifting at full torque.
- January 2008: Tesla gets the regulatory go-ahead to sell its roadster, with the first going to the company chairman before a waiting list of 600. Projected production by late 2008, 40 cars a week. (Kinda didn’t happen.)
- February 2008: Tesla optimistically says its will be producing a $50,000 sport sedan by 2010. (The Model S? Only time will tell.)
- May 2008: Tesla opened its first dealership in Los Angels at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Sepulveda. Four vehicles produced to date.
- July 2008: Tesla announced that when owners finally get their roadsters, they’ll need 8 hours a day to charge the vehicle on a 220v / 80A circuit like those used for home appliances. Via the regular 110v / 15A route and it’ll take 30 hours.
- October 2008: Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard discloses that the roadster’s coolant pump runs constantly, even when the car is off, meaning the roadster burns 14 kwh over four days just sitting there.
- April 14, 2008: Alleging sub-standard design work, break of contract, fraud, and misappropriation of trade secrets, Tesla files suit in California against Henrik Fisker and Fisker Coachbuild.
- December 2008: Tesla applies for a $400 million low-interest federal loan under a $25 billion program for the development of fuel-efficient technologies. (Never mind that no “commoner” can afford the $109,000 green car.) At the time, Tesla had plowed through $145 million in capital already with another $40 million from investors lined up. And they’d delivered only 80 roadsters, pretty much all to billionaires.
- February 2009: Tesla can’t come up with the bucks to build its new factory and headquarters in San Jose.
So, pardon me if I’m not that pumped about the Model S announcement. Down here in Texas we have a saying for the way the Tesla story is starting to look.
That dog just won’t hunt.