It’s no secret that I am not a big fan of Elon Musk or the way that he leads the company. From calling reporters nasty names to deceptively overhyping new products, it feels like Musk is going to the extreme just to drum up any sort of press he can for Tesla Motors.

Now Musk is up to it again. Except this time, instead of over-representing the value of his company’s products he is lying about the products that his competitors produce. From ABG:

In a recent interview discussing Tesla Motors, CEO Elon Musk didn’t really reveal much new information, although he did manage to misrepresent the performance capability of the Chevy Volt, again. He refers to the Volt’s range extender as a “lawn mower engine” and says highway performance “will be anemic.” While the Volt will no doubt feel anemic next to a Roadster, the reality is that the 160-horsepower electric motor will provide more than adequate performance for almost anyone’s needs and should accelerate to 60 mph in about 8.5-9 seconds.

This reminds me of the recent Chevy ad where the company teases Honda about its superior line of lawnmowers. While people who know about quality engine design know that Honda has good lawnmowers because they have good engines, the association between a car and a lawnmower is an entirely negative one.

Musk just doesn’t seem comfortable with competition. Neither of the cars have been released yet, with the Model S even further away than the Volt, but already he is waging a nasty marketing campaign against it.

Perhaps he’s worried that Tesla Roaster sales don’t seem to be going anywhere.

Note: This post is not an April Fools joke

For a while now, Tesla has been all the rage in the green automotive community. Not only is the car sexy and fast, but “green” and “the cure to all our woes.” With the long awaited release of the Tesla Model S, all sorts of expectations for a quasi-affordable, electric family car came to a head.

If you read the title, I’m sure you can tell I’m disappointed. If you wonder why I haven’t caught Tesla Fever like everyone else, just give the following point some consideration.

Tesla’s Hyped Up Track Record

• The Roadster is just a Lotus: Just look at the above picture. Beautiful car, right? Well, Tesla didn’t design it, Lotus did. However, whenever you see that car from now on, you will be thinking Tesla and not Lotus. Lotus designed a sexy, comparatively fuel-efficient, and relatively inexpensive sports car long before Tesla came along to claim the styling for itself. Sure, the Model S (below) may look good too, but it’s hardly visionary.

• Tesla’s Rocky Track Record: First they couldn’t get the transmission right. It took so long that they started shipping out cars without the promised transmission, hoping to swap them for upgraded versions later. Then the company laid out grand plans for new manufacturing facilities and jobs, only to roll them back later when they couldn’t come up with the money. So far, the only tangible thing the company has done is stick an electric plant in 250 cars, as many as had been ordered as this time two years ago. The release of the new Model S is far in the future, and little more than a pile of promises floated on the hopes of receiving $500 million of funding from an outside source.
• The Roadster is a sports car: The cornerstone of any honest environmental movement is that conservation is necessary. We may be increasing the percentage of wind power in the grid, but globally power use is ballooning. Continuing to hype the dangerously fast, unnecessarily expensive, and wasteful cars in the world, whatever they are powered by, will not cut to the great issue of actually saving energy. At most, Tesla makes cars for millionaire yuppies to drive around, wasting twice as much energy as a more sensible electric car. Besides, do you really need another two fridges running in your garage?
• The Tesla Model S is disappointing: Maybe I am asking too much. It seats seven, after all! As long as you pop the hatch and shove the kids in back like a couple of golf bags. Not to mention your 50″ TV and mountain bike. The thing sounds like a land boat, or perhaps an electrified tank. Let’s not forget that it will handily beat most of the cars in a Gran Turismo game and capitalize on federal rebates. This car has it all. It can even talk to your iPhone! But what is it? A luxury car. They quote a price of $50,000, after a rebate that will likely disappear before many people even have a chance to buy an electric car. Just like the Roadster, this is not a car for the mass market.
• Fleecing the federal government: Ever heard people complain about the home business owner that buys an Escalade and writes it off on their taxes as heavy duty work vehicle, claiming big bucks from the government? Seems similar to the rich car collector buying a Tesla and collecting $7,500 cash back on their luxury car. Usually such an expensive, flashy car would have higher taxes, not lower.
• Tesla’s deceptive advertising: “With a 300-mile range and 45-minute QuickCharge, the $49,900 Model S.” The Model S has consistently been advertised as a $50,000 electric car that will do 0-60 in 5.5 seconds and get 300 miles per charge. However, that price is after tax rebates, and will not be the price for the model getting 300 miles per charge (and perhaps the 5.5 figure is only for a sports version, we don’t know). Tesla claims that you can drive cross country while stopping to charge the batteries. According to the company this only takes 45 minutes. However, that is with the (expensive) 440 volt plugs, which you won’t be able to find anywhere you don’t have it specifically installed. This time figure is also likely for the smallest battery pack size. Do you even want to stop every 2 hours for 1 hour to charge your electric car? I’m not bashing electrics, but Tesla shouldn’t pretend the car is what it’s not.
• Tesla is not zero emissions: “Zero Emissions Equals Zero Guilt” Tesla wants you to believe that their car uses no energy and has no environmental impact. This is a lie. Not only should you feel guilty for wasting over $100,000 on a car (like the Roaster), but doing so shouldn’t absolve you of any responsibility to the environment.
• Who’s in charge?: Tesla has gone through 3 CEOs in its short period of time. Now the company has Elon Musk at the helm, a man who not only relentlessly pushes the PR envelope, but tries to trap his employees in an effort to oust leaks. Perhaps I am being pessimistic, but who knows who will be in charge next year or the year after? It’s difficult to trust a company that keeps changing direction under new leaders.

My rebuttal to some of the common claims supporting Tesla

• Battery prices won’t drop: Support is always drummed up for Tesla because of the thought that the company’s effort will help drive down the prices of Lithium Ion technology. This may be true in quantity, but I doubt the 250 battery packs in the Roadsters sold so far will do much when compared to major efforts from GM, Mitsubishi, and others that plan to sell EVs in the 10s of thousands in the coming years. The key to driving down costs is quantity, which will never come with expensive sports cars.
• Consumer acceptance: People like to think that fast, sporty electric cars will make people like the idea of electric a lot more. This may be true, Tesla has gotten lots of positive press. But how many people have to crash their Roadsters until owners get the same sort of reckless, we-own-the-road-and-you-don’t attitude that Hummer drivers are famous for?

What do you think? Do I have a weak case or is anyone else fed up with the tremendous amount of hype surrounding this company?

Note: Click for larger images

After months of PR, big claims, and worry over Tesla’s future, the young company is finally letting us see the specs on their new electric sedan, the Tesla Model S. For a cool $50,000, you’ll be able to get a very sleek looking sedan that will have a 300 mile range and can do 0-60 in 5.5 seconds.

The price is a bit deceptive, because the $50k number includes a $7,500 federal tax break. While that tax break is good to go for any buyer right now, it won’t be around forever, and might not be around for long enough for very many people to use it on the Model S.

Also, that price only comes with a 160-mile battery pack. For more you can upgrade that range, but don’t hold your breath if you expect that to be a cheap upgrade! Seating 7 means that you will have to stuff two kids into rear facing seats in the hatch. If you don’t find 6 people to drag around with you, the Model S should be able to haul quite a large amount.

I won’t bore you with all the details, you can check them out (and some more pictures at the end of the post).

Question: Where do you think this car fits into the market? The same high end that can afford the Roadster and the “green” price tag, or will the middle class be trying to buy this?

At a Glance: Production Model S

With a 300-mile range and 45-minute QuickCharge, the $49,900 Model S can carry five adults and two children in quiet comfort – and you can charge it from any outlet, without ever stopping for gas. World’s first mass-produced electric vehicle offers performance, efficiency and unrivaled utility with twice the energy-efficiency of hybrids, making Model S the only car you’ll ever need.

Convenience and utility bullet points:

• Up to 300-mile range
• 45-minute QuickCharge
• 5-minute battery swap
• Charges from 110V, 220V or 440V
• Seating for 5 adults + 2 child seats
• Unique hatch for oversized items
• 60/40 flat-folding rear seat
• 2nd trunk under hood
• EPA Roominess Index 121.6
• More room than station wagons
• 17-inch infotainment touchscreen
• 3G wireless connectivity

Model S powertrain includes a liquid-cooled 9-inch motor, floor-mounted battery pack and a single-speed gearbox, delivering effortless acceleration, responsive handling and quiet simplicity — no fancy clutchwork or gear-shifting required. Model S costs as little as $4 to fully charge – a bargain even if gasoline dropped to $1 per gallon. You can have affordable fun while being socially responsible.

Technical specs:

• 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds
• ¼ mile in 14 seconds
• 120 mph top speed
• Braking 60-0 mph 135 feet
• 42 kWh battery storage system standard
• 70 kWh and greater battery storage systems optional
• 9- inch liquid cooled electric motor
• Single-speed transaxle gearbox
• Curb Weight 3825 lbs
• Overall Length 196″
• Wheelbase 116.5″
• All-wheel-drive available (option available in future production models)
• Right hand drive available

At a Glance: Model S Show Car

The Model S Show Car is a drivable vehicle that exemplifies Tesla’s “no compromises” philosophy – an elegantly refined luxury sedan delivering optimal performance without sacrificing efficiency. Designed by Franz von Holzhausen, the car’s aggressive stance gives way to a modern silhouette, with minimal front and rear overhangs for maximum space efficiency. The car’s mature face defines the future of the Tesla brand and incorporates the touches from the Tesla Roadster. Environmentally friendly materials are incorporated throughout, including water-based paint for the exterior, chrome-free vegetable tanned Italian leather on interior, and 100 percent recycled PET carpeting from Futuris.

Other details:

• Panoramic roof with sliding moon roof
• Retracting door handles for improved aerodynamics
• Full-time 3G connectivity with Internet, HD and satellite radio
• Push button “gear” selector
• Brembo brakes
• Automatic rear lift gate
• 21-inch wheels, Front Tires 245/35ZR21, Rear Tires 285/30ZR21
• 17-inch haptic touchscreen and customizable vehicle information display
• Fully digital instrument cluster
• LED and neon headlight and taillights, with xenon Hella low beams
• Smart-key power and push button gear selector
• Brembo brake system with new one-piece monobloc calipers and integral stiffening bridge to optimize performance
Front brake system:
• Brembo Gran Turismo
• Brembo 6-piston Monobloc Calipers
• Brembo 405x34mm 2-Piece Floating Slotted Discs with Billet Aluminum Hats
Rear brake system:
• Brembo Gran Turismo
• Brembo 4-piston Monobloc Calipers
• Brembo 380x28mm 2-Piece Slotted Discs with Billet Aluminum Hats

Tesla unveils world’s first mass-produced, highway-capable EV
Model S sedan has anticipated base price of $49,900, up to 300-mile range and 45-minute QuickCharge capability

March 26, 2009

HAWTHORNE , Calif.– (BUSINESS WIRE) -Tesla Motors is now taking orders for the Model S, an all electric family sedan that carries seven people and travels 300 miles per charge.

The Model S, which carries its charger onboard, can be recharged from any 120V, 240V or 480V outlet, with the latter taking only 45 minutes. By recharging their car while they stop for a meal, drivers can go from LA to New York in approximately the same time as a gasoline car. Moreover, the floor-mounted battery pack is designed to be changed out in less time than it takes to fill a gas tank, allowing for the possibility of battery-pack swap stations.

The floor-mounted powertrain also results in unparalleled cargo room and versatility, as the volume under the front hood becomes a second trunk. Combining that with a four-bar linkage hatchback rear trunk and flat folding rear seats, the Model S can accommodate a 50-inch television, mountain bike *and* surfboard simultaneously. This packaging efficiency gives the Model S more trunk space than any other sedan on the market and more than most SUVs.

“Model S doesn’t compromise on performance, efficiency or utility — it’s truly the only car you need,” said Tesla CEO, Chairman and Product Architect Elon Musk. “Tesla is relentlessly driving down the cost of electric vehicle technology, and this is just the first of many mainstream cars we’re developing.”

Tesla expects to start Model S production in late 2011. The company believes it is close to receiving $350 million in federal loans to build the Model S assembly plant in California from the Dept of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program.

Building on Proven Technology

Tesla is the only production automaker already selling highway-capable EVs in North America or Europe . With 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, the Roadster outperforms almost all sports cars in its class yet is six times as energy efficient as gas guzzlers and delivers 244 miles per charge. Tesla has delivered nearly 300 Roadsters, and nearly 1,000 more customers are on the wait list.

Teslas do not require routine oil changes, and they have far fewer moving (and breakable) parts than internal combustion engine vehicles. They qualify for federal and state tax credits, rebates, sales tax exemptions, free parking, commuter-lane passes and other perks. Model S costs roughly $5 to drive 230 miles – a bargain even if gasoline were $1 per gallon.

The anticipated base price of the Model S is $49,900 after a federal tax credit of $7,500. The company has not released options pricing. Three battery pack choices will offer a range of 160, 230 or 300 miles per charge.

“Model S costs half as much as a Roadster, and it’s a better value than much cheaper cars,” Musk said. “The ownership cost of Model S, if you were to lease and then account for the much lower cost of electricity vs. gasoline at a likely future cost of $4 per gallon, is similar to a gasoline car with a sticker price of about $35,000. I’m positive this car will be the preferred choice of savvy consumers.”

The standard Model S does 0-60 mph in under six seconds and will have an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph, with sport versions expected to achieve 0-60 mph acceleration well below five seconds. A single-speed gearbox delivers effortless acceleration and responsive handling. A 17-inch touchscreen with in-car 3G connectivity allows passengers to listen to Pandora Radio or consult Google Maps, or check their state of charge remotely from their iPhone or laptop.

Tesla is taking reservations online and at showrooms in California . Tesla will open a store in Chicago this spring and plans to open stores in London, New York, Miami, Seattle, Washington DC and Munich later this year.

About Tesla Motors

San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla Motors Inc. designs and manufactures electric vehicles with exceptional design, performance and efficiency, while conforming to all North American and European safety, environmental and durability standards. The Roadster, which has a 0-to-60 mph acceleration of 3.9 seconds and a base price of $101,500 after a federal tax credit, is the only highway-capable production EV for sale in North America and Europe. Tesla expects to begin producing the Model S sedan in late 2011.