Comments on: Tesla Unveils the Model X: The World’s First All-Electric Crossover Luxury car

By: sammael

sammael — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:07:50 +0000

@jetgraphics
There is no need for any unexpected breakthrough, there are technologies in diffusion state right now that can create a paradigm shift in perception of electric cars:
Development of high charge stations capable of refilling the electric car in under 10 minutes. With several large private investors going into building such networks, and probably with government’s subsidies, those would largely remove range anxiety.
Development of nano carbon tube batteries that can hold 6 (existing now, theoretically it can go over 10 times as much) time the charge with same amount of lithium AND help faster charging, will help make batteries cheaper. How? If same material needed to make battery that will drive a car 100 miles, can be used to make car go 600 miles, then materials that will make car go 40 miles will make it go 240 miles, which is a very good, and affordable range.
Development of new materials that are stronger but lighter then current materials will make cars lighter, making them even cheaper to drive.
Tesla is doing it right. First rich people adopt technology, stars, millionaires, then middle class wants it, then more affordable models come and they sell massively. They save money, they are convenient, so more people get them. Change won’t happen over night, but it can and will happen.

By: LithiumBeauty

LithiumBeauty — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:44:50 +0000

Love the look of this, is it reminding anyone else of the original Audi A2?
Since one model of the aluminum A2 approached 100 mpg I’m curious about the energy equivalent savings with the Tesla X

By: jetgraphics

jetgraphics — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:49:55 +0000

The electric car will be a solution for some, a few, but not for the masses. The materials needed for the battery pack alone are in limited supply. There’s no way America can afford replacing its fleet of 240 million vehicles with ‘Lectric cars.
The automobile / highway paradigm will shift to a more efficient land transport. Barring a technological breakthrough, that means electric powered traction rail – in all its forms.