Comments on: Tesla Death Watch 18: Eberhard Rethinks Running Costs

By: tauronmaikar

tauronmaikar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:41:07 +0000

Funny how Mr. Eberhart calculations change by almost a factor of 2 depending on whether or not he works for the company.

Wait until people figure out the ridiculous claim of 256 mpg is also bogus.

By: Bytor

Bytor — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:03:40 +0000

Tesla battery pack is more like $40000 than $10000.

But I think they were claiming 200K miles.

But I would consider what the warranty backs before otherwise useless claims because this one essentially uses standard laptop batteries, good luck with that after the warranty is up.

We don’t count the engine becuase usually it will outlast the car, but battery packs are a consumable item with a very finite lifespan. They must be counted as such in cost/mile.

By: cretinx

cretinx — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:47:23 +0000

he didn’t take into account depreciation or insurance either, did he?

By: joeaverage

joeaverage — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:11:58 +0000

If I can afford their sedan I will be looking at one. Everything I’ve read says the cost to fuel an EV is 1/4 to 1/6th of the cost to fuel a gasoline vehicle.

Gasoline prices are falling but we are a little under one dollar more expensive than we were about a year ago. Is there any reason to believe that in another year we won’t be another dollar or seventy-five cents more per gallon that now?

I still maintain that an EV makes sense for a second car. For many of us an EV makes good sense as a first car as well. We’ll keep a fossil fuel powered van around for a 3rd vehicle (weekend trips, towing, etc).

Still working towards an EV whether the big-not-sobig anymore three wants to sell one to me or not.

By: blindfaith

blindfaith — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:47:07 +0000

The batteries cost $10,000 and will last 100,000 miles.

I think you must add in about $.10 a mile. And that about does it for battery driven cars.

How about Capacitors? They never wear out and you make them out of carbon note expensive metals that barely exist now.

By: jurisb

jurisb — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:24:30 +0000

Tesla can`t manage a production of one car, when they are already planning a 4 -door sedan.It would be Lotus based. As always in NA, would, could, if, if only, given a chance,……….

By: z31

z31 — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:18:49 +0000

Bytor :
When you factor in battery replacement in cost/mile, BEVs end up costing more than ICEs.

Do people factor in the cost of engines for their 911s?

By: Bytor

Bytor — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:47:50 +0000

Uhhh, still leaving out the most significant cost/mile.

The batteries!

When you factor in battery replacement in cost/mile, BEVs end up costing more than ICEs.

By: Frank Williams

Frank Williams — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:42:12 +0000

Maybe next he’ll tell us the real world recharge time and range numbers.

By: healthy skeptic

healthy skeptic — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:39:56 +0000

Yeah, I think this is kind of picky. It’s a matter of whether EV fuel costs per mile are far cheaper or merely significantly cheaper.

How about a spreadsheet on a Porsche 911?

Good analysis by Eberhard, though. I toyed with the idea of building an online calculator based on his spreadsheet.

By: David Holzman

David Holzman — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:21:03 +0000

3.6c is still about 1/4 the cost of gasoline for the average car in the US.

By: SunnyvaleCA

SunnyvaleCA — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:03:39 +0000

Add another 2 to 5 cents per mile for the (expensive) tires.