What's Wrong With This Picture: The Tesla Has No Clothes Edition
Published: September 16th, 2009
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And that, friends, is why the Tesla weighs almost 800 pounds more than an Elise.
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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I don't really get the point of the post. Tesla had a naked rolling chassis on display last January at the NAIAS. Batteries weigh more than gasoline. So what's the big deal? Like imag said, at least Tesla started with one of the lightest platforms currently in production. Also, Lotus' method of constructing cars is ideally suited to making variations. Lotus builds its monocoques primarily out of aluminum extrusions that are relatively cheap to make, extrusions being cheaper to make than stampings. The various profiles are bonded and riveted together to make up the chassis. The system allows some flexibility - Lotus has pitched the idea of a flexible platform that could be stretched both in wheelbase and track. The rear end of the Elise chassis could be quickly adapted to accommodate the battery pack in the back. The biggest barrier to electric vehicles isn't so much that batteries aren't good enough, it's that batteries have to compete with gasoline, which has a very high btu content.
Od all the overpriced Jokes, the Toyota Elise 1.8 econobox track toy (and otherwisw useless cheapo contraption) with attitude, for $40 or 50k (?), takes the cake.
I think they have to learn from toyota how to create modular manufacturing platforms. If the companies keep pushing each other the consumer will win.
PS want an Elise? Learn how to ride a bicycle (just in case you don't know), then buy a nice motorcycle (or three of them, with the Elise $) and have even better acceleration etc etc. And about the same.. weight..!LOL.