Tesla reveals price and options for the 2012 Model S electric sedan

The Tesla Model S is expected to go on sale starting in the summer of 2012

While Tesla Motors is best known for the Roadster, an all electric super-sports-car, their eyes all along have been on a business plan to develop modest priced electric cars. The Tesla Model S, to go on sale in 2012, is the next step on their plan, and today they announced its price and options. As a high priced Sedan with a $49,900 base price, it's more affordable than the Roadster, but still pricey enough to be out of reach for the typical family sedan budget.

The Tesla Model S price announced today is in effect for all current U.S. reservation holders. They say that "volatility" in the currency markets prevents them from announcing pricing for customers outside the U.S.

The Tesla Model S prices are based on the battery pack size, the number of options, and there is a Performance version of the Model S with higher speed and a commensurately higher price. The base prices are

• 40 kilowatt-hour, 160 miles range: $49,900
• 60 kilowatt-hour, 230 miles range: $59,900
• 85 kilowatt-hour, 300 miles range: $69,900
• 85 kilowatt-hour, performance model, 300 miles range: $79,900

Yes, while most of the electric cars on the market are fiddling around with small battery packs and short ranges, Tesla is delivering a large battery pack and a commensurately large range. For comparison the Nissan Leaf has a 24 kilowatt-hour battery pack and claims to deliver a 100 mile range. While these prices are much higher than the typical family sedan, they are not out of line with luxury sedans such as the Lexus's or BMW's of the world.

Top speeds range from 110 miles/hr to 130 miles/hr, and the 0-60 miles/hr times range from a respectable 6.5 seconds to a very fast 4.4 seconds in the performance model. All models have an 8 year warranty on the battery pack. Deliveries are expected to begin in the summer of 2012 for the two 85 kilowatt-hour models, in the fall of 2012 for the 60 kilowatt-hour model, and in the winter of 2012 for the 40 kilowatt-hour model.

The Tesla Model S includes a unique selection of charging options. By default it comes with a single 10 kilowatt charger (for comparison, the Leaf has a 3.3 kilowatt charger, and the Ford Focus Electric has a 6.6 kilowatt charger) that delivers up to 31 miles per hour of charging. For an additional $1500 your Model S can have two chargers, for a total of 20 kilowatts of charging speed, or up to 62 miles per hour of charging, but of course this would require a 240 volt 85 amp circuit. Finally, Tesla has developed what they call the Supercharger for the 85 and 60 kilowatt models. It will be available in a network of Supercharger stations operated by Tesla, and will provide up to 160 miles per 30 minutes of charging, which means fully replenishing the 85 kilowatt-hour battery pack in about an hour.

In years past Tesla had claimed the model S would include fast charging and fast battery swapping capabilities. They have delivered on the fast charging promise, but not so on the fast battery swapping plan. Perhaps the vehicle has been designed so that, with the right tools, the battery pack can be quickly swapped, but what's missing is a network of battery exchange stations such as Better Place is working to develop.

The Tesla Model S can plug into any power socket, and is not limited to the J1772 charging port used on other electric cars. This means flexibility to plug in anywhere irregardless of whether a charging station is available, or not. It appears that Tesla's Supercharger is not compatible with the CHADEMO standard (such as the fast charger port on the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi iMiev).

All models include a 17 inch touch screen infotainment display on the dash. All vehicle, media, communication, and cabin controls are displayed on this screen.

Tesla appears to be on a successful roadmap to bringing the Model S to production on time later this year. Tesla's master plan is for each new car model they develop to lower the price and increase the production volume. Where the Roadster was sold in the thousands at a price well over $100,000, the Model S should sell in the 10's of thousands at prices shown above, and their next model should have an even larger production at an even lower price.

Source: Examiner