Over our generation, we have had huge technological advancements in our automotive industry. We have seen computer driven cars, we have seen speed records being beaten one after the other, and we have seen huge advancements in the hybrid/green motoring industry. Ever since GM bought the rights to the EV-1, the worlds first electric car, and destroyed it, we haven't really seen any Zero emission, Zero combustion vehicles being put out onto the market. Until recently. Tesla, a Californian company, has produced what people think could be a start to a revolution. Or so SOME people think.

I'm doing a small project for my research class at UofT. What I hope to find out is if in fact Tesla Motors has a supportive base of interested and enthusiastic consumers. I wanted to see what the enthusiast communities had to say about this electric car.

So my question to you is. Would you buy it? Why? And if you were seriously considering the Tesla, what would be your concerns revolve around?

I chose the Toronto market because Tesla is expanding operations to Toronto. Also because it makes life easier for me. So, PLEASE PLEASE take 4 minutes out of your busy day to help me out. I greatly appreciate your response.

All information will be anonymous, and since this is a public forum filled with opinion I don't think it will be difficult for anyone either!



For those who do not know the company I am talking about, here is a Top Gear Video and a link to the official website.

http://www.teslamotors.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f_6F...eature=related



Thank you all in advance for your time!

 

Would I buy one? No
Am I interested? Kind of


My main reasons for not considering one is A: I live in an apartment building and have no way to charge it. B: I don't like the idea of buying the first of something. And C: I love the sound/feeling of an internal combustion engine.

I really just don't feel like I would enjoy it enough. If I was concerned about the environment/fuel costs, I would just ride my bike more.

Some day perhaps.

 

Would you buy it? No
Why? To expnsive for what it is i too like the sound/feeling of an internal combustion engine.

And if you were seriously considering the Tesla, what would be your concerns revolve around? Battary Life/Charge Cycles/Driving Range

 

Buy an Electric car – Not yet!!!

Why- ? Basically you have to have something better than today’s vehicles in just about every way for me to switch or even think about it.

Cost to purchase- Must be better or equal in every way to combustion cars.
Cots to own – Must be better or equal.
Convenience – Again must be better or equal in every way including being able to charge this in 5 min or less with the same amount of Gas stations or forget it. Having a car is freedom. Electric cars are not even close.
Reliability - ???
Safety??
Performance - ???

Where can I go to have the Motor rewound to give me an extra 300 WHP LOL?

 

^ Very good point Fearless. That's why recent development has indicated that Tesla would need to provide the convenience of a internal combustion car. That means it needs the infrastructure (fuelling/charging stations). And places down town, like condo's and such would need parking places to charge the cars.

Some places have responded, condo's taking up the "green" are offering charging stations and significantly cheaper parking for people with Hybrid/Electric cars.

Now lets say for the sake of argument, the convenience was there. Would a internal combustion powered car be more appealing?

 

So my question to you is. Would you buy it? No, Not in todays time.

Why? It is not practicle enough. I feel as if the majority of the interest of automakers put enough interest into the advancement of the eletric car, it would no doubt be a revolution. That is simply not happening because of corperate based greed.

As for people saying they just can't see themselves in one well that is just because they grew up around gas powered cars. If i grew up in the 1500's when there was no such thing as a car, id have other interests such as maybe horse riding. So untill car makers fully put 100% of their efforts and advancement into the electric car, of course the majority of the people will not buy it.

And if you were seriously considering the Tesla, what would be your concerns revolve around?

In todays world, it is just not practicle and too expensive. You would also need a house for it to be charged, while some people live in apartments.

 

Until they can charge the car up for 400km worth of driving in about 2mins, it will never compete with gasoline cars. (hence why hydrogen is the true future, but thats another topic )

If they could solve that issue, I would consider one yes. Maybe not a tesla, but I have a 40km commute to work, and if I could do that on $0.10, without much inconvenience, then yes, I would look into one (and I imagine most would). But those are some pretty big, and right now impossible challenges to overcome.