Jun 30, 2015
aus I've been reading here for a couple months now and we're thinking of getting the 70D, but mainly because I want the car pool stickers and it would fit how we tend to drive.
While reading on this board, I've noticed people comment a lot about how they feel they're being environmentally friendly by having a MS. I'm just wondering if there are people here just because it's an interesting car that has no competitor at this moment; not because they think they're helping the environment?
.�
Jun 30, 2015
supratachophobia Where I am, all the S' are coal powered.�
Jun 30, 2015
Zythryn You will not find a narrow market for the Model S.
I know people that bought it because they hate dealing with car dealers.
Others buy it strictly for the performance.
Others buy it for the drive quality.
Some buy it for environmental reasons.
Some for the convenience.
Some for the national fiscal health.
And yet others for national security reasons.
Some others buy it because it is one car that fits a wide variety of uses.
Most buy it for a multitude of the above reasons.�
Jun 30, 2015
igotzzoom I think it's kind of an "all of the above" car. It's fast, has a reasonably long & useful range, looks good, and is electric. What's not to like? Other than a price out-of-reach of a lot of buyers. But that's what the Model 3 is for.�
Jun 30, 2015
Max* The environmental reasons are a pro, but I got it because it's cool, it looks good , it's fast and I don't have to pay for gas anymore (cheaper long term)�
Jun 30, 2015
caddieo +1^. Most will have one major reason but that does not rule out other factors that have been enumerated (and I am sure there are other reasons that have not been mentioned). Environmental concerns are a plus but not overriding.�
Jun 30, 2015
kuttakamina Tesla is,
Good for the world
Good for America
Good for me
.. in that order�
Jun 30, 2015
mikeash I certainly care about the environmental reasons, but they're not the most important reasons I bought the car. The biggest reasons are that I just love the idea of never visiting another gas station (they're smelly and inconvenient and they take big bites out of your wallet), I love having huge amounts of power on hand, and I love all the smarts in the car.
You certainly don't need to care at all. My father is totally unconvinced about any of the environmental aspects and he still wants one badly.�
Jun 30, 2015
jerry33 The big thing about a Tesla is that it stands on it's own merit, it doesn't need an "excuse" to compete with other cars. And once you've driven one for a month, you'll think your other car is broken.�
Jun 30, 2015
TexasEV I prefer an electric car to reduce demand for oil for geopolitical reasons more than environmental. Tesla has the dual advantage of being able to stick it to OPEC and to the Texas Auto Dealers Association at the same time.�
Jun 30, 2015
Insane 1) Performance.
2) Auto Pilot
3) Safest car especially during winter.
4) Almost no maintenance.�
Jun 30, 2015
roblab In a very short Google search, I see several nuclear power plants and several natural gas power plants in Ohio. I would also suspect there might be a Tesla owner or two who have solar panels and supply some of their own power.
I think your premise would be hard to prove, whether you believe it or not. Even burning coal, electrics are efficient enough to make less CO2 than a standard gas burning car.�
Jun 30, 2015
AnOutsider *raises hand*
it's nice, but not the primary reason i bought my S.�
Jun 30, 2015
rocketdallas I bought my MS because I was completely taken aback with the technology, engineering, and safety aspects of the car; suddenly, the other car choices I had considered at the time seemed really antiquated. Through my ownership experience with the car, I've become more aware of environmental concerns and am better for it.�
Jun 30, 2015
deonb For me, it's the convenience & lifestyle of charging.
Never having to go to the gas station for most of the year
-AND-
When we're on a road trip, the forced stops means I can actually get a frequent break from driving earlier, where previously other family members may have wanted me to keep pushing on.�
Jun 30, 2015
robby It's funny, I'm the exact opposite. I love everything about our MS, but if it were gas powered I would not have paid $20k for it let alone its actual cost. As others have mentioned, it is such a great car it can likely stand on top of whatever category is important to you. You will love the car if/when you get it.�
Jun 30, 2015
S4WRXTTCS Short term me getting a Tesla didn't help the environment. I don't drive nearly enough miles to offset how much energy it took to build.
Long term though it is a contribution to electrifying vehicles which is critical for the environment.
But, it didn't really factor into my decision. It was an agonizing decision because of so many unknowns. Normally I would have shaken it off and said "too risky", but it's hard to get a Tesla out of your psyche once you've driven it.
Edit - I should add that limited/no maintenance was a pretty significant factor. it's almost tragic how many various oil changes my Jeep takes. The engine oil, the rear transfer case oil, the front transfer case oil. Yadda, Yadda, yadda. Ughh!�
Jun 30, 2015
mmccord The Environment was not a part of my decision at all. Performance, comfort and TCO were really the only factors.�
Jun 30, 2015
eye.surgeon Me.
Not interested in the perceived environmental benefits of electric cars. I just enjoy interesting, high tech cars.�
Jun 30, 2015
Owner Hard core environmentalist who is worried about global warming....
I put money down on a Roadster in 2006??? Can't remember the exact year. Installed solar before I got the Roadster.
Switched to the Model S because I like road trips and wanted to supercharge.
But it is an insanely good car, and would not go back to an ICE even if I wasn't a treehugger.�
Jun 30, 2015
Xenoilphobe You left a few reasons out - its is American designed, American made and supported by energy made in America.
When ISIS takes over the oil fields in Iraq and Saudi - they still won't get my money to fund their radical ideology.�
Jun 30, 2015
islandbayy I personally could care less about the environmental reasons. I purchased it because I drive too much, and pay too much for gasAnd I've always been fascinated by Electric Propulsion, to the point where I was Wisconsin's First EV Dealer!
�
Jun 30, 2015
dsm363 The environmental benefits are just a nice perk. You'll find people all over the political spectrum buying this car for all sorts of reasons which is a great thing.�
Jun 30, 2015
Lloyd You forgot Some buy it for the technology�
Jun 30, 2015
pmoa Could really care less about being green. Wanted to be unique and not buy another Audi, bimmer or Benz.�
Jun 30, 2015
Shortmanz Finally decided to buy my first American car.
Driving the Dream!�
Jun 30, 2015
hcsharp According to Tesla's market studies, that is the primary reason people buy a Tesla. The second reason is performance. The third is environmental impact. There are many other reasons as well. For most people it's a combination of things but more often than anything else the primary reason is technology.�
Jun 30, 2015
siucity My main reason for the Tesla was carpool lane access. My commute is less than 1/2 of what it would be in the non carpool lanes. I probably would have been fine with something like a Nissan Leaf, but then I couldn't take it on day trips because of its 80 miles range. And getting a Leaf means another car in the garage, while my P85D could replace one of our cars.�
Jun 30, 2015
Patrick W Same here in Utah (82% of electricity is from coal). But take comfort that with the huge amount of electricity required to refine crude oil into gasoline Tesla's, with their much higher efficiency burn a lot less coal that ICEs (not to mention the huge amount of energy expended getting the petrol from the refinery to the local pump).�
Jun 30, 2015
donv The environmental thing is a negative for me-- in fact, it's probably the one real negative I have with the Model S.
I own it because it's the best daily driver made, period. And, the electric drive is a big part of that. I also like that it's American-made and designed, and the product of the vision of one guy, at the end of the day.
I could do without the "greenie" image, especially since the true-believer greenies beat me up about it not being very environmentally sensitive (and I agree with them), and the non-believers think I'm some sort of greenie myself (couldn't be further from the truth).
Maybe I could stick a fake exhaust pipe on it?�
Jun 30, 2015
aus Good to know not everyone in Oregon hugs a tree.
We want the carpool lane for the wife since she has a nasty drive to work, but it's only a couple times a week. Then we do a ton of short drives picking up and dropping off kids for practice and games/performances and it's a killer on ICE.
The safety rating is nice too, but repairs if you get into an accident is RIDICULOUS!!
.�
Jun 30, 2015
Cosmacelf No exhaust is nice, but I bought it primarily for the performance and the drivability. I would hate to go back to an ICE now...�
Jul 1, 2015
TomServo Personally for me I test drove a 2012 Volt and the dealer let me have it for 24 hours. After a few miles of ALL ELECTRIC drive I was smitten. Took it home plugged it in and the next morning I saw I had 40 miles of range to play with. So my wife and set out to run ALL our errands to include a test run from my home to the USAF base I work at (22 miles R/T) and later that afternoon we returned it and bought a brand new 2012 Volt. We traded in an $88K Jaguar XK. That was March 2012, I now own a 2013 Volt and in 40 months I have driven over 39K miles (92% electric).
The green thing for me is not important in that it still takes a lot of fossil fuel to make electricity.
I want a Tesla because of how good it feels and operates not for any real green agenda. I will add I hate being stuck in traffic with an ICE vehicle spewing toxic fumes. So maybe I'm a little bit greener than I was say a few years ago. But until someone can certify the DNA of any electron as PURE I can co-exist with fossil fueled things.�
Jul 1, 2015
jbcarioca Some might call me Green, but that is my surname anyway.
I used to own an island in the Bahamas powered entirely by solar panels feeding a large storage battery complex. Some called that green, but it was vastly cheaper and easier than carrying diesel fuel from the nearest island that had fuel back to my place. It was certainly a minor burnishment of my greenness, entirely destroyed by my habit of flying myself to the nearest airport.
As a few people have noted, I bought my P85D because it is the best car I have ever driven. It's nice that it does not burn gasoline, but I was not at all tempted by any alternative EV, Maybe I will be next time, although my spouse thinks the P66D or whatever the Performance version of the Model III will be probably will be that choice.
Environmental resposibility ought to be my priority too, but honestly it is not. If it were I would not travel on an intercontinental basis every couple weeks or so.
Anybody who buys a Tesla must have a certain amount of cognitive dissonance IMHO. Even in countries with huge tax incentives rational choices would be far less capable than are our Teslae. OTOH, the tesla phenomenon is rapidly transforming the global perspective towards heat engines as the driving force for vehicles. That is a Good Thing!�
Jul 1, 2015
SabrToothSqrl I drive it because it's a bad ass fast car and I love tech.
While I'm not out to save the world, the fact that it's not clubbing baby seals is just icing on the cake.�
Jul 1, 2015
bollar This has to be the best thread of the week.�
Jul 1, 2015
kirkbauer I'm not an environmentalist, however I do hate waste. Electric vehicles seem less wasteful to me but I haven't done the math to be sure.
I do, however, love accelerating fast, so that's really why I have the P85D.�
Jul 1, 2015
AB4EJ I like this because it captures the thinking of myself, as a card carrying member of the "Geeks & Nerds Society," who want to have the most technologically advanced solution possible. It would be even better if the car was technically difficult to drive and had a long learning curve; but hey, you can't have everything.�
Jul 1, 2015
polything Tesla MS is the coolest car on the planet. Not sure what is the environmental impact when it manufactured but sure love to skip the $20 gasoline bill weekly.�
Jul 1, 2015
EvilNuff I want a Tesla because an electric drive car is, IMO, superior to a gas car across the board. I don't care much about the environmental side.�
Jul 1, 2015
jaguar36 We got a Tesla because its the only 7-seat 'sedan' on the market, and one of only two 7-seat non-SUVs on the market.�
Jul 1, 2015
AmpedRealtor I bought the Model S because it is a great car and environmentally responsible. But many others bought it because it's simply a great car.�
Jul 1, 2015
mibaro2 I bought the car because I was fed up paying for gas and oil. The technology and performance were an added bonus.
The environmental reasons were secondary.�
Jul 1, 2015
pmoa Oh and another thing. I love it when bimmer and Benz owners, or any other luxury brand are eyeing our cars and jealously speed away or try to�
Jul 1, 2015
mspisars ^ +1 this...�
Jul 1, 2015
Chris TX Same here, but I primarily bought the S because of the safety ratings. Dumping my old diesel Benz was icing on the cake.�
Jul 1, 2015
Max* O yeah, forgot about the safety rating. That was definitely a selling point for me too!�
Jul 1, 2015
eloder Also in Central Ohio, we can choose our electricity providers. You can buy wind-powered generation for cheaper than the default local utility rate, and the cheapest electrical providers are almost always Duke Power (nuclear) or natural gas (relatively cleaner). I had a plan with Duke Power last year that was 6.9 cents per kwh for 12 months, and my current provider is a three year fixed rate at 7.45 cents per kwh from natural gas.
This definitely is a decent place to own an EV but takes a tiny bit of research/signing-up to change the default energy source over to a cleaner one
When I get a Model 3, the environmental part will be a big factor. I own a Leaf as my sole vehicle now so I'm definitely committed to the whole EV thing, but at the same time the entire driving experience including refueling is vastly superior to a comparable gas car. Range is the only factor now but that heavily diminishes with a Model 3--pro environment at none of the drawbacks is a win-win-win situation.�
Jul 1, 2015
AMPd +1 to the OPEC part.�
Jul 1, 2015
mackgoo I'm comuting 150 miles round trip a day. Between the car pool, free toll road and the lack of an internal combustion engine to wear out, I felt it was the best fit. Oh yeah, and it's cool as heck.�
Jul 1, 2015
ryanakata Over a year ago, I bought a 335i and fully modded it to be what I thought I wanted. I've always been a gear head and never thought anything could replace the thrill of a tuned ICE. I was interested in the Tesla, but told myself I could not afford it, so I went with the BMW.
Surely enough, my daily commute increased when my job location changed up to about 42 miles round trip a day, not including the lunch break, and the BMW averaging 20mpg immediately made me think about the impact of fuel costs and how that could have been balanced out by a Tesla.
A month back I was in Houston and drove a 70D as well as an 85D and was blown away, it was unlike anything I had ever driven.
I hate using as much oil/fuel as I do already, but then my employer built a new parking garage with NEMA 14-50 charging spots and I feel like slapping myself everyday when I see them. I hope to buy a Model S next year, and give the BMW to my wife for her short commute. She will be graduating nursing school in December so hopefully we can save even faster.
So my reasoning for a Tesla?
1. It's the nicest balance of a car I can see myself in (Performance, comfort, practicality)
2. I hate the idea of constant use of oil, whether fuel or engine oil, by eliminating that I guess the inner tree-hugger in me will feel better even though I'm just a drop in the bucket.
3. I already use an electric lawnmower and yard equipment, why not add to it?
4. I'm a tech nerd, the car is a tech nerds playground.�
Jul 1, 2015
slevit1md I like the fact that the Tesla is good for the environment, but it ultimately had nothing to do with why I bought the car. The fact that it is 100% battery powered was definitely a factor, but due to the fact that I hate going to gas stations, much more so than lack of emissions. I bought the car because I love new technology and with the exception of some gimmicky things in the new 7 series, nothing else comes close (I also don't think the 7 series looks nearly as nice...looks like an older man's car to me, and some of its best features really only apply if you have a chauffeur). Certainly nothing else out there with a 17" touch screen, which I think is one of the coolest parts of the vehicle.
The free lifetime updates were also actually a huge deciding factor for me. One of the biggest annoyances in my current vehicle, and I guess really any vehicle out there, is that the car you leave the lot with is the same exact car you'll have years down the road. BMW wants several hundred dollars for a map upgrade on a yearly basis, which is just unfathomable to me given the numerous free, continuously updated, and frankly much better options out there. And while I can update the maps, I'll always be stuck with the same several year old, outdated looking user interface. BMW could update all of the UI stuff if they wanted to, but they just don't want to. And while this may seem minor to some, it is extremely irritating to me.
All of that, plus the autopilot features which will beat just about anything else out there in the next month or so, the ability to remote control the vehicle from my phone or watch to a significantly greater degree than any other vehicle (and do so while the car sits in a closed garage), supercar speed at a non-supercar price, stupid fun to drive, I love the look of the car, lots of storage space, undeniable wow factor when others experience it for the first time, safest car ever tested, etc. etc. And related to my first points above, the car will be even better when I trade it in for a new one in 3 years!
And, it's good for the environment....�
Jul 1, 2015
EnergyMax I like that electricity can have many sources (solar, wind, nuclear, geothermal...) and therefore we have economic/political power more widely dispersed, and wealth more widely spread. Individuals can even harvest their own energy. "Bringing power to the people" is my main interest.�
Jul 1, 2015
DoubleDownOn9 I've been enamored with EVs for the past 4 years (LEAF, Volt, LEAF, RAV4 EV). I like the smooth acceleration and whir of the electric motor. One of the best parts about driving electric is sitting at a stoplight and not wondering "is that a new noise?" and "why is the engine revving like that?". I also like the idea of cutting out the middle man when it comes to fuel sources. There are so many different ways to make electricity.
This car is one of the best looking cars I've ever seen/could have imagined. I still turn around and check it out as I'm leaving the garage at night. Amazing machine.�
Jul 1, 2015
JPP Paradigm shift-disruptive technology. Buzzwords, yes, but true in my case. Yes, the environmental effects are welcome, but the economics of driving and the whole package (performance, safety, comfort, etc, etc) are hard to beat.�
Jul 1, 2015
Joe I really like cars that are low maintenance and are really reliable. Used to buy Lexus's in the past primarily for that reason. But after seeing Tesla - assumed that it will be a highly reliable and low maintenance car - didn't see too many things that could break or need constant replacement. Two cars later - my hypothesis is correct.
Joe�
Jul 1, 2015
mackgoo Did I say it's a blast to drive?�
Jul 1, 2015
shieldsy I think it's the most American car you can buy. Made in America and helps remove our dependence on foreign oil!�
Jul 1, 2015
EarlyAdopter I bought a Model S because finally there was an EV that wasn't a punishment car.
Sad that 2.5 years later it's still the only non-punishment EV...�
Jul 1, 2015
paulkva I bought a Model S primarily because it was the only car, of everything I had test-driven when I was shopping for a new car, that my wife didn't have any complaints* about. :-D
...In all seriousness, I was hesitant to even try an electric car because most of them were completely unappealing to me, and I was worried it would be a commute-only car, so we'd have no backup if my wife's car had an issue. The environmental aspect is nice (I was looking for a car that got decent gas mileage but was still fun to drive), but it was far from #1 on my list. #1 before I bought it was "fun to drive" -- i.e. the incredible torque -- and I could only hope that the whole supercharger thing would work out so we could consider it for road trips. Now that I own it, it's our primary road trip car, and the superchargers can get us pretty much anywhere we want to go. My list of reasons why I'd buy it again in hindsight now include the tech and software updates (it's better than it was when I bought it!), the quiet, the convenience of charging at home, the reduced fatigue on road trips, and the direct-sales business model.
*Most of her complaints were legitimate and I agreed with many of them. We were just about prepared to "compromise" on a Lexus IS350, which had its share of issues in our view, until we tried the Model S.�
Jul 1, 2015
mknox For me, it was primarily about the cost for fuel. I went from $80 every 4 days in gasoline to about $80 (or less) a month in electricity. I also like the fact that the car's energy comes from local sources and I am supporting the local economy (i.e. electric utilities vs. foreign oil companies).�
Jul 1, 2015
Eclectic I am such a Tesla owner. I own the car in spite of the radical politics that are often associated with the brand. I had a few reasons for buying a Tesla (first, the P85, then the P85D). Like you note, it's an interesting car. It also is a marvel of fresh thinking in automotive design. And it's, er, insanely quick. And fun to drive.
In addition, I wanted to get access to the HOV lanes for a horrendous Bay Area commute and I figured that since my tax dollars are being filched to subsidize the bejesus out of EVs and Tesla in particular, I might as well get something in return (and not on a collective level). Since my commute is under 150 miles a day, the Tesla also makes a ton of sense for avoiding the need to go to fuel stations.
I'll never give up my gas/diesel vehicles and will continue to reject calls for government expansion under the guise of saving a planet that is more than capable of saving itself, and I'm not too keen on being associated with the lunatic "environmentalist" fringe, but Tesla puts out a revolutionary product that works for me.�
Jul 1, 2015
ohmman I don't care who you are or whether you're interested in the environmental science or not, there's something massively compelling about putting PV on the roof, covering your home needs and 15k+ miles a year in the car from a source that was shining anyway. I have a few friends who aren't into the science but still agree it's a pretty neat setup.�
Jul 1, 2015
Shelly I buy it because it looks so cool, and it performance so cool, also it save lots of money for just charge electric power, not like the oil car.
- - - Updated - - -
Yes, cool, save lot of money when use a motor cool car.�
Jul 1, 2015
Raven That's kinda where I sit. Tesla's first caught my eye with performance and looks. Then versatility. Then cost of operation and keeping the energy expenses local instead of wondering if I'm funding Al Qaeda.
Now I have 16kW of solar powering the house and car and then some. The clean air aspect is nice, but I think the greatest satisfaction is knowing I have greater independence and control over my own affairs. But you have to admit, having a refinery on your roof is pretty amazing.�
Jul 1, 2015
tkizzy I chose model S because I live in California and I want everyone to think I'm an environmentalist.
(jk, but if you think about it that really is part of the appeal for many people if we're honest. What other car with "supercar acceleration" can you buy where the hippie at your local whole foods won't look down their nose at you?)
That and it's fast, sexy, and technologically awesome. It's irrelevant that it's manufactured in the United States, other than the fact that I can actually drive to the factory and see them coming off the line..that's kinda neat.�
Jul 1, 2015
aus Well said. Can't believe you're from San Fran area!!
I'm never giving up my M3. An EV just doesn't have the sound I love when the motor is spinning 8,200 RPM... unless I get a GT3 that spins to 9,000 RPM.
But I'll have an EV in my garage as our next car for around town, and an occasional trip to Vegas. At this moment, only Tesla can fill those requirements.
,�
Jul 1, 2015
James Anders I will buy a Tesla because...
1. I like the performance.
2. I like reducing our dependance on foreign oil and for other geo-political reasons (OPEC).
3. Electric power makes engineering sense.
4. Fewer things to go wrong.
5. Performance.
6. Proud that it's designed and built here in the USA (although I've owned many, many foreign cars).�
Jul 1, 2015
mgdurand I used to be an environmentalist, but then I realized that human beings were just a very small, localized chemical reaction which arose to reduce the energy state of H-C bonds in a microscopic fractal sub-system of baryonic matter.�
Jul 1, 2015
mwulff We bought our Tesla for many of the same reasons as others on the forum. But I will readily admit that we are complete and utter treehuggers.
1. No more local air polution.
2. Safest car money can buy
3. Drives better than our old BMW.
4. Comfortable
5. Practical
6. Beautiful to look at
7. Supercharger network allows us to have the Model S as our only car.
The tesla truly feels like a car that was designed by people who love driving.�
Jul 2, 2015
Rifleman While I am not upset that the Model S is better for the environment that an ICE car, the environmental impact of the car literally had no impact on my purchase decision. I am more interested in the technology. The 17 inch touch screen was a huge selling point for me, along with the whisper quiet ride, great handling, instant acceleration, and all the other things we love about the Model S. I bought the Model S because it is the best car in the world, the fact that is is green is just a small bonus.
for me, the list of reasons to buy the car are as follows :
1. Highest tech car on the road
2. Giant touchscreen
3. over the air software updates
4. 3g internet connection built in
5. Great acceleration
6. Never need to buy gas
7. Lots of room for the kids in the back seat
.
.
.
.
.
151. The company is named after the greatest geek that ever lived.
152. Better for the environment.�
Jul 2, 2015
CarmaKazi I work for an oil and gas company and I get crap some people once in a while. (Knowledgeable people know that electricity is also generated from natural gas.) I tell them I bought the car for the engineering and the technology. But when I drive, i get asked, "What is it about acceleration that makes you giggle!" -- Best reason of all!�
Jul 2, 2015
Tuan 1. I dislike the toxic fume in my garage when my ICE car starts in the morning, even with the roll-up door open.
2. With 120 F summer heat in Central Valley, CA, the ICE heats my garage even higher when I return home.�
Jul 2, 2015
Merrill Since we do not drive our MB SUV very much had to get the A/C charged and came home parked in the garage had to keep the door open because it got so hot. It is so nice not to have that hot garage with the Tesla. Plus it is so quite and smooth, very advanced and beautiful, fun to drive. Then you add no exhaust pipe and not having to support the petroleum companies, made in California and on and on.�
Jul 2, 2015
Canuck I doubt anyone who drives a Tesla thinks they are helping the environment. If anything, it's doing less harm to the environment but in no way is it "helping".
In reality, we are too far past saving the environment. Actually, the environment will be just fine, it's the higher primates that will suffer. We're circling the drain. The sad part is how selfish and myopic we are as a species. Then again, we are barely out of the jungle, and not long ago we were huddling around fires to keep warm, so I guess where we are at should not be surprising. But just the question bothers me because it really reveals our innate selfishness, which is hard wired into each of us.�
Jul 2, 2015
mspisars
And.... you ruined the thread!�
Jul 2, 2015
snort The reason I started looking at EVs was the low pollution. But now that I've got one, I'm finding the biggest win is the convenience. I was finding that about 2/3rds of the time when I needed to stop for fuel, I was late for something, and the ten extra minutes and trip out of the way made me even later. Now, I plug in every night and I never have to go out of my way for fuel, ever. for the moment, my long trips are limited to where there are superchargers and/or can make a destination charger work. but the SC network is just getting started. in a few more years, supercharging will be just as convenient as gas stations...AND I can charge while I sleep.
The energy saving is not really that much, unless you can supercharge all the time. Here in the northwest, we have fairly low electricity costs. I'm finding it's pretty close to 3 cents per mile. the electricity bill for a 15,000 mile year is thus $450. The more typical electricity costs of most of the US would put it over $600. A 50 mpg Prius paying $3.50/gallon costs $1050. A 15 mpg SUV would cost $3500. But fuel is dirty, smelly and the exhaust is poisonous. A few thousand little explosions going off under the hood every minute requires complex cooling and lubrication and lots and lots of costly maintenance. They're incredibly noisy, especially in large numbers, like near a freeway. And of course the fossil fuel companies and their OPEC allies are exactly the wrong people to be subsidizing. Completely off-grid fill-ups with solar panels is an entirely plausible option...I know several people who are doing it.
I will never buy another ICE car. The model S is bigger, more expensive and more showy than what I really wanted, but it is a very nice car..."delightful" as Elon put it. The model 3 may be closer to what I wanted, but I got tired of waiting. I hope the other car companies see the light and start making the whole breed better, instead of just playing "me too", with small battery EVs and hybrids. That should include things like pickup trucks and work vans, econoboxes, delivery vehicles, taxis, heavy trucks, etc.
--Snortybartfast�
Jul 2, 2015
AB4EJ I don't often disagree with anyone in this forum... but when I do, I drink Dos Equis.
In contrast to your remarks, I think a lot of people who drive a Tesla believe (rightly or wrongly) that they are doing something to help the environment. Their impact varies depending on where they live (percentage of renewable energy generated). One thing I would like to understand is how the manufacturing process compares - full EV to full ICE. Aluminum takes more energy to smelt than does steel, and then there is all that lithium. I'm sure there is a complex analysis to do this comparison, but I am also sure that even if a Tesla is more earth-friendly overall than a regular ICE car, Tesla will need to grow to about 1000 times its current size to move the needle on a global scale. I am going to do what little I can to contribute to its success.�
Jul 2, 2015
aus For the people who feel they're helping the environment by owning a MS. It seems to be a wash compared to ICE. Maybe it's different for a larger car??
Electric cars can be dirtier than traditional gas cars
.�
Jul 2, 2015
bollar You need to read to the end to understand the major caveat:�
Jul 2, 2015
neroden That study is pure garbage, and I emailed the author.
In addition to the obvious caveat that it doesn't include well or refinery emissions for gasoline (!!!), it has a worse problem.
It doesn't have the power grid composition correct. There are obvious errors, like showing Wyoming as all-renewable and western NY (Niagara Falls) as coal-powered.
I suspect they're using bad data or out of date data or something.
It is possible for a Tesla to be dirtier than a gasoline car, if the Tesla's run off inefficient Midwestern or Southern coal and the gasoline car is a 58 mpg Prius. But this study's numbers are just plain wrong.�
Jul 2, 2015
ohmman It's also possible the people who feel they're doing better by the environment have done more research.�
Jul 3, 2015
mknox I believe what Canuck was saying is that most people who believe this, believe so wrongly.�
Jul 3, 2015
green1 Lots of people have weighed in now, but I'll just add my 2c...
I am saving up to buy a Model S, I should be there by next spring barring any major catastrophe.
The environment is not a factor at all in my decision. I won't get too much in to politics and such, I'm not stupid, I realize that pollution is bad, but it's just not important to me personally, I believe there are many more things to worry about in this world that are more important than how much CO2 your car puts out (not trying to start a flame war here, just answering the thread title)
I want a Model S because it is the first electric car that has a reasonable (if still too short) range. I want an electric car because they are superior to internal combustion vehicles in every way, lower maintenance, smoother running, better acceleration, not having to visit a gas station (especially important for those of us living in a place that gets as cold as -40!) cheaper fuel, fuel I can generate at home from solar power (again, for financial and independence reasons, not environmental)
Of course the Model S isn't just the first long range electric car, it's also a very practical vehicle in other ways, I love the high tech nature of it, I like that they didn't waste all the space between the front seats with a useless console shift lever or such, I like the huge cargo capacity, and it's also a nice looking car.�
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