Could the Tesla Model S become the Google Car?

Here we go again!!

Global warming is a theory that has no basis in fact,
and there is no where near enough information that
has been gathered over the lifetime of the earth to
even begin to rationalize it!

CO2 is not the enemy, unless you don't like plants to
survive! Sick of non-scientific morons like Al Gore
trying to brainwash the country/world, just like
Obama is in the process of doing.

Now on to the car. To make electric cars economical
we must build nuclear power plants with several
breeder reactors across the country. We also need
to realize that the manufacture of the lightweight
components to reduce weight, along with the use of
resources and energy to manufacture the necessary
batteries is not an energy neutral process! You
also need to remember that electric cars still need
routine maintenance, will require anti-friction
lubricants (grease), and still have many of the non
engine related parts and associated problems.

I have been following the Tesla and various other
new car designs, including the Aptera, and they
show promise, but don't expect them to be the
solution to our reliance on foreign oil. If several
problems can be resolved, biofuels may be more of
a solution than electricity. Now, if MIT or others
that are working on transferring power over the air
or via a grid under the road (probably
electromagnets) where sophisticated batteries would
not be required, perhaps electric vehicles will
become a more viable solution.

LuLz

Words are great. A Theory, as used in science, is a leading hypothesis that is backed up by FACTS. Gravity is a theory. Let's see you ignore that theory and your flippant attitude might go away. Stop mixing scientific definitions with common usage.

I'm not saying that Al Gore is right, but he is doing the right thing, which is bringing attention to the issue. CO2 is a greenhouse gas, there is no dispute on this. Methane is worse.

I think it's totally possible that our use of CO2 could have delayed the next ice age, allowing us to flourish. The point is that, more than anything else, global control of weather patterns is crucial to our survival.

An ice age would set us back a long way. So while I don't feel any leading theory today is even 50% correct, I know enough to support research to find out before we end up in a 100,000 year ice age sitting in bunkers pondering what might have been different if we had paid more attention to good science instead of rhetoric.

We are living in a rare "comfort zone" and it behooves us to fully understand the natural cycles in order to maintain a persistent one in order to continue our current comfort level. I don't care of it's natural or not, I want stability as defined by the last 5000 years.

War

I agree full heartedly with what you said about being able to recharge your car without having terrorism/war involved. I'm a 25 yr old marine scout sniper and have spent 3 1/2 years total in Iraq and Afghanistan now. I plan to boycott OPEC by buying this car!

EV's for more than the rich

It sounds to me like the technology is out there- now the real problem needs to be addressed- COST. If there is real interest in reducing pollution and getting a viable EV out there- why isn't there an affordable model? Can someone tell me? Ah to be rich- but not all of us are. I would love to leave less of a footprint- but you have to be wealthy to proceed! I wish there were an affordable EV for the masses- this $50,000. -$100,000 baloney is just that.
Signed,
One of the dissappearing middle class, frustrated potential customers
of an affordable EV.

Cost

I'll try and keep this simple enough, though it looks like that might be hard.
Cheap cars generate very small profit per car. Therefore, you have to make and sell lots of them right away, if you're going to survive. That means lots of big multi-billion dollar factories, immediately. And marketing and distribution able to generate and satisfy demand, immediately.

So it wasn't possible to start small.

Making a few cars with large margins allows developing and testing top technology with a small volume. As profits pile up, you increase production, reduce price, and develop cheaper spin-off models.

Which is exactly what Tesla is doing.