Tesla to show off its all-electric Roadster - 3100 mile trip from LA to Detroit auto show.

[GreenTea]

But shit, it'll take 19 days, how's that going to impress anyone?

"Battery range is the Achilles' heel of electric cars.

They can only go so far before their drivers need to plug them in for hours of recharging. As a result, people tend to think of them as commuter cars, best for short hops around town.

Tesla Motors wants to change that. Come Thursday, the San Carlos company will send one of its electric sports cars on a 3,100-mile road trip from Los Angeles to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The trip will give Tesla a chance to show off its all-electric Roadster in places where the car has seldom - if ever - been seen. Tesla also hopes to strike a blow against "range anxiety" among consumers, proving that electric cars are capable of the classic cross-country trip. Or as the company's Web page devoted to the trip puts it, "range anxiety is for the weak."

"You can take it on a road trip just like you would with an everyday car," said Tesla spokeswoman Khobi Brooklyn.

Well, not quite. The trip, which an everyday car would make in about six days, will take 19 in the Tesla.

The trip's itinerary is built around the Tesla Roadster Sport's 244-mile range. On most days, the car will only travel 100 to 200 miles before stopping for the night. On others the car will go a little farther than the car's range, meaning the driver will have to stop in the middle of the day and spend several hours recharging the battery pack. The drivers, a rotating group of Tesla employees, will recharge at hotels and RV parks.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/15/BUBU1B45AM.DTL#ixzz0Zm4topQa

[Romulox]

1. 19 days? Is this a joke?

:wtf:

[Ian David]

2. That's nice, but does it have its own DANCE?

The Chevy Volt Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvwTMZNWGuk

[Romulox]

3. New slogan: if you've got $109,000 (base) and 19 days to spare... nt

[comtec]

4. What about hitching up a generator trailer?

There is a fast emerging market where you can sell small trailers that have extra battery and a generator (range extenders from hell! =])

They should use one of those.

and IIRC the tesla recharges to 80% in a short period of time.

Still, what's wrong with taking your time on a vacation?

[ixion]

7. taking your time on vacation?

well, a) the cost of staying in 18 hotels; and b) most people's vacations are not 19 days long in total, much less the 38+ that would be required for a round trip.

[comtec]

10. hence the generator on a trailer

a small diesel generator is going to be more efficient at making energy, and will greatly extend the car's range.

Of course a 3-cyl engine properly tuned beats them all.

a 3cyl + an electric motor would be better than anything imho.

Oh well. I can dream

[GreenTea]

9. I wouldn't leave on a trip without one...

I guess it would kind of be like hauling a trailer with a 55 gallon drum of gasoline with you for a long trip so you can just fill up the car even in the most remote areas, anytime you chose?

Nothing wrong with "taking your time" but sometimes one just needs to get there as fast as possible.

[ixion]

5. range anxiety is for the weak, or anyone on a schedule

and who doesn't have a nearly a month to go 3,100 miles.

Incidentally, I could do that drive in 3 days, not six.

[FarCenter]

6. It would be more energy efficient to ship it by rail

Especially considering the energy used in lodging, restaurants, etc.

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. I'd like to see a Volt go on the same trip

plus the new Prius

Like Road and Track and Car and Driver use to do