Chevy Volt a Failure - GM to Layoff 1,300

The timing couldn't be worse for another breakdown - they're due to report earnings today.

www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2013/02/08/tesla-motors-cruises-into-earnings-with-better-margins-and-model-s-sales/

online.wSportsJournalists.com/article/SB10001424127887323511804578296001971946098.html

It'll be interesting to see how Tesla PR spins this. They were aggressive with Top Gear. Not sure they can afford the same approach with the NYT.

 

Anyone considering a Tesla would be out of their minds to buy one after reading that article.

 

Is it the battery or the car that's failing?

 

Tes wants to do well but just doesn't apply himself .

Seems like the issue is the overall charging system. With the battery being an integral part of car I don't think you can say it's just the battery failing.

 

Hard to know. Could be the battery, the software, the motors, the charging system, even the newly installed chargers.

You wonder how much cold-weather testing they've done, too.

 

Or is it user error?

And at this point, electric cars are not designed for long trips. I don't think anyone buying one now really thinks they will be taking it to Florida every week. It takes too long to recharge the battery.

Now, would a business opportunity be to have a site where you can exchange batteries? Swap out a used battery for a charged one and continue down the road? I could see those on the highways in 10-15 years.

 

You do realize that the batteries in those cars cost thousands of dollars, right? We're not talking about popping in a couple of Duracells here.

 

I've read estimates for the cost of that battery to be between $40,000 and $50,000. Half the price of the car is the battery.

 

Musk fights NYT Review.

www.nbcnews.com/business/tesla-founder-short-circuits-over-critical-review-1B8330626

 

User error or a lack of a common sense button.

 

I wonder where in Manhattan he went and how far off track he drove?

This will be interesting how it plays out.