Jalopnik reports:
Tesla Motors’ lineup of all-electric vehicles — its existing Roadster, almost certainly its impending Model S, and possibly its future Model X — apparently suffer from a severe limitation that can largely destroy the value of the vehicle. If the battery is ever totally discharged, the owner is left with what Tesla describes as a “brick”: a completely immobile vehicle that cannot be started or even pushed down the street. The only known remedy is for the owner to pay Tesla approximately $40,000 to replace the entire battery. Unlike practically every other modern car problem, neither Tesla’s warranty nor typical car insurance policies provide any protection from this major financial loss. Here’s how it happens.
Despite this “brick” scenario having occurred several times already, Tesla has publicly downplayed the severity of battery depletion risk to both existing owners and future buyers. Privately though, Tesla has gone to great lengths to prevent this potentially brand-destroying incident from happening more often, including possibly engaging in GPS tracking of a vehicle without the owner’s knowledge.
The rest here, including confirmation from Tesla.
Sounds like another $500 million down Obama’s taxpayer-funded toilet.
A side note: Jalopnik = Gawker = evil. Please don't give them page views.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI don't understand how they could put that out on the road. I also don't understand how such a problem even occurs. Everything from laptops to cellphones can have their batteries completely discharged and work just fine. Heck, I sometimes purposely run out my cell phone battery in order to help it have a longer life. Well, I'm sure there's a technical reason, but this just looks bad on their part.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSomehow the taxpayer will be on the hook when the lawsuits start up on this defect.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is yet one more non-story whipped into a big deal when none exists. Tesla talks about keeping the battery from self-discharging to 0 in the owner's manual, in several emails to the owners after purchase and even have included sophisticated programs to warn the Roadster owner when the battery is approaching zero to be sure to plug it in when they get to their destination.
This person who refused to follow these easy instructions left his almost empty Roadster sit for over 2.5 months, and the battery gradually emptied because the car has a small electrical load with its various computers quietly monitoring everything. The owner was negligent all the way.
It's like driving a car with no oil. Would you blame the manufacturer if a Ferrari owner drove his $300,000 sports car with no oil? Of course not. This is just for FUD from the right who want us to remain 99% reliant on oil for our transportation. A strategy that's hurting our country. These people are anti-American and pro oil.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI agree. Non story. Come on guys, write something more important.
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