The Tesla Model 3 Was The Best-Selling Luxury Car In America Last YearÂ

[JeffKeryk]

After I get the charger ($500) installed (maybe $700 from an electrician friend) with the new 50A breaker, it is even more.
Sheesh...
But with solar, it's gravy going forward.

 

[Burt]

It will be fun to watch Tesla unfold. Seems hard to believe that any model can sustain sales of 400,000 per year or so, particularly one priced at a premium. Yes there are operating and maintenance savings but the average Joe isn't sophisticated enough to do the math. I.e. will a bank write a bigger loan to a person the buys a Tesla than a cheaper gas car because they know the buyer will have lower ongoing expenses? Hmm. Me thinks that heavy reliance on exports is the key to Tesla survival. Imagine that, an American car manufacturer, based out California no less, exporting cars around the world. Would've thunk it?

 

[4WD]

Wonder what percentage only own an EV -vs- it and something else ?
again, CA weather is ideal for many of these things … I'd probably do it too … but much of NA is colder and hotter or both … and the 10 year green dream will be a nightmare without this serious source of megawatts … and probably 10 years to get one permit

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted by 4WD
Wonder what percentage only own an EV -vs- it and something else ?
again, CA weather is ideal for many of these things … I'd probably do it too … but much of NA is colder and hotter or both … and the 10 year green dream will be a nightmare without this serious source of megawatts … and probably 10 years to get one permit




Your post illuminates the outright lying (or ignorance) that substitutes for frankness in so many public policy discussions. Everyone with even a minor level of understanding knows that renewables cannot support our need for electricity by themselves.
Everyone who understands the desirability of reducing fossil fuel consumption should also understand that fission generating stations are the only viable way of achieving that goal.
Instead, we see this huge push for renewables with actual demand supported by fossil fuel thermal plants.
Stupid, crazy, ignorant or all three at the same time?

 

[ozric]

JeffKeryk, that model 3 looks really nice in white

Enjoy!

 

[philipp10]

Originally Posted by Burt
It will be fun to watch Tesla unfold. Seems hard to believe that any model can sustain sales of 400,000 per year or so, particularly one priced at a premium. Yes there are operating and maintenance savings but the average Joe isn't sophisticated enough to do the math. I.e. will a bank write a bigger loan to a person the buys a Tesla than a cheaper gas car because they know the buyer will have lower ongoing expenses? Hmm. Me thinks that heavy reliance on exports is the key to Tesla survival. Imagine that, an American car manufacturer, based out California no less, exporting cars around the world. Would've thunk it?

you state the average Joe isn't sophisticated enough to do the math. Well I beg to differ. The people that CANNOT do the math are the Tesla buyers. In what world do you see a Tesla as a smart buy especially at $2.00-3.00 gas. It just makes no sense.

 

[philipp10]

Originally Posted by fdcg27
Originally Posted by 4WD
Wonder what percentage only own an EV -vs- it and something else ?
again, CA weather is ideal for many of these things … I'd probably do it too … but much of NA is colder and hotter or both … and the 10 year green dream will be a nightmare without this serious source of megawatts … and probably 10 years to get one permit




Your post illuminates the outright lying (or ignorance) that substitutes for frankness in so many public policy discussions. Everyone with even a minor level of understanding knows that renewables cannot support our need for electricity by themselves.
Everyone who understands the desirability of reducing fossil fuel consumption should also understand that fission generating stations are the only viable way of achieving that goal.
Instead, we see this huge push for renewables with actual demand supported by fossil fuel thermal plants.
Stupid, crazy, ignorant or all three at the same time?

no one is claiming renewables will cover all our energy needs. They are however, a piece of the puzzle and growing.

 

[Cujet]

Originally Posted by philipp10

no one is claiming renewables will cover all our energy needs. They are however, a piece of the puzzle and growing.


Possibly no one here. But there are plenty of "believers" that have been seriously misled by so called "facts".

I hate to admit it, but I have a close family member that bought the lie, entirely. He was utterly convinced a huge and expensive solar array would offset his energy use. Reality was that he, his kids and his wife are now uncomfortably cold at night.

They railed wildly against a natural gas pipeline, as "not green". Got a settlement, went green at a new location in the North East, and are now suffering badly. They even asked me for a large sum of money.

Come to find out, it takes A LOT of energy to live in cold climates. Energy that simply cannot be harvested from the sun or wind without sufficient land, and a whopper of an investment. Many times the value of a house.

Tell me again just how big the Tesla battery needs to be to heat a Maine, VT, CT, NH, MA, PA family home overnight and for the next few weeks when the sun does not shine....... All while temps dip to well below zero.

I'm here to tell ya, can't be done without burning something.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted by Cujet
Originally Posted by philipp10

no one is claiming renewables will cover all our energy needs. They are however, a piece of the puzzle and growing.


Possibly no one here. But there are plenty of "believers" that have been seriously misled by so called "facts".

I hate to admit it, but I have a close family member that bought the lie, entirely. He was utterly convinced a huge and expensive solar array would offset his energy use. Reality was that he, his kids and his wife are now uncomfortably cold at night.

They railed wildly against a natural gas pipeline, as "not green". Got a settlement, went green at a new location in the North East, and are now suffering badly. They even asked me for a large sum of money.

Come to find out, it takes A LOT of energy to live in cold climates. Energy that simply cannot be harvested from the sun or wind without sufficient land, and a whopper of an investment. Many times the value of a house.

Tell me again just how big the Tesla battery needs to be to heat a Maine, VT, CT, NH, MA, PA family home overnight and for the next few weeks when the sun does not shine....... All while temps dip to well below zero.

I'm here to tell ya, can't be done without burning something.



*Slaps side of RPV* This guy packs so much clean, green energy!

There's a way to provide emissions-free power generation for cold climates and we became pretty [censored] good at it until the inmates started running the asylum. When it's cold, dark and -30C, when the wind turbines are still, batteries dead and the panels useless, this little guy continues to make 6,384MW with a footprint smaller than a 30MW solar farm.

 

[4WD]

It's also important to avoid the us and them mindset … oil companies produce thin film technologies/products for batteries, lighter plastics, special lubricant for wind gear boxes, and conduct/fund R&D for alternative fuels you will need for things without wheels that can't run out of energy 38k over the Pacific … They also power the construction of these projects
Have been seeing the blades and nacelles on the freeway for years … still being added to the mix and these things take time …

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_the_United_States

 

[Cujet]

Originally Posted by 4WD
It's also important to avoid the us and them mindset … oil companies produce thin film technologies/products for batteries, lighter plastics, special lubricant for wind gear boxes, and conduct/fund R&D for alternative fuels you will need for things without wheels that can't run out of energy 38k over the Pacific … They also power the construction of these projects
Have been seeing the blades and nacelles on the freeway for years … still being added to the mix and these things take time …


I agree. Industrial products of all sorts require an integrated solution from a wide variety of companies. Imagine, for example, mining lithium for batteries, without diesel fuel, refining it without electricity and manufacturing said batteries in non climate controlled factories.... Oh wait, can't be done.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted by Cujet
Originally Posted by philipp10

no one is claiming renewables will cover all our energy needs. They are however, a piece of the puzzle and growing.


Possibly no one here. But there are plenty of "believers" that have been seriously misled by so called "facts".

I hate to admit it, but I have a close family member that bought the lie, entirely. He was utterly convinced a huge and expensive solar array would offset his energy use. Reality was that he, his kids and his wife are now uncomfortably cold at night.

They railed wildly against a natural gas pipeline, as "not green". Got a settlement, went green at a new location in the North East, and are now suffering badly. They even asked me for a large sum of money.

Come to find out, it takes A LOT of energy to live in cold climates. Energy that simply cannot be harvested from the sun or wind without sufficient land, and a whopper of an investment. Many times the value of a house.

Tell me again just how big the Tesla battery needs to be to heat a Maine, VT, CT, NH, MA, PA family home overnight and for the next few weeks when the sun does not shine....... All while temps dip to well below zero.

I'm here to tell ya, can't be done without burning something.


ROFL.. Please. All this tells me is that your family didn't choose the appropriate technology for their climate/location and not that the technology chosen is flawed. Each geographic location has an ideal mix of power generation sources based upon the local climate. There's no one-size fits all.

Do they live off grid? If so did they not consult those who live off grid in the NE so they would've known that it takes a bunch of lead-acid batteries to make it happen?

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted by fdcg27
Originally Posted by 4WD
Wonder what percentage only own an EV -vs- it and something else ?
again, CA weather is ideal for many of these things … I'd probably do it too … but much of NA is colder and hotter or both … and the 10 year green dream will be a nightmare without this serious source of megawatts … and probably 10 years to get one permit




Your post illuminates the outright lying (or ignorance) that substitutes for frankness in so many public policy discussions. Everyone with even a minor level of understanding knows that renewables cannot support our need for electricity by themselves.
Everyone who understands the desirability of reducing fossil fuel consumption should also understand that fission generating stations are the only viable way of achieving that goal.
Instead, we see this huge push for renewables with actual demand supported by fossil fuel thermal plants.
Stupid, crazy, ignorant or all three at the same time?


Nuclear is not the way to go. It's too expensive. In my state (Georgia) the ratepayers just got stuck with a huge white elephant when the construction of two new reactors halted due to the bankruptcy of the manufacturer (Toshiba). Never mind that ratepayers have already been making payments on this project for about a decade.

What could happen is better grid management which would allow power to be transported longer distances. Ideally cross country.

 

[Rmay635703]

Originally Posted by 4WD
Wonder what percentage only own an EV -vs- it and something else ?
again, CA weather is ideal for many of these things …



I know a lot of single car family folks who own just a single EV, they

1. Don't drive a lot
2. Live near a coast (S E W)

But then again some areas of our great nation have car ownership numbers well under 50% and those families don't need much of a car for their daily lives.

 

[555]

Are people buying it to save gas? Just my opinion, no I don't think so. They're curious and probably have other vehicles with similar or higher price tags. I want to know what the dual motor version feels like. I know it's quick. That's why I want one regardless of power source.
Now that the tax breaks are shrinking everyone wants to get one before the breaks are gone, boosting sales of the Model 3. Someone worked overtime in the Tesla marketing department on that timing(and possibly a lobbyist or two). The shrinking tax break will effectively kill the lower rung electric cars making Tesla even more of a stand out with all electric vehicles for buyers who most likely have multiple vehicles.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl

Nuclear is not the way to go. It's too expensive. In my state (Georgia) the ratepayers just got stuck with a huge white elephant when the construction of two new reactors halted due to the bankruptcy of the manufacturer (Toshiba). Never mind that ratepayers have already been making payments on this project for about a decade.

What could happen is better grid management which would allow power to be transported longer distances. Ideally cross country.


The US lost momentum on Nuclear and disparate design use resulted in a lack of standardization, which would have driven down cost. New build nuclear in China is roughly 1/4 the price for the same units being constructed in the USA, and they are presently well on their way to rolling out their domestic standardized design, which they intend on using for their new builds.

Vogtle (Westinghouse) will be an expensive site but it will produce power for 60-80 years, reliably.

There is no other mode of generation that can do what nuclear does without emissions. It is the ONLY drop-in replacement for coal/gas/oil. No amount of perverse contortion is going to enable solar or wind to substitute for baseload generators. That's why VRE has been such a boon for the gas industry.

Every economy that has come the closest to successfully decarbonizing its generation sector has done it with one or both of two technologies:
- Nuclear - Ontario, France, Sweden, Switzerland
- Hydro-Electric - Quebec, Manitoba, British Columbia, Norway, Brazil, New Zealand

Denmark, often heralded as the poster child for wind power (despite having the highest rates in Europe), has 5,475MW of wind turbine capacity. Average demand is ~3,500MW. Annual peak demand for 2017 was 6,100MW. They have ~3,500MW of import capacity and imports make up a significant portion of their supply mix. When they are importing, they are not importing wind and solar, they are importing electricity generated via coal, nuclear or hydro. Despite wind capacity grossly exceeding average demand, it accounts for only ~40% of their annual electricity production because of its intermittency.

 

[addyguy]

The Model 3 was SUPPOSED to be the 'affordable' EV for the masses - it wasn't supposed to be a luxury car!

They went on about how it was supposed to be the 'economy' EV, priced at $35k....nice little switcharoo Musk and team did there, realizing they couldn't make it for that, so it becomes a 'luxury' car!


Un-freaking believable. I hope that Charlatan fails.

 

[Rmay635703]

Model 3 beloved by owners

 

[JeffKeryk]

Half the 400K deposits were for the $35K version. Many have either bought a more expensive one or had their deposit returned.
The price should continue to come down. Will it ever be $35K? Maybe not.

I see many dissing electric cars for one reason or another.
Some want Musk to fail; that one is hard to understand.
Why would you want an American company to fail?

My point is, renewable energy is really in its infancy.
Solar used to be so expensive; it has come down and will continue to do so.
Consumables can only last so long, right?

Part of the reason we bought the Tesla was in support of continued development for future generations.
I try not to think of things from a point in time perspective.
It wasn't so long ago that an IBM PC with a whopping 64K of RAM cost $4,000. And that was a TON of $$ in the 80's.
I bought a PC clone within a year or 2 of that as an investment in myself. It has paid handsomely.

The Model 3 is, "an Iphone on wheels". Amazing technology, but not for everybody.
There is a learning curve and you need to be open minded. Go drive one and you will see what I mean.
But be careful, that electric motor flat torque curve...

 

[Vikas]

I put the deposit on $35K car because it was a no-brainer if could get the $10K rebate on top of it. Unfortunately, the 11.78 1/4 mile for more than double the price seemed like a bargain for a 4-door sedan.

My advice, don't drive that one, it is irresistible if the finances work out for you . It is stupid, illogical, damm-the-elenctricity-bill, you-cant-take-it-with-you decision but man it is like very seductive mistress.

You don't want one

All kidding aside, I suspect Tesla has managed to sell quite high percentage of its take-no-prisoners variant at least if I were to count them based upon baziilion youtubers. Anybody got real statistics on the breakdown of model 3 sales?