Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors, Europe/EU
This is why Tesla brought the Roadsters to Europe
Click on the Tesla Roadster for a high-res gallery
OK, so if you were wondering what could be gained by schlepping a batch of Tesla Roadsters across the pond, I have your answer: convincing European automotive journalists that EVs are wicked cool.
Take, for example, the feelings of Guido Reinking, the editor of Automobilwoche. Before feeling what it's like to be behind the wheel of a Roadster recently, he thought that EVs offered a pathetic future and that electric-powered vehicles were more suited for public transportation than cars. Of EVs, he said, "Aren't they completely sterile, bereft of any emotion, just another appliance?"
He's changed his tune. According to his piece in Automotive News Europe, Reinking now says that, "Anyone harboring such misconceptions needs to take a test drive in a Tesla Roadster." It's a feeling we know, and know well.
Sure, Reinking noted the Roadster's problems, as we noted last week, but I thought the change of mind that Reinking had should be brought up on its own. After all, everyone is going to have their first experience with EVs in the coming decade (give or take) and the more positive those can be, the better the chances will be for battery-powered vehicles.
Gallery: First Drive: Tesla Roadster
[Source: Automotive News Europe]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gabeeb 1:26PM (8/31/2008)
The automotive news Europe link goes to a subscription page, you might parenthetically note this in your blog entry.
Reply
Pablo 1:40PM (8/31/2008)
http://www.autonews.com/article/20080829/COPY/308299964/1199/GUESTS
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Herkimer 4:30PM (8/31/2008)
Thanks...I was glad to find a link.
Nils 5:07PM (8/31/2008)
And that's exactly why I don't support any half-baked EV's like nevs and trikes and the like. Their effect on public opinion can be devastating.
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Arthur 3:20AM (9/01/2008)
Totally true. I feel like that every time I see some half-assed new start up electric car company publicizing a new EV with a top speed of 25mph and a 30 mile range before an 8 hour charge. Just like my dad used to say, if you don't have something nice to say... If you want to release a piss poor excuse of an ugly impractical electric car, don't release anything at all. Now if only tesla could get a sedan down to $10k We'd be all set!