Think a new transaxle in a GT-R is expensive? Well, pray you don't have any problems with the battery pack in your Tesla Roadster. According to the company, a replacement for the hand-assembled battery pack currently costs about $36,000.
But there's nothing to worry about. Tesla says the Roadster's battery pack "should last approximately seven years or over 100,000 miles under normal use."
Not comforting enough?
Well then, does Tesla have a deal for you. Fork over $12,000 now and you're guaranteed a new battery at that price when it's time for a replacement, you know, in 2016.
Can you smell the desperation?
Green Car Advisor: Tesla Battery Pack Would Be $36,000 Today, Musk Says
firstwagon says:
04:26 PM, 02/13/09
What worries me is thier their numbers for battery life (and cost of electricity) are based on the range they claim the car will get.
However electric cars are famous for not getting close to the claimed range.
If the Tesla only goes half the distance in the real world then you'll be charging the battery twice as often, cutting the battery life in half and spending twice as much on electricity as you expected.
I've seen too many claims from the company and too little outside evidence to support them.
Until I read an independent review like an Edmunds long term test that proves it will do what it says, I'll take everything they say as marketing hype and expect the worse.
jederino says:
06:09 PM, 02/13/09
But it has "hand-assembled" battery packs - that's quality! Hey, it's a gamble for early adopters, and they probably have the money to infuse capital into this company for the technology. I salute them for it. One day, I hope to benefit from this technology paid for the pioneers.