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A test drive of a Tesla Motors (TSLA -0.9%) Model S from Washington DC to Boston goes...

  • Friday, February 15, 10:14 AM ET
    A test drive of a Tesla Motors (TSLA -0.9%) Model S from Washington DC to Boston goes resoundingly smooth for a CNN reporter as he zooms through traffic at over 70 mph at times with enough charge left to spare at the end of the trip. The one nitpick from the drive was the 200-mile stretch without a charging station, although that should be an easy problem for the EV maker to fix. (Previous saga: NYT vs Musk)
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This news story has 29 comments:

  •  
    Wasn't the temperature much colder during the NYT's test drive?
    15 Feb, 10:24 AM Reply Like
  •  
    ~10 degrees colder
    15 Feb, 10:30 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Yes, about 10 degrees colder, but there was also a passenger in the CNN car too. The car is dual zone heating.
    if only one person (nyt) is in the car you can have the driver side be nice and toasty and the passenger side set to low or off.

    I'm assuming the CNN driver and producer/camera person was not the situation where he was nice and warm and she was chattering her teeth. Plus the CNN team hit jersey during rush hour and hit 30 min of unpredicted traffic in NY.

    If the NYT had charged the battery to completion, there is no doubt he would not have had 0 charge at one station. CNN had 38 with traffic.
    15 Feb, 10:42 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Now, who has the last laugh, if you can call it that? Hopefully, things will cool off, after CNN showed the world how it can be done ... and easily, at that.
    15 Feb, 11:12 AM Reply Like
  •  
    the shorts... stock is down by 2.64% inspite of this news.
    15 Feb, 02:03 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Did Boston clear all their roads? I thought they got 40 inches last Friday. Mayor closed all roads Saturday except for emergency crews. They were expecting more snow around Wednesday. I know New England has great snow plows and streets are usually cleared within 1 day with 1-2 feet of snow (unlike down in the South), but I am skeptical. How did they drive through Boston?
    15 Feb, 11:38 AM Reply Like
  •  
    To Broder: Liar liar pants on fire.
    15 Feb, 12:14 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Actually TSLA stock is on fire.... down by 2.64% inspite of this good news.
    15 Feb, 02:03 PM Reply Like
  •  
    You mean in spite of days of bad press from NYT, also after a major run up previously where there was bound to be some pull back.
    15 Feb, 09:06 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Some people will take a little profit, that's to be expected.
    17 Feb, 12:58 AM Reply Like
  •  
    How many supported Edison when he came up with an electric light bulb in a world that had no electricity? Then later, Edison did not support Westinghouse in adopting alternative power.

    Let us not forget to enjoy these times that we live when great technological advances are changing us and the world in very profound ways.
    15 Feb, 12:27 PM Reply Like
  •  
    (TSLA) does have a 53% short interest. Doesn't look good. When (OSTK) had 60% short interest, the stock fell 80%.

    And short interest is rising.
    15 Feb, 01:06 PM Reply Like
  •  
    If I remember correctly, the most profitable or highest volume McDonald's is at a rest stop around exit 12 on i-95, between Stamford and Norwalk CT.

    I'll bet its trivial to get a Supercharger set up there and it's a great spot for cutting the distance to Milford.
    15 Feb, 01:09 PM Reply Like
  •  
    These cars are amazing to drive. I absolutely love them.

    I think the East and West Coasts will be viable markets for the Model S because there will be enough Superchargers and enough destinations in concentrated areas.

    I think some people in the Midwest could use this car as regular transport. Anyone anywhere could use one for daily commutes, most with the smallest battery.

    Some, like me, could not use one as a go-to business car unfortunately. I do monthly or bi-monthly long driving trips to varied locations. There just aren't enough Superchargers around for me. Waiting for slow charging is OK in the garage, but not on the road.
    15 Feb, 03:27 PM Reply Like
  •  
    The charging station paranoia could be easily relieved by a smart navigator unit that accounts for weather, passenger load, charging station locations, etc. to plan and manage the trip route.

    Retired Engineer
    15 Feb, 04:06 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Amazing what happens if you actually fully charge the battery. Can't imagine why anyone would take a long trip and not do so.....
    15 Feb, 09:08 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Precicely, even with an ICE, you fill up on long trips.

    There was no ecxuse, just an agenda.
    17 Feb, 01:02 AM Reply Like
  •  
    6 of us Model S owners are setting out tomorrow to recreate Broder's NYT test drive. Temp is supposed to a low of 14F Sunday and 1-2" of snow. We will be keeping toasty in our cars, but following Tesla's well published advice of fully recharging at the Supercharging stations and not exceeding the speed limits. 3 of us are even staying overnight in Groton, Conn as he did before returning south.
    15 Feb, 09:22 PM Reply Like
  •  
    That'll be interesting sight. Six $100,000 performance cars in the right lane going at least 10 mph slower than the traffic flow on the Jersey Turnpike and passed by every truck and clunker on the highway. On the sections of these roads that are only two lanes, the Teslas will be holding up the traffic and the other cars will be hold up their middle fingers.
    16 Feb, 08:52 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Nice projection with zero facts. Keep trying Zman, it's fun to watch you twist.
    16 Feb, 07:10 PM Reply Like
  •  
    So Desperate...
    17 Feb, 01:04 AM Reply Like
  •  
    You guys are Awesome!!!

    When I get my Model X, I'll be doing that run several times a year.
    17 Feb, 01:07 AM Reply Like
  •  
    You need to do all that just to prove the thing can do long drives???
    18 Feb, 08:35 AM Reply Like
  •  
    "You need to do all that just to prove the thing can do long drives???"

    Nice spin but it seems obvious the point is to prove the NYT reporter Broder was an idiot with an agenda more than anything else.
    18 Feb, 09:23 AM Reply Like
  •  
    " Nice spin but it seems obvious the point is to prove the NYT reporter Broder was an idiot with an agenda more than anything else. "

    Unfortunately, the following report from Consumers Reports seems to back up Broder's experience:
    http://bit.ly/XesmFU

    It is also reported that two of the Teslas in the let's-shame-broder caravan were all but depleted of their battery energy when they pulled into the Milford Supercharger.
    18 Feb, 10:03 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Um, an electric car can go from 0-60 in 4 seconds. My neighbor has Prius, and boy she drives fast in it.
    19 Feb, 12:00 AM Reply Like
  •  
    That is just one report. Many things on Amazon get some 1 star votes out of 1000 people. I want to see a 1000 sample survey. 1 bad survey is not statistically significant.
    19 Feb, 12:07 AM Reply Like
  •  
    "It is also reported that two of the Teslas in the let's-shame-broder caravan were all but depleted of their battery energy when they pulled into the Milford Supercharger. "

    Where was that reported, other than in your post?
    24 Feb, 12:34 PM Reply Like
  •  
    I hope the Times publishes some of the responses to Broder's article. That would be responsible journalism.
    15 Feb, 11:27 PM Reply Like
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