Hey gang:
Thought it more appropriate to start a new thread versus continuing to tread on JR's. As some of you have guessed by my reply to JR on his new ride (funny how it looks like the old one!
), I recently switched jobs this past summer (and in the interim, got in some great fishing on the Potomac!). In a nutshell, I was tired of being an outside consultant and joined the in-house team at Tesla Motors, Inc. Like the Company itself, my position is a pretty new concept for Tesla in that I'm the first Corporate employee based in Washington, D.C. I continue to work on environment and safety issues, but for one company versus several.
For those of you unfamiliar with Tesla, its a U.S. company (HQ in Palo Alto, California) that is in the business of producing electric powertrains and vehicles in the United States. Our current product is the Tesla Roadster, a two-seat sports car that goes 0-60 in 3.7 sec and has about 245 miles of range on a single charge. I've moved the picture posted on JR's thread to here.
We also supply the battery pack and charge to the Daimler Smart EV and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (in Europe only). Starting in 2012, we will be providing the battery pack, charger, power electronics and motor for the Toyota RAV4 EV recently unveiled at this year's LA Auto Show. In 2012, we will also start production and sale of the Model S - a seven seat sedan with class leading performance and range option up to 300 miles. Unlike the Roadster which lists at $125,000, the Model S will sell for $49,900 (after the $7,500 tax credit for EV's). Here's a picture of the prototype vehicle.
The Model S will be produced in the former NUMMI plant in Fremont, California (NUMMI was the joint venture between GM and Toyota). Tesla purchased the plant earlier this year.
For me, Tesla was the right company at the right time for all the right reasons. With half the U.S. deficit driven by oil imports and 70% of petroleum used in the transportation sector, helping to mainstream electric vehicles makes sense. Not only does switching to electric help the environment with zero emissions, it helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil - especially from countries that simply don't like us or our lifestyle. Reducing dependence also is a matter of national security in that we funnel less of our tax money to anti-U.S. countries and it keeps our brave fighting men and women from acting as the world's largest oil field security company.
So in a nutshell, I find myself working a lot harder for a lot less money, but at a company that wants to do the right thing by the U.S. while having little fun (in 3.7 seconds increments!). In the meantime, if anyone is in the market for a Roadster (or even a future Model S), give me a shout! (No, I don't get a commission)
Jim
Thought it more appropriate to start a new thread versus continuing to tread on JR's. As some of you have guessed by my reply to JR on his new ride (funny how it looks like the old one!
), I recently switched jobs this past summer (and in the interim, got in some great fishing on the Potomac!). In a nutshell, I was tired of being an outside consultant and joined the in-house team at Tesla Motors, Inc. Like the Company itself, my position is a pretty new concept for Tesla in that I'm the first Corporate employee based in Washington, D.C. I continue to work on environment and safety issues, but for one company versus several. For those of you unfamiliar with Tesla, its a U.S. company (HQ in Palo Alto, California) that is in the business of producing electric powertrains and vehicles in the United States. Our current product is the Tesla Roadster, a two-seat sports car that goes 0-60 in 3.7 sec and has about 245 miles of range on a single charge. I've moved the picture posted on JR's thread to here.
We also supply the battery pack and charge to the Daimler Smart EV and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (in Europe only). Starting in 2012, we will be providing the battery pack, charger, power electronics and motor for the Toyota RAV4 EV recently unveiled at this year's LA Auto Show. In 2012, we will also start production and sale of the Model S - a seven seat sedan with class leading performance and range option up to 300 miles. Unlike the Roadster which lists at $125,000, the Model S will sell for $49,900 (after the $7,500 tax credit for EV's). Here's a picture of the prototype vehicle.
The Model S will be produced in the former NUMMI plant in Fremont, California (NUMMI was the joint venture between GM and Toyota). Tesla purchased the plant earlier this year.
For me, Tesla was the right company at the right time for all the right reasons. With half the U.S. deficit driven by oil imports and 70% of petroleum used in the transportation sector, helping to mainstream electric vehicles makes sense. Not only does switching to electric help the environment with zero emissions, it helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil - especially from countries that simply don't like us or our lifestyle. Reducing dependence also is a matter of national security in that we funnel less of our tax money to anti-U.S. countries and it keeps our brave fighting men and women from acting as the world's largest oil field security company.
So in a nutshell, I find myself working a lot harder for a lot less money, but at a company that wants to do the right thing by the U.S. while having little fun (in 3.7 seconds increments!). In the meantime, if anyone is in the market for a Roadster (or even a future Model S), give me a shout! (No, I don't get a commission)
Jim
