Category Archives: Tesla

News and reviews of Tesla electric cars (including plug-in hybrids).

Tesla Model S P85D review

March 27, 2015Electric Cars, Model S, News, Reviews and Comment, TeslaTrevor Larkum

Tesla’s P85D uses dual motor, four-wheel drive technology to deliver a supercar-smashing 682bhp in ‘Insane’ mode. Wow!

Verdict – 5 stars
The Tesla P85D is an all-electric car and that means it has one big flaw: the UK’s electric car charging network is still under-developed. But with four-wheel drive and 682bhp in ‘Insane mode’, the P85D is such an incredible feat of technology it’s impossible not to be amazed by it. The flagship Model S offers immense power, Mercedes-like levels of luxury, lots of space and the promise of more Tesla-dedicated ‘Supercharger’ charging points in the near future. The Tesla P85D really pushes the boundaries of electric car motoring and is arguably the first fully-electric car a petrolhead can get excited about without feeling guilty.

Tesla may be a small car company compared to the likes of Ford, Volkswagen or Toyota but it has big ideas. And one of those ideas of founder Elon Musk’s is to prove that electric cars can have supercar-rivaling performance and still deliver all the benefits of zero emissions motoring.

This is the latest product from that vision; the Tesla Model S P85D – an electric car that has 682bhp and can rocket to 60mph in 3.2 seconds. Supercar fans will notice the P85D is as quick to 60mph as a McLaren F1, a car which Musk stated was used as the benchmark when it came to fast acceleration times. And yet, the P85D has a theoretical range of 300 miles, seats five (or even seven if the two boot seats are specified) and has Mercedes-levels of luxury.

The secret to the P85D’s immense power lies with its dual motor technology. A 464bhp electric motor on the back axle powers the rear wheels while up front Tesla has added a smaller motor with 218bhp on the front axle to drive the front wheels.

It makes the P85D four-wheel drive and capable of traveling on all road conditions including snow and ice – just like an Audi RS6. Tesla’s system can adjust the torque between all four wheels 100 times per second thanks to its electric powertrain, giving superb levels of grip.

Hop in, pull down the Mercedes-derived column gear change selector to ‘D’ and you’re good to go – there’s no need to start the car as carrying the key fob in your pocket both opens the doors and switches the ignition on. Touch the throttle and you’re thrown back in your seat with the only noise being a high-pitched whistle from the electric motors.

Once you’ve had enough of that, it’s time to experience the neck-snapping acceleration. A few prods on the tablet screen in the centre of the dash and the driver can change the ride height, control how severe the brake regeneration is and tweak a multitude of other functions. It’s also here where you can switch the P85D’s acceleration from ‘Sport’ to ‘Insane’ mode.

Do that and you’re not only flung back into your seat but your neck snaps into the headrest as you ride on the twin electric motors’ full power. As you race to 60mph your body is put through 1g – such is the severity of the dual motors unleashing their arsenal.

The sensation is made all the more ‘insane’ by there being no engine noise to accompany it. While a Nissan GT-R can get to 60mph a few tenths quicker, that car’s wailing V6 and rapid-fire gearchanges make it very clear what’s happening. With the Tesla, though, there’s just an eerily quite cabin and uninterrupted acceleration courtesy of the single-speed gearbox.

Straight-line speed isn’t the Tesla’s only forte, though. Thanks to that four-wheel drive system that’s continually shuffling the power to whichever wheel that needs traction the most, the P85D handles well too. The car’s natural style is to stay flat through corners; carry too much speed into a bend and the front washes wide but it’s only natural for a car that weighs more than 2.2 tonnes. The steering is weighty – it can be made unnecessarily heavy in ‘Sport’ mode – and while it misses out on being the last word in precision, the P85D is a credible sports saloon.

Why Tesla’s battery for your home should terrify utilities

March 18, 2015Electric Cars, Energy and Climate Change, Energy Storage, News, Reviews and Comment, TeslaTrevor Larkum

Elon Musk’s electricity empire could mean a new type of power grid

Earlier this week, during a disappointing Tesla earnings call, Elon Musk mentioned in passing that he’d be producing a stationary battery for powering the home in the next few months. It sounded like a throwaway side project from someone who’s never seen a side project he doesn’t like. But it’s a very smart move, and one that’s more central to Musk’s ambitions than it might seem.

To understand why, it helps to look not at Tesla, but at SolarCity, a company chaired by Musk and run by his cousin Lyndon Rive. SolarCity installs panels on people’s roofs, leases them for less than they’d be paying in energy bills, and sells surplus energy back to the local utility. It’s proven a tremendously successful model. Founded in 2006, the company now has 168,000 customers and controls 39 percent of the rapidly expanding residential solar market.

Fueled by financing systems like SolarCity’s, government subsidies, and a rapid drop in the price of photovoltaics, solar has been growing fast. But with that growth, some of solar’s downsides are coming to the fore. Obviously, the sun isn’t always shining when you need power, and sometimes the sun is shining when you don’t need power. The former is a problem for the user, who needs to draw on the grid when it’s cloudy or dark; the latter is a problem for the grid, which needs to find a place for that excess energy to go. When there’s a lot of solar in the system, it can get hard to keep the grid balanced.

That’s part of the reason that California, with one of the most aggressive renewable energy mandates in the country, recently declared the most aggressive energy storage mandate as well, with a goal of 1.3 gigawatts of storage by 2020. As other states adopt intermittent renewables like solar and wind, they’ll need to install energy storage too, providing a ready and waiting market for Tesla’s batteries.

Tesla Powerwall display (Image: T. Larkum)

This has been part of the plan for the Gigafactory all along. At an event in New York last fall announcing plans for SolarCity to build a gigantic PV-panel factory, Musk and Rive mentioned that every SolarCity unit would come with battery storage within five to ten years, and that the systems would supply power at a lower cost than natural gas. Those batteries will come from the gigafactory, currently being built in Nevada. Once the factory comes online, the strong demand for energy storage will allow it to immediately ramp up production and achieve economies of scale. Tesla CTO JB Straubel (who has said that he “might love batteries more than cars”) says that the market for stationary batteries “can scale faster than automotive” and that a full 30 percent of the gigafactory will be dedicated to them.

Indeed, SolarCity has already begun installing Tesla batteries, mostly on commercial buildings like Walmart stores, which have to pay higher rates when they use lots of power during peak hours. Tesla’s batteries let them store up solar power when they don’t need it, then use it when rates are high, shaving 20-30 percent off their energy bills, according to Ravi Manghani, an analyst at GTM Research.

SolarCity is also running a pilot project with 500 homes in California, according to the company’s director of public affairs, Will Craven. The project uses Tesla’s 10-kilowatt-hour battery packs and can power homes for about two days in the event of an outage, Craven says.

The prospect of cheap solar panels combined with powerful batteries has been a source of significant anxiety in the utility sector. In 2013, the Edison Electric Institute, the trade group for investor-owned electric companies, issued a report warning that disruption was coming. “One can imagine a day when battery storage technology or micro turbines could allow customers to be electric grid independent,” the report said, likening the speed of the coming transition to the one from landlines to cellphones 10 years ago. Suddenly regulated monopolies are finding themselves in competition with their own customers.

They haven’t had to deal with this on the residential side yet, primarily because people can sell excess power back to the utilities at fairly high rates — a practice called net metering. But that’s hurting utilities, too, and some have tried to lower the price at which they buy back power, which has been met by furious protests from people leasing panels. If utilities lower the buyback rate too much, however, and batteries get cheap enough, people may just unplug from the grid altogether — or more likely, install systems that let them rely on it only rarely — prompting what those in the industry call “the utility death spiral.” It’s quite a bind: by fighting net metering, utilities would help make battery storage more economically viable, driving the transition to a distributed grid.

Manghani believes utilities aren’t doomed, but they may undergo a radical transformation, becoming something closer to service providers and minders of an increasingly distributed grid rather than the centralized power producers they are today. Such a system would require lots of batteries to help balance the load and supply extra power during peak times, which is why GTM estimates the market will grow from $48 million today to about $1 billion in 2018.

This is the position SolarCity is taking as well. Last April, Peter Rive, SolarCity’s CTO, wrote that the company had no interest in prompting mass defections from the grid.

“When batteries are optimized across the grid, they can direct clean solar electricity where (and when) it is needed most, lowering costs for utilities and for all ratepayers,” he wrote.

Utilities are in the best position to direct that electricity, he said, inviting utility operators to contact him. Will Craven, Solar City’s director of public affairs, calls it “infrastructure as a service.”

“Utilities aren’t doomed, but they may undergo a radical transformation”

It would be a tricky transition, but some utilities may be open to it. During an earnings call last year, Straubel, Tesla’s CTO, said they were working with utilities.

“The long-term demand for stationary energy storage is extraordinary,” he said. “We’ve done a huge amount of effort there and have talked to major utilities and energy service companies.”

Another potential bright spot for utilities is Tesla itself. If electric vehicles take off, demand for power will go up, helping compensate for people whose homes are relying less on the grid.

All this is very good news for Musk, who starts to look less like a carmaker and more like the architect of a vertically integrated energy company, with SolarCity making solar panels that send power to Tesla batteries, both in the home and on the road.

“They’re not just carmakers,” Manghani says. “They’re part of the electricity network. At least folks in the energy industry are very well aware of Tesla as a battery maker.”

Source: The Verge

Tesla Opens Europe’s Largest Supercharger Station – First In Europe With Solar Canopy

March 16, 2015Electric Cars, Model S, News, Reviews and Comment, TeslaTrevor Larkum

“We opened our largest Supercharger Station in Europe in Køge, just south of Copenhagen, Denmark. It has 12 Superchargers and is the first one in Europe with a solar canopy.”

States Tesla Motors.

Tesla’s Largest Supercharger In Europe…And Check Out That Solar Canopy

This site brings Tesla’s Supercharger tally in Europe too…well…we’re too busy to count and when Tesla redesigned its Supercharger site that continent-by-continent tally disappeared. See for yourself here.

Source: Inside EVs

Nissan LEAF most popular electric car in UK

March 11, 2015Ampera, BMW, Electric Cars, i3, Leaf, Mitsubishi, Model S, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Outlander PHEV, Renault, Sales, Tesla, Vauxhall, ZOETrevor Larkum

Figures recently released show that the Nissan LEAF maintains its position as the most popular electric car or van in the UK, with at least 5,838 vehicles registered by the third quarter of 2014, representing over a third of all EV sales.

The registration data also shows the new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has made a dramatic entry to the UK market; the electric SUV is already in second position with over 2,706 sales less than a year after its UK release.

In third and fourth places are two more established plug-in hybrids, the Toyota Prius PHEV (with 1,226 registrations) and the Vauxhall Ampera (1,039 vehicles). The BMW i3 now ranks fifth with at least 1,029 UK registrations (454 all-electric and 575 range-extender variants).

The Renault ZOE and Tesla Model S are also selling well in the UK with over 775 and 474 sales respectively; the two models in fourth and fifth sales positions across Europe as a whole (YTD October 2014).

UK electric vehicle registrations UK (Image: Next Green Car)

With the recent announcement from OLEV that 23,083 claims have been made through the Plug-in Car Grant scheme, the number of electric cars and vans in the UK now exceeds 24,500 vehicles for the first time.

Another indicator that the EV market is gaining momentum is the number of fully electric and plug-in hybrid models available in the UK. While only 9 EVs were available for the major manufacturers in 2011 (excluding quadricycles), this increased to 18 models in 2013, and now stands at 24 high-quality cars and vans (in 2014) with more models due for launch in 2015.

Dr Ben Lane, Director of Next Green Car said:

“The strong growth of the EV market in the UK as elsewhere provides yet more evidence that the light-duty vehicle market is undergoing a radical change with consumer preferences changing from petrol and diesel models to electric power-trains. With sales growing exponentially, the EVs are set to become commonplace on UK roads within the next few years.”

Source: Next Green Car

Tesla Model S P85+ review: The car of the future is already here

February 27, 2015Electric Cars, Model S, News, Reviews and Comment, TeslaTrevor Larkum

Tesla Model S Review

Log into an iPhone app, check how much charge is in the battery and set the heating while you eat breakfast. From your very first interactions with the Tesla Model S, you know it’s unlike any other car on the road.

The car continues to impress before you get inside. Walk up to it with the key in your pocket (I say key, it’s actually a small plastic model of the car itself) and the Model S senses your presence. The mirrors unfold and door handles glide outwards. Grab one, get in and prepare yourself for a journey unlike anything you’ve experienced before.

At this point I could talk about the huge touch screen, the electric, heated seats which remember exactly how you set them, the 3G connection, the two extra child’s seats in the boot, and everything else the Model S has to offer. But they can wait; let’s get straight to the party piece.

Tesla Model S: Performance

Foot on the brake to wake the car, engage drive with the Mercedes-sourced gear selector, breathe, hover your foot over the accelerator, then bury it. The car’s electric motor feeds 416 horsepower and 600 newton metres of torque (433ft lb in old money) to the rear wheels and launches you down the road with the unrelenting shove of a roller coaster.

Traction control filtering out a hint of slip from the 21-inch rear wheels, 60mph ticks by in 4.2 seconds – faster than a Porsche 911 Carrera S. It isn’t just the initial launch which impresses, but the way the Model S keeps you pinned to the seat with a ferocity which doesn’t fade until deep into license-losing territory. Because there’s only one gear the barrage of torque is relentless, and can be summoned instantly – this is where electric cars reign supreme over their internal combustion counterparts.

Flooring the accelerator never, ever gets boring, and feeling the immense surge forward is hugely addictive. The sci-fi whine from the motor and regenerative braking system only adds to the otherworldliness of it all.

The mind-bending turn of pace is even more impressive when you consider the size of the Model S. It’s just shy of five metres long, two metres wide, and weighs more than two tonnes.

But all that mass is more muscle than fat. Because it was designed to be a fully electric car from the very start – there is no petrol, diesel or hybrid alternative – the Model S is packaged cleverly. The immensely heavy battery pack is in the floor, keeping the centre of gravity low, which improves handling and stability.

Being much smaller than an equally powerful engine means the Tesla’s motor can be tucked away between the rear wheels, leading to masses of storage. The rear boot is about what you’d expect from a car of this size – plus my model had the optional (£2,100) children’s seats, good for kids aged five to 10. There’s also a front boot large enough for a weekly food shop or medium-sized suitcase.

Tesla Opens Its 20th Supercharger Station In The UK

February 23, 2015Electric Cars, Model S, News, Reviews and Comment, TeslaTrevor Larkum

Tesla announced that it energized its 20th Supercharger station in the UK and is on schedule to reach full coverage by the end of 2015.

“Today, Supercharger stations are available at Sainsbury’s supermarkets in Winchester, Exeter and Bristol. Tesla also recently opened stations at Junction 15 of the M1 near Northampton and Brent Cross shopping centre in North London.”

The total numbers for the world already exceed 300 stations and 1,600 Supercharging points.

Tesla Opens 20th Supercharger Station in the UK

More than 40% are installed in Europe – 129 stations with over 670 Supercharging points.

Source: Inside EVs

UK electric fleet passes 24,500 mark

February 12, 2015e-NV200, Electric Cars, Electric Vans, Kia, Mitsubishi, Model S, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Outlander PHEV, Sales, Soul EV, TeslaTrevor Larkum

With the recent announcement from Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) that 23,083 claims have been made through the Plug-in Car Grant scheme, the total number of electric cars and vans in the UK is about to exceed 24,500 vehicles for the first time.

These figures are supported by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) which reports that 19,972 plug-in cars were registered in the UK by the end of 2014.

Taken together with the fact that at least 1,467 electric cars and vans which are not eligible for the Plug-in Grant scheme have also been registered, the total UK light-duty electric fleet will number at least 24,550 in the coming weeks as vehicles are delivered and formally registered for use on UK roads.

Given that the figure for the number of non-OLEV eligible registered EVs takes longer to become publicly known, it is highly likely that the total number of registered ULEVs in the UK now surpasses 25,000 vehicles in total (cars and vans).

Another indicator that the electric market is growing in strength is the number of fully electric and plug-in hybrid models available in the UK. While only 9 EVs were available for the major manufacturers in 2011, this increased to 18 models in 2013, and now stands at 29 high-quality, fully crash tested cars and vans with more models due for launch in 2015.

Dr Ben Lane, Director of Next Green Car said:

“The number of EVs registered in the UK continues to grow exponentially demonstrating that UK car buyers are continuing to embrace the EV revolution.

“Reports from new EV owners suggest that, rather than economic or environmental arguments, it is the dramatic improvement in driving experience that it really starting to change perceptions about electric power-trains.

“Recent research from Nissan also shows that driving range is much less of an issue than previously thought with European owners of Nissan LEAFs travelling more than 50% further per year (10,307 miles) than the European average for a petrol/diesel vehicle (6,721 miles).”

The latest EV model entrants include the Tesla Model S and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV which have already made their mark in the UK market. Other high-quality models now available include the Kia Soul EV (which NGC range-tested in December 2014) and the Nissan e-NV200, the latter bringing all the benefits of electric to the small van market.

Source: Next Green Car

Top 10 Electric Vehicles Coming Soon in 2015

January 28, 2015Audi, B-Class, BMW, Electric Cars, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Model X, News, Reviews and Comment, Outlander PHEV, Passat GTE, Renault, Tesla, twin up!, Volkswagen, Volvo, X5 eDrive, XC90 PHEV, ZOETrevor Larkum

Last year marked a big breakthrough for electric cars; the majority of major manufacturers invested heavily in developing electric drive-trains and subsequently added an array of appealing battery-electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models to their rosters.

By the end of 2014 there were over 17,000 plug-in cars and vans on UK roads with that number expected to more than double by the end of this year.

As noted by Dr Ben Lane, Managing Editor of Next Green Car: “2015 will see a continuing roll out of battery electric and plug-in hybrid models as UK motorists become more accustomed to electric drive-trains. This year will be the year when EVs start to considered as ‘normal’.”

The future is only looking bright for electric mobility and there a number of exciting EV prospects expected to feature prominently this year. Below is Zap-Map’s list of top 10 electric vehicles coming soon in 2015:

1. Tesla Model X – BEV

Originally scheduled for 2013, Tesla recently announced that the eagerly anticipated Model X crossover will be launched in the third quarter of 2015. Despite being larger than the Model S, the all-wheel electric drive will give the Model X a similar level of performance (that’s 0 to 60 mph in around 5.9 seconds!). With 10% additional weight, the expected driving range will be slightly less; around 170 miles for the 60 kWh battery pack or 230 miles for 85 kWh battery. One the striking features of the next Tesla will be its rear ‘Falcon’ doors which open upwards instead of swinging outward. Final pricing has yet to be announced. Although it’s been a while coming, with the new Model X, Tesla is unlikely to disappoint.

2. Volkswagen twin-up! – PHEV

The twin-up!’s 55kW powertrain consists of a 0.8 litre TDI diesel engine working in conjunction with a 35kW electric motor. The energy storage system includes a lithium-ion battery (energy capacity: 8.6 kWh), a conventional 12V battery for on-board electrics, and a 33 litre capacity fuel tank. On the official test cycle, the twin-up! delivers a combined fuel economy of over 250 MPG with a CO2 emissions of just 27 g/km. In zero-emission operation the PHEV can cover a range of 31 miles and is anything but a slouch: the twin-up! accelerates up to 62 mph in 15.7 seconds and has an all-electric top speed of 80 mph. Pricing to be announced.

3. Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive – BEV

Mercedes B Class Electric (Image: Mercedes-Benz)

The Mercedes-Tesla relationship is evident (and welcome) in the B-Class ED with the drive-train and battery pack coming from the California-based company. Capable of 125 miles per full charge, the B-Class ED provides electric motoring in a quality package with more reserved styling than some other brands such as the BMWi range. While the motors can deliver up to 179 bhp (Sport mode), two other driving modes are available: ‘Economy’, where power is limited to 131 bhp; and ‘Economy Plus’ with just 87 bhp and a maximum speed of 70 mph. Expected to be priced from around £27,000.

4. Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid – PHEV

No doubt encouraged by the huge success of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Volvo will bring its own plug-in SUV to market in 2015, in addition to the usual range of petrol and diesel engines. While all will offer four-wheel drive, for the first time there will also be a front-wheel drive option. The XC90 PHEV will also feature a collection of entertainment and safety technology including a 9.3 inch screen compatible with Apple’s new CarPlay interface and Volvo’s new collision avoidance system. The XC90 range is priced from £45,750.

5. Volkswagen Passat GTE plug-in hybrid – PHEV

Now in its eighth incarnation, the new Passat range includes the GTE, the first Passat with a plug-in hybrid drive. Powered by a turbocharged direct injection petrol engine (TSI) and an 85kW electric motor, the GTE is capable (on the official test) of over 141 MPG (petrol) and 13.0 kWh/100km (electric) with CO2 emission of under 45 g/km. On a full tank and fully recharged 9.9 kWh lithium-ion battery, the new PHEV has a total driving range of over 620 miles. In ‘E-Mode’, the Passat GTE can also cover a distance of up to 31 miles with zero emissions. AC charging options include standard (or ‘slow’) charging at 2.3 kW from a domestic socket in 4.25 hours or an optional a home 3.6 kW charger which provides a full charge in 2.5 hours. Anticipated pricing from around £20,000.

6. BMW X5 e-drive – PHEV

The BMW X5 e-drive concept was first unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt International Motor Show and is seen as the logical next step for the successful X5 series. Combining a four-cylinder combustion engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and lithium-ion battery, the plug-in hybrid can driver approximately 19 miles solely on electric power. There is a choice of three driving modes, depending on requirements and situation – the intelligent hybrid drive option for a balance between sportiness and efficiency; pure electric and therefore emission-free driving; or Safe Battery mode to maintain the current battery charge. According to BMW, the X5 e-drive is capable of 74.3 mpg and on average emits 90g of CO2 per kilometre. Estimated to be priced at £55,000 – £60,000, the X5 e-drive is on course to directly compete with the Volvo XC90 PHEV.

7. Renault Zoe 2015 (new battery) – BEV

Renault’s battery-electric Zoe, the second best-selling EV after the Nissan LEAF, will be revitalised by a smaller and more efficient electric motor in 2015. By reducing the motors size, Renault expects a 10% increase in the Renault Zoe’s official 130 mile range. Renault also claims the improvements will reduce charging time by 20-30 minutes when using low-level power supply such as a 3kW 3-pin slow charging unit. The upgrades to the Zoe will be added to all new models from Spring 2015 Renault say.

8. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV S – PHEV

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV-S (Image: Mitsubishi)

Following on from the successful Outlander PHEV launch in 2014, Mitsubishi plans to release the Outlander PHEV-S. Power for the Outlander PHEV-S is expected to come from the same four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol and twin electric motor system that drives the original car. This will see up to 204bhp sent to all four wheels, resulting in a 0-62mph time of 11 seconds and a 106mph top speed, whilst offering 148mpg and emissions as low as 44g/km CO2. The main difference will be in appearance, offering a refined interior and exterior design that will magnify the Outlander PHEV’s unique driving experience. Pricing to be announced.

9. Audi Q7 Quattro plug-in hybrid – PHEV

The Audi Q7 e-tron quattro, which will be launched soon after its conventionally powered counterparts in the spring, is the first plug in hybrid from Audi with a diesel engine. It is also the world’s first diesel PHEV with quattro all-wheel drive in the premium SUV segment. It returns the equivalent of up to 166.1mpg, which corresponds to less than 50 grams of CO2 per kilometre and can travel just under 35 miles on battery-electric power alone. Pricing to be announced.

10. Peugeot Quartz – PHEV

The Quartz plug-in hybrid concept mixes elements of a crossover vehicle and a saloon, to bring a new take on the SUV segment. It uses a plug-in hybrid drive train comprising of a 1.6-litre petrol engine supplemented by two 85kW electric motors, driving each axle. When the vehicle is in ZEV mode, it utilises the electric motor only and can cover up to 31 miles on a single battery charge. Peugeot have estimated the vehicle will not reach production until 2016; it will be interesting to see if the striking design mellows between now and then.

Source: Zap-Map

Tesla Unveils Largest Underground Supercharger Station

January 25, 2015Charging, Electric Cars, Model S, News, Reviews and Comment, TeslaTrevor Larkum

Tesla Supercharging Station at Westfield, London (Image: Tesla)

Now this is one sweet Supercharger station.

Located in Westfield London, Tesla Motors says this site is the automaker’s largest underground Supercharger station in all of Europe:

Our largest underground Supercharger station in Europe, located in Westfield London, just got its final touch. Have a look.

Sources: Inside EVs, Tesla on Facebook

Tesla crack open Knutsford dealership

January 23, 2015Electric Cars, Model S, News, Reviews and Comment, TeslaTrevor Larkum

Tesla is opening a new store in Knutsford, Cheshire. The store strengthens Tesla’s presence for customers in the North West, alongside the Warrington Supercharger station at The Park Royal.

The Canute Place store features the Model S design studio, the dual motor Model S rolling chassis and selected merchandise, and it will also serve as a base for test drives.

Tesla Knutsford continues the company’s unique approach to car retailing. Tesla’s stores, frequently located in city centres and shopping malls, are set up to help customers learn more about electric vehicles and the unique experience of driving Model S. Tesla has also announced plans to open a service centre in the North West to complement the Knutsford store.

Model S

Model S is an uncompromised electric car that delivers 285 miles of range at 65mph on a single charge. With a17-inch touchscreen, an outstanding safety record, and an acceleration of 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds, the fully electric Model S breaks the mould. Tesla and Model S have received numerous accolades, including Autocarmagazine’s Sturmey Award for Automotive Excellence and Motor Trend’s 2013 Car of the Year. Top Gear Magazine called the Model S “the most important car Top Gear has tested.”

Model S also has associated Android and iPhone apps, available in the UK iTunes and Google Play stores. The apps put Model S owners in direct communication with their cars anytime, anywhere. Owners can use the app to check on charging progress, start or stop charging, and heat up or cool down Model S before driving.

In the UK, prices for the Model S start at £49,380 on the road, including the £5,000 government plug-in grant. UK Model S customers can also benefit from other government incentives including zero road tax, zero showroom tax and exemption from London Congestion Charge. The car is also eligible for the 100 percent First Year Allowance for company purchase and 0 percent Benefit in Kind, both of which last until April 2015.

Source: Diesel Car Magazine