The above image is from freeinsurancequotes.org.  Colorful and convincing as the graphic is, I do have a few issues with the facts presented. 

1. Without some amazing discovery in technology, gas power trucks and machinery will be around for a long time even if 100% of passenger cars go electric.  I’m not buying a new lawnmower until the old gas powered one fails completely or I start raising sheep.

2. 35,000 MW is the current capacity of total U.S. wind power.  How Kansas alone can have 2260000 MW is not explained,  but that’s 64 times the 2009 figure for the country.  10K MW added to the grid per year was a recent figure I found.  (1,300,000 required) – (35,000 current) = 1,265,000 MW needed.  1,265,000 / 10,000 (growth per year) = 126.5 years it will take at current growth levels to reach the energy needs presented in the infographic.  That means a lot of coal or nuclear power plants to generate the electricity.

3.  No mention of solar in the graphic.   I want my car of the future to be covered in solar panels, so that it recharges itself constantly.  When plugged in at home, if I’m not charging the battery, I want the power to go back into the grid.  Throw on a few solar panels onto the roof of my home and I could probably cover my entire car’s energy use.

Fantastic news for those who cringed upon first learning of the combustion engine found in the Volt. Due to go on sale this coming November, Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said
it would be “technologically trivial” to switch the Chevy Volt to running on pure electric.

Why this kicks ass!

1. Batteries will get better in the near future, combustion engines will not. Say the proposed all electric Volt gets 60 Miles Per Charge vs the stock 40 Miles Per Charge. You get an immediate gain in distance, with the possibility of upgrading to a new battery pack in a few years to gain even more. Let’s not forget batteries get replaced anyway in electric cars after a few years anyway. 
2. For my driving habits, 40 miles is more than I travel 99% of the time.  If  I were able to extend this to 60 miles, that might cover the other 1% of the longest drives for me.
3. Buying electric is a statement.  Can you endure people telling you “your Chevy Volt isn’t really electric”  for the life of your car?
4. Gas prices are clearly being manipulated.  Are you going to wait for another $2 increase to wake the country up again?  Greedy oil companies and the governments behind them shot themselves in the foot this time.  Let’s rub some salt in it.

This is a great idea for those who rent an apartment and don’t have their own garage or driveway.  Forget the idea of long extension cords.  Coulomb envisions a system where vehicle owners subscribe to a monthly service.  They would receive a key fob allowing them to park at any available meter.  Below is how Coulomb describes a typical user experience:

The subscriber will use a navigation system to find the nearest available charging station. He will park the vehicle next to the Smartlet Charging Station. For 110V charging, the subscriber will swipe a key fob to be authenticated at the station, unlocking the Smartlet access door. After plugging in the cord, the door will lock in a partially open position to secure the cord and begin charging. After charging is complete, the subscriber will scan the key fob again to deactivate the charging station and unlock the access door. The cost of the transaction will be displayed on the charging station. The driver will replace the cord into its original position and can then drive away.

Not everyone who charges their car will need to subscribe.  For example, if you rent an electric vehicle, you could make a one time charge payment using a cell phone or credit card to charge a car.  Some businesses may offer free charging/parking to entice customers.  Employers mighty offer charger parking to their employees as a benefit.  Condominium communities could include ChargePoint Network fees with their monthly dues.  Since the system uses bi-directional communication, you would only be charged for the electricity used.

The question becomes one of standardization.  All electric vehicles will need to use the same 110v/220v recepticle .   Just as there is a choice of unleaded or diesel gasoline, there needs to be electrical standards as well.  What will happen to those who want to park a non-electric car or have their own portable solar charging kit?  Will they be left to fight for the free spots at the mall?

1. Due to the current economic situation, Tesla will try to  ”ramp up our production rate, improve Roadster contribution margin and reduce operating expenses”.
2. Elon Musk’s own role in Tesla “will expand from executive chairman and product architect to CEO.”
3. Tesla is ”ramping down and will close our Rochester Hills office near Detroit. Good communication, tightly knit engineering and a common company culture are of paramount importance as Tesla grows.
4. Tesla will reduce activity on detailed production engineering, tooling and commitments to suppliers until our Department of Energy loan guarantee becomes effective.
5. There will be a delay in start of production of the Model S of roughly six months to mid-2011.

Across the internet Tech people have bemoaned the heartless job cuts, always a morale killer for any company.  A “common company culture” smacks of corporate doublespeak to me. 

My opinion is that with the major automobile manufacturers entering the electric car market in the near future, Tesla just can’t compete at that level.  Sure, they can still produce an exotic luxury car, but wouldn’t be able to make an affordable mass produced car in the same price range.  By making tough decisions now, the company will stay out of debt during uncertain times.   Perhaps if they went into selling conversion kits using their advanced technology, those buying Chevy Volts in the near future could opt in for “Tesla Kits” to pimp their ride.  Either way, nobody I know is planning major purchases in the near future, so delaying things 6 month might be a smart move.