Tonight’s episode of “Dan Rather Reports”, which will appear on HDNet at 8:00 pm Eastern, will focus on electric cars. Rather will get behind the wheels of the 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport. After watching Rather zoom around in the $125,000 electric supercar, Rather will host a round table discussion about the future of electric cars.

“Tesla, has just received a 465 million dollar loan from the U.S. Government and plans to use the money to build a larger, seven-person Tesla “S” sedan, which will have a 300 mile range, go from 0-60 in 5.6 seconds and will retail at around $50,000.” Source: PR Newswire

The round table discussion will feature environmental writer Jim Motavalli and Slate contributor Matt DeBord. I’ve got my DVR set to record the show as I’m looking forward to the round table discussion.

I know that I’m excited about the possibility that electric cars will experience a boom in the coming decade, but I’m curious what your thoughts are. Do you think electric cars will be a scene changer here in the US?

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Tesla Motors has announced several hundred of its Tesla Roadsters due to a problem with a bolt. As soon as this announcement came out, several sites have questioned if this would be a major setback for the electric vehicle company.

I immediately thought back to the early 1990s when Saturn recalled nearly 400,000 vehicles due to a fire hazard. Fast-forward to today, Saturn is still in business. Okay, so the timing may be a bit off as beleaguered General Motors is looking to sell Saturn, but the company emerged from the mass recall and did rather well.

An article that appears on BusinessInsider.com provides more details on the recall:

“The rear hub flange bolts may be under-torqued and may become loose,” says the notification. That leads to poor handlng, and a rubbing noise from the back of the car. If it’s not addressed properly, then, “The driver could lose control of the car, which could lead to a crash.” Source: Business Insider

Tesla will be providing on-site repair for this problem. For those of you lucky enough to own a roadster, you can contact Tesla for more information: 1-877-888-3752.

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Daimler AG and Tesla have already been in collaboration on a lithium ion battery project. Now, the company has acquired a nearly 10% stake in Tesla. Prof. Herbert Kohler, Daimler’s VP of E-Drive and Future Mobility, will be joining Tesla’s Board of Directors.

“Daimler has set the benchmark for engineering excellence and vehicle quality for more than a century. It is an honor and a powerful endorsement of our technology that Daimler would choose to invest in and partner with Tesla,” said Tesla CEO and Product Architect Elon Musk. “Daimler is also on the leading edge in the field of sustainable mobility. Among others the lithium-ion pouch-cell battery developed by Daimler and especially designed for automotive applications is of interest to us. We are looking forward to a strategic cooperation in a number of areas including leveraging Daimler’s engineering, production and supply chain expertise. This will accelerate bringing our Tesla Model S to production and ensure that it is a superlative vehicle on all levels.” (Source: Daimler)

I wonder if the ‘accelerate’, in this case, means getting the Model S on the streets prior to late 2011/early 2012. Tesla is currently taking reservations for the Model S. A $5,000 refundable deposit will get you on the list for a Tesla Model S in early 2012.

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The Tesla Model S will be on display in New York City on 4/30 and 5/1/09; additionally, the vehicle will make an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. Sales representatives from Tesla will be on site at the famed The Plaza Hotel with the Model S. If you are interesting in finding out more about the vehicle, or want to place a reservation, the sales staff will be able to assist you.

Additionally, the Model S is going to make an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. Details about the appearance were included in a newsletter by Elon Musk of Tesla.

“Conventional cars and hybrids, which produce CO2 emissions, are not allowed in drivable form on the Late Show set due to strict emission regulations. The prohibition of internal combustion engine cars is an ironic twist, seeing as Dave is a passionate car enthusiast who loves to wax about his favorite vehicles – but hey, it’s a great opportunity for the Model S. I’ll be on the show along with the car, and I am looking forward to a lively conversation with Dave, a fellow sports car aficionado and Tesla fan. Please tune in on your local affiliate station to see this historic event.”

Although the Model S was just revealed a short time ago, Tesla has already secured approximately 900 reservations for the vehicle, which is expected to be available in 2012. For only a $5,000 refundable fee, you can register to own a Tesla Model S online.

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Whew, this car is sexy! I am officially in love. Tesla has revealed the all-new Model S sedan and it was worth the wait. The vehicle has a 0-60 mph time of less than six seconds, a driving range of 300 miles per charge and seats seven! I know that the use of exclamation points isn’t exactly the best journalistic choice but my enthusiasm about this vehicle is difficult to restrain.

So this four-door EV has a speedy 0-60 mph time but it can also hold a 50” television, a mountain bike and a surfboard – at the same time. The cargo space in the vehicle is greater than most gas-chugging SUVs.

For people that question the ability to use a vehicle like this on a family road trip, don’t worry – Tesla addresses that concern.

“The Model S, which carries its charger onboard, can be recharged from any 120V, 240V or 480V outlet, with the latter taking only 45 minutes. By recharging their car while they stop for a meal, drivers can go from LA to New York in approximately the same time as a gasoline car. Moreover, the floor-mounted battery pack is designed to be changed out in less time than it takes to fill a gas tank, allowing for the possibility of battery-pack swap stations.”

The innovation shown by the designers and engineers at Tesla is truly awe-inspiring. The model is expected to hit dealerships in late 2011 and I hope to be among the first to own it (I still have 2.5 years to convince my husband!)

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