CEJ #4

Current Event Journal #4

Finn Clark

2/11/13

Broder, John M.

nytimes.com

2/8/13

Technology

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/automobiles/stalled-on-the-ev-highway.html?ref=technology

Tesla Motors, having California taken by foothold charging stations for it's electric cars tries to have two charging stations between Washington and Boston. Allowing a speedy-fast charge up for electric cars to make road trips. Tesla, an electric car manufacturer run by Elon Musk the billionare behind Paypal and SpaceX, offered a new high performance Sedan along with the two stations. This seemed ideal as a test for the Times. The charging stations are about 200 miles apart that is closer than the 265 mile drive that the Sedan gives off with it's 85 kilowatt-hour battery life. Tesla says that the Sedan can drive 300 miles in ideal conditions, but mileage may vary. The charging stations are 480 watts and can give the Sedan enough electricity to drive 150 miles in 30 minutes, with a full charge that can take up to an hour. That is a lot longer than it takes to get a full tank of gas on a regular car. Tesla says that they pay for all the electricity that is used  with the power stations. 

I think this is a very good idea for the economy because I know that a lot of people own electric cars and the  Sedan is a great thing too because it shows that most people will buy the Sedan because of its accommodation and large battery power. The person that tested it though found out that the mile estimate device was way off. HE stopped when his battery power was low and after charging it for 45 minutes it said it was fully charged and he went on his way. About 15 miles later it was saying that the estimated miles left was decreasing rather rapidly. About another 30 miles it had decreased by at least 85 miles in the counter. He pulled over and called the Tesla dealer and had her pick him up because his destination was 70 miles away and the counter said 79 miles left. He complained that the mile counter was way off and turned off most of the things like heater and cruise control and it was still going rapidly down. balls