AutoblogGreen videos: Tesla Motors and Miles Automotive at Green the Capitol Office Expo
Below the fold are two videos of electric car companies that made an appearance at the Green the Capitol Office Expo. The first video is Miles Automotive showing me around their currently available, low speed electric vehicle. The tour of the Miles electric car includes a look at the batteries, plug and interior. Later in the video, I am told they plan to release a highway speed, affordable electric car (the Javlon XS500) later next year.
The second video below the fold is Tesla Motors, showing me around an early version of the $100,000 Tesla electric roadster, available first quarter of 2008. The video includes a look at the Tesla's trunk, the plug and exterior. Tesla also makes its usual critique of other electric car companies calling them "glorified golf carts." Later in the video, I am told they plan to release a $50,000 to 60,000 electric car in 2010. This is the WhiteStar.
I asked Miles a question posed by one of our readers, about a file with DOT but the Miles representative said he was unaware of the situation. Miles and Tesla did have displays right beside each other and I noticed EDTA's, Electric Drive Transportation Association, booth had a list of companies that included Miles and Tesla. So, hopefully, Tesla and Miles will talk to each other in the future.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BlackbirdHighway 10:53PM (10/26/2007)
Wow, Lascelles, it looks like this was filmed right after I left. Too bad I missed you, it would have been fun to say hello. Nice videos.
I took a different tack with Miles. First, I asked them a series of questions about their products. They were very adament that all of there products pass all crash test requirements. Seems pretty easy for now, since all the available products are limited to 25 MPH.
The also have the new vehicle, the Javlon XS500. I was told a price in the low 30's for that one, and it would be fully crash tested and compliant with all the DOT regulations. I expressed some disappointment at the 120 mile range, told them the beach is 150 miles away from my house, so the need to get it up over that.
On the Tesla letter, they didn't want to talk about it, but I'm guessing they figured it was an opportunity "take the high road" in expressing concerns about safety, while at the same time dishing a little dirt on a competitor. The recent issues with products made in China may have also played a part.
I also asked them about who they see as they biggest competitors. They said they don't really have any at this point. (I think I have heard a similar statement from Tesla, although not at this show). Technically, they are correct, if they get their $30K car out next year. No one will have a sedan at a price anywhere near that. Eventually, Tesla plans to go up against that, but that's years away. The GM Volt would also compete, though again year from now.
About the claim of having this car out next year, either they are nearly as far along as Tesla, and are just not showing it, or they are just blowing smoke. Maybe they are afraid of losing sales of the existing cars if they start showing prototypes of the new one.
It was amusing that the Tesla and Miles booths were right next to each other. I didn't see much interest in discussions between them. I think that would have to start at the top.
Inside, the Telsa booth wasn't very busy, while outside, the car was a big attraction. Makes sense, why spend a lot of time on photo and literature, when you can see the actual product. It was nice talking with Colette, who was manning the booth. She said the employees don't get a big (or any, I think) discount on the car, so there goes that plan! I was hoping for about half off.
I spent a good while talking with Diarmuid O’Connell and Colette Niazmand, both really nice folks. I really enjoyed seeing the Tesla in person, and even got to sit in the drivers seat. This is an early proto, and quite a bit different than the final production version. Diarmuid said it's entirely drivable and it seems to be holding fairly well considering it was the proto that went through weeks of salt spray hell to test for corrosion resistance.
There were quite a few congressmen and staffers and probably lobbyists that came through in the time I was there, and mostly they seemed impressed. Maybe too much so, Tesla seems to be doing so well, maybe it's hard to make the case that the EV industry needs gov't support.
I was a bit disappointed that GM did not have a Volt proto, or mock up, or what ever that is. They had the Tahoe hybrid I think. It just didn't interest me that much. I wanted to ask the GM rep about the Volt, and about hydrogen, but didn't get the chance. I think there was only one guy, and he was pretty busy.
I was quite impressed with the Vectix. I want one! They look like a whole lot of fun.
I didn't even see Segway, don't know if they showed up, and I just missed it, or what.
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Matt Peckham 11:37PM (10/26/2007)
Imagine my surprise when I came out of my seminar on Capitol Hill yesterday to a Tesla in the lot of the Hyatt! No camera with me, but I got to peek inside. Think I was the only enerGEEK in the area. There were a bunch of Saturn Vue Hybrids, with big gaudy stickers on the back window about how it's not a bad SUV. It was a lame attempt in my book. They also had a Volvo with Zipcar on the bumper.
Never got to see anyone utilizing them except the Vues. It was pretty dismal in DC this week.
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Domenick 5:02AM (10/27/2007)
@BlackbirdHighway: Great report! It's about about a 125 mile round trip for me to go to the beach. (St.George Island). It's also what I consider my minimum range requirement for an electric car. ^_^
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Lascelles Linton 6:46AM (10/27/2007)
BlackbirdHighway and Matt, Thanks for the writing up a report :D There was a segway. It was on the right of the entrance in the Caucus room. It was easy to miss. I did not see it when I first came in.
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GoodCheer 10:35AM (10/27/2007)
Wow BlackbirdHighway, great report... thanks.
I'm concerned about the Miles Javlon. As you point out "either they are nearly as far along as Tesla, and are just not showing it, or they are just blowing smoke."
I'm constantly surprised that we don't EITHER hear that they have prototypes rolling around somewhere OR that they are pushing out planned production start. If Javlons will be in customers' hands in about a year you'd think we'd be seeing more aggressive promotion and general showing-off of an almost finished product. What's up Miles?
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