Game play for most games today such as Need for Speed needs to be as realistic as possible. And you have to wonder how they do it. Well now it can be told. Game designers try to get as close as possible to the real thing and Microsoft game developers have shown how they do it. Thanks to a loaned Tesla, the sound of squealing tires were properly recorded thanks to proper placement of mics near the wheels of the said vehicle. Game audio is essential and as far as car-based games are concerned, this practically moves them closer to the real thing.

As you can see from the large microphones placed which look like overgrown feather dusters or willows, these things actually record the actual sounds coming from the car itself. These Tesla sounds are apparently meant to prepare the audio support for their upcoming game titles, the new Forza and Project Gotham Racing. Now the question is on whether there will be an actual Tesla car in these games. Let’s just wait and see!

(Source) Crunch Gear

Here’s an awesome question for all you green motor enthusiasts out there:  which car is more green, an electric Tesla roadster or a car powered by bioethanol?  Here are two points to consider by way of the Biofuels Institute:

*  The Tesla gets its juice from a power plant that is burning coal, which means it has 2.095 pounds of CO2 per kWh and can go 3.12 miles per kWh.

* The theoretical corn-ethanol E85-burning vehicle puts out CO2 according to the GREET model (Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation) for lifecycle emissions and is operating at the proposed new CAFE standards.

These facts by themselves don’t mean a whole lot, but when you follow them to their logical conclusion what you get is a downright shocker: as it turns out, the E85 car is actually THIRTY PERCENT GREENER (in that it generates thirty percent fewer CO2 emissions over the course of both vehicles’ hundred and forty five thousand mile life spans) than the Tesla Roadster.

I was pretty shocked to hear that myself.  Now the next time someone looks all smug in their electric car while you’re filling up on flexfuel, just look at them, shake your head sadly, and know that you’re greener than thou.

It seemed that Tesla did a bit of planning ahead with their Model S as it was recently announced that the car was designed with the ability to have its battery swapped out from the get go.

What’s even better is the design allows for a very fast swap so a potential driver would be able to do it in less than 5-minutes. Just imagine, you’re cruising along and your battery runs out of juice but no worries because you have another fully juiced up battery in the trunk that you can swap out in under 5 minutes.

Of course, this also means that Tesla can sell different batteries for the Tesla Model S that could potentially make for a cheaper purchase price tag while still leaving room for a hassle free upgrade.

via autoblog

That’s probably one of the logical questions that come to mind when considering paying that impressive price for Tesla’s all electric marvel, the Roadster. If you happen to live around Los Angeles and San Francisco and you’re looking for a quick fix then check out Highway 101. From LA to San Francisco there are four Tesla charging station installed by SolarCity with the fifth on its way soon. The chargers are free but it takes about 3.5 hours to fully charge your Roadster so you can take a nap or go about your business until the free charge has been completed. Yes, you got it right, SolarCity is offering free power apparently so get it while supply lasts! And since Tesla has sold only 700 Roadsters so far, you shouldn’t expect any lines! Unfortunately everyone else wearing an electric car these days will have to get their energy somewhere else. The SolarCity “pumps” only work with Tesla cars for now.

via dailytech

It seems like only yesterday that Tesla announced their 500th Roadster was in the hands of a consumer and already they have come forth to make a similar announcement. First of all, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musik let us know that despite ‘not looking for any money’ his company was approached by a equity investment group, which includes Fjord Capital Partners, who managed to pump an additional $82.5 million into the company.

Added to that, Tesla has announced that they have delivered their 700th Roadster to 24 year old Lennart Henning who is reportedly a German law student. Congratulations to Tesla for their continued success, now all they need is a more consumer concision priced model and they’ll be on their way to the top.

Read (Bloomberg)

Remember that EV we were talking about Honda planning to exhibit at the Tokyo Auto Show?  Well, as it turns out, there’s a pretty fair chance that that car’s going to wind up for sale in the United States within the next few years.

Executives at Honda said that the plan to start selling an electric vehicle in the United States was in response to a push for more fuel-efficient cars.  Plus, there’s a steadily growing market for alternative fuel vehicles, so Honda likes its chances of gaining market share in an emerging market sector.

This is pretty awesome–but the only real down side is that none of the remaining American car makers, with the possible exception of Tesla Motors, really seems to be doing much of anything in that direction.  Hopefully they’ll get started on something soon–the Chevy Volt may be a pretty fair entry–but considering that GM now stands for Government Motors, excuse my skepticism.

Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard has dropped the lawsuit for counts of libel, slander, and breach of contract against Tesla Motors today. No explanation was offered for the move.

Back in July, a judge deemed the case to move forward. So, the only explanation is probably a paid settlement. Eberhard’s lawyer Yosef Peretz said to expect some details by the end of September.

Tesla has recently announced an incentive for existing owners of their all-electric offerings in hopes to spur more sales. This is your run of the mill customer referral program that will net you a $500 check if you get someone else to buy one of Tesla’s vehicles.

Make note that this won’t apply to those who buy the Model S as it only works once your buddy buys a Roadster and receives delivery. Sure, $500 may not seem like a lot when comparing it to the price of the car but in these times every penny counts.

via AutoBlogGreen

A judge has ruled Tesla Motors alleged “co-founder” and former CEO Martin Eberhard’s lawsuit against Tesla Motors, deeming the case to move forward. Eberhard is suing the company for $100,000 for counts of libel, slander, and breach of contract.

“We are quite pleased with the judge’s ruling and will proceed with the litigation of the lawsuit,” Eberhard’s lawyer Yosef Peretz said.

Tesla Motors responded promptly: “Would we have liked to see the entire case dismissed? Yes, but we’re very happy about the founder issue. The judge struck down Eberhard’s claim asking to be ‘declared’ one of only two founders”.

via BusinessInsider

Just weeks after Tesla Motors announced that they have officially opened shop in Manhattan they have again come forth to announce a new store, this time in Seattle.

The shop will apparantly be situated in a warehouse at 425 Westlake Ave where visitors can take a look at Tesla’s current offerings. The Seattle store will also provide service to current Tesla owners in the area.

To celebrate the store’s opening Tesla will be holding a sneak preview event this weekend where AutoBlogGreen suggests test drives are likely to be available. The event will reportedly run from 10AM on Saturday to 5PM on Sunday so if you’re in the area be sure to stop by.

Tesla is pround to announce that their NYC debut store will officially open this Friday, July 17th at 511 W. 25th Street.

AutoBlogGreen reports that the store will showcase Tesla’s all-new 2010 Roadster along with the Roadster Sport. What’s more, Bank of America has announced that they will be providing Tesla with financing that will be sure to provide some security for potential buyers.

This is great news for Tesla as they begin to open stores all over the world. Any bets on where a Tesla store will pop up next?

Just about two month after purchasing 10% of Tesla Motors it was announced that Daimler will sell 4% of that stake to Aabar Investments, a Middle East invement fund.

Furthermore, Daimler announced that they and Aabar will pursue a joint venture into low emissions transportation. Perhaps another automaker to go along with Telsa?

Either or, more money into Tesla means more affordable all-eletric vehicles for the public. I’m all for it!

Read (AutoBlogGreen)

In a bid to help contribute towards the turn for more electric and cost-efficient vehicles, Tesla Motors was granted a $465 million low interest loan which they will use in the production of affordable fuel-efficient electric vehicles.

One vehicle that is expected to benefit from this development is the Tesla Model S. The Model S is all-electric family sedan that carries seven people and travels up to 300 miles per charge. The Model S has an anticipated base price of $49,900 after a $7,500 US federal tax credit. Tesla is aiming to start production by late 2011 at a state-of-the-art plant that will be employing about 1,000 workers.

“Tesla will use the ATVM loan precisely the way that Congress intended — as the capital needed to build sustainable transport,” said Tesla CEO and Product Architect Elon Musk. “We are honored that the US government selected Tesla to be among the first companies to participate in this progressive program.”

(Source) Press

The US government has decided to offer some important loans for electric car development. Tesla is going to receive $465 million from the Department of Energy Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing program. Nissan is going to receive even more. $1.6 billion will be offered to Nissan to build batteries and EVs in Tennessee. Ford has received $5.9 billion which is going to go into the development of two new electric cars. We’ll be waiting patiently to see what new electric cars are going to emerge especially from Ford since it has received a large chunk of that available funds.

Tesla has had three CEOs in the last three years alone and now, original founder and designer of the famed Tesla Roadster, Martin Eberhard, has filed a lawsuit against current Tesla CEO Elon Musk, suing over a number of actions that could be possibly damaging to both Musk and the company. This suit covers slander, libel and breach of contract. Eberhard claims that Musk consistently set out to expel him and gain control of the company when he initially became an investor. Eberhard is also claiming that Musk is discounting his role as the original founder of Tesla and is alleging that Musk is claiming to have founded the company and originally had the idea for the Tesla Roadster.

Finally, Eberhard is suing for severance pay that he never received, as well as a special Founders’ Series of the Tesla Roadster, which was limited to the first few Tesla models off the assembly line. Evidently he was promised one of these early models, which his lawyers believe could be worth several million dollars eventually, but instead Musk gave the car to a friend. The Roadster that Eberhard finally received was shattered due to some endurance testing that required running the car into the back of a truck. This whole saga sounds like a big, expensive mess.