Tesla repays federal loan nearly 10 years early

[Harsh_77 718]

I am for helping out the little guy. Investments into future technologies which translate into jobs for the little guy is how that is done. You can try and hang on to the jobs of yesterday all you want but they won't be here tomorrow. Tomorrow's jobs is what will put food on the table. The question merely is whether that food is put on a table in America or on a table in Europe or Asia or Australia. I'd rather have it put on a table here. For that to happen, we need to be competitive. And that we won't be unless we start making investments in the technology that will once again revolutionize the global economy. We've done that in the past in a very non-controversial way. And it's been successful. Other nations are doing it. I'd rather they not get any more of a head start than they already have because we are continuing to neglect this vital area.

And trust me, I am very different than the backwards oriented crowd that I like to bash. I am forward oriented, they want to move back into caves.

How many ppl you know drive around in 60 - 100K car ? (Its a question)

[Karee 4,190]

I wonder if I can get federal loans to open up a munitions/firearms factory? After all I'll be employing American workers.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

How many ppl you know drive around in 60 - 100K car ? (Its a question)

I know a few, why? Are the jobs that build 60K-100K cars somehow not as good as those that build 25K cars? Tesla is now working on a cross-over. Following that, they plan to develop what should be more of a mainstream car. What's your point?

[JohnR! 5,495]

Odd that those that are so concerned about the federal loans granted for green projects missed this one.

Tesla is making great cars. They are sexy, fast, sleek and leave nothing to desire, compared to the competition.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I wonder if I can get federal loans to open up a munitions/firearms factory? After all I'll be employing American workers.

Why should you? There's no worthwhile innovation to be expected from such venture. Nothing that has any promise of making the future any brighter.

[Karee 4,190]

Why should you? There's no worthwhile innovation to be expected from such venture. Nothing that has any promise of making the future any brighter.

Who decides what's worthwhile? Personally I don't think $80k electric cars are that worthwhile since I can't afford one. Most people can't

Edited May 23, 2013 by Karee

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Who decides what's worthwhile? Personally I don't think $80k electric cars are that worthwhile since I can't afford one. Most people can't

It's not about the $80K car. It's about the technology. Electric cars have a number of technological hurdles still to overcome before they are ready for the masses. That's what this is all about. This is the problem with today's conservatives - they totally lack any long term view and certainly lack vision. You can't lead if you lack vision. That's why this nation started falling behind on tomorrow's economy - it's been governed by people without vision for far too long.

[Harsh_77 718]

I know a few, why? Are the jobs that build 60K-100K cars somehow not as good as those that build 25K cars? Tesla is now working on a cross-over. Following that, they plan to develop what should be more of a mainstream car. What's your point?

Just wondering.

Tesla has always been making awesome cars but they have few flaws, they were always beyond average families reach until model S and other things like charging the car etc. were reason why they were not doing so good.

Are they any greener is a debatable.

[Karee 4,190]

It's not about the $80K car. It's about the technology. Electric cars have a number of technological hurdles still to overcome before they are ready for the masses. That's what this is all about. This is the problem with today's conservatives - they totally lack any long term view and certainly lack vision. You can't lead if you lack vision. That's why this nation started falling behind on tomorrow's economy - it's been governed by people without vision for far too long.

I thought this thread was about govt. funded electric cars? Somehow now it's about conservatives? You really should have a signature saying "It's all Bush's fault and republicans suck!" You could save yourself alot of keystrokes that way.

[JohnR! 5,495]

I thought this thread was about govt. funded electric cars?

Consider reading the article, the link to which, the OP posted in the initial post.

[Karee 4,190]

Are they any greener is a debatable.

Unless the electricity to charge the cars is coming from Nuclear power plants. I wonder if they take into account all the green houses gasses that are emitted into the atmosphere by the electrical generating power plants that are needed to charge this car's batteries.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Tesla has always been making awesome cars but they have few flaws, they were always beyond average families reach until model S and other things like charging the car etc. were reason why they were not doing so good.

Yes, there are a number of things still to be worked out and refined before electric cars can go into large number production which is part of what would bring down the prices eventually. And again, that is what the support for electric car manufacturers is all about - to give them a chance to work these things out. Tesla appears to succeed in that effort.

Are they any greener is a debatable.

The data is here: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric_emissions.php

It is also indisputable that a city filled with electric cars will have a much better air quality than a city filled with gasoline powered cars.

[Karee 4,190]

Consider reading the article, the link to which, the OP posted in the initial post.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Now he doesn't. That's why he paid the loan back early. He needed that bridge to get there, though. A viable company, good jobs, future technology made in the USA. Cost to the taxpayer? Nothing. What's the issue?

Manufacturing will move to China or other low-cost locale as soon as it becomes necessary.

We should ban all manufacturing, that way none of our jobs can move to China.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Unless the electricity to charge the cars is coming from Nuclear power plants. I wonder if they take into account all the green houses gasses that are emitted into the atmosphere by the electrical generating power plants that are needed to charge this car's batteries.

They do and the EVs come out way ahead of gasoline powered cars. http://www.afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric_emissions.php

You can even check that out for your particular zip code to base the data on the ix of energy sources in your area. For my area, an EV does better than the national average causing roughly half the emission of a gasoline powered car.