The electric-powered Tesla Roadster has officially landed on Thai soil and proven it can deliver a completely new driving experience
It's very hard to imagine buying an electric car in Thailand, despite the merits of no CO2 emissions from the road.
There are big questions to be resolved, like where to charge up, the exact amount of running costs and its reliability on Thai roads. Crucially, there's also the factor of ''range anxiety'', particularly in a country where hot and humid conditions tend to drain more power than what manufacturers claim, limiting the distance that can be travelled without charging.
But all this hasn't stopped Eton Import from snatching import rights of the US-based Tesla, a brand making pure electrically powered cars.
Top executives at Eton told Brunch that electric vehicles (EVs) hold the key to the future, even in countries like Thailand where there isn't a significant demand for zero CO2-emitting cars yet.
However, there's a small group of buyers who have shown interest in buying EVs, especially when it comes to sports cars. The only model Tesla makes so far is the Roadster, which retails at an eye-popping 8.5 million baht despite attracting the special 10% excise rate for EVs in Thailand.
The high price is attributed to the need to import the Roadster in a completely built-up form, as well as high production costs due to new technology.
Amazingly, Eton says that prospective clients in Thailand haven't been attracted to Tesla because it's an eco-friendly car. In fact, Eton says ''not a single one'' of them expressed concern for the environment, which is quite sad to say.
SPARTAN CABIN: Bucket-style front seats are nice to sit in; steering wheel has no power assistance; there’s no need to change gears - just press the D button and go.
Instead, they were lured to EVs because they don't guzzle petrol like a Porsche. In other words, the prospects thought they would be able to save money in the long run. The cost of keeping the Tesla running is still not clear, but Eton reckons it will be no more than another sports car with similar performance and price tag as the Roadster.
Putting this topic aside, it must be said that the Tesla is a highly interesting sports car in terms of driving performance. In a nutshell, the Roadster provides for a completely new driving experience.
Electric motors are greatly known for their ability to produce maximum torque from idle speed. Slightly prod the throttle and the car springs effortlessly from the lights. Stomp it a little harder and its sports car DNA starts to reveal itself.
Floor it and feel the thrust of acceleration and the G-force clutching your back to the seat. It's utterly quick _ just like in any other 500hp-plus supercar _ and the electric whizz of the motor sounds like a BTS locomotive on steroids.
Tesla's 0-100kph time of some 4sec is highly credible, while the top speed is sensibly limited to 200kph (it already feels fast at this point).
Not only that, in the mid-ranges power comes instantly at any moment you crave it. It's power-on-demand, as they say it. No need to wait for the turbo or kickdown to come to life because there is neither.
That's the highlight of pure electric power, and it certainly has a place in a sports car. The Tesla Roadster is clean, refined, seamless and powerful. Okay, it's not as near-silent as the Nissan Leaf, but it's nice to hear some sound when it comes to a sports car like the Roadster.
CLEAN POWER: Electric motor generates maximum torque the moment you set off; a full recharge takes just over three hours; cooling fans are located up front.
Tesla claims that the Roadster can run for 393km on a steady 80kph cruise without a recharge. Of course, you're unlikely to drive your Porsche alternative like this. Let's put it like this: the more power you want, the quicker the battery will be drained.
The fine performance is not only the result of the electrified three-phase powertrain that produces 248hp and 270Nm of torque. It also comes from the fact that the Roadster's body is based on the Lotus Elise _ Tesla has just given it a cosmetic makeover.
Underneath the Roadster EV is the same lightweight body, mid-engine layout as the Elise _ a sports car which is itself a boon to drive. The Elise's magical handling and ride balance can be felt in the Roadster.
Combine this with the electric propulsion, and the Roadster is an utterly responsive car to drive. The steering is sharp and feelsome, the chassis is superbly balanced in corners and the ride is never too compromised.
The Roadster has a very low ride height, so you feel like you're driving a go-kart _ or even sitting on a skateboard, you're so close to the ground. All of a sudden, that Audi TT next to you at the red light looks like a bloated sports car.
But its being based on the Elise also means that there are pronounced drawbacks to the Roadster. No power steering means lots of arm effort around town, the thin tyres shimmy over bad road surfaces and the basic package itself calls for hardly any boot space and no mercy to the occupants when climbing in and out of the car.
TWEAKED DESIGN: The body is a Lotus Elise but with redesigned cues; thin tyres can mar low-speed ride - just like in the Elise.
The interior ambience _ even though its minimalism means ease of use _ is too bland and spartan to really justify the 8.5 million baht price tag. An Elise costing half as much is still subject to such criticism.
That's why Eton is not yet keen in its promotion of the Roadster EV in Thailand, despite some interest it has drawn from buyers who reportedly were acquainted with the brand in the US and have become attached to it.
Now in its third year of production _ with right-hand-drive just available last year _ the Roadster will be discontinued early next year. At the least, it's still a unique sports car and buying now will get you all the right warranties and after-sales service from Eton.
The performance is quite stunning and makes the Roadster a very fun car _ better to say toy _ to drive. You could even say that the Roadster EV is a great training car for budding racers. Just don't weigh it against a Porsche 911 or Nissan GT-R beast because, all of a sudden, you may find yourself holding that signature on your cheque for the Roadster eco-car.
But Eton remains committed to representing Tesla in Thailand, and a handful of deposits from Thai clients have already been made for the Model S, a four-door Tesla that will roll out in 2013 for its introduction to the world. The Model S promises to be interesting, not least because of modifications to the Roadster body, which is somehow unsuitable for accommodating the fine electric powertrain for real-world use.
The future is about to be revealed, again.
Eton's brief on EVs in Thailand
- Tesla is the first brand in Thailand to sell electric cars on an official basis through Eton Import, a leading independent car importer. Mainstream makes like Mitsubishi and Nissan are still experimenting with their i-MiEV and Leaf electric vehicles (EVs).
- Thailand still does not have a dedicated infrastructure for charging EVs, meaning that Tesla clients need to find appropriate places to recharge their cars. Eton says an ordinary house socket can do.
- Electricity rates in the country vary, but Eton estimates that running cost per kilometre for the Tesla will come out at around one baht if the cost per kWh is five baht. That's roughly three times cheaper than what sports cars with ordinary petrol power can achieve.
- Annual registration rates for EVs have yet to be finalised by the Land Transport Department since today's vehicles are categorised by engine size.
- Eton says that rates are most likely to be based on the power the electric motor produces and believes that annual cost will anyhow be cheaper than cars with CO2-generating motors since EVs don't have tailpipe emissions.
- Eton forecasts that insurance costs for the Tesla could range anywhere between 100,000-200,000 baht, which is essentially the range for sports cars like Porsche.
- Electric motors of EVs are usually maintenance-free, according to Eton, meaning that servicing would revolve around other areas such as brakes. The Roadster's battery is claimed to last seven years and costs around 900,000 baht to replace.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment