Tesla: amazing car...with one teensy drawback...

[2011G6E]

Look...I love the Tesla...I'd have one in a heartbeat.

Well...I would if I was allowed to by the electrical company...depending on the local substation.
http://www.news.com.au/technology/in...-1227150333871

THE world’s biggest-selling electric luxury car goes on sale in Australia on Wednesday December 10 but the $100,000 Tesla sedan may have its plug pulled because its special charger is too big for most local electricity grids.
Unlike other electric cars, the Tesla cannot be recharged via a normal power point and requires a special charger to be installed at home or work at a cost of up to $10,000 -- and may also need to have the local electricity sub-station upgraded at a cost of more than $50,000, according to experts.

Tesla issued a map showing future charging points will be installed in Queensland, NSW and Victoria by 2016, but it is yet to pinpoint the locations.
Electric cars already on sale in Australia can be charged on 10 amp household power or require a relatively simple 15 amp upgrade for about $400.
But because the Tesla requires a 40 amp single phase charger, the Master Electricians Association says there may be restrictions on upgrading household power supply and connecting to the local electricity grid.

At a minimum, the 40 amp single phase charger that Tesla uses exclusively will need approval from local electricity network suppliers.
When Tesla eventually switches to a three phase 32 amp charger, the upgrades to the electricity system in the average home will cost close to $10,000.
Most modern households with single phase electricity supply have a maximum capacity of 63 amps, however there are restrictions on how much energy any one item can draw, and each household needs to be inspected to determine how much spare capacity -- if any -- there is to install a Tesla charger.
“It is highly unlikely the mains cable coming into the home switchboard will be adequate to carry the extra 40 amp load to recharge the car,” said Master Electricians Australia spokesman Greg Bryant.

...cont's...

Whoops...seems there's no such thing as s free lunch. Yes it's powerful, yes it has a realistic range before recharging...but no one saw this awkward little problem coming. Green groups seemed to think the emergence of such a car meant that everyone would be able to change over to electric cars of a similar design.

Not without billions spent upgrading the electricity grid, substations, and massive costs to households in upgrading to suit the new charging points needed for this type of technology...