The lower end is what will move electric cars, that's why they are moving that direction and they know this to be true.
Why spend $70,000-$90,000 for a Tesla, when you are driving locally within 40-80 mile radius of ones home base?
When you can get a used Leaf for $10,000? If I was in the market, I wouldn't be looking for a Tesla, the gas savings wouldn't justify the overall, further it would take 15 years+ for the gas savings to pencil in and break even the costs.
Then your going to have to replace the battery before 15 years comes.
If your going to do an electric car because you wish to save $ at the gas pump and without going broke pay cash for a 2012 used Leaf. Reason is financial: If you average $40 weekly in gas for 50 weeks that's $2,000. Just that alone is $10,000 savings in 5 years. Your investment would be paid off in 5 years in gas savings. Of course you still have to factor in charging costs but it's a fraction of paying for big oil gas corps.
Tesla that's a math impossibility can and will never happen in 5 years, your talking 15+ years.
Since I live on the beach in Malibu, grocery store is down the street, Santa Monica is only 15 miles away well within a Leaf's range, even though I could easily afford a tesla why bother? It's an alleged expensive status symbol like people that wear Patagonia, ok whatever. I know someone who sold their Tesla realized it was a big mistake here in Malibu and went out bought a Leaf. Just because you have money doesn't mean everyone that has it throws it away-that's whey they have it because they are smart with it.
Tesla will lose because of the low end normal joe buyers will not buy an expensive tesla. If they wish to compete they are going to have to drop their prices by as much 40-60%. It's that simple.
