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Tesla wins in Massachusetts, tries for more in New Jersey

Another brick falls as Tesla fights to practice its direct-to-consumer business model. A Massachusetts high court has thrown out a lawsuit seeking to block the electric car company from selling vehicles the Tesla way in the state. The Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association, along with two dealers, claimed that Tesla was in violation of a law that protects affiliated dealerships from oppressive practices from automakers. According to the law, it is illegal for an automaker to operate "a motor vehicle dealership within the relevant market area of a motor vehicle dealer of the same line make." The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the plaintiffs didn't have a standing in this case because they weren't affiliated with Tesla, and because Tesla also doesn't have any franchise dealerships in the state. Judge Margot Botsford writes that the law, "was intended and understood only to prohibit manufacturer-owned dealerships when, unlike Tesla, the manufacturer already had an affiliated dealer or dealers in Massachusetts." Armed with the Massachusetts win, Tesla is taking another whack at New Jersey. Armed with that win, Tesla is taking another whack at New Jersey, which barred Tesla from selling cars directly to customers in the state. Tesla's appeal argues that the state franchise statute doesn't apply to it, as the automaker lacks any franchisor-franchisee relationship. Tesla also argues that the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission doesn't have the authority to enforce the statute, and that certain rules (requirements of minimum square footage, multiple display models and on-site servicing) violate the state Constitution. In New Jersey, though, the appeal may become moot, as there are currently at least two pending bills that could grant exemption to Tesla, allowing it to sell cars directly to consumers. Jim Appleton, president of the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers, says, "Something may be on the governor's desk and signed before they even decide to grant oral arguments at all." Tesla recently won the right to practice its sales model in the state of Nevada as part of a deal to build its Gigafactory in Reno. Tesla is still barred from selling its cars in Texas, Arizona and Maryland.

AAA ranks Tesla Model S P85D best green car of 2015, Versa is best value

Reviewers from all parts of the automotive world just seem to love the Tesla Model S, whether it's the pragmatists at Consumer Reports or the enthusiasts at Car and Driver. You can add one more to that list because the 2015 P85D grabs the top spot in AAA's fifth annual Green Car Guide, after Tesla's win last year too. The organization's ranking of 88 green models also names the 2014 Nissan Versa SV as the best value in the segment. To take the victory, the P85D had to score the most points over 13 categories, including emissions, acceleration and cargo capacity, and it won handily with 94.87 points. There was nearly a tie for second place, though. The 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium scored 85.5 points, and the 2014 BMW i3 narrowly came in third with 85.4. The best value award is based on the as-tested price per point scored. So while the Versa SV only had 64.5 points overall, its low price meant that each one cost just $249. Second place went to the Versa Note SV with 64.63 points at $260 each, and third was the Hyundai Accent GLS with 61.1 points for $269 each. Keep in mind, AAA's ranking doesn't attempt to find the most environmentally friendly vehicle, rather it tests the green car segment to give recommendations to buyers. Battery electric powertrains, compressed natural gas, clean diesel, hybrids, partial zero-emissions vehicles, and simply models with high fuel economy are all counted by the organization. The results are published in a 160-page magazine, which you can read here. It also offers suggestions on economical driving and explains some of the fuel-saving tech currently available. Related Video: Top Green Vehicle is a 2015 Tesla, According to Fifth Annual AAA Green Car Guide ORLANDO, Fla., April 20, 2015 The 2015 Tesla Model S P85D earned the top score in the 2015 AAA Green Car Guide, the motor club announced today. The Palo Alto-based automaker's car is featured with more than 80 other green vehicles in the 2015 AAA Green Car Guide. The best green car value award went to the 2014 Nissan Versa SV. To help those in the market for a green car or truck, the 160-page, comprehensive fifth annual AAA guide reviews 88 battery electric vehicles, compressed natural gas-powered (CNG) vehicles, clean diesels, hybrids, partial zero emission vehicles (PZEVs), and vehicles with high fuel economy.

Tesla open-sources all its patents

When Tesla CEO Elon Musk says that he's thinking about something, you definitely need to pay attention because it's likely something big. In an eloquently worded press release (a very rare thing indeed) Musk explains reason after reason why Tesla is opening up all of its patents, effective immediately.
According to the missive, Tesla initially applied for patents on its technology because it was afraid bigger, more powerful automakers would take its ideas and destroy the tiny automaker. However, that hasn't happened. Musk claims that while the company has grown, "electric car programs (or programs for any vehicle that doesn't burn hydrocarbons) at the major manufacturers are small to non-existent." At the same time, the global auto industry continues to grow, and Tesla's main competitors aren't from other electric carmakers, but the traditional internal combustion engine.
Musk claims that if you walk into the company's lobby right now all of its patent forms are gone from the walls. "We believe that Tesla, other companies making electric cars, and the world would all benefit from a common, rapidly-evolving technology platform," he writes.