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Tesla Gigafactory coming to Reno, Nevada with $1.2 billion in tax incentives

You want details on the Gigafactory? You got 'em. At least the preliminary ones. At an event with Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval this afternoon, Tesla Motors announced that its first Gigafactory will be built outside Reno. As was leaked yesterday and confirmed by unnamed state officials today, the plant will be where Tesla will make a big statement not only about EVs but also the power of Nevada to further that particular fight. The incentive package is worth $1.2 billion over 20 years. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, speaking in Carson City, said that Nevada did not offer the biggest incentive package, but that, "This is not just about the incentives. [Nevada is a] really get things done state. That was a really important part of the decision," according to the Reno Gazette-Journal. That said, the incentive package is still more than twice what Musk originally said would be needed. The state worked out a deal with the automaker that will be wordh $1.2 billion over 20 years and should basically let Tesla operate tax-free for ten years, the RGJ reports. That will not surprise some people. The RGJ breaks down the numbers this way: $725 million for a 20-year 100 percent sales tax abatement $332 million for a 10-year 100 percent property tax abatement $120 million in transferable tax credits $75 million in transferable tax credits worth $12,500 per job times 6,000 jobs). $27 million for a 10-year, 100 percent modified business tax abatement $8 million in discounted electricity rates for eight years The Gigafactory is Tesla's answer to the question of how it will be able to make a $35,000 EV that will be able to over 200 miles on a charge. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that a 30-percent decrease in cost for the batteries is "probably conservative at this point." The Reno Gigafactory could be in operation by late 2016. Tesla is partnering with Panasonic on the plant. The governor thanked Senator Harry Reid, who he said played an important role. Whether the Reno announcement is the first of many remains to be seen. For now, the other states that wanted the plant, like California and Arizona, remain hopeful. Tesla's official statement and a short local news report on yesterday's rumors are available below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Elon Musk says 'right on' to letter asking for new Model S features

If you want to get Tesla CEO Elon Musk's attention, taking out a full-page ad in his local newspaper will apparently do the trick. That's what two self-proclaimed "very highly satisfied" Model S owners did, asking for a few small changes in the popular EV. In response, Musk Tweeted a picture of the ad and wrote, "Ad taken out in Palo Alto Daily [News] by two Model S owners is right. Many of the suggestions will be implemented soon." The ad also appeared in the Palo Alto Weekly. You can see all of the requests by clicking the image above, but we'll mention some of them here. Improved voice-activated phone dialing, better sensors (like blind-spot monitors), redesigned sun visor, automatically closing charging port door and then the big one: Tesla ads. Tesla isn't talking about when the new features will be available, but if any of those items are unlikely in the near future, it's Tesla advertisements. After all, why pay for media attention when a simple Tweet about other people paying for your ad can get tremendous amounts of attention?

Ecotricity says Tesla acting the bully in UK supercharging situation

As Tesla Motors stands ready to expand its presence in the oh-so-polite UK, green-energy company Ecotricity is accusing the California-based automaker of being a little less than civilized. The term bullying is being thrown around, and Ecotricity founder Dale Vince told The Guardian that Tesla's communication was "very dark", "shocking" and "brutal." All in the name of some well-placed Supercharger stations. Ecotricity says it had been in talks with Tesla about collaborating on charging station locations. Tesla is looking to deploy the first part of its UK Superchager network this month, but Ecotricity now says it was contacted by Tesla saying that Tesla was going to take over many of Ecotrocity's prime sites, according to The Guardian. Moreover, Tesla is taking advantage of information gleaned from a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), Ecotricity alleges. Tesla did not respond to our request for comment on this issue. Tesla said at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year that it would significantly expand its Supercharger network throughout Europe in 2014 as it introduces the right-hand-drive version of the Model S sedan to the UK. Ecotricity, which specializes in getting its energy from renewable sources, said in February that it would start offering the UK's electric-vehicle drivers 1,000 miles of free fast charging annually on Ecotricity's so-called Electric Highway. The company said at the time that it aimed to deploy fast-charging stations at 90 percent of service stations along UK highways. Tesla sold its first EV, the Roadster, in the UK all the way back in 2010.