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Elon Musk: Tesla Model E will be 20 percent smaller than Model S [w/video]

Somewhere between a Lexus CT 200h and an Acura ILX. But a little quieter and definitely bigger than a breadbox. That's the best comparison we could come up with when trying to get an idea of how big Tesla's more moderately priced sedan will be when it hits the market sometime around 2016. Tesla Motors chief Elon Musk, speaking to the California Public Utilities Commission recently, estimated that the Model E will be about 80 percent the size of the Model S sedan. You can see the video of this below. Now we're not sure exactly what that means, but we can practice a little geometry with the Model S's 196-inch length and 77-inch width and have some fun with the possibilities. And a quick perusal of sports sedans will reveal that the Model E's footprint will be a little bigger than the Lexus in question and slightly more petite than the ILX. Either way, Musk's estimate rounds out the equation of sorts for the Model E, even though he doesn't use that name in the video below. The car will have a minimum 200-mile range, Musk said (perhaps from a 48-kWh pack?) at about half the cost. And with 80 percent of the size. As for when we'll start seeing sales of the Model E, which is supposed to start at $35,000, that deadline has migrated over the years from as late as 2017 to as early as next year and then back to 2016. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Tesla Supercharger Network Now Covers Majority Of Americans

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk announced via twitter Sunday that Tesla has officially expanded its Supercharger network across the county. The Supercharger network contains 71 stations, according to Autoblog, and Musk estimates that 80 percent of Americans are within 200 miles of at least one of them. Notably, that includes Texans who are barred from buying Tesla products in their home state. The Supercharger can charge a Model S EV to half its full power in 20 minutes, providing enough charge to get to the next filling station. All for free. The Supercharger is considered such a leap forward in green technology that it was voted 2013 Technology of the Year by AOL Autos. Critics of electric vehicles often cite a lack of recharging infrastructure as one of the major hurdles companies face when bringing the cars to the market. Tesla is tackling this problem head-on, and wants to continue expanding the network to 100-percent coverage, according to Clean Technia. With the release of the more affordable Tesla Model E on the horizon, the Northern California-based company is surely hoping that the expansion of the Supercharger network will put "range anxiety" to bed once and for all. Related Gallery Electric Cars And Hybrids Don't Have To Be Frumpy Green Tesla Alternative Fuels Fuel Efficiency Green Driving Electric supercharger network

Tesla says Model X will be able to tow, order now for 2016 delivery

Anyone out there curious what towing a two-ton boat will do to an electric vehicle's single-charge range? Going through the mud? Well, someone will be able to find out by next year. That's because the Tesla Model X all-electric SUV will indeed be the first all-electric vehicle have towing capacity. Granted, a tow hitch isn't exactly as sexy as the model's notable falcon-winged doors, but the upshot is that Tesla says the car will have the best aerodynamics of any vehicle its size, so that should help out that single-charge range a smidgeon. Tesla made the towing-capacity announcement in an e-mail, which we found on Cleantechnica. Additionally, the Model X will have dual-mode all-wheel drive, in case anyone wanted to tow that boat down a dirt road. Early reservation holders will likely start getting their Model X EVs the in third-quarter 2015, and beta versions of the vehicle are currently being built for crash testing and other fun stuff. People who haven't yet made that reservation will be waiting until 2016 to get their SUVs, though. The Model X, in some circles, is expected to make a pretty big splash. This summer, investment bank Morgan Stanley forecast that the Model X would be outselling the Model S sedan by the end of 2016.