GRA
Member
That getting the biggest battery with the longest range will make a road trip more convenient and flexible falls in the "well, duh" category (I'm tempted to use an even more appropriate albeit scatological phrase that makes the same point). By the same token, a $15k Mitsubishi Mirage with an ICE provides even more convenience and flexibility on a road trip than any current BEV at any price, as it has more range regardless of conditions, and also benefits from rapid refueling and a ubiquitous refueling infrastructure, but I digress.I agree. That's exactly what I did. Getting a Model S was a little of a stretch for me but there was never a doubt ordering it with the 85 battery as it is my only car. Many many times have I needed the full range or it made my trip just a little more comfortable. On almost all my road trip (using Superchargers) has it decreased my total trip time.
Being able to 'stretch' an extra $10k when you're already paying a minimum of $70k for a car may not be a big deal for the typical new Tesla Model S/X owner (in California, from 2012-2015 48% of Tesla owners claimed family incomes above $300k/yr, and fully 70% above $200k - see EV Consumer Survey Dashboard | Clean Vehicle Rebate Project), but the 2013 U.S. median family income was $51,939. Lots of people who'd like to own a BEV are stretching to afford a used Model S60, and plenty of people will be stretching to afford a Model 3 (Who Can Afford The Average Car Price? Only Folks In Washington, D.C.), which will still fall well short of the road trip range/convenience of the least expensive ICE.
So, while the OP's comment is accurate, it comes off smacking more than a little of "let them eat cake" (supposedly Marie Antoinette, actually Rousseau, who may have made it up. If you prefer a more current reference, cf. Mitt Romney's foot-in-mouth comments ca. 2012), at least if Tesla's Grand Poobah means what he says about bringing long-range BEVs to the masses. In California, at least, as of today we've now got an income cut-off to qualify for the CVRP rebate, even if it is ridiculously high ($250k for an individual filer, $500k for a married couple). I suspect they'll manage to find the extra $2500 somehow, even if they have to look under the sofa cushions for change. And that's enough OT.