A Tesla Showroom Opens on Newtown Lane
Residents and visitors to the South Fork can learn how to bid farewell to the internal combustion engine and reduce their carbon footprint without leaving East Hampton, thanks to the opening on Friday of a Tesla Motors location on Newtown Lane.
The California manufacturer of electric cars, one of several new businesses to set up shop in the commercial district this spring, offered a close-up inspection and test drive of a fully loaded iteration of its Model S sedan and the newer Model X sport utility vehicle.
Those interested in Tesla Motors and electric driving can learn about both at the East Hampton gallery. The nearest location where orders can be taken is its showroom at the Americana Mall in Manhasset.
For those accustomed to combustion engine-powered vehicles and, particularly, cars of a certain age, driving the Model S may be akin to piloting a rocket. A leisurely drive up Long Lane in East Hampton last Thursday provided only a hint of the optional Ludicrous acceleration (its actual name) in the Model S, which propels it from zero to 60 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds. A 17-inch touchscreen in the cabin controls most functions as well as map-based navigation, web browsing, smartphone apps, and multiple features including projected range and energy consumption.
Unlike spacecraft, however, the Model S is one of the safest vehicles in existence: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration bestowed it a 5-star rating, the agency’s highest, both over all and in its subcategories. Software is updated over the air; unlike other vehicles, says the manufacturer, a Tesla improves over time.
The Model S P90D (“P” for performance, “90” for its 90-kilowatt battery pack, “D” for dual motor) on display in East Hampton unlocks when the keyholder approaches. The car starts noiselessly, and its side mirrors unfold, when the brake pedal is pressed. While the manufacturer shies from the term “self-driving car,” the automation of many functions is quickly apparent. The optional Autopilot feature matches the car’s speed to traffic conditions and automatically changes lanes when the turn indicator is tapped. The feature also allows the car to park and unpark itself, scan for parking spaces, and alert the driver when one becomes available.
The Model S P90D has a range of 300 miles. While a recharge from a wall charger at home will take hours, a nationwide network of Superchargers — 3,738 of them, at 628 stations — gives the car a full charge in a maximum of one hour and 10 minutes. Free for Tesla owners, the Superchargers are placed to minimize stops during long-distance travel and are located near shopping centers, restaurants, and Wi-Fi hotspots. The network, along with “destination” charging stations including at the Montauk Yacht Club and c/o the Maidstone in East Hampton, is displayed on the car’s touchscreen.
A Tesla’s regenerative braking system will take some getting used to: It is activated when the accelerator is released. The process recharges the battery, and actual braking is reduced.
While electric cars represent a small fraction of those on the road today, the category is growing. Tesla’s Model S starts around $70,000, with the loaded P90D costing $137,000, according to a company representative. But in March, Tesla Motors announced the Model 3, which is scheduled for production next year and will start at $35,000. Within two weeks, almost 400,000 orders had been taken.