Model S/X as a taxi or fleet vehicle

[Citizen-T]

So give me a number. How many Model S taxis will be on the road by the end of 2012? By the end of 2015? By the end of 2020?

[Lloyd]

I'm with @daniel on this one. It might make sense, but it's not going to happen very quickly. I think Tesla would have to really push in this direction and go sell the benefits of these cars to taxi fleets, and I don't see Elon spending his time on that. Some will certainly make the switch, but it's going to be a slow adoption, at least for the foreseeable future.

I can easily see states mandating Taxi's in congested cities to REQUIRE that taxis be Electric or at minimum alternative fuel or Hybrid. That would change the equation and conversion quickly.

After the election, for either party, I believe that oil subsidies will be removed or cut. Gasoline is artificially low at the moment. Obama has used favors (keystone?) and requested that the Saudi's produce and ship more to the US prior to the election. I can see gasoline $6 to $8 following the election. Then it makes economic sense for a taxi fleet to go electric, but not with $3 gas.

[Steph]

So give me a number. How many Model S taxis will be on the road by the end of 2012? By the end of 2015? By the end of 2020?

I don't have a crystal ball so I really can't tell. But it just does not matter. What really matter at this point is the reservation rate. That is the number we should look at. There is 10k taxis only in the city I live in. There is millions of taxis out there and it makes sense to replace all of them.

And that is just taxis. The great thing about the model S is the more you drive, the more you save. So we have to expect lots of reservations coming from Police, Doctors on the road, real estate agents, function vehicles, security companies and more.

The reservation rate will tell us if and when they can accelerate production to the 100k/year theoretical production limit.

[Zextraterrestrial]

I agree w/ Steph and Everes22. Tesla is really still unheard of. I want to start a taxi company just because it will be an all Tesla, super quiet and very efficient taxi company.
If you had a choice to ride in smooth silence w/ free wi-fi or a standard taxi what would it be?

And the Tesla ride was cheaper too, any contest?

[vfx]

While I agree that any well made electric is perfect for taxis, I question the Model S rear ingress and egress in taxi adoption. Limos and towncars yes, but taxis?

What do I know? I'm in LA.

[Steph]

While I agree that any well made electric is perfect for taxis, I question the Model S rear ingress and egress in taxi adoption. Limos and towncars yes, but taxis?

What do I know? I'm in LA.

Is there any problem getting in and out of a model S's back seats?

[vfx]

(no quote)

On the subject of adoption (like EV for Taxis) I look at the Dodge Sprinter van and the Ford Transit Connect. The EU with it's high gasoline prices has for decades driven around in those wedge shaped delivery vans. The adoption of those weird shaped delivery vehicles is slow here but finally coming as reduced fuel consumption beats VS traditional styling.

I looked at them both when they stated showing up and immediately declared If I had a business i would totally buy one of these aerodynamic shapes to move things around in. Not even a question in my mind. Amazing to me how slow it's happening here in the US.

EV adoption predictions have to look at this.

[Rifleman]

Is there any problem getting in and out of a model S's back seats?

The back seats may be just a little tricky to get in and out of for a taxi, but the real issue with use as a taxi would be rear seat headroom. Taxi's need to be able to transport passengers who are over 6 feet tall in relative comfort, and the back seat of a model S cannot do this.

[vfx]

Is there any problem getting in and out of a model S's back seats?

No.

How old are u?
How big are u?
What are you carrying?

I'm saying a Taxi is often a specialty built car designed for a specialized purpose.

[Steph]

No.

How old are u?
How big are u?
What are you carrying?

I'm saying a Taxi is often a specialty built car designed for a specialized purpose.

Yes.

And that is about to change. The model S has everything a taxi company would want in a taxi. Wi-Fi for it's customers, a computer in the car, communications, gps, maps, comfort, silence, roomy, two trunk, and environmentally friendly.

Tell me what is missing for a taxi?

Edit: Oh! And it's free!