Look, CD, the idea that the current Supercharger tech realistically offers a "gas car experience" is wrong. Many gas-powered cars have (a) far longer range and (b) have drivers that will go longer between stops and (c) have drivers that won't to stop for 20 minutes every 150-200 miles.

Eventually, there needs to be a way to travel longer without stopping or to stop for less time. The swapping could solve the latter problem sooner, if they are actually committed to a rollout.

Investors are not getting their money back. Whatever buyout is reached will end up paying back perhaps 5-10% of what was invested in the company.

Musk keeps leaving the door open to battery swapping. He has chance after chance to slam it shut, but clearly chooses his words to do the opposite.

Yes, around 2020-2022, I'd wager. It'll probably be a "city car" with something close to 200 miles of range and be designed to sell 500K - 1 million units annually.

His pollution-credit question is nonsense; asked and answered. His Supercharger question is pointless; they don't need "attendants" His residual question is pointless: Of course it's good business. His battery / Gen III question is answered on this web site, this past week. His "are you really that much better"? question is obvious. Of course they are. They sell as well as the Leaf, despite costing 2-3x as much. It's winning every award on earth. What planet is the guy on?

Your Volt cannot be fast charged, so it has no relevance to you whatsoever. Your Volt can take 110 or 220 and that's it. And it's also just fine for the Volt, since you have a gas engine.

(By way of disclosure, there's a new Volt in my garage.)

I just want to echo the kudos Thomas. I've written about a dozen pieces for Forbes (generally for a broader audience than Green Car Reports enthusiasts, but still usually interesting I think for them), and have considered a piece like yours.

You confirmed my fears it would be far too dense for the wider audience but did a flat-out amazing job telling the story in compelling detail. I've long believed Telsa cross the $200 kw/hour threshold some time ago and I'm basically certain of at this point.

I think this really point out the gross margin target the company has set it not only achievable but possibly something Tesla can exceed by Q4. In fact, I'm sure they have a stretch goal to do that.

You are correct.

That is the plan.

Guys, the stuff about battery swapping was in the annual report as I mentioned in my blog back in March:

"There was a hint in the annual report about battery-swapping stations"

http://www.forbes.com/sites/markrogowsky/2013/03/25/teslas-bmw-3-series-fighter-just-might-be-your-next-car/