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Tesla Model S finally has its date with a dyno

The performance abilities - and even the burnout potential - of the Tesla Model S has already been well documented, but, surprisingly, we haven't yet seen the all-electric luxury hatchback strapped to a dyno. Fortunately, the crew over at Dragtimes has posted a video that finally gave us some real-world numbers for the family- and environmentally friendly Tesla.
As the article points out, the results might be off a little (on the low side) due to the run not starting from a dead stop, but the numbers are impressive nonetheless. Immediately upon throttle application, the dyno records almost 300 horsepower at zero miles per hour, and power peaks at 368 hp at around 55 mph (we imagine the "386HP" quoted on the video title is a typo) before trailing off to around 220 hp closer to the car's limited 130-mph top speed. This compares quite favorably to the power numbers provided by Tesla putting max output at 416 hp; the dyno provided no torque figures for the car. Dragtimes also believes this number bodes well for the car on the track, too, quoting a quarter-mile time of 12.2 seconds at 112 mph.
The video of the quiet, zero-emission dyno session is posted below, so check it out.

Recharge Wrap-up: Audi 'Plugging In' video, Citroen e-Mehari rumors

Audi is sponsoring the Newport Folk Festival with its "Plugging In" campaign. In celebration of the event, a video shows the history of the festival, and how plugging in the electric guitar changed music, similar to the way plugging in an electric vehicle changes the way we think about transportation. The video is focuses entirely on music, but at the end, we get the (ahem) plug from Audi: "Audi A3 Sportback e-tron — Plugging In Across America." Watch it above. The first image from Tesla's Firmware 7.0 update has made its way online. The photo shows what appears to be Tesla's new Autopilot feature. The view of the display also suggests that beta testing is happening on main roads between San Francisco and Tesla's home in the tech hub of Silicon Valley. See the photo and read more at Teslarati. The IRS has published a notice regarding its tax code overseeing the treatment of biodiesel credits. It says that, among other things, claimants must reduce their income tax deduction by the amount of the credits given for alternative fuel used or sold during a given quarter in 2014. Biodiesel producers and blenders were eligible for a tax credit of $1.00 per gallon. Read the notice from the IRS, or learn more from Biofuels Digest. Rumors suggest that Citroen will unveil a concept EV based on the C4 Cactus and classic Mehari at the Frankfurt Motor Show. L'Automobile Magazine is reporting that the French automaker has registered the name "e-Mehari," leading to speculation — and even a goofy rendering — from L'Automobile. There has been no official acknowledgement of the e-Mehari from Citroen, so let's not get too excited yet (especially you, Mr. Ewing). Read more from Technologic Vehicles, or in the (Google-translated) post from L'Automobile Magazine. Related Gallery 2015 Citroen C4 Cactus View 32 Photos News Source: YouTube: Newport Folk Festival, Teslarati, Biofuels Digest, IRS, Technologic Vehicles, L'Automobile Magazine Government/Legal Green Marketing/Advertising Rumormill Audi Tesla Citroen Alternative Fuels Biodiesel Concept Cars Electric Videos recharge wrapup

BYD CEO calls Tesla a rich man's toy, not worried about competition

We've heard the comment, "the Tesla Model S is a rich man's toy" before. Usually it comes from a Cranky McCrankster-type of character in the Comments beneath posts about the all-electric automobile. Not everyone sees the utility of an expensive car that can seat up to seven, run with Corvettes and only gets 265 miles on a charge. We get that, sort of, and everyone's entitled to their opinion. It's a bit odd, though, hearing the remark fall from the lips of Wang Chuanfu, however. BYD Auto's CEO made the comment – well, he said it in Chinese and it's been translated this way by the International Business Times – in an interview with Shanghai Securiites News, along with mentioning that he expects the California automaker to only capture a very small percentage of the Chinese market. That last bit is a fair point, though a tiny chunk of that burgeoning market could still mean a lot of sales. Tesla has intimated its hopes for at least 10,000 takers in its first year of operation in China and says its Beijing location is its biggest and most bustling. As for Chuanfu's comment, Tesla gave AutoblogGreen a simple, "no comment." BYD, of course, sells its e6 electric sedan in its home country and its sales might not even reach the 10,000 level, despite being more affordable and boasting a respectable 186-mile range. Mr. Chuanfu expects bigger things for it Qin plug-in hybrid, which rings up at $31,000 and offers 41 miles of battery-powered range before the gasoline engine kicks in. China wants 500,000 plug-in vehicles plying its streets by 2015's end and BYD wants to be a big part of that picture. While we can understand the competitive downplaying of Tesla's Chinese-market entrance, we expect that BYD is as well aware as anyone that Tesla has a more affordable future car on the horizon and that Chinese car buyers tend to favor foreign brands. It's a big market, though, so perhaps the two entities might help further each other's goals by cooperating on charging standards and infrastructure development instead of sniping. One can dream, right?