Update: Media totally ignored what CEO says Model 3 will mean for environment

Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiling his $35,000 Model 3 in California on Thursday night.

Editor's note: On April 7, Tesla announced more than 325,000 reservations for the Model 3 had been received in the week after the car was unveiled.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

At the unveiling of the Model 3, the first words out of Tesla CEO Elon Musk's mouth were to alert the media to the dire state of the environment.

But his strong environmental message -- that this affordable all-electric car will "accelerate sustainable transport" -- was virtually ignored by reporters and financial analysts.

Noting record high carbon-dioxide levels, Musk said 53,000 deaths a year are caused by auto emissions.

200,000+ reservations

CNBC.com quoted Musk as saying 232,000 Model 3 reservations at $1,000 each were placed in the first 24 hours after Tesla stores opened on Thursday morning.

No other single vehicle in the history of the automobile has generated this kind of excitement.

This is a watershed moment, and if Tesla achieves volume sales of the Model 3, it could mark the beginning of the end for the antiquated internal combustion engine.

Glass roof

Model 3 won't just be a smaller, three-quarter version of Model S.

Notable differences from Model S include:

• The roof of the Model 3 will be glass to give the driver and four passengers a feeling of openness.

• The central touchscreen will be mounted horizontally, and include the speedometer and other instruments.

For $35,000, the new all-electric car will come standard with Autopilot, Autosteer and Autopark, autonomous functions that were extra on the Model S 60 I bought a year ago.

Free charging

And Model 3 owners also will be able to use Tesla's nationwide network of Superchargers for free as long as they own their cars, just like Model S owners.

Free charging for life is an exclusive Tesla feature no other automaker has matched.

Chevrolet hasn't said whether it will build a network of fast chargers for owners of the all-electric Bolt, due out late this year.

Musk also said Model 3 will be the safest car in its class, with 5-star ratings in every category.

Model 3 battery

Model 3 will have a range of 215 miles on a full charge, compared to the 208-mile range of the Model S 60 I own, so the battery in the new car likely will be about 65 kilowatt-hours.

The Model 3, like the Model S 60, does 0-60 in under 6 second.

The current base Model S is the 70D with dual motors, a 70 kilowatt-hour battery and a range of 250 miles at 65 mph.

Battery, car factories

Musk said on Thursday night Tesla's battery factory in Nevada is "operational," and batteries from there will cost 30% less than those in Model S, allowing him to sell Model 3 for $35,000.

And he noted the Tesla Factory in Fremont, Calif. -- a former GM-Toyota joint venture -- has the capacity to build 500,000 cars a year.

The plant was building an average of 6,000 cars a week when it closed in May 2010.

Tesla Motors reopened the factory in October 2010.

EVs go mainstream

On April 7, the Tesla blog announced more than 325,000 reservations had been received in the week since the March 31 unveiling of Model 3:

Tesla declared that was "the week when electric vehicles went mainstream." 

See: Biggest one-week launch of any product ever

Nissan, GM and other big automakers can't keep up with revolutionary Tesla

At the Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan promised to offer self-driving functions in a few years that are already available in Tesla Motors' Model S.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

Automobile writers are so bored with the old technology being hawked at dealers worldwide they go bananas over concept cars and other fantasies that may never hit the road.

Take this week's reports from the Tokyo Motor Show, where Nissan showed an all-electric concept car that isn't likely to go into production for five years, if then.

The Associated Press story on Nissan's IDS (intelligent driving system) noted that by 2018, vehicles equipped with self-drive would be able to change lanes on the highway.

That's what owners of the Tesla Model S can do now, thanks to updated software downloaded to the all-electric cars this month.

To change lanes, all owners have to do is put on their directional signal when Tesla's Autopilot and Autosteer are enabled.

Volt or Dolt?

Meanwhile, a new version of the plug-in Chevrolet Volt adds about 20 miles to its "pure-electric range" for a total of 53, but remains chained to the gas pump.

That means it still pollutes and aggravates climate change.

It's still unclear whether the 2016 Volt will be available in all 50 states.

Chevrolet isn't expected to have the Bolt, an all-electric car with a range of 200 miles, available for another two years.

Is this really the best giant GM can do more than three years after the debut of the Model S, a luxury four-door hatchback from upstart Tesla Motors?