100 Tesla Model S Sedans For Project 100

April 12th, 2013 by Tim Tyler

Editor’s note: I know, it’s just been a day since our last Tesla post, but here’s one more hot one that is pretty darn cool. Notably, the coolest part of the story, imho, isn’t the Model S order, but the whole idea of Project 100. However, it is pretty cool that this is the largest Tesla order to date. Read on, courtesy EV Obsession:

Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh recently announced a coming addition to his “Project 100″ in downtown Las Vegas. The Tesla Model S will be part of his complete transportation system, with 100 Model S sedans being added to the fleet.

Photo Credit: jurvetson / Foter.com / CC BY

If you’re not familiar with Zappos’ new downtown Las Vegas project, Project 100, it is being dubbed a complete transportation system, one that will allow those without a car to get around without a problem. Project 100’s newest addition of 100 clean, green Model S sedans is certainly garnering more eyes.

Notably, the purchase of 100 Tesla Model S sedans is also, to date, Tesla’s largest single purchase.

Project 100 will include, thus far, more than 100 shared bikes, 100 shared cars, and 100 shared bus stops, all for one monthly fee. The project will start as an invite-only beta over the next few months. The estimated pricing for a monthly subscription should be a little under $400 per month. An app will be used to allow the user to select their best means of transportation depending on location.

From Project 100 itself:

The experience is simple: open an app so we know where you are and tell us what zone you want to travel to. With that information we’ll give you a set of options, for example, 1 – Be picked up by a driver in a Tesla in 3 minutes, 2 – Drive yourself in a low range electric vehicle that’s 0.2 miles away, 3 – Grab a bike that’s 0.1 miles away or 4 – Hop on the party bus that will be near you in 4 minutes. [sic]

The Teslas will be on the high-end of the project and may not always be the most practical choice. So the company plans to invest in smaller, lower-power vehicles as well. But Project 100 will keep everything 100% electric.

Once users get used to the project’s concept, they should be able to get around town with no problems. But this beta testing stage should tell Zappos where it will need to improve, whether it be by informing customers better or by selecting better locations.

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Tags: Las Vegas, Las Vegas downtown project, no post, Project 100, Tesla, Tesla Model S, tesla model S las vegas, Zappos

About the Author

Tim Tyler Holds an electronic's engineering degree and is working toward a second degree in IT/web development. Enjoy's renewable energy topic's and has a passion for the environment. Part time writer and web developer, full time husband and father.

http://twitter.com/djm12 Doug

I love Tesla – and will be an owner in about a month – but wouldn’t this project make a better business case with $18,000 (after tax credit) Smart EVs?
- http://zacharyshahan.com/ Zachary Shahan
  
  In one sense, I definitely agree. (Or, as someone on our Facebook page suggested, Codas.) However, it’s hard to say how much that Tesla “cool factor” and “luxury factor” are worth. Really hard to know how much that will benefit the company or not.
  
  And hey, maybe Hsieh owns some Tesla stock, or at least really wants to support the company. ? (I lean towards him just really wanting to make the project hot and sexy.)
- http://zacharyshahan.com/ Zachary Shahan
  
  And btw, congrats on being an early Tesla driver!
- Otis11
  
  “and will be an owner in about a month” – More than a little jealous.
  
  And probably, but how much free press did this company just get from this decision? Combine that with the luxury factor and I think these paid for themselves… or at least were a fair investment.
Otis11

Heck yes. I sure hope they succeed. A model like this would be pure gold once it expands, especially for those of us who travel to many different major cities relatively frequently. I mean, if I could go to LA, Houston, Dallas, Austin, Chicago, Denver, and Phoenix and be in a service area, I’d likely never have to rent a car again, plus replace the (already rarely used) car I have today…

Only question is – does that $400 a month include insurance on their vehicles or do you still have to insure yourself? Cuz if it’s the first, I’d sign up. (Save me a bunch-O-money)

Well, as long as they have at least 1 pick-up in the city for those small, but all to often times I need one? (But then again, I’m a rarity on that part – so probably not)
- http://zacharyshahan.com/ Zachary Shahan
  
  I’d imagine they cover the insurance. That’s the case with carsharing companies. At least, that was the case with Zipcar when I became a member in NC about 8 years ago.
http://zacharyshahan.com/ Zachary Shahan

Think it’s just LV for now, but I think this is an idea that could really spread. Very cool concept.