Tesla Model S Gets Glass Roof, Probably Solar Glass Roof Too (#ElonTweets)
Elon Musk just took to Twitter for a serious tweetstorm. The hottest topic was a fully glass roof, and a probable solar glass roof.
The glass roof is now an option on the Tesla website, and it is actually cheaper than the sunroof ($1500 vs $2000 in the US, or $24/month versus $32/month according to the website’s lease estimator).
I highly recommend the new all glass roof on the Model S. This was very hard to develop, but it makes the interior feel amazing. pic.twitter.com/ob7lqrXP4n
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2016
A Solar Glass Roof?
Given that Tesla and SolarCity just announced glass solar tiles, it didn’t take long for someone to bring up the possibility of a solar glass roof. Elon’s quick response: it’ll probably be an option.
We will probably offer that as an option
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2016
The next obvious question: isn’t that crazy expensive? Elon spends all of 2 characters on the response.
no
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2016
I know it wouldn’t take long for CleanTechnica readers to get to this final tweet on the topic, which is all about the cost per kWh of generated electricity. In other words, does it really make any financial sense? Unable to give a boring answer here, Elon hints at a “deployable solar shield.” Does he have to make everything sound so cool? I feel like I’m 5 years old now and have just activated my forcefield.
unless we do a deployable solar shield like a retractable hard top
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2016
Safety with a Glass Roof?
Naturally, the other hot topic when it comes to a fully glass roof is safety. This can’t be safe, right? But wait a second, safety is priority #1 for Tesla — what gives?
It turns out, Tesla did make sure this glass is super safe and can even survive a rollover accident without shattering.
Furthermore, Tesla improved the safety on the already super safe body of the car.
Here are three tweets on safety:
In addition, we reinforced the surrounding body structure for improved safety (was already 5 star in all categories).
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2016
Excellent safety in rollover (5 star+). That was what took so long to develop.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2016
Primarily aluminium with hot-stamped boron steel reinforcements. B pillar has a glass overlay.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2016
Well, that’s something.
Tesla apparently has a tough time slowing its innovation addiction. Can’t just leave “best on the market” alone. Surely, though, this work plays into the Model 3 (and maybe Model Y). I’m guessing it’s an easy “bonus option” that stemmed from R&D work to create a compelling $35,000 electric car with ample space in the back as well as front seats.
Update: Here’s one more tweet from Elon in response to a comment about on-street solar charging:
now wouldn't that be interesting 🙂
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2016
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