OverBooster

With the heavy metals and toxic wastes used to manufacture batteries and lacking drivable range on electric cars, I wouldn't discount hydrogen. It is abundant and clean. Technology will inevitably make it work efficiently and available to the masses.

Steponme

Smart man! To invest into Chinese anything is a smart move - the soon-to-be world's biggest economy and currently the fastest growing economy in the world, which also has more monetary reserves than any country on Earth, while most other countries are in heavy debt.

JonBoy

Meanwhile they are heavily energy dependent on the rest of the world, they have relatively poor internal transport facilities, they are heavily dependent on exports to survive, and they are still having a tough time with basic manufacturing quality assurance. They've got a ways to go, and they'll get there, but it's going to be messy for quite a while yet.

JonBoy

It's also 2.5X (at least) the cost of an Elise. Factor that into the equation and...it's nowhere near as cheap to own or drive.

tarheel91

[QUOTE=JonBoy,Dec 1 2009, 11:59 PM]Meanwhile they are heavily energy dependent on the rest of the world, they have relatively poor internal transport facilities, they are heavily dependent on exports to survive, and they are still having a tough time with basic manufacturing quality assurance.

drewmob

buffet also sings cheeseburger in paradise. i saw him in concert a few years ago. the man is a fawking genius. if he says we can do it, then i'll drink a pina colada to that!

Bboy AJ

Let's keep this investment in the proper perspective.

Buffet is on his way to the grave. He's almost 80 years old. Buffet is also a big time philanthropist. Do you think he went all in because he thinks electric cars would take off and make money in doing so? Or do you think he went all in because he wants electric cars to take off?

Buffet appears to be a good person. I don't know him personally so I can't say he is a good person. I wouldn't call this a straight business deal. It seems to be more of a philanthropic endeavor. However, it's very likely he will make money from this.

ltswb

The Tesla costs 60,000 more than the Elise. If the Elise cost the same 12 cents a mile as the S2000, then you would have to drive the Tesla 600,000 miles to recoup the cost. Considering the Elise handles better, has better balance, has so far proven more reliable, and doesn't require more than a couple of minutes of downtime to refuel, you would be a fool to pick a Tesla over it.

Steponme

Of course! A country of 1.4 BILLION people will take a long time to improve anything. However, China's government is LOADED!!! Many of its citizens are poor but the government is so loaded, it could buy the whole world.

ltswb

Continuing on that thought. I DD my S2000 and still only put about 6,000 miles a year on it. I guarantee you most Elise owners put less. But lets say they drive between 6,000 to 10,000 a year. Then it would take them 60 to 100 years to drive the 600,000 miles necessary to make up the difference in price. Conversely, if you took that $60,000 and invested it for 60 years in a conservative account making 3% interest, then you would make $292,000 in interest. So, tell me again how the Tesla is cheaper to own.