Tesla introduces Mobile Service Rangers, the Geek Squad for EVs
Doctors may not make many house calls anymore, but Tesla Motors believes an at-home service is just the ticket for its pricey electric cars. The company recently announced a new Tesla Mobile Service Rangers program that makes getting the recommended annual service or any other repairs taken care of an effortless event. The Rangers (no word on if they wear brightly colored outfits and/or morph) have the ability to diagnose problems remotely before driving their service vehicles to where the Roadsters are. Tesla says that Roadster owners and cues from "pioneering retailers" like Zappos and Geek Squad helped develop the Rangers idea. At some point in the future, the Ranger service will be available wherever Roadsters are sold.
The service isn't cheap – it costs $1 per round-trip mile with a minimum charge of $100 – but if you can afford the car in the first place, then it shouldn't be too big of a hardship. We don't have the heart to calculate the cost for "Roadster owners in Honolulu, Anchorage, Banff and other locations", which Tesla's press release states can now have peace of mind. It might just be cheaper to buy two Roadsters in case one of them breaks.
[Source: Tesla Motors]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gary 1:05PM (10/13/2009)
Annual service? I thought people wanted electric cars so you don't need annual service!?!
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Fatima 1:17PM (10/13/2009)
Where does it say annual service?
Fatima 1:19PM (10/13/2009)
in the PR it states its just inspections, make sure everything is going well
Epyx 1:33PM (10/13/2009)
"The company recently announced a new Tesla Mobile Service Rangers program that makes getting the recommended annual service or any other repairs taken care of an effortless event."
Shawn 1:42PM (10/13/2009)
You guys are so silly...it is not an annual service. It is a service performed annually. LOL It is just an "Inspection" unless repairs are needed...
...Since this is supposedly the sybian sex toy on wheels for tree huggers...wouldn't it make more sense to drive a zero-emissions electric car to a service station than to pay for a E-series van to come to you?
shoskey4 1:22PM (10/13/2009)
So much for beeing green...This is quite the ironic picture... a supposed "green" car getting serviced by a E-series gas hog hauling 5000# of service tools driving 100+ miles. Talk about increasing the carbon footprint...
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DiRF 1:37PM (10/13/2009)
That's actually a GM van... [/nitpicking]
Chibi Chaingun - blackhivemedia.com 2:54PM (10/13/2009)
Yeah, it's pretty funny. I wonder too if cars like the Leaf got very popular, there's bound to be an embarrassing number of people that run the battery dead, requiring some service in gas hogging trucks to come to the rescue to refuel/charge your battery so you can get out of there (w/out having to hitch a ride on a gas hogging wrecker.)
Tohe 5:58PM (10/13/2009)
@Chibi Chaingun
Nah, the Leaf's navigation system will calculate range based on available charge, preset locations etc... and if more energy is needed, it will guide the driver to the closest charging station.
larry a 1:24PM (10/13/2009)
I saw that van driving on the 5 south towards San Diego a few weeks ago.. I was wondering what it was about, thanks Autoblog you're the best!
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Matt 1:39PM (10/13/2009)
So your electric car need service and 3/4 ton V8 van with a trailer comes to save you. That van may get about 10-15 miles to the gallon towing that trailer.
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Farris 2:50PM (10/13/2009)
"That van may get about 10-15 miles to the gallon towing that trailer."
Maybe if it's going downhill, with a tailwind.....
The Other Bob 1:42PM (10/13/2009)
That trailer is covered, so people won't see Tesla's being towed home when they run out of charge.
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MikeofLA 1:47PM (10/13/2009)
Wouldn't it be cheaper to get a flat bed to haul your Tesla to the nearest dealer? Probably be better too, considering if they need a part that is not on the van (unless there is a spare tesla in there) they would have to come back.
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Jared 1:55PM (10/13/2009)
If you can afford a Tesla as a third car/toy, you are likely more concerned about your time than the cost.
Max 1:53PM (10/13/2009)
Driving that van around basically negates any positive impact the vehicles had on the environment.
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Ben Rabidou 1:56PM (10/13/2009)
Its not an E Series Van it looks more like Chevy Express...Look at the Rims and tail lights.
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Level 2:27PM (10/13/2009)
This would of been a great idea for satellite repair shops where there wasn't a Tesla Dealer..Would sure beat the cost of over head in renting a commercial location..
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Venom 2:47PM (10/13/2009)
I am less than impressed by this car.
It is one of the blandest vehicles I have ever seen, impractical and overpriced.
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Dave 3:31PM (10/13/2009)
Idunno about bland. But it doesnt look as good as an Elise, it is no more environmentally friendly than an Elise.
And it costs far more. And handles far worse.