Tesla teases new Roadster reveal for October 1: ‘Go for launch’

This one is not about home energy upgrades, but a quick note on the Tesla news since it crossed the wire: Tesla is teasing an October 1 reveal event for its long-delayed Roadster, showing a teaser image with "Go for launch" and a countdown clock on its website. The car is expected to demonstrate cold gas thrusters, developed with SpaceX, that let it briefly lift off the ground. The demo reportedly will run with no driver, controlled remotely, with onlookers kept far back because the thrusters are loud enough to damage hearing.

The Roadster was first shown as a prototype in 2017 with a promised 2020 production date, a $200,000 base price, and a $250,000 "Founders Series" version. That date has slipped at least eight times since, most recently to "2027 or 2028" for actual production, with October 1 marking just another demo. People who put down $50,000 or $250,000 reservations in 2017 are still waiting, and some, including public figures, have canceled.

None of this affects home energy costs or rebates. If you already have an EV or are considering one, pairing it with home solar can lower fuel costs, and options exist to do that with no upfront cost, but that's a separate matter from this car reveal. The Roadster itself won't be street legal and isn't expected to be a regular consumer product anytime soon.