One of the biggest things preventing Elon Musk from releasing a mass market electric vehicle comes down to the vehicle's blessing and curse: its lithium-ion battery. We break down the science and the cost. Tesla Inc. stopped online sales of the $35,000 base version of its Model 3 car weeks after introducing it, the latest shift in sales tactics as the company struggles to deliver long-promised affordability and avoid losing money. The company’s announcement late Thursday said customers can still order the $35,000 version of the car by telephone or in its network of stores. But the lowest-priced option available online is now an upgraded version of the Model 3 that will cost $39,500, or nearly 13% more than the cheapest model....

Source: Wall Street Journal April 12, 2019 06:27 UTC