The availability of multiple Level 2 inputs at 10 kW is a big big deal. This means you can pull into any of thousands of existing RV parks in the US and plug into two NEMA 14-50 outlets simultaneously, charging at a 20 kW rate. There are Chademo stations that only charge at 20 kW. That comes out to something like 80 miles of range per hour of charging? Great with existing infrastructure.

I blogged about the need for multiple power inputs last year:
http://minie458.blogspot.com/2010/12/one-thing-electric-cars-need-most-b...
I will have to update that posting now. But Tesla is only allowing two inputs, not three. Still, it is a giant leap in the right direction. And the availability of three phase is less common than being able to park between two RV outlets.

@SVL,
Unfortunately, I suspect you are looking for a low cost EV. As a startup, Tesla is going to have to make as much money as they possibly can as soon as they can. This means they will have to focus on cars with high profit margins until they can manufacture in enough quantity to justify small and low-margin cars.
Folks with tastes like yours are not very common and I suspect you don't expect to pay much either. I doubt that you'll ever see a car smaller that the Leaf built for the US market since it isn't clear one can even break even on that kind of car. You may be able to grab something geared for congested European or Asian cities but it won't be built in the US.
I suppose one of you small car aficionados will have to try to figure out a business case for small cars but I certainly don't see it.
Even the new Mini isn't any where near as mini as the original Mini and it is the larger versions of them that are proving to be the most popular and profitable today.

Tesla has committed to begin deliveries of Model S to owners in Q2 2012. The first model year of production is expected to be ~5,000 cars.

IcanhasEV: What Tesla committed to and what they will eventually do can be two different things. Do you recall how long after they committed to the roadster deliveries it was before the customers actually got their cars?

Personally I doubt they'll be delivering many model S's (if any) in 2012, and there is simply no way they'll make 5,000 of them in 2012. I love the car, and will quite possibly buy one, so I'm rooting for them all the way. However I just don't believe they'll be in production for at least another year, they just haven't had enough time. Most new cars usually take 4 to 6 years from concept to production, and that's by major OEM's that have seemingly endless resources for R&D. What Tesla is doing here is extraordinary, even if they don't launch until 2013.

"After seeing the factory and all of the equipment, I have no doubt that deliveries will begin in 2Q 2012...... Total cars shipped in 2012 will be 5,000"

Believe me I'm hoping that is the case, I just don't think it will happen. If they get 1,000 cars out in 2012 I'm going to do cartwheels!

@SVL,
There may be hope in Europe for that but I really can't see any significant market in the US though. I may be wrong and it could be interesting to see if something like that sold. It should probably be launched as an ICE first though to reduce the variables.

I prefer electric cars so folks can't keep trying to make me squeeze into matchboxes.
I agree that choice is the key issue.

@Priusmaniac,
Using a 20 A household outlet, it would take about 46 hours to put 300 mile of charge into an electric car. This is dictated by physics.
I still contend that quick charging is important for 300 mile range since that allows one to actually take long trips with an electric car to allow truly sustainable long-distance travel.