Why a Tesla Model S instead of another, less expensive Battery Electric Vehicle?

First, why a Tesla Model S vs. another Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)?

Once you've decided that you'd like to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem, it's pretty easy to see why a Tesla Model S is, for many people, the only rational choice.  Every other BEV suffers from a variety of ailments, but, inevitably, it seems to always come down to one key fact:  for the same money, you can get a car that's far more substantial and capable.  With a Tesla Model S, it competes and exceeds the performance of other cars at its price point and even well above its price point.

For the others, well, once you start looking it's easy to see that they don't:

Nissan Leaf

Pluses:  Somewhat inexpensive for a BEV (~$30k)

Minuses:  Takes ugly to a whole new level; remarkably cheap feeling; <100-mile range

Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Pluses:  Even less expensive

Minuses:  Most likely to be mistaken for a golf cart in shape, feel and general life; underwhelmed at Consumer Reports; <100-mile range

Ford Focus EV

Pluses:  It's a BEV . . .

Minuses:  Hard to wrap one's brain around a nearly $30k Focus with less than 100-mile range, but perhaps Ford will keep dropping the price?

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1085544_with-price-cut-will-more-choose-2014-focus-electric-over-c-max-energi

But let us not wear rose-colored glasses here.  While the Tesla Model S is every bit a "real" car and competes with cars costing more than twice as much, it can still be a bit "spendy" if one is not careful with the options list.

Thus, the next post will explain which Model S is the likely to be the best fit for you, followed by another post on options:  must-haves, nice-to-haves, and avoid-at-all costs.