OK, key questions. What is the battery recharge time? What is the battery life? How does driving style affect range? What is the cost of a replacement battery pack?
What is overall carbon footprint compared to a similar petrol engined car?Electricity has to be generated.
Could be tremendous, could really meh. Depends on answers to above questions.
Tesla Model S Beta 1 (photos)
by ZDNet Author | October 3, 2011 9:00pm PDT | Image 1 of 17
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Tesla achieved a proof of concept with its Roadster, and the Model S will be the company's first real car. Beyond a car for electric vehicle enthusiasts, the Model S will feature a minimum 160 mile range, with a more expensive version boasting 300 miles, along with luxury elements that more than justifies its base price tag of $57,400.
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@bargeemike
This is the perfect car for me....except the price! I still prefer the pur of my 68 Chevelle!
This is the perfect car for me....except the price! I still prefer the pur of my 68 Chevelle!
Current business models seem to be split between Tesla's reasonable range all-electric, Shai Agasi's battery subscriptions with charging infrastructure and quick replacement stations (using Nissan Leafs, etc.), and Chevy Volt's auxiliary generators than burn gasoline.
This car looks like a winner. Its battery could be adapted to Agasi's idea quite readily for almost unlimited range. Proper modern power stations use fuel much more cleanly and efficiently than individual car engines, though carbon footprint remains.
This car looks like a winner. Its battery could be adapted to Agasi's idea quite readily for almost unlimited range. Proper modern power stations use fuel much more cleanly and efficiently than individual car engines, though carbon footprint remains.
Please, please do something about that front grille. It looks obnoxious they may have to pay me to drive it! They should buy their designers some iPads just to give them an idea what people want to buy! When are American car designers going to learn that form will sell cars?
@ercadavona@...
I agree the grill is the ugliest part of the car otherwise it like like the porche panamera. I don't get you ipad reference htough as the ipad and iphone are very ugly and sterile with no personality and most people don't want that plus if they copied apple then it would come with the looser dork image apple users have attached to them.
I agree the grill is the ugliest part of the car otherwise it like like the porche panamera. I don't get you ipad reference htough as the ipad and iphone are very ugly and sterile with no personality and most people don't want that plus if they copied apple then it would come with the looser dork image apple users have attached to them.
Trouble is, quick recharging will burn out your batteries more quickly than overnight recharging.
Will battery swap schemes be economically viable?
Will battery swap schemes be economically viable?
Still the same old problem. When it gets cold the range drops precipitously. Nissan isn't selling leafs in the northeast. Rechargeable hybrid is the way to go
@marksmandesign@...
The technology is still new, so a lot of these issues have yet to be worked out, but the Volt's approach is a battery cooling and warming system to keep batteries in their best operating range, just as radiators and thermostats keep Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) within their best operating ranges.
The technology is still new, so a lot of these issues have yet to be worked out, but the Volt's approach is a battery cooling and warming system to keep batteries in their best operating range, just as radiators and thermostats keep Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) within their best operating ranges.
With no transmission/driveshaft or exhaust system from front to rear i don't know why they don't have a flat floor across the front, a la the 1970s vintage Cadillac El Dorado and Olds Toronado.
@Tom_A Because the batteries go there? That's where they are in a Volt.
It's time for the likes of the Chevy Volt. That we have Climate Reality _finally_ has reached mainstream. We should all, who can, buy the Volt especially - since it's US of A, and it's the only on-road-rechargeable car. So if you're going 300 or 3000 miles, you have zero worries.
Lets realize the truth, our planet is dying because of us Humans. Now everyone of us - do something to stop our planet's now eminent death, and live 2 more lifetimes enjoying sunsets instead of inner-city brown-cloudy air-born pollution.
Drive up toward Chi-town and you see the brown dome from 100's of miles away.
Drive and live in peace & harmony with our beautiful environment. Do something if you can... and you can. Get involved!
Lets realize the truth, our planet is dying because of us Humans. Now everyone of us - do something to stop our planet's now eminent death, and live 2 more lifetimes enjoying sunsets instead of inner-city brown-cloudy air-born pollution.
Drive up toward Chi-town and you see the brown dome from 100's of miles away.
Drive and live in peace & harmony with our beautiful environment. Do something if you can... and you can. Get involved!
@dan.wygant@... I have a Volt and aside from the benefits of less greenhouse gasses and lower overall pollution (controls on central powerplants are easier and more effective to implement than controls on individual cars), the car is powerful, fairly upsacale, has excellent steering and handling, and is just a nice, fun car to drive. The power curve on an electric car is amazing. It can easily be your only car and it takes the foreign oil issue right off the table. When it runs on gas, it still runs economically and quietly. In my case, I very rarely need to use gas, and I have a 240 charger for quicker charging and lower rates. Yes, it's a premium priced car and you can get a Prius cheaper. But this is a premium car, with features, appointments, fit and finish that justify the price. A prius is not a premium car. Nothing wrong with that, but you wouldn't compare a Prius to a BMW 3 series, and yet you can make that comparison with the Volt. Getting to save money on fuel is the icing on the cake.
@dan.wygant@... I have a Volt and aside from the benefits of less greenhouse gasses and lower overall pollution (controls on central powerplants are easier and more effective to implement than controls on individual cars), the car is powerful, fairly upsacale, has excellent steering and handling, and is just a nice, fun car to drive. The power curve on an electric car is amazing. It can easily be your only car and it takes the foreign oil issue right off the table. When it runs on gas, it still runs economically and quietly. In my case, I very rarely need to use gas, and I have a 240 charger for quicker charging and lower rates. Yes, it's a premium priced car and you can get a Prius cheaper. But this is a premium car, with features, appointments, fit and finish that justify the price. A prius is not a premium car. Nothing wrong with that, but you wouldn't compare a Prius to a BMW 3 series, and yet you can make that comparison with the Volt. Getting to save money on fuel is the icing on the cake.
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