Tesla Roadster (Fully Electric Sports Car)

[Reason]

YouTube - Test Driving the Tesla Roadster (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqK5WAhMlUY)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4e/Teslalogo.PNG
The base price is US$109,000.

[acptulsa]

This is hardly news.

When you wear down their glorified pack of cell phone batteries to the point it won't take a charge (which happens about as soon as lead acid batteries wear out) the replacement costs some six or seven grand. Other than that minor detail, it's very maintenance free.

You wonder why they charge so much for it. Anyone else would bitch when they found that last part out.

[Reason]

This is hardly news.

When you wear down their glorified pack of cell phone batteries to the point it won't take a charge (which happens about as soon as lead acid batteries wear out) the replacement costs some six or seven grand. Other than that minor detail, it's very maintenance free.

You wonder why they charge so much for it. Anyone else would bitch when they found that last part out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster

Battery system

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/The_future_is_coming.jpg/180px-The_future_is_coming.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_future_is_coming.jpg) http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_future_is_coming.jpg)
Hooked up power supply.


Tesla Motors refers to the Roadster's battery pack as the Energy Storage System or ESS. The ESS contains 6,831 lithium ion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_ion_battery) cells arranged into 11 "sheets" connected in series; each sheet contains 9 "bricks" connected in series; each "brick" contains 69 cells connected in parallel (11S 9S 69P). The cells are 18 mm (0.71 in) in diameter and 65 mm (2.6 in) long (18650 form-factor); this type of lithium-ion cell is also found in most laptop computer batteries. The pack is designed to prevent catastrophic cell failures from propagating to adjacent cells, even when the cooling system is off. Coolant is pumped continuously through the ESS both when the car is running and when the car is turned off if the pack retains more than a 90% charge. The coolant pump draws 146 watts.[60] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#cite_note-59)[61] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#cite_note-60)[62] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#cite_note-Patent_7433794-61)[13] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#cite_note-Motor_Press_Guild_Speech-12)[63] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#cite_note-Tesla_Rebuttal_to_ZEV_Amendment-62)[64] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#cite_note-Car_and_Driver-63)
A full recharge of the battery system requires 3½ hours using the High Power Connector which supplies 70 amp, 240 volt electricity; in practice, recharge cycles usually start from a partially charged state and require less time. A fully charged ESS stores approximately 53 kWh of electrical energy at a nominal 375 volts and weighs 992 lb (450 kg). [65] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#cite_note-Tesla_59-64)
Tesla Motors stated in February 2009 that the current replacement cost of the ESS is slightly under USD$36,000, with an expected life span of 7 years/100,000 mi (160,000 km), and began offering owners an option to pre-purchase a battery replacement for USD$12,000 today with the replacement to be delivered after seven years. The ESS is expected to retain 70% capacity after 5 years and 50,000 miles (80,000 km) of driving (10,000 miles (16,000 km) driven each year). Tesla Motors provides a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty (http://www.teslamotors.com/blog2/?m=200805) on the Roadster with an optional 4 year/50,000 mile extended warranty available at an "additional cost" (2008 Roadster buyers received the 4/50 extension at no cost while later purchasers need to pay). A non-ESS warranty extension is available for USD$5,000 and adds another 3/36 to the coverage of components, excluding the ESS, for a total of 6 years/72,000 mi (120,000 km).[18] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#cite_note-Tesla_FAQs-17)[66] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#cite_note-Tesla_Motors_Club_218-65)[67] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#cite_note-Tesla_70-66)[67] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#cite_note-Tesla_70-66)
Tesla Motors announced plans to sell the battery system to TH!NK (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_Nordic) and possibly others through its Tesla Energy Group division. The TH!NK plans were put on hold by interim CEO Michael Marks in September, 2007. [68] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#cite_note-SJ_Mercury_05-22-2007-67)[69] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#cite_note-Autoblog_EDTA-68)[70] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#cite_note-CNET_News-69)

[RedLightning]

0-60 in 3.9? I'll take one.

[muh_roads]

This is hardly news.

When you wear down their glorified pack of cell phone batteries to the point it won't take a charge (which happens about as soon as lead acid batteries wear out) the replacement costs some six or seven grand. Other than that minor detail, it's very maintenance free.

You wonder why they charge so much for it. Anyone else would bitch when they found that last part out.

$6,000 isn't bad when you factor in all the maintenance you have to pay for and do on a regular car anyway during its lifespan. The batteries need replaced around the 100,000 mile mark.

The Model S is $49,900 so it is coming down. The codename was the Whitestar and now the BlueStar promises a $20,000 price. That would be awesome as hell for 300 miles without the need of a charge.

These are awesome looking cars without looking like a shitty liberal econobox. I wish Tesla well in their endeavors.

[1000-points-of-fright]

These plug in electric cars are great as long as you don't plan on driving very far. But what if you need to drive across the country? Who wants to stop for a 3 hr charge every 300 miles?

[KCIndy]

These plug in electric cars are great as long as you don't plan on driving very far. But what if you need to drive across the country? Who wants to stop for a 3 hr charge every 300 miles?


For the moment, they'll obviously be limited to local driving or "overnight" trips. But it's one helluva start, IMHO. And frankly, other than cross country trips, how many people drive more than 300 miles in one day?

If these catch on, eventually the demand for recharging stations will spur the development of the infrastructure. I've also heard that Tesla and others are trying hard to develop a "quick charge" ability to get the charging time down to 15-30 minutes.

I've wanted a Tesla Roadster ever since they debuted a couple years ago... what a SWEET ride!

[Reason]

These plug in electric cars are great as long as you don't plan on driving very far. But what if you need to drive across the country? Who wants to stop for a 3 hr charge every 300 miles?

How often do you drive across the country?

A better question would be "How many people drive across the country on a regular basis?"

Also, I believe in the EV series documentary about the GM electric cars they buried under pressure from the oil industry they mentioned that if everyone was driving fully electric cars we could have battery switch out stations in place of gas stations.

[pcosmar]

How often do you drive across the country?

A better question would be "How many people drive across the country on a regular basis?"

Also, I believe in the EV series documentary about the GM electric cars they buried under pressure from the oil industry they mentioned that if everyone was driving fully electric cars we could have battery switch out stations in place of gas stations.

I have several times. I know folks that do regularly.
This car would not get me to a major city on one charge. Any cross country flights would leave out of Detroit. and Detroit is out of it's range.
Add to that,,,winter.


Sorry, but not ready for prime time.

[acptulsa]

Also, I believe in the EV series documentary about the GM electric cars they buried under pressure from the oil industry they mentioned that if everyone was driving fully electric cars we could have battery switch out stations in place of gas stations.

What a rampant piece of propaganda! Ninety percent of Ed Begley Jr.'s friends would find an electric perfect--and ninety percent of his friends are filthy rich and can afford three or four cars, too...

Changing batteries isn't as easy as you make it sound. Yes, there will have to be imaginative solutions to our problems. But don't count on the electric car being the sweeping cure-all that a certain piece of propaganda parading as a documentary painted it to be. It will take a lot more than that alone...

[Elwar]

The Tesla is another example of how a society that is allowed to grow and produce will actually be better for the environment than those that are stifled.

There would have probably been plenty of electric vehicles on the road today if it weren't for the huge hurtles created in any new car manufacturer selling a vehicle.

I'm hoping that in the next 5 years I'll own an all electric car that can get me to work and back using just the solar power on my house.

[pcosmar]

The Tesla is another example of how a society that is allowed to grow and produce will actually be better for the environment than those that are stifled.

There would have probably been plenty of electric vehicles on the road today if it weren't for the huge hurtles created in any new car manufacturer selling a vehicle.

I'm hoping that in the next 5 years I'll own an all electric car that can get me to work and back using just the solar power on my house.

And I wish I could use rain water to heat my house. But it ain't happening.

Perpetual Motion is a nice dream too.

Nothing against electric cars, it is a good idea for some people (city dwellers/personal transportation). I too would love to see the technology improve. But I also try to keep a grip on reality.

[jkr]

grip on reality?

look up super capacitors

all i wanted was a choice, now i know it has to be an affordable choice.
this is where local hemp production jumps in...

"battery" tech changes almost daily, LOT of research going on in the entire material stream.

it is going to happen, if we are smart, we would wait on scarpping the clunkers just a bit


and the ev was awesome. no it can't go 1000 miles no it wont hold a basket ball team but it DID prove the point that the option is viable therfore it is DEVELOPEable.
and the customers (the free (captive) market) LOVED it too.

grandmaw don't need to go 400 miles


now thanks to the azzholes that be, we are 15 years behind where we should be-wich is out of this mess.

GM should have grown sack and TOTALY switched over...couldn't be worse off than they are now


OH, and look up what that cheater Penske is doing with shelby...ill give you a hint- 1000HP

[acptulsa]

There would have probably been plenty of electric vehicles on the road today if it weren't for the huge hurtles created in any new car manufacturer selling a vehicle.

Especially one with four wheels. Electrics are very weight sensitive. The lighter they are the better, basically, because more weight=more batteries=more battery weight=more batteries=more battery weight...

Yes, five mph bumpers, air bags, side door guard bridge beams, and a host of goofy crap like that has not helped the cause.

[Stary Hickory]

I have been following this car for awhile. I think electric is the future. However I think we should continue to let the free market work...obviously.

The only reason the Tesla is as nice as it is, is because it is trying to compete with the established gasoline market. This is why free market competition brings out th best in technology.

[paulitics]

The EV is the way of the future, and will be great for the environment, esp cities. Ironically, the "environmentalists" are useful idiots though because they are clamoring for cap and trade that will make coal an expensive commodity. They don't realize how much they help the oil industry. If there is one thing that will stop the EV, it will be the global warming alarmists.

They are useful idiots.

[pcosmar]

grip on reality?


Yes

A grip on reality. I deal with Batteries all winter long. That's reality.

http://jamadots.com/~pcosmar/photos/photogallery/91winter_parking.jpeg

I need to haul wood. That is a reality.

Now show me an electric vehicle that can do that. at sub zero temps. :cool:

[paulitics]

Yes

A grip on reality. I deal with Batteries all winter long. That's reality.

http://jamadots.com/~pcosmar/photos/photogallery/91winter_parking.jpeg

I need to haul wood. That is a reality.

Now show me an electric vehicle that can do that. at sub zero temps. :cool:

good point. The EV is not the solution for everyone, or everything. It would be great for the liberal city dwellers though. I think competition between the two technologies would keep prices down on both.

[BlackTerrel]

I'm not going to lie... it looks pretty friggin sweet

[acptulsa]

$6,000 isn't bad when you factor in all the maintenance you have to pay for and do on a regular car anyway during its lifespan. The batteries need replaced around the 100,000 mile mark.

That long? The odometer had better be connected to the rear wheels. Tow it around for seventy-five thousand miles backwards and the little numbers won't advance at all. Likewise if you get a rollback tow truck to carry it around.


The only reason the Tesla is as nice as it is, is because it is trying to compete with the established gasoline market. This is why free market competition brings out th best in technology.

The only real reason the Tesla exists at all is pure politics and you know it.