My Tesla thoughts after driving one...

[slodave]

I decided to say screw it and drive the Tesla until I pick up my parents on Thursday. It will have been right around 3.5 weeks of driving and none used any gas - in the other cars I own.

After the charge at Tesla last week, I drove until I had about an 18 mile range and decided it was time to plug in. I could have run it down a bit more, but felt it to be safer than sorry. At 25 miles a dashed yellow line appeared on the gauge that shows the power consumption (think tachometer) I didn't test it, but I'm pretty sure it was a limiter. I could only use about 160kW if I stepped on the go pedal. I imagine it gives you just enough oomph to merge, get up to speed quickly enough without being a danger.

Since I have to give the car back in a few days, I've started to have a little more fun with it and not try and drive green. The acceleration never gets old.

The heat did kick on twice late night, but only enough to keep the temp that was set. I could smell the "newness" of the heater. No noticeable drop in consumption either. I believe the A/C was still on as the air coming out was not cold, but cool.

Nothing really important to report. The car just works. It gets a lot of looks, thumbs up, especially since it's red and stands out a bit more than the other colored Model S' that are around town and there are a lot.

One final report after I hand the fob back....

[slodave]

Maybe Tesla should add a control that limits the torque - like the limiter for when you are running out of juice. The acceleration can be very surprising and I can imagine that a lot of women might freak out if they "accidentally" stab the go pedal. That said, with regen braking in normal mode, had she taken her foot all the way off the go pedal, the car would have slowed down suddenly.

Mike, the public chargers that I see being installed today seem to have two types. One has the generic plug, you supply the correct connector for your car. The other seems to be for the Volt or Leaf. As far as I can tell, they are being installed in pairs.

[island911]

Originally Posted by slodave

Maybe Tesla should add a control that limits the torque - ...

I think it does. Try (in a big empty parking lot) starting a tight-ish turn, and punching it. It should really limit power until you straighten the wheel.

[slodave]

Correction from what I mentioned about the yellow line/limiter on low charge... I was chatting with the senior chassis engineer late last night and he mentioned the the yellow dashed line is a guide, not a limit. I guess if you feel brave, you can still go over it.... Hope you have AAA.

I think it does. Try (in a big empty parking lot) starting a tight-ish turn, and punching it. It should really limit power until you straighten the wheel.

I mean that it should be an option the driver can set. So that lady above, buying her shoes online, while "driving" away in a straight line from the Fremont Supercharger, may not have crashed.... She's had the car at least two months, based on the the white HOV access sticker.

[slodave]

My time with the Model S is just about up. One last fun drive in the mountains in Agoura, met with a photog friend that wanted to take some pix. A bit spur of the moment, so we really didn't have any good locations scouted out, but he managed to get a few pix.

One goal was to make the Rated Range bar go up by 1 mile. I hit that goal plus 2 more this evening!

All in all, I still love the car and would buy one in an instant if I could. As with any car, it has it's minor quirks, but I could live with them.

Until next time, Model S!


Oh and by the way...
Tesla's $35,000 car will be called the Model 3

"Tesla hasn't quite delivered its new Model X SUV yet, but at least we have a name for its first electric vehicle pointed at the mainstream. In an interview with AutoExpress, CEO Elon Musk (pictured above with an old Model S prototype) revealed it will be called the Model 3 (with three bars to represent it), after Ford put the kibosh on calling it the Model E. Musk has repeatedly targeted 2017 as the release window for a smaller $35,000 vehicle. He's said it will be the third generation after the original Roadster and Model S, and in the interview claims it will have a range of over 200 miles per charge, probably using batteries built in Tesla's planned Gigafactory. Musk also told the mag about a range boost upgrade coming for the original Roadster that will give it a modern battery capable of going up to 400 miles on a charge, "which will allow you to drive from LA to San Francisco non-stop.""


EDIT: One last thing. I managed to go about 3.5 weeks without setting foot in a gas powered car. I drove around 800 miles. EV's are a viable option for every day transportation. Remember, I could not charge where I live, so it had to be done at my parents and the one stop at the Tesla Supercharger. The only time I could have had it charge 100% was at the Supercharger or on the weekends at my parents, which I never did.

[island911]

Great picture.

$35k, eh? hmmm...

What happened to the last affordable Production Tesla? ..you know, that Model S with the 45KWh battery . . that no one bought.

As it is now, Teslas are like the cool jeans du jour. ...ooh, it's; hey everybody, look at my expensive joulery.

[slodave]

It was the range that killed the 45kW. The Model III is expected to have a 200 mile range. If it does come out in '17, there should be enough Superchargers around the US to make it a long range car as well. But... We'll just have to wait and see.

RE: Pic. Thanks. When my friend and I saw that house, we had to stop and get some pix.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by island911

$35k, eh? hmmm...

What happened to the last affordable Production Tesla? ..you know, that Model S with the 45KWh battery . . that no one bought.

They never marketed the Model S, with any size battery capacity as "affordable." The 40 kWh version of the Model S was envisioned as an "entry-level" Model S, and the Model S marketing is as a "premium sedan." "Affordable" will (may) be the Model 3. TBD

The 40 kWh version of the S apparently died in the womb due to lack of demand.

Entry Level 40kWh Tesla Model S Cancelled, 60 kWh Cars All Get Supercharging Hardware | Inside EVs

[christiandk]

Tesla S - The choice of every posh pyromaniac

"Crash and burn, baby"

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by christiandk

Tesla S - The choice of every posh pyromaniac

"Crash and burn, baby"

No, they buy Porsche Carrera GTs

[techweenie]

Originally Posted by kaisen

No, they buy Porsche Carrera GTs

Or GT3s.

[christiandk]

Originally Posted by kaisen

No, they buy Porsche Carrera GTs

Uncool, buddy!

[Jim Richards]

Or Ferrari's.

Or Ford Pintos.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by christiandk

Tesla S - The choice of every posh pyromaniac

"Crash and burn, baby"

Uncool, buddy!

[christiandk]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Uncool, buddy!

Yeah right. Dont make fun of people who had a fatal accidents. I was making fun of a plastic car that has a lot of faults, but you crossed the line - Remember, what goes around comes around.

Better not get a GT.....or ANY Tesla

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by christiandk

Yeah right. Dont make fun of people who had a fatal accidents. I was making fun of a plastic car that has a lot of faults, but you crossed the line - Remember, what goes around comes around.

Better not get a GT.....or ANY Tesla

Plastic?


Anyway, you're way off base in so many ways. Get a clue

[christiandk]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Plastic?


Anyway, you're way off base in so many ways. Get a clue

Lets just agree to disagree.

Have a nice summer!

[island911]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

They never marketed the Model S, with any size battery capacity as "affordable." The 40 kWh version of the Model S was envisioned as an "entry-level" Model S, and the Model S marketing is as a "premium sedan." "Affordable" will (may) be the Model 3. TBD

The 40 kWh version of the S apparently died in the womb due to lack of demand.

Entry Level 40kWh Tesla Model S Cancelled, 60 kWh Cars All Get Supercharging Hardware | Inside EVs

Thanks! So, 40KWh.... and offered at well under $60k. That's really my point.

I've heard, from a Tesla guy, that the fed incentives and state tax rebates are going (gone?) away. That puts that much more penny-pincher pressure on the low end models. They couldn't make it fly with all the free money, how is this going to be unicorns and rainbows in the future? Tesla will have to compete with the Nissan Leaf, and such. But at least Tesla has some expensive labor in California. ...wait.

[slodave]

Originally Posted by christiandk

Tesla S - The choice of every posh pyromaniac

"Crash and burn, baby"

Thanks for bringing down this thread! It was pretty civil until you stepped in.

Shoulda kept your virtual mouth shut.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by kaisen

RE: Tesla won't make a cross-country trip

For one thing, several people have done it just to say they did, including journalists. More are doing it as we speak....

2013 Tesla Model S Coast-to-Coast Road Trip | Edmunds.com

My friend Dan Edmunds just completed a blitz from LA to NY in a Tesla Model S 85. Just two guys, one car, no support crew, no back ups.

3,332 miles

67 hours including stops to recharge, eat, pee, sleep, etc (averaged 50 mph including stops, 63 mph w/o)

$0 fuel/electricity cost (used free Tesla Superchargers)

38 minutes average re-charge time (also used to eat, pee, sleep, etc)

105.4 mpg equivalent average energy use (using equivalency of 33.4 kWh per gallon of gasoline)


So yes, it can and has been done several times now