Top Gear - Tesla: lots more to come - Page 2

JRP3 · 08-21-2008, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEG

From the article:
"That battery pack should, incidentally, give you range of around 220 miles if you drive sensibly. Get a bit overeager with your right foot, though, and you're looking at about half that - a figure that might cause some concern considering the eight hour charge time..."

This isn't the first time we have heard something like that. It is sounding like range for enthusiastic drivers isn't going to live up to the EPA numbers.

Yes Martin's own review showed us that and I guess it shouldn't be surprising.
I doubt the EPA tests take aggressive driving into consideration.

DaveD · 08-21-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveF

As just one example, before plastic bags were invented, there was no need for people to admonish their children "don't put that plastic bag over your head - you could suffocate". After plastic bags appeared, people learned (I'm sure there are numerous other examples).

I'm not sure you chose the best analogy. The "rest of the story" concerning plastic bags involves lawsuits and laws being passed, to the effect that most, if not all, plastic bags have mandated warning messages printed on them saying to keep the bag away from babies and young children. What should've been common sense got inflated by overreactive press, public, and politicians into a Big Deal.

My concern is that the same sort of knee-jerk overreaction will saddle EV owners with mobile noise generators. Certainly my reaction would be: Stupid, Stupid, Stupid! But, I've seen it happen in other cases, so I'm worried that it could come to pass for us. A couple of inattentive children run out in front of a Tesla, it's a slow news day, and - BOOM! - instant pandemonium and crisis.

vfx · 08-21-2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEG

From the article:
"That battery pack should, incidentally, give you range of around 220 miles if you drive sensibly. Get a bit overeager with your right foot, though, and you're looking at about half that - a figure that might cause some concern considering the eight hour charge time..."

This isn't the first time we have heard something like that. It is sounding like range for enthusiastic drivers isn't going to live up to the EPA numbers.

Why 8 hours? If we can do 3.5 hours here why not there?

TEG · 08-21-2008, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveD

I'm not sure you chose the best analogy. The "rest of the story" concerning plastic bags involves lawsuits and laws being passed, to the effect that most, if not all, plastic bags have mandated warning messages printed on them saying to keep the bag away from babies and young children. What should've been common sense got inflated by overreactive press, public, and politicians into a Big Deal.

My concern is that the same sort of knee-jerk overreaction will saddle EV owners with mobile noise generators. Certainly my reaction would be: Stupid, Stupid, Stupid! But, I've seen it happen in other cases, so I'm worried that it could come to pass for us. A couple of inattentive children run out in front of a Tesla, it's a slow news day, and - BOOM! - instant pandemonium and crisis.

What amount of regulation is appropriate?

They recently made it illegal to talk on a cellphone while driving around here. A new bill to disallow "texting" is in the works. What next? Shaving? Eating? Juggling?

When society develops bad habits perhaps some regulation is in order, but sometimes things get out of hand.

Perhaps causing an accident should be a criminal offense and then we should leave it up to people to use their own judgment as to what level of personal distraction is safe? Or do we want to fine people for all categorizable bad habits before they cause problems?

Sigh. This topic could probably cause endless debate.

TEG · 08-21-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vfx

Why 8 hours? If we can do 3.5 hours here why not there?

I think they quoted the charge time figure using a "typical residential circuit". Just like here, you probably have to go to extra trouble to get a special circuit to get to the < 4 hour recharge time.

vfx · 08-21-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEG

A high end Lexus or Mercedes is already near silent and an existing hazard to pedestrians.

What someone needs to do is set up a DB meter next to these luxury cars. Does Consumer Reports, Car and Driver, R&T etc, give Decibel numbers?

A side by side is needed soon before this gets out of hand.

We need Data to fight back with!!!
(assuming it favors our argument

)

JRP3 · 08-21-2008, 07:12 PM

Pedestrians get hit by cars all the time and we never hear about it. The first time someone gets hit by an EV it will be big news and people will start screaming about regulations

TEG · 08-21-2008, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Pedestrians have to WATCH for cars.

My "need to look" point falls apart when you take into account blind pedestrians:

The blind and electric drive cars: Death by silent hybrid committee - AutoblogGreen
Bill would help blind be aware of hybrids - Los Angeles Times
Quiet Cars and the Pedestrian Problem Part I | Disability Nation
A silent threat
"...after being hit by a black Lexus, which was noisier than hybrids, she said. Still, she did not hear it coming..."
"...Singled out were hybrid vehicles, which run whisper-quiet at speeds lower than 34 miles per hour, though there is talk of extending research to all vehicles...."
Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act
CNN Video - 8 year old hit by silent Prius

Perhaps we need to go back to Hummers because they are easier for deaf pedestrians to see, and blind pedestrians to hear...

To be honest, I really don't know what the right answer is here. If all cars had noisemakers and flashing lights to alert pedestrians it would be a nuisance... Public services vehicles (police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, etc.) already flash lights and make noise. Should we "water that down" by having all vehicles do this to some extent?

Noise pollution is considered a hazard in its' own right. Some cities are contemplating banning all cars from downtown areas because of noise.

Hmm... Way off topic now...

TEG · 08-21-2008, 08:14 PM

2008 Lexus LS 600h L - Sidebars - First Test - Motor Trend

"2. Advanced precollision system (APCS) with pedestrian recognition
The Mercedes CL's safety net of Pre-Safe and Distronic Plus offers similar services, but the LS 600h L's available APCS takes it a step further by recognizing pedestrians. Using a stereo-vision camera mounted above the rearview mirror, near-infrared projectors built into the high-beam headlamp units, and a millimeter wave radar phased antenna behind the Lexus emblem, APCS detects people or large animals..."

Joseph · 08-21-2008, 10:51 PM

"What someone needs to do is set up a DB meter next to these luxury cars. Does Consumer Reports, Car and Driver, R&T etc, give Decibel numbers?"

I know for sure that Car and Driver gives the decibels for a car running @ 70mph, but I don't think for at idle or any other speed.

The review was better than I thought it would be, so that's good news.