Another Tesla Crash - Page 3

graham · 11-05-2008, 05:24 AM

Ah... good for AutoBlog Green for actually following up and researching the details instead of just reprinting the pictures and story like all the other sites did.

Quote:

after checking with Tesla Motors sales and marketing head Darryl Siry, we think we have the real skinny. Simon Rochefort, a Tesla Motors sales rep, was driving in a heavy rain with a passenger and hydroplaned on a curve in the highway and lost control. The all-electric sports car was traveling at close to 60 miles an hour (not 100 mph) at the time and no one was, thankfully, ejected. Although Simon did sustain a broken bone (reportedly in his hand), both passengers emerged from the wreck only slightly worse for wear.

TEG · 11-05-2008, 08:10 AM

These sites were reporting 160kph (km/h):

Crash Test involontario di una Tesla roadster a 160 Km/h
Tesla Roadster 160 km/h mais tarde
Tesla Roadster 160Km/h Crash in France - Easy Car Blog
cannot take wet turns at over 160kph

Maybe 100kph got reported in the US as 100mph then multiplied again as the story passed back across the Atlantic?

Iz · 11-05-2008, 10:27 AM

Glad to know driver and passenger are okay. It's great that you guys & gals research and post facts. A 100 mph crash is a serious accident. 60 mph is no fun either; but crash testing is usually performed at 40 mph. I've always felt crash testing should be done in the 60-75 mph range. It might increase vehicle weight and cost but would save more lives.

Kevin Harney · 11-05-2008, 12:00 PM

2 on coming cars at highway speeds would have a combined speed of about 140 MPH :( Maybe it should be a minimum of 120 MPH since that is the legal limit in most of the country.

graham · 11-11-2008, 09:52 AM

Tesla Roadster will get a post-crash analysis - AutoblogGreen

Quote:

Sometimes you have to see the upside when something bad happens: this is what engineers from Tesla must have realized because they have gotten their hands on the Tesla roadster that got wrecked in southern France. According to VP Darryl Siry, the car has been shipped to Hethel, England, where the Lotus factory is located. A group of engineers will check how every piece of the car that suffered in the accident. According to Mr. Siry, "The safety systems worked exactly as engineered," although the passenger has announced plans to sue Tesla for injuries. Nevertheless, the Tesla's electric security worked and the systems were shut off during the accident, preventing electrocutions. "Now that it happened, we're excited to be able to dig into it. It will be a valuable tool," Siry told Green Car Advisor.

doug · 11-11-2008, 10:12 AM

"although the passenger has announced plans to sue Tesla for injuries"
Are we sure the passenger wasn't American?

DDB · 11-11-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graham

Tesla Roadster will get a post-crash analysis - AutoblogGreen

...another lawsuit...as a trial attorney, even I think the courts are overused sometimes. Couple of thoughts on this...

One, I'd bet (hope) Tesla was smart enough to have ANY passenger (customer or not) sign a waiver before setting foot in a Roadster (EP, VP, or whatever).

Second, why wouldn't there be an agreement to arbitrate in that waiver?

Third, Tesla's insurance carrier will handle the alleged damages to the injured party. There will be compensation because there were injuries. The question is, was there enough for a "disability"--a permanent injury.

Regardless, it's sad to see another alleged suit against Tesla. Keep the eye on the ball here people.

vfx · 11-11-2008, 10:17 AM

I had said long ago (probably in these pages) that is customary for automakers to buy up the first few big crashes of a new model. In this case they did their own field work.

Sounds like they lost a customer in the process (unless he uses his lawsuit winnings to buy a Roadster.

)

Bradleybang · 11-11-2008, 04:37 PM

Liability cost is not anywhere near as costly in France as here in the USA.
Total loss will be 1/3 of cost had it happended here.

Picasso · 06-29-2009, 04:35 PM

Sorry to drag this back up, but has anyone seen any more pics of the wreck?

As I understand it the pack was breached in the wreck and two of the "blades" got mashed up. I would have thought Tesla would have posted more info about this wreck. Did the pack short out at all? How many cells had the "fuse(s)" blow?