JRP3

The problems with the Tesla + May's cheer leading for the Clarity = disaster. Very disappointing all around and a real public relations setback for EV's in general.

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Tdave

We all know the Tesla's range is drastically reduced when driven like they were driving it.

But the same is true of a "petrol car". My twin-turbo RX-7 I used to drive at the race track would go about 80 miles on a tank of gas (21 gallons). I could get close to 4 times that on the highway. That ratio of track range to max range is almost the same between the cars, which would make sense as we're talking energy use in both cases.

Has TG ever made fun of a Ferrari or other super car needing a fill up in the middle of their testing?

JRP3

Actually they did. Currently showing on BBC in the US, I think they are re-running it tonight at 9

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stopcrazypp

I have made that point in a lot of comments too (you can see heading to the articles and to the youtube videos of the Tesla). But of course the rebuttal is always that it takes so long to recharge, unlike a gas car (you can see this argument in autoblog comments), and they do have a point.

Overall I don't think that's as bad a blow since anyone who knows anything about cars will know if you drive a car like a maniac, the fuel economy goes down drastically, and really little to dispute on that.

The big blow to Tesla was the overheating and bad brakes. This is what is causing the majority of comments (on youtube mostly I have seen) on reliability of the car and questioning if the car is worth the $109k.

The major blow for EVs in general was all the negatives they focused on (long tailpipe, charging time), which they didn't focus on in the Clarity. This again is a HUGE blow to the public's enthusiasm for EVs and will make them think hydrogen is the ultimate solution. Really, for the average viewer who doesn't know much about hydrogen, that last piece will really make you feel warm, fuzzy, & triumphant inside, and thus convinced it's the best solution. A majority of commenters, it seems, on the Clarity piece felt convinced the Clarity was really the answer.

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AntronX

How about if TM made a track version of the roadster? Make the battery pack using A123 LiFePO4 cells. Make it half the weight of original pack, obviously with less range, but the A123 pack will be more than twice as powerful than the original Li-Co pack. Original pack uses about 307 kg of Li-Co cells. So, half that weight, and you can have 2164 A123 cells. Each cell can do about 110 Watts continuosuly without excessive heating. 2146 cells * 110W = 236 KW or 316 hp (assuming 100% motor and PEM efficiency). Additionally, these cells do not burst into flames, so they can be aircooled. This eliminates the need for fluid cooling and air conditioning, which saves a lot of weight. Next, watercool the motor and increase the power rating of PEM. Also, maybe better grip tires with stiffer suspention and low or no regen will help.

JRP3

Faster track times were the least of the problems.

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GSP

More powerful cells won't improve the roadster's performance, since power is limited by the inverter (PEM) and motor, not the battery. Also, lower energy (high power) cells would limit the 55 mi "road race" range even more.

I have to say that I'm very disappointed in TG's attitude, but not surprised. Realistically the roadster is a wonderful sports car, when used on public roads and drag strips. It is not a road racer, a pretty minor fault.

I even got sucked in about how great the FCX Clarity is, even though I very well know better. TG knows how to make their point well, even when it is total BS. It is a crime to misinform the public that way. If I was King of England, JC would be in London tower for that!

GSP

AntronX

So shaving off 400 - 460 Lbs of weight will not improve handling performance in the corners, as well as acceleration time?

vfx

Elon has said they do plan a performance version of the Roadster. It's on Von's plate but I think they are just a bit busy to build it now.

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GSP

You're right, the lower mass will help acceleration (fore, aft, and lateral).

However even an equivalent mass of A123 cells will have drastically reduced range (about half). If you reduce the pack to half size, then you have only about 1/4 the range of a stock roadster, only about 14 miles of road racing!