Tesla Roadster news - Tesla: lots more to come - 2008 - News - Top Gear
The one you all were waiting for? :smile:
The one you all were waiting for? :smile:
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And, in a few years - between two and four, depending on how much you rag it - you'll need to replace the battery pack, which'll cost you around £12,000. Rather dwarves the five-pence-per-mile running costs, eh?
Also
Replacement battery in 2 years?!?
Pedestrians have to WATCH for cars. They can't count on the noise. Plenty of pedestrians are already sound isolated with the headphones. And besides, since when does gas engine noise act as a suitable warning considering:
#1: The gas motor in many vehicles is basically idling when you slow down.
#2: The exhaust noise is directed out the back of the vehicle.
We could argue that all cars need a pedestrian warning system when braking, but this constant concern over Tesla as a pedestrian hazard seems misguided.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Why 8 hours? If we can do 3.5 hours here why not there?
A high end Lexus or Mercedes is already near silent and an existing hazard to pedestrians.
My "need to look" point falls apart when you take into account blind pedestrians:Pedestrians have to WATCH for cars.