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400 Mile Range Prize

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vfx

Well-Known Member
Aug 18, 2006
14,790
52
CA CA
Jim writes in cartalk: http://www.cartalk.com/content/tesla-model-s-preparing-launch

The company is planning to offer a prize for the first customer to get what it says is an achievable 400 miles on a charge, and Tesla predicts that 350 miles will be routinely possible, assuming a level road, 45 mph, rolled-up windows, no climate control and 300 pounds of load.

http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/model-s-efficiency-and-range
You can also see that at slower speeds it could even be possible to exceed 400 miles in a Model S under the conditions above. We haven’t internally demonstrated that yet and we are planning a prize for the first customer that actually drives over 400 miles on a single charge. :)
Is anyone here planning to go for this? I think Greg in SD is the earliest delivery in TMC.

Of course we would need rules.
 
Elon's tweets regarding this in early May when he and JB posted that Model S efficiency and range blog:

Twitter

10 May Elon Musk Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk

Meant to say: prizes for first 10 who do 400 miles in Tesla w/o recharging, not nonstop, which would require diapers :)


9 May Elon Musk Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk

Model S exceeds 300 mile range target! Prize for the 1st person to do LA-SF nonstop (400 miles) Model S Efficiency and Range | Blog | Tesla Motors
 
Having the wind behind you would be huge. Remember 60 mph with a 20 mph tail wind is the same ad 40 mph in still air! Also high altitude for low air density. I think traveling east from Denver or Calgary would be a good run (not that I live there). Charging at the end could be problematic, but one could scope out an RV park.
 
Sarasota to Dania Beach and back, just over 400 miles, elevation less than 65ft all the way, and nobody in Florida will see anything unusual in a car doing 40mph on the I-75 (although I might have to disguise myself as an old lady or put Canadian plates on the car!).:biggrin:
 
Who wins the prize? The guy in front when he hits 400?
10 owners can win, so just make sure the peleton is no larger than 10!

I think the best place to set a record is starting in Byers, Colorado and heading east on US Highway 36 towards St. Joseph. That's 520 miles of straight, flat road, descending from 5,200 ft to about 1,000 ft. Choose a day with strong winds, drive conservatively (possibly with police escort to ensure you never need to stop), and you might just be able to get all the way to St. Joe's.