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TEG · 01-27-2008, 03:51 PM

2008 Tesla Roadster - First Drive - Motor Trend

ROADandTRACK.com -- Cover Story - First Drive: 2008 Tesla Roadster (3/2008)
ROADandTRACK.com -- Cover Story - It Takes a World to Build a Tesla (3/2008)

Tesla Roadster - AutoWeek Magazine

AGR · 01-28-2008, 09:05 AM

Informative remark from Autoweek

We got 93 miles out of the full charge we had on our day’s drive, which was, as we said, spirited and over twisting mountain roads. The meter on the dash went from 95 percent charge to 7 percent by the time we got back to San Carlos. Those numbers were with the car set to make full power. As it neared empty, the Tesla automatically went into a conservation mode that limited torque by 50 percent. That made the indicated 7 percent at full power jump to 21 percent remaining charge at half power, when the controller opens reserve capacity in the battery pack. The record so far for a Tesla drive in ideal conditions is 267 miles on a charge. It is expected to have an EPA rating of 221 miles.

siry · 01-28-2008, 09:32 AM

Mark used 74% of charge and went 93 miles - that equates to 125 miles on the full charge. He drove very fast and with the top down and heaters at full blast with me in the passenger seat (220 lbs)

Final note on that figure: VP10 did not have production spec brakes with rollback seals that significantly reduce drag.

Aside from all of that - it is definitely the case that you will see a huge swing in miles per charge based on driving style, just as in a gas car. People don't think about it as much with a gas car because you just go fill up again. Mark's experience is probably the floor considering all the circumstances.

Iz · 01-28-2008, 01:34 PM

siry (Darryl?) thanks for setting the record straight. Based on previous blog entries, the "93 miles out of the full charge" statement did not appear accurate.

You are so right about how we do not think much about regular fill-ups. We just find a gas station and fill up when needed.