Tesla Motors to Build 4 second 0-60 Pure Electric Powered Sports Car
07-20-2006, 12:13 AM
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07-20-2006, 07:55 AM
#28
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Wow! w/ Gas estimated to hit $4 /gal by 2007 This is a very good start ot a new age of vehicles.
Now how can Mazda do this, but incorporate a rotar...somewhere...
________
Squirt4uuu
Now how can Mazda do this, but incorporate a rotar...somewhere...
________
Squirt4uuu
Last edited by dmorales; 09-09-2011 at 02:59 AM.
07-20-2006, 10:28 AM
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Originally Posted by dmorales
Wow! w/ Gas estimated to hit $4 /gal by 2007 This is a very good start ot a new age of vehicles.
Now how can Mazda do this, but incorporate a rotar...somewhere...
Now how can Mazda do this, but incorporate a rotar...somewhere...
Actually I know what they could do. AC propulsion had a similar car (far more expensive though) which could go from LA to Vegas on a single charge. They came up with the idea of having a generator inside a trailer, for when a 300 mile range isn't enough. To make it less of a hassle, they made the two trailer wheels steerable. So whenever you were backing up it wasn't a pain in the ***. Maybe they could have a tiny little wankel-driven generator.
Last edited by BaronVonBigmeat; 07-20-2006 at 10:32 AM.
07-20-2006, 11:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Ajax
well, if you check the site, pics are up now.
And just as i thought, it looks like an elise.
And just as i thought, it looks like an elise.
This car is absolutely gorgeous and if I had an extra $80-$100k laying around right now, I'd buy one in a second.
07-20-2006, 01:26 PM
#35
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Originally Posted by MadRonin
That's because its body style was designed by a Lotus design engineer. It's also being built by Lotus. Tesla hired so many engineers from Lotus that they before they (Lotus) would build the the car for them, they had to sign a no-poaching agreement.
This car is absolutely gorgeous and if I had an extra $80-$100k laying around right now, I'd buy one in a second.
This car is absolutely gorgeous and if I had an extra $80-$100k laying around right now, I'd buy one in a second.
07-20-2006, 06:11 PM
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Originally Posted by MadRonin
That's because its body style was designed by a Lotus design engineer. It's also being built by Lotus. Tesla hired so many engineers from Lotus that they before they (Lotus) would build the the car for them, they had to sign a no-poaching agreement.
This car is absolutely gorgeous and if I had an extra $80-$100k laying around right now, I'd buy one in a second.
This car is absolutely gorgeous and if I had an extra $80-$100k laying around right now, I'd buy one in a second.
A couple thoughts though...
- It looks like all the weight is in the back - 1,000 lb battery, motor, etc. I wonder if it will have a tendency to oversteer?
- I'm taking a long-ish trip and I stop at a hotel for the night. How does the hotel charge me for electricity to recharge the battery? How do they measure it, or calculate the cost?
- The site lists some impressive specs, but... I didn't see the vehicle's weight mentioned anywhere?
07-20-2006, 06:54 PM
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well if 0-60 comes in 4 secs and its about roughly 240 hp i'd say its less than 2000 lbs, especially with lotus behind the design. whats the elise 1940 lbs?? and the elise's 0-60 is a hair less than 5 secs with a gas engine.
07-20-2006, 09:18 PM
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Originally Posted by dillsrotary
well if 0-60 comes in 4 secs and its about roughly 240 hp i'd say its less than 2000 lbs, especially with lotus behind the design. whats the elise 1940 lbs?? and the elise's 0-60 is a hair less than 5 secs with a gas engine.
I do remember reading on Autoblog, I think, that the batteries weigh around 900lbs.
07-20-2006, 09:44 PM
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Ok, saw the website, saw the car. What a wonderful piece of engineering. And for $100k it easily has the Venturi Fetish beat. If only Toyota, or GM, or D-C could get behind this company and help market and produce it for the masses we could see this car priced for much lower. Imagine getting that car for $40k?
The only things I would miss is shifting and the sound of the engine.
The only things I would miss is shifting and the sound of the engine.
07-21-2006, 04:04 AM
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Can someone explain to me why they can't add more gears and shifting to this car? They have 2 gears judging from the picture. Why not 4 or 6? Also, is there a clutch?
07-21-2006, 04:50 AM
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Originally Posted by dillsrotary
well if 0-60 comes in 4 secs and its about roughly 240 hp i'd say its less than 2000 lbs, especially with lotus behind the design. whats the elise 1940 lbs?? and the elise's 0-60 is a hair less than 5 secs with a gas engine.
07-21-2006, 10:01 AM
#43
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Originally Posted by dillsrotary
how much do you believe it'll add to the cost of your monthly electric bill if say you drive 250 miles a week?
My dream is to find an employer who will let me (or not notice that I) plug in and charge my electric vehicle at work.
I could recoup the cost in a lot less than 700,000 miles if I paid $0 to run it! Woot!
07-22-2006, 09:28 AM
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Just found this in their FAQs:
How do you recharge it?
Unlike EVs of the past, the Tesla Roadster has a built-in battery charging system that can basically plug into any outlet. The car ships with a particularly easy to use connection system that is installed in your garage by a qualified electrician. There is also an optional mobile charging kit that allows you to charge from any available electrical outlet (110V or 220V) wherever you happen to be.
Unlike EVs of the past, the Tesla Roadster has a built-in battery charging system that can basically plug into any outlet. The car ships with a particularly easy to use connection system that is installed in your garage by a qualified electrician. There is also an optional mobile charging kit that allows you to charge from any available electrical outlet (110V or 220V) wherever you happen to be.
07-22-2006, 01:56 PM
#45
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Originally Posted by nzarnow
Can someone explain to me why they can't add more gears and shifting to this car? They have 2 gears judging from the picture. Why not 4 or 6? Also, is there a clutch?
Transmission
Type: 2 speed electrically actuated manual transmission with final drive;
constant mesh gears and inertia lock key type synchromesh
First 4.20 : 1 14.3 : 1
Second 2.17 : 1 7.4 : 1
Final Drive 3.41 : 1
Reverse reverse direction of motor
And because there is no clutch, you can quickly and easily start from a stop or shift gears on the freeway.
Last edited by Ajax; 07-22-2006 at 03:44 PM.
07-22-2006, 08:05 PM
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I can't wait for Top Gear or Fifth Gear to test one of these. I can't wait to see the expression on their faces when they feel the instant torque of the electric motors. I can't wait for this car to be out on the streets already. I can't wait to see more of these on the road than 911s (I love 911s, but about everyone and their housemaid has one). I can't wait for Tesla's car to get soo popular that they open up new plants to bring costs down and sell the car at around $50k. I can't wait for GM to realize their mistake and for another major auto-manufacturer to either get-behind or buy Tesla motors in order to further ramp up production.
I just can't wait....
I just can't wait....
07-24-2006, 02:55 PM
#48
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more pictrues are at www.cnet.com
Mod edit: here's the direct link:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11443_7-6555527-1.html
Mod edit: here's the direct link:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11443_7-6555527-1.html
Last edited by Ajax; 07-24-2006 at 07:32 PM.
07-24-2006, 09:52 PM
#49
Originally Posted by lesper4
more pictrues are at www.cnet.com
Mod edit: here's the direct link:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11443_7-6555527-1.html
Mod edit: here's the direct link:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11443_7-6555527-1.html
That is a DAMN NICE LOOKING CAR!!
07-24-2006, 11:09 PM
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Here's something interesting. Their website mentions how the computer manages the batteries and prevents individual cells from exploding and so forth. A123 and the other brand-spanking new batteries just coming out don't have those issues, so I think it's safe to say that these are regular li-ions. And then there's this:
http://wired.com/news/wiredmag/0,714...ory_page_next2
A123 just started releasing their batteries like, 2-3 months ago, in limited quantities to qualified companies. I'd bet dollars to pesos that Tesla Motors already has their first prototype pack on a test bench. Imagine having a 500 mile range. Or, add another motor to the front wheels for AWD and have the same range.
edit: It looks like Altairnano, one of the manufacturers of next-gen lithiums (along with A123) has just signed a contract to provide $750k worth of batteries to Phoenix Motorcars.
Electric street rods, anyone?
Of course, an expensive two-seater isn't going to have much effect on an industry that sells 17 million automobiles in the US each year. Sure, every VC will have to get one, and George Clooney will probably be seen piloting one down Sunset Boulevard. But selling a few thousand cars won't help Eberhard build a dominant 21st-century car company.
That's why he's already preparing a sedan, codenamed White Star, which could hit streets as early as 2008. Of course, the sedan won't be as lightweight or aerodynamic as the Roadster, so its range is likely to drop significantly. Eberhard's response: maybe with today's tech. But battery power is improving steadily, and several companies say they may soon double battery life. By the time the sedan comes out, he says, batteries will be ready to deliver: "We're going to ride that technology curve all the way home."
That's why he's already preparing a sedan, codenamed White Star, which could hit streets as early as 2008. Of course, the sedan won't be as lightweight or aerodynamic as the Roadster, so its range is likely to drop significantly. Eberhard's response: maybe with today's tech. But battery power is improving steadily, and several companies say they may soon double battery life. By the time the sedan comes out, he says, batteries will be ready to deliver: "We're going to ride that technology curve all the way home."
A123 just started releasing their batteries like, 2-3 months ago, in limited quantities to qualified companies. I'd bet dollars to pesos that Tesla Motors already has their first prototype pack on a test bench. Imagine having a 500 mile range. Or, add another motor to the front wheels for AWD and have the same range.
edit: It looks like Altairnano, one of the manufacturers of next-gen lithiums (along with A123) has just signed a contract to provide $750k worth of batteries to Phoenix Motorcars.
Electric street rods, anyone?
Last edited by BaronVonBigmeat; 07-24-2006 at 11:19 PM.