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01-22-2007, 12:10 AM

In article <45b1c3f0$0$80118$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net>,
jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org wrote:

> Ryan Cousineau writes:
>
> >>>> The Wankel is dead!

> > I used a comparator on Nissan's website to pair up the Nissan 350Z,
> > Mitsubishi Eclipse V6, and the Mazda RX-8:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/2loepq

> > But then, I think the state of batteries is finally good enough that
> > the next decade will see the end of IC engines as the powerplant of
> > choice for mainstream cars. And I say this as someone who has a
> > great fondness for IC engines.
>
> I had a ride in a Tesla the other day and other than a 200mile range,
> it outperformed any sport car I've seen. My friend who did the demo
> told me of a Dodge Viper that was ahead of him on the freeway on-ramp.
> As the monster brute did a maximum acceleration and moved over to its
> rightful place, farther left on the road, the Tesla shot by using
> traction control to keep from developing white smoke at the rear
> wheels. I'm sure that didn't go down well with the beast of a car and
> its driver, but that is what electric drive can do.
>
> http://www.teslamotors.com/
> http://www.teslamotors.com/blog1/ind...0&js_enabled=1
>
> Jobst Brandt

You lucky duck! I have been following the Tesla's development with great
interest, since it seems to be the first EV able to properly compete in
an automotive niche.

Virtually every previous EV I've looked up has featured useless
performance (I always figured the NEV class should have revived the
"Ner-a-car" brand), rotten range, or both.

200 miles is probably enough for a lot of people. I own a New Beetle (it
looks great, but the vehicle is about as user-serviceable as a turbine
engine) and it goes 350-400 km on a tank.

Since I bought the car 2 years ago or so, I believe the longest one-day
mileage I put on it was about 200 km.

So something like a Tesla would suit almost all of my driving (well...I
skirt the "seats two" issue, and the rather larger "costs $90,000"
issue).

The remaining issues amount to battery pack replacement costs (cited at
$20,000 after 100,000 mi or so), price, and my desire for a sedan. Well,
and meeting their range and durability claims.

The trick of starting with the lightest, best-handling sports car around
was a stroke of genius, and making it hella fast was twice as good.

But I'm going to reserve a tiny bit of optimism until these things
actually go and drive around the real world with real drivers in the
real seats. Eating the pudding, and all that.

[explanation of "eating the pudding" joke for Jobst:
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-pro1.htm ]

--
Ryan Cousineau rcousine@sfu.ca http://www.wiredcola.com/
"I don't want kids who are thinking about going into mathematics
to think that they have to take drugs to succeed." -Paul Erdos

01-22-2007, 12:10 AM	#127 (permalink)
Ryan Cousineau Guest Posts: n/a	Re: OT Interesting video In article <45b1c3f0$0$80118$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net>, jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org wrote: > Ryan Cousineau writes: > > >>>> The Wankel is dead! > > I used a comparator on Nissan's website to pair up the Nissan 350Z, > > Mitsubishi Eclipse V6, and the Mazda RX-8: > > http://tinyurl.com/2loepq > > But then, I think the state of batteries is finally good enough that > > the next decade will see the end of IC engines as the powerplant of > > choice for mainstream cars. And I say this as someone who has a > > great fondness for IC engines. > > I had a ride in a Tesla the other day and other than a 200mile range, > it outperformed any sport car I've seen. My friend who did the demo > told me of a Dodge Viper that was ahead of him on the freeway on-ramp. > As the monster brute did a maximum acceleration and moved over to its > rightful place, farther left on the road, the Tesla shot by using > traction control to keep from developing white smoke at the rear > wheels. I'm sure that didn't go down well with the beast of a car and > its driver, but that is what electric drive can do. > > http://www.teslamotors.com/ > http://www.teslamotors.com/blog1/ind...0&js_enabled=1 > > Jobst Brandt You lucky duck! I have been following the Tesla's development with great interest, since it seems to be the first EV able to properly compete in an automotive niche. Virtually every previous EV I've looked up has featured useless performance (I always figured the NEV class should have revived the "Ner-a-car" brand), rotten range, or both. 200 miles is probably enough for a lot of people. I own a New Beetle (it looks great, but the vehicle is about as user-serviceable as a turbine engine) and it goes 350-400 km on a tank. Since I bought the car 2 years ago or so, I believe the longest one-day mileage I put on it was about 200 km. So something like a Tesla would suit almost all of my driving (well...I skirt the "seats two" issue, and the rather larger "costs $90,000" issue). The remaining issues amount to battery pack replacement costs (cited at $20,000 after 100,000 mi or so), price, and my desire for a sedan. Well, and meeting their range and durability claims. The trick of starting with the lightest, best-handling sports car around was a stroke of genius, and making it hella fast was twice as good. But I'm going to reserve a tiny bit of optimism until these things actually go and drive around the real world with real drivers in the real seats. Eating the pudding, and all that. [explanation of "eating the pudding" joke for Jobst: http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-pro1.htm ] -- Ryan Cousineau rcousine@sfu.ca http://www.wiredcola.com/ "I don't want kids who are thinking about going into mathematics to think that they have to take drugs to succeed." -Paul Erdos