Official Tesla Model S thread

[Boomer23]

I just got invited to the July 1 test drive of the Model S in Hawthorne, CA by a friend who has a reservation.

I'm very stoked!

Apparently I won't get to drive it, but hey.

 

[evnow]

The tests are equivalent already. Only way the 2013 will improve is if Nissan tweaks the design.

No, they aren't. an estimated generic 30% adjustment factor is used with the 2 cycle. Chances of it being right are very slim.

 

[SanDust]

No, they aren't. an estimated generic 30% adjustment factor is used with the 2 cycle. Chances of it being right are very slim.

For ICE vehicles the numbers are very close. In fact until last year or the year before automakers had the choice of using the five cycle test or the two cycle test with the adjustment factor.

The problem is that there is no five cycle test for an EV because it doesn't make make any sense. An engine isn't efficient until it's warm but a motor is efficient right off the bat. On balance the adjustment factor is probably as good as you're going to get given how sensitive EVs are to factors like heating and AC.

 

[SanDust]

The problem is that all of the cost of producing the leaf is in the batteries.

That and the fact that the Leaf is currently assembled in Japan and the exchange rate is 80Y to the dollar. If the exchange rate went to 120Y to the dollar you'd be looking at a $24K car rather than a $37K car.

 

[edatoakrun]

The problem is that all of the cost of producing the leaf is in the batteries.

That and the fact that the Leaf is currently assembled in Japan and the exchange rate is 80Y to the dollar. If the exchange rate went to 120Y to the dollar you'd be looking at a $24K car rather than a $37K car.

NO, you would not.

You would still be looking at a "$37K car" (or $36k, if that was what you meant).

However, Nissan might be looking at about a $6,000 profit, rather than a $6,000 loss, on each US LEAF sale.

And Nissan would probably have chosen to sell a far higher proportion of its Japanese LEAF production in the US market, than the current ~15%.

 

[edatoakrun]

The tests are equivalent already. Only way the 2013 will improve is if Nissan tweaks the design.

No, they aren't. an estimated generic 30% adjustment factor is used with the 2 cycle. Chances of it being right are very slim.

That is what I'd think, also.

IIRC, when the ICEV test cycles were revised in the past, EPA MPG ratings were retroactively adjusted (usually downward) for ICEVs.

So maybe The 73 mile range rating (which is unrealistically low, by about 10%, IMO) for 2011-12 LEAFs will be revised upward.

 

[LTLFTcomposite]

Has anyone else gotten the streaming video of the announcement to work?

edit: never mind it just started... man where did they get the music? :lol:

 

[surfingslovak]

Has anyone else gotten the streaming video of the announcement to work?

First customer delivery about to happen soon:


Click to open

 

[LTLFTcomposite]

Are they driving those two cars to Chicago?

 

[surfingslovak]

Are they driving those two cars to Chicago?

Steve and I just had the same discussion on Facebook. Apparently, they will be loaded on trucks if the customer lived outside of the SF Bay Area. (The webcast has just ended)

 

[Train]

For a four door sedan, that Tesla S is a looker. I'm not crazy about that huge display, though. Kind of gimmicky if you ask me.

My problem would be that I would never get close to the 300 miles of the larger battery. I'd be driving that car rather "briskly."

 

[surfingslovak]

For a four door sedan, that Tesla S is a looker. I'm not crazy about that huge display, though. Kind of gimmicky if you ask me.

Yes, same here. I believe that Boomer voiced a concern about the display being distracting at night, and I share that view. Tough to say without having driven the car. I liked the display on the Model X prototype a lot better.

My problem would be that I would never get close to the 300 miles of the larger battery. I'd be driving that car rather "briskly."

Absolutely. This has been a problem with the ActiveE as well, even though it does not have the same performance or battery capacity like the Model S. Some cars just want to go fast!

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

I don't care for the analog nature of the center gauge. Reminds me of cars from the 70's.

Agreed. With any luck, maybe the user can customize it?

Well, the display looks different to the image at http://www.teslamotors.com/models/features#/interior" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
so it seems they can.

 

[Jagular]

I haven't driven the S but I've been in one of the beta cars with the working display. It could definitely be distracting but it's no gimmick - the interface is freaking awesome! Really, much better than anything out there now, including GM's new interface. The only complaint I had was the speed of the system. Being pre-production the map rendering was a slow as were the transitions between functions. I'm sure they've improved the speed for the production version. That said, it is light years better than anything else, currently, and sets the standard for auto UI.

 

[mkjayakumar]

Amazing glowing reviews from Motor Trend, Road and Driver, CNET, Wired, Yahoo and anyone else who had a chance to drive.

Motor Trend has been completley blown over:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/alternative/1206_2012_tesla_model_s_first_drive/

Forbes is ultra impressed:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsav...model-s-if-apple-made-a-car-this-would-be-it/

CNET loves Model S
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7...news&tag=title

Wired thinks Model S is cool
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/06...model-s-drive/

Engadget:
http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/22/tesla-model-s-first-drive-the-sports-sedan-goes-electric/


Dailykos has gone bonkers
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/...-You-Have-a-Duty-to-Buy-One-If-you-can-afford

Faux News: If you have nothing bad to say, say nothing at all.

Video from GigaOm
http://gigaom.com/cleantech/video-we...ign=earth2tech

 

[scottf200]

I fix several links that had "..." in them

Amazing glowing reviews from Motor Trend, Road and Driver, CNET, Wired, Yahoo and anyone else who had a chance to drive.

Motor Trend has been completley blown over:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/alternative/1206_2012_tesla_model_s_first_drive/

Forbes is ultra impressed:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsav...model-s-if-apple-made-a-car-this-would-be-it/

CNET loves Model S
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-57459125-48/tesla-model-s-first-drive-quiet-satisfaction/

Wired thinks Model S is cool
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/06/tesla-model-s-drive//

Engadget:
http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/22/tesla-model-s-first-drive-the-sports-sedan-goes-electric/

Dailykos has gone bonkers
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/...-You-Have-a-Duty-to-Buy-One-If-you-can-afford

Faux News: If you have nothing bad to say, say nothing at all.

Video from GigaOm
http://gigaom.com/cleantech/video-we-test-drive-teslas-model-s-electric-car/

 

[edatoakrun]

Well, MT didn't put it on a scale, but Tesla has finally reported what I was most curious about, what the 85 kWh S weighs.

CURB WEIGHT

4650 lb (mfr)

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/alternative/1206_2012_tesla_model_s_first_drive/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wonder how close the 40 kWh version will come to the previously announced curb weight, about 3,800 lb, IIRC?

 

[LTLFTcomposite]

Faux News: If you have nothing bad to say, say nothing at all.

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/06/21/tesla-electric-sedan-rated-at-8-mpg-e-wtih-265-mile-range/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What was negative about that?

 

[gergg]

Wow, that is an awesome car, just doesn't make sense for me at that price.

 

[ebill3]

Faux News: If you have nothing bad to say, say nothing at all.

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/06/21/tesla-electric-sedan-rated-at-8-mpg-e-wtih-265-mile-range/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What was negative about that?

Seemed to be just a "facts, just the facts, ma'am" report. Not pro nor con.