iLander
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- May 23, 2010
- Messages
- 6,731
So I didn't say anything when a few people mentioned having Teslas on order. I had hoped that electric car technology had improved since we had ours. Apparently it hasn't;
Article excerpt regarding NYTimes test drive;
For his drive, Times writer John Broder took the Tesla Model S sedan and its 265-mile range from Washington, D.C., to Norwich, Conn., to test the new "supercharger" free charging stations Tesla had installed along Interstate 95. Trouble began, as it often does, in New Jersey, when the Model S' range estimates began dropping faster than Broder could rack up miles.
To make his stop in Milford, Conn., Broder had to drive without heat and at 54 mph, about 26 mph less than the average observed speed on northeastern turnpikes. He made it, barely, and recharged for an hour to get 186 miles back in the batteries. After driving an additional 80 miles, Broder parked — without plugging the Model S in — and spent the night, ready to use the 90 miles showing on the car's range guide the next morning.
When that cold morning arrived, the Tesla had a surprise: Overnight, its batteries had lost enough charge to cut the car's range to 26 miles. After an attempt to recharge at a nearby quick charging outlet, the Model S died on the road and had to be lifted by flatbed — since its electric parking brakes would not release without current — to the Milford station.
The winter weather played a large role in the Tesla's poor performance; all electric vehicles hold less energy in temperature extremes.
We had a small electric car for 4 years. The exact problem played out with ours; the range seemed to vary based on the mood of the car.
We'd start out with 100% charge, and the advertised 37 mile range (GEM electric car by Mercedes) and after 1/2 mile, it dropped to 20 mile range, and 70% charge. We didn't care, we only drove it a mile or two at a time. If driven 3 miles, it started at 100% charge and ended with 20% charge. Many times I drove home with the thing beeping like mad, since it was out of juice. I'm just glad we didn't have to go any further. And it never reached the advertised speed of 30 mph, it maxed at 22. If we didn't plug it in every single time, it would start at 70% charge and drop to 30% before we left the driveway. Our weather extreme was heat from 70 degrees to 95.
Not sure if these issues apply to other electric cars, but it sounds like it might.
Just sayin' . . .
Full article; http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/elon-musk-calls-york-times-model-strands-test-200514420.html
Article excerpt regarding NYTimes test drive;
For his drive, Times writer John Broder took the Tesla Model S sedan and its 265-mile range from Washington, D.C., to Norwich, Conn., to test the new "supercharger" free charging stations Tesla had installed along Interstate 95. Trouble began, as it often does, in New Jersey, when the Model S' range estimates began dropping faster than Broder could rack up miles.
To make his stop in Milford, Conn., Broder had to drive without heat and at 54 mph, about 26 mph less than the average observed speed on northeastern turnpikes. He made it, barely, and recharged for an hour to get 186 miles back in the batteries. After driving an additional 80 miles, Broder parked — without plugging the Model S in — and spent the night, ready to use the 90 miles showing on the car's range guide the next morning.
When that cold morning arrived, the Tesla had a surprise: Overnight, its batteries had lost enough charge to cut the car's range to 26 miles. After an attempt to recharge at a nearby quick charging outlet, the Model S died on the road and had to be lifted by flatbed — since its electric parking brakes would not release without current — to the Milford station.
The winter weather played a large role in the Tesla's poor performance; all electric vehicles hold less energy in temperature extremes.
We had a small electric car for 4 years. The exact problem played out with ours; the range seemed to vary based on the mood of the car.
We'd start out with 100% charge, and the advertised 37 mile range (GEM electric car by Mercedes) and after 1/2 mile, it dropped to 20 mile range, and 70% charge. We didn't care, we only drove it a mile or two at a time. If driven 3 miles, it started at 100% charge and ended with 20% charge. Many times I drove home with the thing beeping like mad, since it was out of juice. I'm just glad we didn't have to go any further. And it never reached the advertised speed of 30 mph, it maxed at 22. If we didn't plug it in every single time, it would start at 70% charge and drop to 30% before we left the driveway. Our weather extreme was heat from 70 degrees to 95. Not sure if these issues apply to other electric cars, but it sounds like it might.
Just sayin' . . .
Full article; http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/elon-musk-calls-york-times-model-strands-test-200514420.html
Me? Well, on long trips, DH and I usually have to stop every 2.5 hours or so anyway for a bathroom break which we either then use to grab a snack or fill up. I figure now we'll just be able to sit in the reststop and eat instead of heading back to the car and chowing down en route.
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