Tesla Roadster prototype

[SomervillePrius]

thanks for the write-up. I'm not in a position where I can spend 100.000$ on a car, or rather that would have to be a hell of a practical car, which the tesla is not. I long for the day when the $50K whitestar is available and will buy one (like) it as soon as it's available here in Boston.

I'm glad they are making progress and hope to see production numbers soon!

It must be a hard decision buying a Tesla Roadster if you're not interested in sports cars. For me it's not practical enough outside of my commute as I need to fit at least my wife and two large dogs in it.

Instead I will start to take the Bus to work to minimize the energy I spend.

[hobbit]

Very cool. Hopefully, if you mentioned any intent to write up the
experience for some segment of the electric-propulsion enthusiast
community, they saw that as a good thing. Y'might even call in the
URL of the thread, so they can see how the free publicity is turning
out. [That means, y'all, keep it professional in here plz...]
.
_H*

[Danny]

Awesome write-up, Daniel! I'm very jealous!

Thanks for sharing all of the information.

[daniel]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Feb 27 2007, 08:49 AM) [snapback]397229[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for the post, Daniel! Sounds like you had fun, at least. Have you managed to wipe the EV grin off your face yet?
[/b]

Too busy pondering to be grinning.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Feb 27 2007, 08:49 AM) [snapback]397229[/snapback]</div>

I'm willing to stipulate that it is far more FUN to drive a RWD vehicle without VSC!
[/b]

I'm not a race-car driver. Safety is my first concern. I'd really rather have the VSC.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Feb 27 2007, 08:49 AM) [snapback]397229[/snapback]</div>

With properly adjusted mirrors (simple procedure) you can confidently drive and change lanes without having to see out those rear quarter windows. I agree that saying the car's performance will keep you from harm is just silly.
[/b]

My mirrors are adjusted to the Tom & Ray specs. But I still like to glance to the side-rear when changing lanes.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA @ Feb 27 2007, 09:45 AM) [snapback]397278[/snapback]</div>

thanks for the info daniel. with a prototype, it might be tough, but what was your impression on the quality of the build? fit, finish?
[/b]

Fit and finish were not good. It was definitely a prototype, not a finished product. I do not believe we can make any assumptions about the production cars based on the prototype.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dipper @ Feb 27 2007, 10:32 AM) [snapback]397310[/snapback]</div>

... I will try not to drive my s2000 (2005, without VSC) when it pours....

So daniel, I don't know if you really want the Tesla as a daily driver up in Washington.
[/b]

Spokane is not Seattle. We do get rain and snow, but nothing like the rain of the coast. With two mountain ranges between me and Seattle, Spokane is fairly dry.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Feb 27 2007, 10:42 AM) [snapback]397319[/snapback]</div>

... spill the beans dude, how fast did you go?

Can you give us some idea of how loud the car is? Did the volume/pitch/tone change during acceleration?
[/b]

Remember that I did not get to drive it. I only rode in it. We did not go all that fast. However, we accelerated very rapidly. Very briefly on the freeway, up to the speed limit in the blink of an eye; and on the surface streets, again, rapid acceleration but not to very high speeds.

The car seemed to me louder than the Prius. Floored, the motor is not quiet. I didn't realize until we were back at the shop that some of the noise was the refrigeration unit. Once the refrigerator shut off, and he moved the car slowly inside the building, it was silent. What I never got a chance to hear was the full noise of the refrigerator while I was outside of the car.

But remember, that if I say it's louder than the Prius, the driver was accelerating and braking hard the whole (fairly short) time. And I drive my Prius gently. Maybe, driven like the Prius, it would be quieter. He was definitely making that motor work.

It's also possible that it was not noisier: It could have been an artifact of my expectations: I was expecting an extremely quiet car, so the noise I heard seemed loud, and maybe that skewed the comparison. It annoyed me a bit because I love the near-absolute quiet of the Prius in electric mode, and that's what I was expecting with the Tesla. So maybe I'm overstating it. Memory is a very tricky thing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Feb 27 2007, 11:40 AM) [snapback]397366[/snapback]</div>

Their "whitestar" program ...

... don't kid yourself into thinking that this is just another year of waiting. They just signed for the production plant, and don't yet even have a prototype. Three years would be the absolute minimum. 4-5 is likely more reasonable (or to put it another way, the Tesla buyers were to have their cars by now... and not one has shipped.
[/b]

As Darell says, the sedan is years away from production.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Feb 27 2007, 01:42 PM) [snapback]397444[/snapback]</div>

Very cool. Hopefully, if you mentioned any intent to write up the
experience for some segment of the electric-propulsion enthusiast
community, they saw that as a good thing. ...
[/b]

Yes. I told Doreen that I was going to post my experiences here, and she was pleased about that.

[darelldd]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Feb 27 2007, 09:57 PM) [snapback]397680[/snapback]</div>

Too busy pondering to be grinning....I'm not a race-car driver. Safety is my first concern. I'd really rather have the VSC.
[/b]

Understood!

My mirrors are adjusted to the Tom & Ray specs. But I still like to glance to the side-rear when changing lanes.[/b]

Excellent. I'm REALLY glad to hear that you're on-board with proper mirror alignment!


And now... have you guys seen this un-cut video interview?
http://video.wnbc.com/player/?id=70885

Best quote: when asked "Is battery technology a problem for you?" The answer was, "Battery technology is enabling us." Beautiful!

[Earthling]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Feb 28 2007, 12:57 AM) [snapback]397680[/snapback]</div>

My mirrors are adjusted to the Tom & Ray specs. But I still like to glance to the side-rear when changing lanes.
[/b]

As a motorcyclist, I appreciate that, and wish everyone would do the same. On an Interstate, my biggest hazard on the bike is "lane-changers" who do not exercise proper care when changing lanes.

The Brits refer to glancing over your shoulder before changing lanes or turning as a "life saver."

Harry

[efusco]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Feb 28 2007, 10:19 AM) [snapback]397837[/snapback]</div>

Understood!


Excellent. I'm REALLY glad to hear that you're on-board with proper mirror alignment!


And now... have you guys seen this un-cut video interview?
http://video.wnbc.com/player/?id=70885

Best quote: when asked "Is battery technology a problem for you?" The answer was, "Battery technology is enabling us." Beautiful! [/b]

Thanks for that link Darell...I found the last 3 minutes most enlightening. If there was any way to cram 3 car seats into that thing I'd get on the list....

[Ichabod]

Nice thread, and that was a good interview. The guy is likable, smart but unpretentious... I guess my perspective is a little skewed since I'm a big fan of what he's trying to do.

I was very amused by his comment "it seems like cheating" when saying that bigger electric motors were more efficient than smaller ones.