Clueless NYT reporter manages to get stranded in Model S

When you can actually but a fuel cell car for under a million dollars, let us know. Hydrogen is a great concept but the inefficiencies are terrible and the infrastructure is incredibly expensive. Maybe someday - but for now, we have EVs.

 

It seems NYTimes surprisingly touched the third rail here. One year on Prius Chat should be the recommended training.

 

Those two reporters are regulars on CNBC. Maria Bartiromo and the other person are on everyday.

I don't think he was that shaken if you've heard him talk before. I haven't rewatched

in its entirety but Musk sometimes stumbles and stutters a bit when he talks. You can see some of it there.

 

Supposedly they only cost about $100K to build in volume today, and we have clarity and f-cell leasing right now.

The problem is Honda can't afford to sell clarities in the volume that Tesla sells S's. I expect that there will be more than 20K teslas out in the wild around a year from now. If Honda or Toyota wanted to sell that many fuel cell vehicles as Tesla sells BEVs they would half to commit to losing at least half a billion a year on just the cars and have to get some sap government to pay 1 million dollars a piece to subsidize each fueling station. After 5 years, I'm sure it would be at least $5B if you include R&D. Now Ford is likely to lose $2B on European operations this year, so Toyota could blow $5B on fuel cells, but I don't think its likely. Nissan/Renault have spent about $5B on BEVs but no one thinks they are getting a decent ROI. No one expects fuel cells in this decade to do as well as Nissan's investment. Some people want to just sell it to the press that way.

 

Musk thinks and writes much better than he speaks.

 

I'd expect retrofitting. It happens all the time with houses. As the demand grows it influences remodeling both by residents and for resale.

 

Incorrect. If I were on my own and had one car it would be the Model S. I drive outside its range 1-3 times a year, and in those cases I would either borrow a neighbors or rent.
However, I understand that wouldn't work in your circumstances.
I would guess EVs would work for most 2 car households with a garage, while they wouldn't work for a large number of one car households.

 

but right now you have 2 cars... and that's my point. it's not what you would do.. it's what you are doing. EV has too many limitations to be mainstream..

 

perhaps for upper middle class and above.. but for the majority of Americans this is a no go. EV has too many limitations to go mainstream. my bet is on hydrogen cars over EV.

 

If you had anything of value I would make that bet against you.

 

Okay, that's it! Why hasn't anyone said anything about the explosive nature of hydrogen. Do you know the Hindenberg was full of it and went up in flames! Man, gotta talk to hydrogen's PR people. How did they shed that reputation?

Anyway, if I had any money, I'd double down on top of John's bet. No one is going to want to drive a car powered by fuel used in nuclear reactions... fusion that is.

 

Elon's arguments didn't sound very convincing. Tesla believes driving speed limit +10mph is too fast and that the driver was told to stay at 65. I-95's maximum speed limit between DC & NYC is 65mph. If the reporter was driving 75mph he was being passed like he's standing still. In WV he'd be 5mph under the speed limit. Agreed it is good for range. It is not good for image.

Elon also said the car was not fully charged at the supercharger. Fair enough. We already know he didn't do a range charge. Was he informed? Did he have instructions? Did he forget? Was it intentional? Tesla's warning against frequent range charges isn't going to persuade someone to fully charge.

For those who took delivery of a Roadster or Model S, how much time did the Delivery Specialist spend with you reviewing vehicle operations? How much detail did you get? Did they mention how much range the car loses in subfreezing temperatures?

Electricity is everywhere. Charging stations aren't. The only motel or hotel I've stayed at in the last few years with an outlet that may have been convenient for charging is an Econolodge near State College where an extension cord could have been run out of a window or the door to the car. If you are dropping almost 6 figures for a car that chain probably isn't your first choice for a hotel.

RV parks aren't an option when they are closed for the season.

The POI in the Garmin & the Denso GPS units in my Prius aren't always accurate & complete. How accurate & complete are the charger listings on the web? If the charger across the street isn't in the database (and isn't very visible) I can understand someone following the GPS directions to the "nearest" one.

 

What do you think the big limitations of the c-max energy are? Room for 5. Decent acceleration and handling. Can refuel at home or at the gas station or at public chargers. What are the big limitations of the Tesla S for most of us? The last time I drove over 265 miles it was in someone else car. Normally my longer trips are by plane. The only thing holding plug-ins back are price and education.

 

Besides the Superchargers, I have no idea if RV parks were actually closed or not.

I don't know OTOH if the Tesla's nav system includes a database of charging stations, but there are plenty of J1772 charging networks out there like Blink (unreliable though) and Chargepoint. The author could've also used Plugshare. I'd imagine they had web browser access enabled in his car if he didn't have a smartphone to use apps from the above.

 

The valet at the W will make sure your Model S gets a full charge and is ready to go when you call. Call any of them and ask.

 

The Hindenberg crashed when static electricity ignited the doped fabric covering the ship. The hulk settled to the ground without the hydrogen burning or exploding.

In the 1930's airships were faster and carried a heavier payload than airplanes but have problems with wind, turbulence & weather. Flying one over NYC was "trying". They also needed extremely large facilities. As engines & airframes became more efficient and capable the airship (and passenger liner) were left behind.

 

Curiosity: Constructing the Hindenburg Replica : Video : Discovery Channel

Steve is my neighbor down the street.

 

How does it end, there are too many commercials.

If Steve is blowing anything big up in central texas, I'ld like to watch.

 

Not sure how it ended.

He is always blowing something up.

He runs "Stunt Ranch" which is best described as a guy's play ground.

 

???? You have got to be joking.