Model 3 used, For Sale -

There have been a couple of model 3's that have been put through the grinder in the last two months. It has been reported that one driver was put under arrest for DUI. I don't know if it was this car.

Maybe Toyota can buy this car, take it apart, and learn all of Elon's 'secrets."

 

Do ya think it's reparable?

 

that will buff right out.

 

Yeah, because a patent search is so hard.

The front end likely could be, but look at the front door in the photo. It isn't fully, which could mean the frame is bent. If not, I say there is a good chance there is still other damage that can't be seen here.

Will also need duck tape.

 

There is a brand called Duck Tape.

http://www.target.com/p/color-duck-tape-174-brand-duct-tape-chrome-1-88-in-x-15-yd/-/A-13799840

Quack Quack.

 

I disagree. It has been reported that European legacy automakers have commissioned a US research company to purchase 2 model 3 on the resale market for $200K EACH to tear the cars completely apart, take measurements of all the parts, report on the engineering concepts, and determine how Tesla can build the cars so inexpensively. No patent search could determine that, but you knew that.

 

Mercedes actually rented a private owner's Model S, and tore it down without their permission, along with performance testing, violating a contract. These weren't totaled cars. With the OP car, you won't know is the measurements of parts are within spec for sure.

Companies do study the competition's products, but these companies don't need to tear apart a Tesla to make a BEV. Take Toyota, they have experience building luxury and performance cars, plus experience with BEVs. Then Musk has opened up Tesla's patent portfolio to the public. Considering reports of Tesla's build quality, Toyota could make a Lexus BEV that would be better than a Tesla now. Same with the Germans. They can even get Supercharger network access if they wanted.

Instead, they are doing PHEVs or no plug ins at all.

 

Toyota should also have information on the RAV4 EV that was a Tesla partnership.

 

Toyota did the first Rav4 EV themselves, and have made other BEVs. They are still too focused on hydrogen FCEVs to admit long range BEVs could work and sell.

 

Yep

 

Elon would love if they did that. he wants the whole world to be BEV of whatever brand. Then why don't they do that?

They can't access Tesla's proprietary Supercharger system. They will have to invest billions into their own fast charging network but they are reluctant to do that because it will hurt their bottom line in the short term and that would pizz off their stockholders.

And that is the final nail in their coffin. Whole countries are mandating 100% BEVs within the next few years.

 

Apparently, I was referring to the 2nd Gen RAV4 EV that has a Tesla drivetrain.

 

If they could swallow their pride, Tesla would give them access for a fee. Tesla valued the access for a Model S at $2000 to $3000. I just found out BMW charges $300 for Apple Car Play on a 3 Series, so they could afford what Tesla would ask, and their customers would be willing to pay for it.

Those mandates are for electrics, and usually count non-plug in hybrids as one.

I know. Just pointing out that Toyota has BEV experience predating Tesla as a company.

 

No pride involved, that is your attempt to taint the waters. Tesla wants the whole world to run on BEV with easy charging access. In my opinion, they would be willing to cooperate with a particular manufacturer that would build a charger system of equal size to the Supercharger system, using a common charging protocol, and then share the system between the two (or more) manufacturers. The problem is it appears that the legacy automakers fear giving Tesla any legitimacy or credence by cooperating with anything they do or build.

That is not what I have read. The reports I have read that mandate transition to BEV adoption do not include hybrids or plug-in hybrids

And they were marketing failures.

 

I think you are actually agreeing with me. The others' pride and "fear giving Tesla any legitimacy or credence" are tightly linked.

Tesla developed the Supercharger because there wasn't any fast DC charging standard available at the time that was fast enough for them.

When Musk opened up Tesla's patent books, he also included the ones for Superchargers. The other manufacturers are free to install Superchargers on their BEVs without paying Tesla any fees. CHAdeMO charged fees just to experiment with its protocols in the beginning.

Tesla isn't going to give them free access to its charging network though. Part of a Tesla's price went towards Supercharger use, and that was what they wanted other manufacturers to do if they wanted Supercharger network access. With the arrival of the Model 3, Tesla is moving to a per use type fee structure. That might be easier for the other companies to get onboard.

I must of been thinking of company announcements on electric vehicles. Volvo's on going all electric includes mild hybrids.

For countries, the deadlines are far enough out that things could easily change. China does require a certain percentage of BEVs and PHEVs sold by a company if they want to sell any cars there. Anybody else have such regulations going into effect in the near future; I think it's 2019 for China.

That is debatable by those that bought them. None of the car companies wanted to sell a plug in at that time, and when they defeated CARB's ZEV mandate in court, they all pulled their BEVs from the market.

Either way, failing in the market does not mean the technology and knowledge was a failure. Toyota applied what they learned from making the first Rav4 EV in the Prius program.