Tesla has, from day 1, made grandiose claims about range, recharge time, and performance. None of these claims have been sufficiently tested by an independent 3rd party, and the limited media exposure that test cars have received has indicated that these grandiose claims have no basis in reality. Furthermore, their claims don’t jive well with physics, or with the performance numbers for existing EVs.

And on top of that, this is a brand new company with 0 experience building cars prior to this one, hell, with 0 experience engineering anything, and there’s no real reason to trust their claims. So it’s frustrating for the media and fanboys to tout this car’s numbers over and over and over again, when all indications are that they’re make believe.

I think the editors of TTAC would agree with me when I say that I’d love to see this car meet all the expectations Tesla have built up for it and change the world. But at the same time, I just wish they’d come out and say that the 220 mile range is bogus, that it’s more like 75 miles when you’re driving it with spirit, etc.

eeaaauuuhhh… well… maybe. But, just to be fair, how else are you going to get people to give you a few (O.K., more than a few) million dollars to actually build something. Plus remember, these are silicon valley brats where “hype” is what sells everything. While I have serious doubts as to the validity of hooking a billion pacemaker batteries together to produce an automotive heartbeat, hey, I gotta admit, they at least got it to work long enough to film a few promo videos and sell one to Leno.

More importantly, they gave it some style and are aiming at real performance as well. So in my opinion, they are going in the right direction. Unlike the used prophilactic styling and performance of the Pri(ck)us and the (re)Volt.

What do you mean by an “independent expert”?

I’m very much aware of that; hell, technically I’m one of his employees.

Furthermore, Farago is a big boy. Big enough to take my less than politically correct comments. He’s also perfectly capable of removing and blocking my posts if I get too far out of line.

I couldn’t care less about whether or not you upset Farago. :p I’m just trying to help you out before you inadvertently step over a ledge you weren’t quite expecting.

But his dislike of the only auto company actually making an electric vehicle while at the same time supporting the enviromentalista’s on most every other issue I find confusing.

There are plenty of other companies that build electric cars. In fact, reviews for two such cars are in the hopper. He’s just sticking to the guns he loaded back when the Tesla Roadster was just vapourware.

“Flaming”, in case you hadn’t noticed, is what Farago does for a living. (Just ask the auto makers) And I, (just one of many) happen to really appreciate what he does and the skill and art with which he does it… and he knows that.

Furthermore, Farago is a big boy. Big enough to take my less than politically correct comments. He’s also perfectly capable of removing and blocking my posts if I get too far out of line.

In spite of my question, I actually agree with Farago 80% of the time. But his dislike of the only auto company actually making an electric vehicle while at the same time supporting the enviromentalista’s on most every other issue I find confusing.

Well, first I don’t hate the car. It’s a car. I hate the hype perpetuated by the people who produce it.

But there is a way out…

If I adopt a Jewish boy and raise him a Muslim. Just kidding. All Tesla has to do is provide us a single car for 24 hour evaluation by an independent expert.

And then we’ll talk.

Comments like that (from what I’ve seen) seem to go under the “flaming” category around here. Perhaps they’re pessimists, or simply don’t like the Tesla? Who knows? It’s their website, so they’ll pontificate how they please.

Hmmm…. How ’bout;

Cuz it costs $100,000?
or
Cuz its not made by Toyota?
or
Cuz the company was started by silicon valley boys?
or
Cuz Jay Leno bought one?
or
???

I give, please tell me.

Nope. Guess again.

I think you’re right on target. Laptop batteries are especially sensitive to heat, and the Tesla has 700 pounds of them.

Man I want an EV so bad. Just want an ordinary car with a proper EV driveline and battery.

Wondering how fast $2.95 gas is going to kill the average consumer’s enthusiasm for EVs? And will gas spike again near $4 next year?

For instance, some of the worst thermal loads in modern cars occur AFTER the engine is off because you loose a lot of the active and passive cooling. Add in that some materials don’t like being hot (the natural rubber in the engine mounts being one) and you’ve got some serious challenges making things reliable under such conditions.

Running cooling pumps when off may be extending the lifespan of motor, controllers, etc. However, they seemed to have made the logic that shuts the pump off a bit too conservative in keeping things cool.

I hope that helps. Mr. Musk, you can just deposit my payment for this consulting time in my PayPal account. Thanks!

–chuck