Tesla Fights Georgia Dealers Over Direct Sales Model

A/C in an EV uses much less energy than the uninitiated would assume. Typically 2-3% impact on range. Teslas have a huge battery, I would anticipate it can sit in traffic longer than a gas car could. Folks often ask me about my LEAF and its range then it hits them. "What if you get stuck in traffic"? I explain that EV's are at their most efficient travelling at a snails pace even with A/C on. My anticipated miles goes UP when I get stuck in a downtown snarl up. All the while gas cars are spewing air pollution in a snarl up and getting horrible gas mileage to boot.

@JPWhite "uninitiated" ?? I'm from Atlanta were people keep their unattended cars idling with the A/C on to keep from sticking to the seats and ripping their skin off Oh, yeah and electricity production cause no pollution at least not in YOUR neighborhood

@Lie2me Be aware the 'pollution' where it may end up entering the atmosphere, will be greatly reduced with an EV vs a gasoline car. They are so much more efficient and use much less total energy, 60-80% less. With an EV you don't have to leave the car idling unattended. One can turn the A/C on remotely via the internet/smart phone 5-10 minutes before you get in it. As an example, while you are standing at the checkout line is a great time to do this.

My Volt in 100F Texas direct heat with full blast AC is 3-4kW constant load. Assuming a Tesla's is at the higher end of that range (4kW) due to its size, you could sit in Atlanta traffic for about 18 hours before exhausting a S85, assuming also that the heat and humidity remain constant during that period. For an EV, cold and damp is the most power-sapping condition, since you run both the AC for defogging as well as heating. I reckon 38-45F at 75+% humidity is the absolute worst, I've seen 6-7kW sustained use, which far outstrips the Volt's recharge rate so even if it's plugged into shore power it still hits the battery to maintain that level of use, which is why GM needs moar powar chargars.

@Dr. Kenneth Noisewater Newer Leafs use heat pumps for heating and cooling. I just ran a quick test on a Leaf showing a 34f degree exterior temp , sitting for 12 hours, and a climate control setting of 72 degrees. The car gave me numbers of about 1.5 to 2 kw power draw. After lowering the climate control to a 62 degree temp, it dropped to less than 1kw. Just hooked it up to an external meter and plugged it in. Will have to wait for it to come back to full charge, then I'll turn on the climate control and see what I get for a reading. I'll try to remember to report back later.

@mcs Interesting test, I'm interested in the outcome. Be aware the heat and A/C are moderated in ECO mode vs regular drive mode. How much I'm not sure.

@Lie2me You live in much closer proximity to lots and lots of small, inefficient, minimally after-treated, particulate-spewing power plants than you do to large-scale, efficient, scrubber-equipped electric power plants which are sited far away from population centers.

@JPWhite >> Be aware the heat and A/C are moderated in ECO mode vs regular drive mode. How much I’m not sure. You're right. I had it in ECO mode. In the plugged-in test, it read the max 1300 watt draw of the of the charger. I just tried it unplugged and without ECO mode and I was getting 1.4 to 1.5 kw according to the cars status display for climate control power usage. On newer Leafs, go to info and energy usage. You can get a display that breaks down where your power is being used in real-time.

@mcs My '12 Leaf is now heading into its 3rd winter (western PA). It could be tough, and I envy the newer models with the heat pump. Not that I ever see another Leaf around here.

@SCE to AUX I occasionally see a black Leaf in the Fort Pitt Tunnels, usually in the left lane.

Yikes! That fell out of Toyota's ugly tree and hit every branch that the Lexus missed on the way down http://yournewsticker.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Toyota-Mirai-1.jpg (Warning: Finish your breakfast first)

@Lie2me Perfect urban vehicle; suck up rats, small winos and dropped food through those front vents, process them for H2. Very sustainable.

@petezeiss They should name it the "Inner-City Roomba"

This reminds me of visiting college friends in Boston, who on more than one occasion made Saturday midnight beer runs all the way to New Hampshire when the party ran dry. Idiotic market regulations can have all sorts of unintended consequences.