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New Electric Car
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Gator Lager
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Jul 19, 2006, 11:45 PM
 
debut in a few hours
http://www.teslamotors.com/
( Last edited by Gator Lager; Jul 20, 2006 at 08:36 AM. )
     
- - e r i k - -
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Jul 19, 2006, 11:48 PM
 

Hmmm. Looks sporty. 1c per 1.6km you say? I guess I could live with 402km per charge depending on how long it took to charge

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Stratus Fear
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Jul 20, 2006, 12:14 AM
 
What I find impressive is how fast the car is. Electric engines have amazing torque. That thing does 0-60mph (0~100km/h) in 4 seconds.
     
stevesnj
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Jul 20, 2006, 12:20 AM
 
The big 2 auto makers will go crazy if this car is a hit, i hope it is a success!
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Gator Lager  (op)
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Jul 20, 2006, 01:22 AM
 
with the prediction of gas being over $4 a gallon by labor day.
and if the price is not to outrageous for the vehicles, they'll make a mint.
it's got my attention. especially after I just spent $50 filling my truck up.
damn straight I'm interested.
     
- - e r i k - -
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Jul 20, 2006, 01:33 AM
 
Is it just me or are they pushing the political angle a bit too hard?
SAN CARLOS, Calif. - Like many Silicon Valley engineers, Martin Eberhard loves cars, especially fast ones. But the self-described "closet gearhead" didn't feel comfortable buying a hot rod that guzzled gas from the Middle East or some other troubled region.

So three years ago, Eberhard and friend Marc Tarpenning launched Tesla Motors Inc. Their goal: to design a sports car that would go as fast as a Ferrari or Porsche, but run on electricity.

With about 80 employees, Tesla just raised $40 million from high-profile investors including Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. It plans to start selling its first model next year.

"I'm not the only person that would like to buy a car that's beautiful and fun to drive but also remain on the moral high ground," said Eberhard, 45, who sold his previous company, electronic book maker NuvoMedia, for $187 million in 2000. "None of the energy that goes into an electric car comes from the Middle East."

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Dark Helmet
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Jul 20, 2006, 01:39 AM
 

"She's gone from suck to blow!"
     
Gator Lager  (op)
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Jul 20, 2006, 01:43 AM
 
Pricing for the Tesla Roadster has not been announced, although Tesla CEO Mark Eberhard has speculated that it would "cost between $85,000 and $120,000."

well looks like I'll be driving my truck for a while longer
     
aberdeenwriter
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Jul 20, 2006, 01:53 AM
 
Some articles to read while you are waiting.

http://www.teslamotors.com/media.html
Consider these posts as my way of introducing you to yourself.

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aberdeenwriter
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Jul 20, 2006, 05:33 AM
 


We anticipate that the Tesla Roadster will be shipping to customers late spring/early summer of 2007. The most convenient way to purchase a Tesla Roadster will be here at our Web site beginning in early 2007.

However, there‘s really nothing like seeing a Tesla Roadster in person and taking it out for a test drive. You can do so by visiting one of our Tesla Motors Customer Care Centers, where we offer direct sales and support for buyers and owners.

http://www.teslamotors.com/styling/cockpit/cockpit.php

FAQ'S

General Questions

How fast is it?

How far can the Tesla Roadster drive between charges?

Where can I see the car?

How much does the car cost?

When will the cars be available?

How efficient is the Tesla Roadster?

Will it be easy to insure and register such a new car?

Why does the Tesla Roadster have a two-speed transmission?

Does the Tesla Roadster's stereo have a mini jack so I can plug in my iPod?

Does the Tesla Roadster come with a roof?


Electric Vehicle (EV) Questions

What are the benefits of driving an electric car?

Is the EV a more environmentally friendly transportation solution than an ethanol powered ICE or a fuel cell powered vehicle?

Don't electric vehicles actually just move pollution to another location? And therefore don't EVs still use oil?

What are the incentives for driving an electric car?



How is the Tesla Roadster different from other electric vehicles?

What's the difference between an EV and a hybrid?

OK then, what's a "plug-in hybrid"?

Can the Tesla Roadster use Solar Power?


Service Questions

Who will service my Tesla Motors car?

Can I still service my car at my local mechanic?

How much service does the Tesla Roadster require?

How will I get my car to Tesla Motors for service?

What if my car breaks down?

What do you do with all of the car’s computerized information?


Battery Questions

How long does it take to recharge?

How do you recharge it?

How does the mobile charger unit work?

Is there an optimal time (financially) during the day for recharging?

How safe is it to charge?

What happens if my kid sticks something in the end of the connector?

How long do the batteries last?

What happens when my car battery reaches the end of its life?

What is the battery chemistry?

What if one cell stops working? Does the whole battery pack stop working?

Are there any toxic chemicals in the battery?

Will the Tesla Roadster work on a cold day?


Purchasing Questions

Can I buy a Tesla Roadster if I live outside of California?

Can I trade in my Porsche?


Manufacturing Questions

Where is the car made?

Is this an American car company if everything is made outside the US?

What is your relationship with Lotus?

Why did you choose Lotus as a manufacturing partner?

How did you come up with the idea for Tesla Motors?
http://www.teslamotors.com/learn_more/faqs.php
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aberdeenwriter
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Jul 20, 2006, 05:40 AM
 
Battery-Fueled Car Will Smoke You

Page 1 of 3 next »
By Joshua Davis, from Wired magazine 12:00 PM Jul, 19, 2006

Martin Eberhard holds the brake down with his left foot and presses on the accelerator with his right. The motor revs, the car strains against the brake. I hear ... almost nothing. Just a quiet whine like the sound of a jet preparing for takeoff 5 miles away. We're belted into a shimmering black sports car on a quiet, tree-lined street in San Carlos, California, 23 miles south of San Francisco. It has taken Eberhard three years to get this prototype ready for mass production, but with the backing of PayPal cofounder Elon Musk, Google's Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and ex-eBay chief Jeff Skoll, he has created Silicon Valley's first real auto company.

"You see any cops?" Eberhard asks, shooting me a mischievous look. The car is vibrating, ready to launch. I'm the first journalist to get a ride.
http://wired.com/news/wiredmag/0,714...?tw=wn_index_1
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aberdeenwriter
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Jul 20, 2006, 05:55 AM
 
Originally Posted by - - e r i k - -

Hmmm. Looks sporty. 1c per 1.6km you say? I guess I could live with 402km per charge depending on how long it took to charge
The Roadster's sporty styling allowed Eberhard to maximize the car's range and still win a drag race. With its two-person capacity and aerodynamic contours, the lightweight machine can go 250 miles on a single charge. (When connected to a special 220-volt, 70-amp outlet, recharging takes about three and a half hours.) Plus, the sports car class lets Eberhard price it on the high end -- in the range of a Porsche 911 Carrera S, roughly $80,000.
http://wired.com/news/wiredmag/0,714...ory_page_next2
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Big Mac
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Jul 20, 2006, 06:47 AM
 
What about the evil of Ed Begley's electric car?

I'm more interested in Hybrids and the natural gas Honda I saw featured on the local CBS news.

"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." TJ
     
Troll
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Jul 20, 2006, 06:59 AM
 
Well, it doesn't have quite the same specs, buy you can already buy the Venturi Fetish.

http://www.venturi.fr/
     
Eriamjh
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Jul 20, 2006, 07:04 AM
 
$80,000? They can get bent.

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The Godfather
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Jul 20, 2006, 07:37 AM
 
Originally Posted by - - e r i k - -
Is it just me or are they pushing the political angle a bit too hard?
Probably the focus group found that they will attract more convervationists by doing this marketing than they will attract conservatives by not doing it.
     
The Godfather
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Jul 20, 2006, 07:38 AM
 
Originally Posted by Eriamjh
$80,000? They can get bent.
I'll wait for the "Light" version @ US$20k
     
Gator Lager  (op)
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Jul 20, 2006, 08:49 AM
 
$80K yeah right.
what kind of logic is that.

lets see what price should we market them at. hmmmmmmm

sell 10,000 cars at $80k
or
sell 1,000,000 cars at $20k

     
Gossamer
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Jul 20, 2006, 09:02 AM
 
Originally Posted by Gator Lager
$80K yeah right.
what kind of logic is that.

lets see what price should we market them at. hmmmmmmm

sell 10,000 cars at $80k
or
sell 1,000,000 cars at $20k

Well if the car costs $50K to make, you're still losing $30K per sale. It's not as simple as you'd like it to be.
     
Troll
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Jul 20, 2006, 09:05 AM
 
Originally Posted by Gator Lager
lets see what price should we market them at. hmmmmmmm

sell 10,000 cars at $80k
or
sell 1,000,000 cars at $20k

The price isn't just a marketing decision. It largely reflects the cost of the parts and the labour. Thousands of lithium polymer batteries cost a lot of money. Having Lotus hand build a car costs money. I would think that the parts alone cost way more than $20k a car.

Besides, how many $20k cars do you know that accelerate like this one?

Plus, bear in mind that this car costs virtually nothing to run after you've bought it. So, comparing it to a petrol Lotus, you would need to add the cost of fuel for each car and I think the electric one will recoup a large amount of the initial investment.
( Last edited by Troll; Jul 20, 2006 at 09:41 AM. )
     
stevesnj
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Jul 20, 2006, 09:18 AM
 
Does this car even have heat for us winter drivers?
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Quake4SMP
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Jul 20, 2006, 09:34 AM
 
If it had heat, the range would be cut in half. Electric cars aren't here yet folks. Sorry.
( Last edited by Quake4SMP; Jul 20, 2006 at 10:23 AM. )
     
Gossamer
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Jul 20, 2006, 09:48 AM
 
Originally Posted by Quake4SMP
If it had head, the range would be cut in half. Electric cars aren't here yet folks. Sorry.
Well if it doesn't have any head, maybe someone will have to give it some.
     
pman68
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Jul 20, 2006, 09:53 AM
 
Damn sexy. Me likey.
     
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Jul 20, 2006, 09:56 AM
 
I take it that all this electricity they're going to need to charge them is being produced by donkeys on treadmills then?
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stevesnj
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Jul 20, 2006, 10:09 AM
 
My tech school made an electric car for under 10k they had a donated car, Ford Probe, and put an electric motor and batteries in it. So for 80k this is a start but you want to sell a lot, put heat in it for the cold states and drop the price point and they will sell like crazy.
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Quake4SMP
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Jul 20, 2006, 10:25 AM
 
if you put heat in, it will have ZERO range.

That's the problem with electric vehicles. Do you konw that the appliance that uses some of the most power in your house is hte toaster? Know why? ELECTRIC HEAT REQUIRES A SHITLOAD OF POWER. If you have a heater in ANY electric car it's range is going to be decimated. Throw in headlights and a radio, adn it's even worse. We just DO NOT HAVE the battery technology required to make this a viable alternative, at this time. The only place this would be nice would be an island community where everything is always close and the weahter is always nice.
     
kaze0
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Jul 20, 2006, 11:12 AM
 
Originally Posted by Quake4SMP
if you put heat in, it will have ZERO range.

That's the problem with electric vehicles. Do you konw that the appliance that uses some of the most power in your house is hte toaster? Know why? ELECTRIC HEAT REQUIRES A SHITLOAD OF POWER. If you have a heater in ANY electric car it's range is going to be decimated. Throw in headlights and a radio, adn it's even worse. We just DO NOT HAVE the battery technology required to make this a viable alternative, at this time. The only place this would be nice would be an island community where everything is always close and the weahter is always nice.
Isn't the car generating heat? Move the wheels closer, put some doors by the wheels that you can open for heat. Move the break pads to under the driver side seat.
     
Gossamer
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Jul 20, 2006, 11:14 AM
 
Originally Posted by kaze0
Isn't the car generating heat? Move the wheels closer, put some doors by the wheels that you can open for heat. Move the break pads to under the driver side seat.
Dude...you are really weird.
     
hickey
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Jul 20, 2006, 11:29 AM
 
Im going to start saving.
     
Quake4SMP
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Jul 20, 2006, 12:13 PM
 
Originally Posted by kaze0
Isn't the car generating heat? Move the wheels closer, put some doors by the wheels that you can open for heat. Move the break pads to under the driver side seat.
Not much.... in comparison to an internal combustion engine anyway.
     
Gator Lager  (op)
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Jul 20, 2006, 12:13 PM
 
Originally Posted by Troll
The price isn't just a marketing decision. It largely reflects the cost of the parts and the labour. Thousands of lithium polymer batteries cost a lot of money. Having Lotus hand build a car costs money. I would think that the parts alone cost way more than $20k a car.

Besides, how many $20k cars do you know that accelerate like this one?

Plus, bear in mind that this car costs virtually nothing to run after you've bought it. So, comparing it to a petrol Lotus, you would need to add the cost of fuel for each car and I think the electric one will recoup a large amount of the initial investment.

plus advertising, investors, lawyers..etc

my point is, their is a market to this type of car. but at a more realistic price. meaning something that me-non-millionare can afford.

I understand the basic start up requirements for a new company can be over the top. and the likelihood of failure of the new company in the first 5 years is most probable. also selling unproven technology to the masses can be quite daunting. the risks are great, but then again for a product like this at more realistic price can be most profitable.

oh yea, the listed range of the vehicle looks great, but is that just flat terrain like here in Florida USA or does include hill/mountain terrain ( of course not).
but its a starting point. we'll see.
     
Gossamer
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Jul 20, 2006, 12:15 PM
 
And if you run out of juice, can a tow truck come by with a spare battery and give you enough juice to get to the next town?

(green stars...finally!)
     
memento
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Jul 20, 2006, 12:54 PM
 
For that $$$ I'm sure that they can make quite a few alternative fuel vehicles. The challenge is in designing one for the masses. No major car company needs to be scared of this.
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Stratus Fear
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Jul 20, 2006, 01:30 PM
 
Originally Posted by Gator Lager
$80K yeah right.
what kind of logic is that.
You need to keep in mind that this car is in the league of expensive roadsters. Pricing a Lotus derived vehicle that goes as fast as a Porsche in the same price range is absolutely logical. This isn't a normal commuter electric car. You want one of those, go get GM to give you an EV1 -- except it cost GM $80k for each one they made, and GM lost money on those cars as they sold them for far less. A startup company doesn't need to be losing money like that.
     
mike one
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Jul 20, 2006, 01:54 PM
 
I'm to lazy to check, but does it have regenerative breaking?

my civic hybrid does, and it didn't cost 80+k.

you could probably power heat and ac on regenerative breaking alone, at least for stop and go traffic. my ac can run on high for more than 30 minutes on battery power alone.
     
Y3a
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Jul 20, 2006, 01:57 PM
 
They suck going uphill too. The type that would drive one would be in the left lane doing 8 miles below the speed limit, and wouldn't have the sense to get over.
     
Gossamer
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Jul 20, 2006, 02:14 PM
 
Originally Posted by Y3a
They suck going uphill too. The type that would drive one would be in the left lane doing 8 miles below the speed limit, and wouldn't have the sense to get over.
If it can do 0-60 in 4 seconds and a top speed of over 130, I don't think a hill will be a problem (unless there's something special about electric engines being tilted that I don't know about)

BTW
Originally Posted by their web page
Motor 3-phase, 4-pole electric motor, 248hp peak (185kW), redline 13,500 rpm, regenerative "engine braking"
     
exca1ibur
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Jul 20, 2006, 02:18 PM
 
I dont care how fast it is... for $80K they can keep it.
     
Quake4SMP
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Jul 20, 2006, 02:33 PM
 
Originally Posted by Y3a
They suck going uphill too. The type that would drive one would be in the left lane doing 8 miles below the speed limit, and wouldn't have the sense to get over.
You might think you know about audio, but you definitely don't understand cars or electric motors. Electric motors produce copious amounts of torque, a hill would be zero problem.
     
kupan787
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Jul 20, 2006, 02:52 PM
 
Originally Posted by mike one
I'm to lazy to check, but does it have regenerative breaking?
Yes it does.
     
Mithras
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Jul 20, 2006, 03:20 PM
 
Originally Posted by exca1ibur
I dont care how fast it is... for $80K they can keep it.
Quoted for unintentional humor.
     
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Jul 20, 2006, 03:29 PM
 
Originally Posted by Quake4SMP
if you put heat in, it will have ZERO range.

That's the problem with electric vehicles. Do you konw that the appliance that uses some of the most power in your house is hte toaster? Know why? ELECTRIC HEAT REQUIRES A SHITLOAD OF POWER. If you have a heater in ANY electric car it's range is going to be decimated. Throw in headlights and a radio, adn it's even worse. We just DO NOT HAVE the battery technology required to make this a viable alternative, at this time. The only place this would be nice would be an island community where everything is always close and the weahter is always nice.

I am glad that, once more, you know more about this vehicle than the people who are building it. Hi Ca$h.
The battery used in this car actually produces so much heat that it needs to be cooled by an active cooling system. This heat is available to heat the passenger compartment to a comfortable level at no cost to the battery charge itself.
     
Y3a
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Jul 20, 2006, 03:32 PM
 
Originally Posted by Quake4SMP
You might think you know about audio, but you definitely don't understand cars or electric motors. Electric motors produce copious amounts of torque, a hill would be zero problem.
Electric motors are used for their RPM not torque. Electric motors are inefficient, and require special waveform altering circuits to get anything like torque out of them without thermal runaway.

The really advanced systems used in Railroad locomotives-which have a SH*TLOAD of torque- have special ways they have to be used so they don't go into thermal runaway. it may be FINE when the cars' battery is fully charged but get'R down to about 35% and see how good it runs. The stinky lil hybrids on the roads now have trouble on hills.
     
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Jul 20, 2006, 03:35 PM
 
Originally Posted by Y3a
The stinky lil hybrids on the roads now have trouble on hills.
Since when? Whenever a hybrid runs out of electric power the gas engine kicks in automatically. There is no performance hit whatsoever.
     
Quake4SMP
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Jul 20, 2006, 03:42 PM
 
I don't know more about the vehicle than the people who designed it, I know that ELECTRICAL VEHICLES ARE NOT A GOOD SOLUTION AT THIS TIME GIVEN OUR CURRENT TECHNOLOGY.

Batteries are EXTREMELY heavy, and they have to be replaced about every 5 years. They also get sapped of their power extremely quickly if asked to produce heat. Heat+ Radio+ headlights, a configuration common in MOST climates, makes electrical cars, no matter who designed it, ****ing stupid* because it will have total **** range.

*:Until battery technology changes.

PS: Don't believe me? Drive a golf cart.
     
Mastrap
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Jul 20, 2006, 03:52 PM
 
Read the fraking website Ca$h. it gives you all the info you need about the range, the weight of the car, even the way it is heated. The batteries are designed to last for 100.000 miles minimum and to be easily replaceable.

But of course, you will know better, again.
     
Stratus Fear
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Jul 20, 2006, 03:52 PM
 
Originally Posted by Mastrap
Since when? Whenever a hybrid runs out of electric power the gas engine kicks in automatically. There is no performance hit whatsoever.
Not to mention most of the hybrid systems (Toyota's for sure) operate within a certain range of charge on the batteries to extend the useful life of the cells. 35% charge isn't an issue for the electric motor (even if it ever could be) in a hybrid because it doesn't get that low.

I wish people would know what they're talking about before they speak. Sigh.
     
Quake4SMP
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Jul 20, 2006, 03:57 PM
 
Originally Posted by Mastrap
Since when? Whenever a hybrid runs out of electric power the gas engine kicks in automatically. There is no performance hit whatsoever.
Except they're really really really slow. 0-60 in over 10 seconds. SO yeah, it would make it up the hill, but it wouldn't accelerate very fast.
     
Stratus Fear
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Jul 20, 2006, 03:58 PM
 
Originally Posted by Quake4SMP
I don't know more about the vehicle than the people who designed it, I know that ELECTRICAL VEHICLES ARE NOT A GOOD SOLUTION AT THIS TIME GIVEN OUR CURRENT TECHNOLOGY.

Batteries are EXTREMELY heavy, and they have to be replaced about every 5 years. They also get sapped of their power extremely quickly if asked to produce heat. Heat+ Radio+ headlights, a configuration common in MOST climates, makes electrical cars, no matter who designed it, ****ing stupid* because it will have total **** range.

*:Until battery technology changes.

PS: Don't believe me? Drive a golf cart.
The Honda EV Plus had an extra standard 12V battery for accessories, taking some of the load off the main drive batteries. On the GM EV1, headlights at night would affect the range by about 10%, as I found quoted. A standard stereo system in a car probably uses less. On a car with a 250 mile range, that doesn't mean anything to a normal commute. Anyway, I'm sure you're more qualified to speculate about the viability of EVs than most engineers that design them, aren't you?
     
 
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