Tesla Roadster pictures and news

[mikeyb]

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Tesla Motors unveiled their uber-chic Roadster, a supercharged electric vehicle that looks, feels and drives like many other high-end sports cars. The main difference is the noise. Powered by a 3-phase, 4-pole AC induction motor, the Roadster can go 130 mph and does 0-60 in about 4 seconds, all completely silent.

Tonight was the grand unveiling of the Roadster in a decorated airport hanger in Santa Monica, CA. I don't ride in many sports cars, and I certainly have never been in one that zips across an airport's tarmac without so much as a whisper. But tonight I got a quick ride in the Roadster and all I could hear from the passenger's seat (not even Gov. Schwarzenegger, who flew in for a brief look at the car, was allowed to drive it) was wind noise. And myself saying "Wow" under my breath.

Click on any image to enlarge.
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Check out the rest of Sebastian's report, a gallery of LIVE and OFFICIAL pics, and Tesla's press release with full specs after the jump.

[Source: Tesla Motors (http://www.teslamotors.com/index.php?js_enabled=1) - check out the site now!]

The car is low to the ground, and smooth in all possible ways. But this vehicle isn't just a sports car. It's also a green car. There are zero tailpipe emissions. There isn't even a tailpipe. Tesla Motors is working to provide purchasers with a photovoltaic panel that will turn the driving experience into an actual net producer of energy, according to Tesla Motors chairman Elon Musk.

Tonight's unveiling was also an invitation to purchase the Roadster when it is released in mid-2007 (for about $80,000-$120,000). The company is offering the first 100 Tesla Roadsters as Signature models. Musk said that the people who buy the Signature cars will not only be getting an incredible sports car, but will be helping to pay the R&D costs for future Tesla Motor vehicles. And that's what tonight was really about: the future. Gadget, an L.A.-based mechanic who converts ICE cars to EV and was seen in the movie "Who Killed The Electric Car?", and that film's director Chris Paine, were right behind me in line for the test ride. Earlier in the evening, Tesla Motors CEO Martin Eberhard said that, "An electric sports car was the way to fundamentally change the way we drive in the USA." Gadget and Paine agreed – although Gadget is convinced his conversion process is going to be more effective than $100,000 sports cars in getting EVs onto the streets – and after seeing what is possible with an EV, I have to admit there is pretty much endless possibility out there in electric motor land.

Lastly, there have been a lot of rumors floating around about the Roadster's specs, and tonight Tesla Motors finally let us know exactly what the deal is. Some of the rumors are true: the car can go 250 miles or so on a single charge (thanks in part to regenerative breaking that charges the AC motor) and will have all of the crash test ratings and safety features (airbags, GPS) when it is released. You can read the entire spec sheet and press release after the jump and at the Tesla Motor's website (http://www.teslamotors.com/).

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[mikeyb]

TESLA MOTORS HOSTS WORLD DEBUT OF TESLA ROADSTER
OFFERING PERFORMANCE, STYLE & EFFICIENCY- WITH A CONSCIENCE
Silicon Valley Manufacturer Unveils Sleek, Clean and Fast
Performance Electric Vehicle Before Crowd of Well-Wishers

SAN CARLOS, Calif. – (July 19, 2006) – The first performance electric car manufactured by Tesla Motors, the high-performance, zero-emissions Tesla Roadster, was unveiled before a throng of well-wishers, car buffs, and potential customers Wednesday evening during Tesla's "Signature One Hundred" event at Barker Hangar.

More than 350 invited guests spent the evening learning about the new sports car, speaking with Tesla Motors executives, and going for rides along the tarmac at the Santa Monica Airport, adjacent to the event. Many signed up to be among the first to take delivery of the Tesla Roadster, becoming Signature One Hundred Members.

Celebrities in attendance included actor Ed Begley Jr., producer Richard Donner, businessman Michael Eisner, PayPal founder (and Tesla Motors Chairman) Elon Musk, Participant Productions' Founder and CEO Jeff Skoll, also of eBay fame, and actor Bradley Whitford, who starred in "The West Wing."

"We're thrilled to have the support of top people from so many different industries," said Martin Eberhard, CEO of Tesla Motors. "High-tech, CleanTech, entertainment, automotive, you name it. It's gratifying to have others realize the significance or what Tesla Motors is doing."

The electric-powered Tesla Roadster boasts a top speed of more than 130 mph and a range of 250 miles on a single charge, a combination heretofore unseen in a mass-produced electric vehicle. Its extended range is due to its state-of-the-art lithium-ion Energy Storage System. The Tesla Roadster is capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in about four seconds.

"The Tesla Roadster delivers sports car performance without using any gasoline," said Eberhard. "This is what we hoped to achieve when we started the company three years ago, to build a car with zero emissions that people would love to drive."

Using a unique two-speed manual transmission, the Tesla Roadster's power comes from a 3-phase, 4-pole AC induction motor coupled with the Power Electronics Module (PEM) which provides multiple functionality of inverting direct current to 3-phase alternating current, the charging system, and the regenerative braking system.

The Roadster's Energy Storage System (ESS) provides power to the entire vehicle, including the motor. Its durable, tamper-resistant enclosure includes: 6,831 lithium-ion cells; a network of microprocessors for maintaining charge balance and temperature among the batteries; a cooling system; and an independent safety system designed to disconnect power outside the enclosure under a variety of detectable safety situations.

The Tesla Roadster comes complete with its Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE), a home-based charging system. An optional mobile charging kit, for re-charging while away from the EVSE, also features this automatic disconnect system. Charging the Tesla Roadster takes approximately 3.5 hours.

The Tesla Roadster is capable of driving up to 250 miles (EPA Highway) on a single charge, a range roughly triple that of previous mass-produced electric vehicles, like General Motors' EV1.

"It didn't make sense to sell a car that couldn't go 90 miles on a charge. You'd spend more time charging the old EVs than driving them," said Eberhard. "Lithium-ion technology, which has been proven in many different applications, has allowed us to achieve exactly what we thought it would in terms of power, range and efficiency."

The body design of the Tesla Roadster, which included a collaborative effort by the company's employees, has been headed by Barney Hatt, Principal Designer at the Lotus Design Studio in England. The result is a sleek, stylish sports car that will appeal to enthusiasts and environmentalists the world over.

Tesla designers and engineers have gone to great lengths to ensure that not only is the Tesla Roadster safe to drive, but also when charging the performance electric car, at home or on the road. Their goal is to not only meet, but to surpass the rigorous standards of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, or FMVSS, as implemented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Tesla co-founders Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, who serves as Vice President, Engineering, have brought together a team of automotive industry veterans plus Silicon Valley electronics and Internet engineers to bring the Tesla Roadster to life.

Research and Development for Tesla Motors is based at the Corporate Headquarters in San Carlos, Calif. Engines are manufactured at Tesla's facility in Taiwan, and assembly takes place at Tesla's plant in England.

Eberhard and Tarpenning provided the early funding for the company, and were joined in 2003 by Musk, CEO of SpaceX, who is the major investor in the company and serves as Chairman of Tesla Motors.

Musk worked with Eberhard and Tarpenning to attract more investors and approach Venture Capital firms, and in June 2006, Tesla Motors announced that the company had secured and additional $40 million in financing led by Musk and VantagePoint Venture Partners, one of the largest CleanTech investors in the Silicon Valley.

Deliveries of the Tesla Roadster are expected to begin next summer.

About Tesla Motors
Tesla Motors was founded in July 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning to create efficient electric cars for people who love to drive. The Chairman of Tesla Motors, a privately held company, is Elon Musk, who has lead or co-led all three rounds of investment resulting in $60 million in funding. Mr. Musk has been instrumental in both corporate and product development at Tesla Motors.

The company currently employs 70 people, including teams in California, the U.K. and Taiwan. The background and experience of Tesla's employees mirrors the vehicle itself, drawing from diverse expertise in the electronics, automotive and Internet industries.

Tesla Motors creates vehicles that conform to all U.S. safety, environmental and durability standards. Tesla's cars include modern safety equipment such as airbags, front crumple zones, side impact protection, and 2½ mph bumpers. Tesla will sell cars in the U.S. only when they pass the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS).

For more information, visit www.teslamotors.com

Motor:
* 3-phase, 4-pole AC induction motor
* 13,500 rpm maximum
* Max Net Power: 185 kW
* Max Torque: 180 lb-ft
* Top speed: over 130 mph

Performance
* 0-60 mph: around four seconds
* 0-100 mph: under 11 seconds
* Range: 200-250 miles per charge (estimated)
* Home-based charging system (EVSE) with integral safety features

Transmission:
* 2 forward speeds + reverse (by reversing the motor)
* 1st gear: 4.20:1
* 2nd gear: 2.17:1
* Reverse by reversing the motor (speed electronically limited)
* Final drive: 3.41:1

Exterior:
* Body: Carbon fiber
* Unique headlamp assemblies using proprietary HID low-beam and halogen high-beam lamp units
* LED taillights, marker lights and direction indicator lights
* Length: 155.4 / 3946 (in/mm)

[mikeyb]

Ok I just had to wipe the drool off my keyboard.

[mikeyb]

1st review:http://www.wired.com/news/wiredmag/0,71414-0.html?tw=wn_story_page_prev2

[RacerXGirl]

That is one hot car...looks and functionality. Nice!

[Hughes412]

How many people are going to rip off Lotus?

[p5power]

even then, its still hot.

[Metal MP5]

haha yeah 1st thing that came to mind was "nice elise"

[Donas64]

Sure the styling is a little contrived, but man I like it. Imagine how surreal it would be whizzing along with just the dull roar of tires and the wind whistling by! I'd rock it!

[mikeyb]

haha yeah 1st thing that came to mind was "nice elise"

An Elise with hybrid power.

[mikeyb]

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The headlamps look like Acura NSX units.

[Donas64]

Gives new meaning to the term "Silent but Deadly"

[SpeedBeaver]

An Elise with hybrid power.
I just read the article you posted (the review)... check this quote:

By the time the eggnog was gone, the green dots had coalesced around a drawing by Barney Hatt of Lotus Design in England.

no wonder it looks like an elise!

[Mallard]

An Elise with hybrid power.
It's an Elise with Electric only power, not hybrid. It looks like an Elise because it is. It only got a minor restyling for Tesla. It's even going to be built by Lotus.

[mikeyb]

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Reports came out yesterday that Tesla Motors had sold out its first batch of 100 Signature models, which retail at a price of between $80,000 and $120,000. It's not surprising to us that Martin Eberhard, Elon Musk and company succeeded in selling their first 100 cars. Musk, the company's chairman, told AutoblogGreen (http://www.autobloggreen.com/2006/07/26/exclusive-q-and-a-with-elon-musk-on-the-tesla-roadster-and-the-fut/) that after the car's introduction on July 19th, "We have 100 collector's edition cars for sale that require a $100,000 up front deposit for purchase and only a few units are left." So it took them a few weeks to unload the remaining that weren't sold at the unveiling, but as Engadget notes, Tesla Motors just raised $10 million in capital in less than a month. CNET reports that only a few cars have actually been built so far and there's no word from Tesla Motors on when the next wave of orders will be announced.

[Source: CNET via Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/16/first-batch-of-tesla-motors-electric-cars-sold-out/)]

[Autoblog]

[mikeyb]

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Tesla Motors has announced that the range for its yet-to-be-released Roadster will not meet prior expectations. In a letter written to customers that have placed a deposit on the car, Tesla explained that after testing of prototype vehicles in accordance with EPA certification, the Tesla will likely have a range of over 200 miles, short of the 250 mile mark that was previously given.


According to Tesla, design changes have been made to the Roadster's battery pack and chassis to increase the safety and durability of the car. Unfortunately, the modifications increased weight by several hundred pounds, resulting in reduced range.

-MotorTrend



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[B1GHAM]

http://imgup-lb.automotive.com:8080/files/6331646.w600.jpg

Tesla Motors has announced that the range for its yet-to-be-released Roadster will not meet prior expectations. In a letter written to customers that have placed a deposit on the car, Tesla explained that after testing of prototype vehicles in accordance with EPA certification, the Tesla will likely have a range of over 200 miles, short of the 250 mile mark that was previously given.


According to Tesla, design changes have been made to the Roadster's battery pack and chassis to increase the safety and durability of the car. Unfortunately, the modifications increased weight by several hundred pounds, resulting in reduced range.

-MotorTrend



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so will it be safe to assume that not only does mileage decrease, but performance takes a nice hit as well?

[TinmanMS6]

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If you plunked down six figures and expected to be motoring around in your emissions-free Tesla Roadster by now, chances are there might be a few ants in your pants. The all-EV Tesla Roadster has hit a few speed bumps on its road to production, and in order to address these concerns, the fledgling automaker held a town hall meeting in San Carlos yesterday that was available to anyone who made a deposit for a car via conference call.

The skinny is that Tesla is having a difficult time developing a transmission strong enough to "survive the process of shifting gears while the motor remains at full torque", according to our own Sam Abuelsamid who has been following the Roadster's development from Day 1 and has actually rode shotgun in it. Two suppliers are currently working simultaneously to find a solution. Meanwhile, the company has gone ahead and built the first production model at the Lotus factory in Hethel, England. The first car belongs to Elon Musk, Chairman of the company and one of its initial investors. His car is fitted, however, with a transmission that he knows will fail in a few thousand miles.

Tesla also revealed that it is considering shipping some preordered Roadsters to customers early with similar transmissions that will be temporary and later replaced with the stronger transmission once it's developed. For those really eager to own a Tesla Roadster, this might be an option, but would you want to drive around a car with a gearbox that was guaranteed to fail after a few thousand miles?

Also of note is that the Tesla Roadster's range estimate has fallen a bit again from a previously reported range of 245 miles to something in the 220- to 230-mile range. Still impressive, but let's hope it doesn't fall any further.

Click here to read more about the town hall meeting over at AutoblogGreen.

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

[BlackCherry06]

Or...customers could just act responsibly and not accelerate at full throttle until they get their new transmission, and perhaps avoid an ugly towing situation from aside a busy highway.

[TinmanMS6]

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The California-based all-electric automaker has now confirmed to Inside Line that it will begin production of its first batch of roadsters on March 17, though they'll be fitted with temporary two-speed transmissions and retrofitted later with what the company calls DriveTrain 1.5. Production of the EV Roadster, however, will take a while to gear up: initially the company will build just one vehicle per week, getting into the full swing of 40 cars per week by the end of the year.


Observers also recently noticed a banner reading "Coming Spring 2008" that was hanging in front of Tesla's dealership in Los Angeles has disappeared. With Tesla Motors being so much in the spotlight, some speculated that the Roadsters arrival had been delayed again. The company's spokesman, Joe Powers, has revealed that the banner merely blew off and hasn't been re-hung yet. It just goes to show how interested and impatient people are for the Tesla Roadster to finally arrive.

[MakeMeGoFast]

Any idea of cost?

[BlackCherry06]

Base price: $98K

And if you don't live near San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, or Miami, Tesla Motors will add an $8,000 Out of Service Area fee to price of your car to ensure they can provide you with a superior quality of service. The fee includes the cost of dispatching a technician to your home or transporting the Tesla Roadster to the nearest Tesla Store when service is necessary.

[TinmanMS6]

Any idea of cost?

Around $80,000


Reports came out yesterday that Tesla Motors had sold out its first batch of 100 Signature models, which retail at a price of between $80,000 and $120,000. It's not surprising to us that Martin Eberhard, Elon Musk and company succeeded in selling their first 100 cars. Musk, the company's chairman, told AutoblogGreen that after the car's introduction on July 19th, "We have 100 collector's edition cars for sale that require a $100,000 up front deposit for purchase and only a few units are left." So it took them a few weeks to unload the remaining that weren't sold at the unveiling, but as Engadget notes, Tesla Motors just raised $10 million in capital in less than a month. CNET reports that only a few cars have actually been built so far and there's no word from Tesla Motors on when the next wave of orders will be announced.

[MakeMeGoFast]

Its exciting to see that these are actually being made. And they actually look pretty good. Front end looks NSXish.

[mp3moose]

Crappy tesla...

[TinmanMS6]

Its exciting to see that these are actually being made. And they actually look pretty good. Front end looks NSXish.

From most other angles, it looks almost exactly like a Lotus Elise.

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[BlackCherry06]

"I have been especially interested in the Tesla since it based on the Lotus Elise chassis and is in fact assembled by Lotus in Hethel in an arrangement similar to that used on the Opel Speedster/Vauxhall VX200. However unlike the Opel/Vauxhall, which were more like badge engineered Elises, the Tesla uses a substantially modified Elise chassis with an all-electric powertrain and is a whole new beast. " --G Living Network

[mikeyb]

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Press Release

First production 2008 Tesla Roadster Imported – Series Production Begins in March

0. Tesla Motors has received all regulatory approvals to import the first production Tesla Roadster (“P1”) for sale. This includes all necessary EPA and DOT approvals, including completion of all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS.)
0. P1 will arrive at Tesla Motors headquarters next week for delivery to customer Elon Musk, Chairman of Tesla Motors.
0. Series production of the Tesla Roadster is scheduled to begin March 17th, 2008.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
0. As communicated previously, early production units will be equipped with an interim transmission that meets durability requirements but limits acceleration to 5.7 seconds from 0 to 60 mph.
0. Separately, Tesla Motors engineers have designed a permanent solution for mass production that supports the original specification of 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds.
0. The planned solution has some very positive benefits for our customers. Instead of a complex 2-speed transmission design, Tesla will achieve the original performance goals with a simpler one-speed unit mated to a higher rated Power Electronics Module (PEM.) The existing motor will be modified to have advanced cooling capabilities to handle the additional power. The permanent transmission unit will be engineered to handle the higher torque of the powertrain.
0. The planned solution reduces program risk, provides better efficiency, lower weight, equal or better range, better thermal performance and quicker quarter mile acceleration due to the elimination of the need to shift gears.
0. The planned solution incorporates the latest developments of our powertrain team which has been continually improving on Tesla’s core technology.
0. Early production will proceed at a limited rate and then ramp up to full production when the permanent powertrain solution is production ready later this year.
The upgrade from the interim solution to the higher power, permanent solution will be provided to our customers free of charge when available later this year.
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[melicha8]

Awesome. I wish this project the best of luck in the coming sales year.

[gone_fishin]

These are such cool cars. I hear the uniform acceleration is a unique experience. It's to bad they're so pricey.

[Flash5]

I really wish I could just drive one once, just to see what it was like cause god knows i'll never be able to afford one.

[TinmanMS6]

http://www.egmcartech.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/tesla_number_6_crashed_image_main.jpg

Tesla has delivered about 10 or so models of its $100,000 roadster so far. Well, #6 of the 10 was crashed shortly after it was delivered to an unnamed private owner. Many thought the driver of the crashed black green beauty was Darryl Siry, Tesla’s Vice President of Marketing. Siry later told Wired.com that #6 had been delivered to the customer shortly before the accident.

“It was a Tesla customer who got into that accident. We’re aware of it because we service our vehicles,” he said.

That’s nice. But what’s more interesting is that witnesses say that that the cause of the accident was due to the fact that the Tesla roadster had gone “unnoticed” because of its silent powertrain. Not to mention the airbags didn’t deploy either.

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[wishingfora ms3]

am i missing something..? the accident was caused by it being so quiet, yet it is crammed under the backside of another car. unless it was hit from another car from behind. but still this statement does not make much sense. my girlfriend's honda accord v-6 is so quiet i think its not on sometimes.

[jred321]

yes, it was so quiet that someone either didn't see it and rear ended it or it drove into the car in front of it. when i think of silent cars those are some of the things that come to mind. ???

and when do people actually hear another person's car when driving anyways? unless it has a fartcan exhaust most of the time i certainly don't hear other's cars, either because of my radio, my own car's road noise, or because my windows are rolled up

and why would the airbags deploy? doesn't look like more than a fender bender, just made slightly worse because of the low front of the car turning it into a ramp


just sounds like the article writer doesn't like the car and was looking for an opportunity to put it down

[Flash5]

haha o god that sucks, i really dont get why all of a sudden people are complaining about cars being too quiet, we have had the prius for many years no issues

[pdqgp]

the press just put out an artical about 1-2 weeks back talking about how the Prius is more dangerous to pedestrians in parking lots due to it's relative silence.

the above article is a bit dumb in terms of airbag deployment.....from looking at the photos, unless one were to mount the sensors in the middle of the hood, the result is normal.


haha o god that sucks, i really dont get why all of a sudden people are complaining about cars being too quiet, we have had the prius for many years no issues

[LASERBLUE135]

This is absolutely absurd, I have my music playing so loud often that I dont' hear ambulances. has nothing to do with the accident. Idiot.

[Koenig]

This is absolutely absurd, I have my music playing so loud often that I dont' hear ambulances. has nothing to do with the accident. Idiot.


I'm the same....... I have a hearing loss but if my radio is off I will hear sirens. With my radio on I hear nothing, even my passengers who aren't hearing impaired will not hear it most the time (dunno)

The airbag not deploying makes sense...... the car is so low set that the sensors are in the bumper and since the car in front of it sits higher the rear bumper just smashed into the hood.

The "witnesses" thing is B.S. it's probably just the guy who wasn't paying attention trying to get out of a ticket "zomg I didn't hear the engine I didn't know!!!!" SO....... you can't see now either? Shouldn't be driving then (rofl)

God what a waste though....... I have for the longest time admired the tesla roadster...... 100% electric car, 0-60 in 3.3 seconds and it will get up to it's 130 mph top end in less than 10 seconds..... Such a nice car to have. Poor thing. That guy's insurance is SCREWED (the one who hit the Tesla, which is what I'm thinking happened) that's gonna be a pretty penny to fix (freak)

[MikeLikesMazda]

that car is the sex, even when its under another car haha

[Koenig]

Such a shame it costs $100k. I bet they'd get more customers if they could drop the cost to $50-$60k.

[LASERBLUE135]

Such a shame it costs $100k. I bet they'd get more customers if they could drop the cost to $50-$60k.

like said above, insurance will skyrocket, but anyone who owns one of these is not concerned with insurance price or with the $100k sticker.

..you know if the company does well they can invest in a cheaper slightly less sporty model for average folks!!!

[kickniteasy]

great......another amazing car falling victim to a dumb driver....

I say he got a little too pedal happy and couldn't brake in time.

[i12drivemyMP5]

Silent farts are much more dangerous than noisy ones so why not cars?

[altspace]

Doh! That'll buff out.

[Koenig]

like said above, insurance will skyrocket, but anyone who owns one of these is not concerned with insurance price or with the $100k sticker.

..you know if the company does well they can invest in a cheaper slightly less sporty model for average folks!!!


I don't see your insurance post, that's why I asked... LOL (spank)

But yeah, if you can afford a $100k car, I doubt you're too worried about insurance prices, but then again you shouldn't really be worried about gas prices either. But I would say it is nice to be "exclusive" so a $100k electric car that is super rare (only 10 sold so far) as opposed to a $100k gas car, it does have it's appeals

[Koenig]

the press just put out an artical about 1-2 weeks back talking about how the Prius is more dangerous to pedestrians in parking lots due to it's relative silence.

the above article is a bit dumb in terms of airbag deployment.....from looking at the photos, unless one were to mount the sensors in the middle of the hood, the result is normal.


Ugh, yeah I forgot to mention....... a lot of people don't hear the Prius, so someone can be stupid enough to be looking down while driving and plow into you (when they shouldn't be looking down anyway) and I've heard blind people are lobbying to get the Prius removed or louder exhausts, because they can't hear it coming when they cross crosswalks.

[mordant80]

I think I'd cry if that happened to me (sad1)

[jred321]

a lot of people don't hear the Prius, so someone can be stupid enough to be looking down while driving and plow into you (when they shouldn't be looking down anyway)
how does audio play a factor in plowing into someone plowing into someone else while driving? i can more see the pedestrians' point as when walking you can hear cars driving and if you're blind that's even more important. i can't understand how that plays into 1 car hitting another car while moving though. parked cars are silent yet people somehow avoid hitting them

[TinmanMS6]

My guess is that the other car didn't check its blind spot and changed lanes into the Tesla.

[Koenig]

how does audio play a factor in plowing into someone plowing into someone else while driving? i can more see the pedestrians' point as when walking you can hear cars driving and if you're blind that's even more important. i can't understand how that plays into 1 car hitting another car while moving though. parked cars are silent yet people somehow avoid hitting them


Well I made no mention of plowing into another car, I said they're lobbying for the prius to be louder because pedestrians can't hear the car, and blind people especially function mostly by noise.

But you're right, the comment from the article makes no sense, because of it's noiseless drivetrain they hit the car? I don't see what that has to do with a car that's sitting in front of you.

[mysleeper6]

As far as the noiseless-ness of electric cars playing a role in accidents, I can't really comment. However, one of the things I preach to my firefighters (I'm a fire training officer) is that when it comes to hybrids the electric motor can engage at anytime, and operates silently. This makes it particularly important to guarantee that these vehicles are secured (ignition off, transmission in park) when we work a patient in them after they are involved in accidents. We had an incident a couple of years ago where everyone assumed the accident vehicle was secured when it suddenly accelerated across two lanes and into the front bumper of a fire truck, taking a paramedic and the patient with it, and that was a gasoline engine car. There was just too much road noise to hear the car idling.

[TinmanMS6]

As far as the noiseless-ness of electric cars playing a role in accidents, I can't really comment. However, one of the things I preach to my firefighters (I'm a fire training officer) is that when it comes to hybrids the electric motor can engage at anytime, and operates silently. This makes it particularly important to guarantee that these vehicles are secured (ignition off, transmission in park) when we work a patient in them after they are involved in accidents. We had an incident a couple of years ago where everyone assumed the accident vehicle was secured when it suddenly accelerated across two lanes and into the front bumper of a fire truck, taking a paramedic and the patient with it, and that was a gasoline engine car. There was just too much road noise to hear the car idling.

I swear, people in parking lots can't even hear my Hemi-powered Grand Cherokee coming up behind them. I always have to goose the throttle a couple times before people look over their shoulder and walk off to the side, rather than right down the middle. I need a Magnaflow or something.

[Koenig]

I swear, people in parking lots can't even hear my Hemi-powered Grand Cherokee coming up behind them. I always have to goose the throttle a couple times before people look over their shoulder and walk off to the side, rather than right down the middle. I need a Magnaflow or something.


Wow....... is it because of THEM being retarded, or has Jeep really bottle-necked your exhaust system that it doesn't really sound all that loud, despite being a V8 ?

[TinmanMS6]

Wow....... is it because of THEM being retarded, or has Jeep really bottle-necked your exhaust system that it doesn't really sound all that loud, despite being a V8 ?

Bit of both. What are you doing walking down the middle in the first place? But yeah, it's pretty quiet...perhaps even as quiet as a Tesla...deadly quiet. (scratch)

[Koenig]

Bit of both. What are you doing walking down the middle in the first place? But yeah, it's pretty quiet...perhaps even as quiet as a Tesla...deadly quiet. (scratch)


LOL, sometimes I just wish I could run people over. I mean COME ON, growing up my father always taught me not to play in the street, and he would tan my backside if he caught me. You'd think as adults people these days would know better than to walk in the middle of the street.(dunno) I'm about ready to get a train horn for the MS6, just to scare the crap out of people that like to walk in the middle of the street

[jred321]

get one that plays la cucaracha instead. way cooler and will get people to notice you

[Koenig]

LMFAO....... I think I've seen that video on youtube.

[aMaff]

get one that plays la cucaracha instead. way cooler and will get people to notice that you're a douche with a cucaracha horn

fixed :p

But yea, I can't see how sound was even a factor in this accident

[magnumP5]

LOL, sometimes I just wish I could run people over. I mean COME ON, growing up my father always taught me not to play in the street, and he would tan my backside if he caught me. You'd think as adults people these days would know better than to walk in the middle of the street.(dunno) I'm about ready to get a train horn for the MS6, just to scare the crap out of people that like to walk in the middle of the street
This is because they are the most important person in the world and they wouldn't dare think of the inconvenience it would cause them to have to walk on the side let alone get out of someone's way. How can we expect people so esteemed to do something considerate for us lower human beings?

[NCZ13]

i kind of agree that prius and other so called quiet hybrids can be potentailly dangerous to pedestrians in parking lots.

its happened several times where i almost walked into a camry or prius pulling out of their space. or when minute you see the car in the spot, turn around, and the car is now facing you.

as for the tesla... sound couldnt have been an issue with this accident.

[magnumP5]

^^^ I'll agree with you there about the pulling out of parking spaces bit. I've actually had that happen many times (not just with hybrids) where I'm walking down the side of the isle - especially with back-in cars on at times where the sunlight masks the fact that the reverse lights are on. At this point it becomes the driver's fault.

[Koenig]

^^^ I'll agree with you there about the pulling out of parking spaces bit. I've actually had that happen many times (not just with hybrids) where I'm walking down the side of the isle - especially with back-in cars on at times where the sunlight masks the fact that the reverse lights are on. At this point it becomes the driver's fault.


I don't know about anywhere else....... but according to FL traffic laws, the Pedestrian has the right of way in a parking lot, I will flat out walk out to cross the street if I see cars hauling ass in a PARKING LOT where there are kids with parents, and they should be driving slow.

They ALWAYS slow down as soon as I look at them, its funny.

Except this one crackheaded 16 yr old going down a wrong way, he zoomed by and goes "get out of the way!" and I ran after him screaming "say it to my faaaaaaaaaaaace"

and he hauled ass ROFL, I guess I probably did look a little psycho, but I was having a bad day (dunno)


you know what else gets me? people who ride their bike in the street, when there is a sidewalk right there, I always yell at them "use the sidewalk!!" But not because they are in my way, but because I'm sure some ass jockey isn't going to be paying attention and swipe the poor person

[jred321]

you know what else gets me? people who ride their bike in the street, when there is a sidewalk right there, I always yell at them "use the sidewalk!!" But not because they are in my way, but because I'm sure some ass jockey isn't going to be paying attention and swipe the poor person
riding your bike on the sidewalk is illegal. sidewalks are for pedestrians only. a cop can ticket you for riding on the sidewalk (though they only do if they're being dicks)

[evilmonkeyMSP]

a person on a bike is considered a "vehicle" and actually isnt supposed to ride on the sidewalk..its illegal

edit: damn you jared...

[Koenig]

Have they changed the statute? Last time I checked it was ok to ride on the sidewalk when there wasn't a designated "bike lane" on the road. Why should I put my life at risk riding on a road with no "bike lane" that gives me space not to be run over.

I think you guys should double check :(

[jred321]

it could be on a town by town basis but that's what i was always taught. i know i've read about people getting ticketed in nyc because they rode on the sidewalk

[aMaff]

yeah, to my knowledge sidewalks are for pedestrians...

[jred321]

after a quick search it looks like it varies by location. for florida:

Sidewalk riding
(Section 316.2065( 10) and (11), F.S.)
When riding on a sidewalk or crosswalk, a bicyclist has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian.
Comment: Sidewalks are not designed for bicycle speeds, but bicycle use is allowed except where prohibited by local ordinance (e.g. in the central business districts of many cities). Although a cyclist riding on a sidewalk has the rights and duties of a pedestrian, he is still a "bicycle rider" and his bicycle is still a "bicycle". Consequently, laws that pertain to required equipment and to carriage of passengers (see above) are still applicable.
Since a cyclist riding on a sidewalk does not have the duties (or rights) of a driver, he may ride in either direction. (However, it is safer to ride in the direction of traffic, since drivers do not expect cyclists to come from the other direction at driveways and crosswalks.) At a signalized intersection, he must obey the instructions of any applicable pedestrian control signal. That is, he may start to cross a roadway in a crosswalk only during a steady Walk phase, if one is displayed. If no pedestrian signal is provided, the cyclist may proceed in accordance with the signal indications for the parallel roadway traffic flow (Section 316.084, F.S.).


different state laws (probably tough to find town/city specifics anywhere) http://www.bikeleague.org/action/bikelaws/state_laws.php

[Koenig]

Well then we're both right and wrong..... so my mistake. I knew bikes were allowed on sidewalks in FL, I just assumed it was elsewhere too. Thats an error on my part .......... oops? lol :X

[coolmazda5]

That’s nice. But what’s more interesting is that witnesses say that that the cause of the accident was due to the fact that the Tesla roadster had gone “unnoticed” because of its silent powertrain. Not to mention the airbags didn’t deploy either.


Bwahaha, Do witnesses live in the Henry Ford era? Or the Tesla is also invisible? Except by very few cars, the majority of "modern" cars do not produce a noticeable noise when you are driving next, in front or behind them. I think there is more noise coming out of their tires against the asphalt than the actual engine...

[Koenig]

Bwahaha, Do witnesses live in the Henry Ford era? Or the Tesla is also invisible? Except by very few cars, the majority of "modern" cars do not produce a noticeable noise when you are driving next, in front or behind them. I think there is more noise coming out of their tires against the asphalt than the actual engine...


Its like I said before....... it's a BS excuse because they weren't paying attention and hit the car (wow)

There's a saying for/amongst motorcyclists "Loud pipes save lives" And it's true because people don't often look, but they'll HEAR (for the most part)

I'm starting to assume the same is for cars, becuase I see people freaking pull out right in front of me without turn signals or anything, so I assume no one is looking and expecting others to watch out for them. I wish I could shoot someone, shit! Drives me nuts (braindead

[bazooka joe]

maybe the driver didn't know if it was on and was fumbling with the start button...(hand)

[AWDTerror]

just looking at the bad rear angle pic of it, it looks like it was rear ended then pushed into the car ahead of it. look at the driver side rear bumper hanging down.

[Koenig]

Good eye, I didn't notice that...... but it looks like the passenger side to me.

[TinmanMS6]

Tesla Motors may have already sold 27 examples of its groundbreaking Roadster, but with an announcement today that a new production-spec one-speed gearbox has been approved; the company is ready to take the next step in ramping up vehicle delivery.

The new BorgWarner gearbox is part of an enhanced powertrain for the Tesla which will see the car net solid gains in both performance and efficiency. The new powertrain will boost torque from the motor by an estimated 30 percent and return a 10 percent more efficient overall mileage rating from the EPA—raising the Roadster’s effective range from the original 221 miles between charges to as many as 244 miles.

The tens of customers who’ve already taken delivery of the Roadster won’t be left out in the cold either, as Tesla has promised to retrofit the new powertrain in existing vehicles free of charge, no pun intended.

With these final details now in place, Tesla hopes to begin producing its EV sports cars at the rate of 10 per week, with a goal of moving to as many as 40 per week by the early part of 2009. Said Tesla chief Ze’ev Drori, “Now that we have a final powertrain design, in a matter of months there will be hundreds of Tesla Roadsters across the country.”

[BlackCherry06]

You know you've arrived when you can afford to buy a $100K car and pay for the service plan that requires technicians to fly to your location to service the car.

Having said that..I'd love to have one.

[mikeyb]

I would love to have one...but that will not happen anytime soon unless I find a sugadaddy.

I saw a Yellow Tesla in Boston the other day. Everyone thought it was a new Elise.

[BlackCherry06]

Eh..sugardaddies are overrated. They think because they're paying the bills, that they get all the contol. Mama don't play that way.

Win the lottery so the money and control are ALL yours. :-)

[Koenig]

+1 on owning the Tesla and winning the lotto, though if I had $100k I can think of something else I'd definitely rather spend the money on.

[BlackCherry06]

Considering its performance capabilities, I'd have no problem dropping some lottery winnings on one.

One thing that puzzles me about the transmission issue. How can a one-speed transmission possibly extract more torque from the motor than a 2-speed? I thought the purpose of having multiple cogs is to ensure you have power down low and speed up top. Amazing that they're getting both from one cog.

[TinmanMS6]

Considering its performance capabilities, I'd have no problem dropping some lottery winnings on one.

One thing that puzzles me about the transmission issue. How can a one-speed transmission possibly extract more torque from the motor than a 2-speed? I thought the purpose of having multiple cogs is to ensure you have power down low and speed up top. Amazing that they're getting both from one cog.

It's an electric motor. It's got the same torque from 1 rpm to 10,000 rpm. Doesn't matter.

I AM confused how they got more range AND better acceleration, unless the tranny is just more efficient in general.

[Koenig]

To be honest I have no idea how that would work, I think it has something to do with the electric drivetrain and having one long gear? Kind of like people who put powerglides in their mustangs? Hell if I know.... oh and I was referring to the if I had 100k like if i won 100k from the lotto or had an extra 100k, if i won the millions from the lotto I'd buy one hands down.

[edit]
Never mind, I see that Tinman DID state it has to do with the electric motor, I too am curious how it's more efficient and more power though, if all they changed was the gear, and didnt touch the engine itself

[NCZ13]

i think it has to do with electricity is instant power, while with an internal combustion engine, it has to rev to get power.

think of it like flipping a switch to turn on a light.

[magnumP5]

i think it has to do with electricity is instant power, while with an internal combustion engine, it has to rev to get power.

think of it like flipping a switch to turn on a light.
Yep, electric motors have instantaneous and constant torque but it still seems they should have more than one gear. I mean, wouldn't a battery burn out more quickly running at a constant 5000 RPM as opposed to a constant 2500 RPM? Maybe they considered this and determined the drivetrain loos to be too much?

[TinmanMS6]

Yep, electric motors have instantaneous and constant torque but it still seems they should have more than one gear. I mean, wouldn't a battery burn out more quickly running at a constant 5000 RPM as opposed to a constant 2500 RPM? Maybe they considered this and determined the drivetrain loos to be too much?

I'm not sure. The original plan was to have a 2-speed gearbox. I haven't seen any indication other than supplier issues that led to the 1-speed. I thought after the issues were sorted out, the final drivetrain was going to have 2 gears.

[Koenig]

MAYBE........ somehow......... the computer fuctions are so efficient that when the PCM reads you doing a constant speed (lets say 40 mph) it drops "rpms" down to maintain the efficiency and long mileage ?

[TinmanMS6]

MAYBE........ somehow......... the computer fuctions are so efficient that when the PCM reads you doing a constant speed (lets say 40 mph) it drops "rpms" down to maintain the efficiency and long mileage ?

Not gonna happen. With one gear, RPM:engine speed is a constant.

[Koenig]

hell if I know, I don't know anything about electric engines, lol. Still it does make you wonder HOW they're getting better mileage with only 1 gear over 2, doesn't it?

[stdntDrvr]

cvt?

[HondaNoMore]

i think it may have something to do with the fact that electric engines put out HUGE amounts of torque as soon as they're turned on. so you could essentially have a car with ONLY a 5th gear because the engine would have the power to turn the wheels.

[lasermp5]

ok, so when does the engine audio soundtrack option become available?