<VV> I want an electric sports car -Tesla Motors Roadster!!!
(Convert your vair to electric with the drive train)
Bill Elliott
corvair at fnader.com
Thu Sep 14 14:48:24 EDT 2006
Sorry, I couldn't get past the first sentence. As a founding investor,
what kind of awesome deal can you cut for us? ;-)
Bill
Eric S. Eberhard wrote:
> This may come as a surprise to you all, but Tesla Motors is my
> brother's company, and most of our family are founding investors. So
> I am not biased. Here is my take on the car:
>
> Most auto technology starts with expensive cars and moves down to more
> pedestrian cars as the cost of the new technology is recovered.
> However, in the past, electric cars have been the opposite. They have
> tried to build "eco" cars and economy sedans first. They are way too
> expensive to actually be an economy car, and to keep costs down they
> are poor performers in terms of range and traditional performance
> measurements.
>
> The idea of the Tesla roadster is to fund new electric car technology
> by starting with a more expensive car. In the future there will be
> sedans and coupes with much more reasonable prices for the average
> person, as the technology filters down.
>
> The car stands on it's own two feet as a sports car -- no matter the
> power train. It goes 0-60 in under 4 seconds. But that is actually a
> deceiving number. When a car magazine tests say a Porsche Turbo (3.6
> seconds 0-60 these days) they make many "runs." This is to determine
> the best amount of wheel spin/clutch slip/rev/etc at launch and to
> determine best shift tactics. When all is said and done they pick the
> best number. Of course, all of this is done with professional
> drivers. Gasoline cars also perform differently and different
> altitude and temperature. Several of the magazine "adjust" their
> times for these factors. The Tesla Roadster is much different (I have
> driven several including my brother's first prototype). Just plant
> your foot and hang on!!! It will duplicate it's 0-60 time each and
> every time. The computer handles the launch, and there is no shift
> point. The altitude and temp. make no difference (perhaps to tire
> stickiness?). In the real world my grandmother in a Tesla Roadster
> would beat a supposedly faster Vette or Porsche 999 out of 1000
> times. The feeling of torque is stunning -- like a roller coaster
> almost. It has 100% of it's torque at zero rpm (idle :-) ).
>
> The chassis has strong ties to the Lotus Elan. There are major
> differences to handle different weight and weight distribution, as
> well as changes to improve the passenger compartment. The Elan is one
> of the world's best handling cars, this car may be better. So
> although some of the skill required for obtaining great 0-60 times,
> with the power this car has, handling at the limit should take
> considerable skill and be a joy (I have not been allowed to test this
> as crashing one of the prototypes would not be good).
>
> Braking is stunning. Because of the rear engine the weight transfer
> to the front during braking is minimized, and it stops instantly.
> That is why Corvairs stop so well for a 60's car with drum brakes.
>
> It also has all the toys expected in a high end sports car such as nav
> system, blue tooth, iPod dock to go with the awesome stereo, climate
> control, leather, convertible hard top, etc.
>
> So someone considering a Vette or Porsche or Viper could at least
> consider the Tesla on it's performance and luxury merits alone. As a
> bonus, in jaded California it will remain a bit unique for a while.
> The icing on the cake is that it is electric. In California this
> often make it one of the fastest real life cars -- it can run in the
> commuter lanes with only the driver :-) !!! In rush hour it'll beat
> any other "super car." And people get to feel good about being green.
>
> It is also very cheap to operate -- about 2 cents per mile for
> "fuel." It has no oil changes or other drivetrain maintenance
> issues. There is even a hookup for solar systems so that the car can
> be powered by solar and also feed power back in to the home.
>
> The technology is actually rather stunning. It uses laptop
> batteries. It will easily go 250 miles. My brother routinely drives
> from Palo Alto (Bay Area) to SLO (Central CA, San Luis Obispo),
> charges the car over night on standard home circuit, and then drives
> to LA the next morning. It uses sophisticated software to accomplish
> a lot of what it does, including regenerative braking that works
> behind the scenes (e.g. the driver just drives the car like any other
> car, the electronics manage the regeneration). The transmission
> (which you shift at 65 or so, if you want to bother) uses electronics
> to match the motor and shaft speeds, avoiding heavy synchros and
> clutches and so forth.
> If you choose you can just leave it in 2nd gear all the time -- 0-60
> is reduced to something just under 6 seconds which is generally
> sufficient.
>
> I should point out that there are a lot of "cottage" or "niche" auto
> builders, some that even make electric cars quicker than this one.
> But, this is no cottage builder. This is a real car with real-world
> driveability. They have already sold the first 100 cars, and it won't
> even be available for another 9 months or so. After they add the
> sedan (with a factory being built in the USA) they intend to become a
> "real" car company. My brother dreams big, and he is thinking "Ford",
> not "Caterham" or "DeLorean" as his model.
>
> Anyone interested in meeting my brother or seeing/driving prototypes
> or whatever, drop me a line. I MIGHT be able to arrange it (he is very
> busy and the prototypes are often unavailable).
>
> I have had the vague idea of taking his drive train and dropping it in
> to an early convertible. It will easily fit, and the drive train
> weighs 200 lbs or so, easy to support. Because it uses laptop
> batteries, I can then scatter them about to get good weight
> distribution. Sort of a modern interpretation of the electro-vair. I
> am probably too lazy to actually do it, but it is a pleasant thought.
> Anyone that wants to try, let me know, I can help! I'll probably end
> up with a real Tesla Roadster instead.
>
> Eric
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> At 05:52 AM 9/14/2006, you wrote:
>
>> Yeah, I was this on Top gear, I think. It's pretty good looking. And
>> fast. I would have one. I have to say that I like quite a bit.
>>
>> As for my previous statement that most electrics are ugly, I stand by
>> it. I should have prefaced that by saying that I think most car
>> companies are making crap looking cars and have been for years. The
>> current 'vette is less offensive than it has been in the past, but
>> that's about it. The rest of chevy's endeavors are awful. Ford's are
>> twice as ugly. The only Chrylsers I've seen in recent years that i
>> liked are the sebring convertible (pre-2000) and the PT cruiser,
>> although I think they screwed up the front grill and bumper with the
>> last design changes.
>>
>> One, two, three... flames wars begin!!!
>>
>> -Cash
>>
>>
>> On Sep 13, 2006, at 4:52 PM, Sethracer at aol.com wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> In a message dated 9/13/2006 8:18:19 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
>>> corvair at fnader.com writes:
>>>
>>> The majority of folks currently driving hybrids WANT the attention
>>> and
>>> are drawn to the "different" look of the cars.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> If this is the different look - It's okay by me! The Tesla
>>> roadster. - WOW!
>>> _http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/20/tesla-roadster-unveiling-in-
>>> santa-monica/_
>>>
>>> (http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/20/tesla-roadster-unveiling-in-
>>> santa-monica/)
>>>
>>> - Seth
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>>
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>
>
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>
> Eric S. Eberhard
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>
> My little brother Martin has started a very serious car company. A
> hot rod (very fast) electric roadster is the first offering. The
> chassis is built by Lotus to their specs. Check it out:
> http://www.teslamotors.com
>
>
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