<VV> I want an electric sports car -Tesla Motors Roadster!!!
(Convert your vair to electric with the drive train)
Ron
ronh at owt.com
Thu Sep 14 15:06:19 EDT 2006
Off hand, I wouldn't have much faith in the longivity of laptop batteries
when subjected to automotive use but this won't be a factor for the initial
wealthy buyers who aren't likely to keep them a whole year anyway.
RonH
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric S. Eberhard" <flash at vicsmba.com>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 10:47 AM
Subject: <VV> I want an electric sports car -Tesla Motors Roadster!!!
(Convert your vair to electric with the drive train)
> 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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>
>
> This email sent by:
>
> Eric S. Eberhard
> (928) 567-3727 Voice
> (928) 567-6122 Fax
>
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>
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>
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>
> http://www.vicsmba.com
>
> Completely updated web site of personal pictures with many new pictures!
> Includes horses, dogs, Corvairs, and more.
>
> http://www.vicsmba.com/ourpics/index.html
>
> Corvair pictures including the Judson setup on our 62 Sedan and lots of
> pictures of Cheryl's 62 Monza Wagon and our 62 Spyder convertible.
>
> http://www.vicsmba.com/ourpics/corvairs.html
>
> 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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