CommanderAce
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| posted on 20/7/06 at 06:04 PM |
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Tesla Roadster
Just noticed this on Engadget, the
Tesla Roadster, looks rather nifty!
What to do lot think?
Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads!
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BKLOCO
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| posted on 20/7/06 at 06:27 PM |
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I think the back looks very Lotus like.
Not sure I'm too keen on the front styling.
Bit mainstreem Jap.
If they are claiming 250 miles on a charge then these vehicles are going to start becoming viable.
Overall I like it. But Not at that price
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want!!! 
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CommanderAce
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| posted on 20/7/06 at 06:31 PM |
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Yes, the price is a little high!  , but with all things, over time the technology will become more affordable and available.
Some of that tech in a Locost would be rather entertaining!
Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads!
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Confused but excited.
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| posted on 20/7/06 at 07:36 PM |
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" a supercharged electric vehicle "
That's clever.
Does it have an electron pump or does superchargeing an electric vehicle mean plugging it into 415 volts?
Tell them about the bent treacle edges!
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sgraber
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| posted on 20/7/06 at 07:39 PM |
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I really, truly like that car. One can't argue with the acceleration/torque figures and it has a very nice look to it. It's not outrageous
so as to attract too much attention, yet distinctive enough to be unique.
But I have to wonder how much the battery pack costs and what the maintenance/replacement schedule is for it.
Steve Graber
http://www.grabercars.com/
"Quickness through lightness"
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Guinness
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| posted on 20/7/06 at 07:52 PM |
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I like it too! I'd buy one if it had solar panels on it, but if you charge it from the mains all you are doing is displacing the polution
really.
Steve from their website:-
"The Energy Storage System (ESS) comprised of several thousand consumer grade lithium ion cells"
So the batteries probably cost 60% of the total cost? And if they are like the one on my mobile, they don't last long before they get a memory
effect!!!
Anyone fancy drawing up plans for a locost version? Cut aways and specs here:-!!!!
Website
Mike
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sgraber
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| posted on 20/7/06 at 07:59 PM |
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Batteries, that is the hidden "dirty little secret" isn't it. They don't recycle too well (AFAIK).
Maybe someone with knowledge of this battery type can enlighten us on the environmental impact of disposing ~4,000 batteries when they need
replacement.
Steve Graber
http://www.grabercars.com/
"Quickness through lightness"
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sgraber
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| posted on 20/7/06 at 08:05 PM |
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Here's a Lithium_Ion primer from wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_ion_battery
Also, they are supposedly safe for disposal, but contain recyclable materials
"Lithium-Ion
All Panasonic Lithium Ion batteries are classified by the federal government as non-hazardous waste and are safe for disposal in the normal municipal
waste stream. These batteries, however, do contain recyclable materials and are accepted for recycling by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling
Corporation's (RBRC) Battery Recycling Program. "
Steve Graber
http://www.grabercars.com/
"Quickness through lightness"
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iank
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| posted on 20/7/06 at 09:13 PM |
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And this is what happens when a Lithium battery in a notebook shorts
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=32583
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sgraber
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| posted on 20/7/06 at 09:19 PM |
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Since the batteries in the tesla are under and behind the passenger compartment, That would indeed create a tesla 'car-B-que' !!!
Ouch!
Steve Graber
http://www.grabercars.com/
"Quickness through lightness"
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adampage
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 posted on 20/7/06 at 10:38 PM |
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It's an electric elise!
That's why it looks like a lotus - it is!
They're elise wheels, elise indicators, elise dashboard/stg wheel/dials, elise proportions, etc. It just looks like different fibreglass
mouldings on the nose & rear.
Wonder what involvement Lotus had?
Adam.
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dl_peabody
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| posted on 20/7/06 at 11:10 PM |
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Probably none...
Silcone valley start up did something very similar with a Ariel atom recently.
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=239
Someone else built an electric locost on the same principals.
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Hammerhead
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| posted on 21/7/06 at 07:02 AM |
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Look slike elise chassis to. Lotus should sue if they don't have involvement in it. Tesla seem to be passing the car off as all their own
work..........looks cool though.
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DaveFJ
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| posted on 21/7/06 at 07:43 AM |
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Err it was built by lotus...
the company has contrated lotus for most of the construction and has now had to sign a non-poaching agreement because they 'stole' some of
lotus's engineers.......
more info Here
personally I think it looks a little out of proportion somehow.. and i remain to be conviced on performance etc
this little chart from their site is amusing
[Edited on 21/7/06 by DaveFJ]
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
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