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Tesla shares dive after Consumer Reports yanks recommendation for Model S

latimes.com

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Re: Tesla shares dive after Consumer Reports yanks recommendation for Model S

#11

Post by derekp7 »

Seeing as how the battery system is primarily what makes electric cars expensive, I really wish automakers would start delivering plugin hybrids that have, say 75 - 100 mile range on battery (to keep cost down), along with a very low horsepower gas engine. (Most plugin hybrids give you about 20 - 30 miles on battery).

The way it would work: the battery would drive the front wheels, and you would use the battery for most of your driving -- but when it got down to 20% charge, the gas engine would kick in to power the back wheels. The battery could provide acceleration, and the gas engine (about 20HP?) would maintain highway speed (and trickle charge the battery when running off gas). That way, you are using electric for most of your daily driving, but won't get range anxiety.

Re: Tesla shares dive after Consumer Reports yanks recommendation for Model S

#12

Post by JoeAltmaier »

rafamvc wrote: post #3
orrsella wrote: post #2

Shares reportedly[1] down 10% due to report. [1] http://seekingalpha.com/news/2840766-tesla-lower-after-consu...

But still have 97% saying they would buy the car again? That is a statistic that doesnt match the claim that the cars arent good.

There is a category of car, where the buyer identifies with a group. They don't buy the car for price or service record; they buy it to join a club. The VW Beetle; the PT Cruiser; Cooper's Mini all are cars like that. It doesn't matter what resale value they have, or how often they break down. All that matters is the self-image of the person doing the buying. They go into it knowing they will like the car, no matter what. So the 97% number is entirely expected.

Re: Tesla shares dive after Consumer Reports yanks recommendation for Model S

#13

Post by JoeAltmaier »

derekp7 wrote: post #11

Seeing as how the battery system is primarily what makes electric cars expensive, I really wish automakers would start delivering plugin hybrids that have, say 75 - 100 mile range on battery (to keep cost down), along with a very low horsepower gas engine. (Most plugin hybrids give you about 20 - 30 miles on battery). The way it would work: the battery would drive the front wheels, and you would use the battery for m…

Let's not go down that path again. All sorts of mutant variations have been designed/built. The successful hybrid is one that allows both gas and electric to contribute simultaneously on demand, so as to increase the maximum performance. While not impacting the efficiency of running on electric-only when that works.

Re: Tesla shares dive after Consumer Reports yanks recommendation for Model S

#14

Post by outworlder »

skorecky wrote: post #9
outworlder wrote: post #7

That is kinda expected. This is a new company after all, with new technology. What I didn't see in the article was: how are they handling the failures? It is one thing to have a car that's unreliable, but that you can then take to a dealer and get it back a couple of days after with everything fixed. It is another if you have to fight the company every step of the way to get it fixed or, even worse, pay for their mis…

They address this in the article. > Tesla spokesman Ricardo Reyes said the Palo Alto automaker keeps in close communication with its customers to “proactively address issues, and quickly fix problems.”

Yeah, but do they?

As far as companies go, I have a decent level of trust on statements by Tesla. But it is still a company, and that statement has to be independently evaluated.

Re: Tesla shares dive after Consumer Reports yanks recommendation for Model S

#15

Post by Shivetya »

derekp7 wrote: post #11

Seeing as how the battery system is primarily what makes electric cars expensive, I really wish automakers would start delivering plugin hybrids that have, say 75 - 100 mile range on battery (to keep cost down), along with a very low horsepower gas engine. (Most plugin hybrids give you about 20 - 30 miles on battery). The way it would work: the battery would drive the front wheels, and you would use the battery for m…

Chevy already has the Volt and the 2nd generation gets 50 to 53 miles EV and over 40 on gas afterward. The i3 is 70 to near 90 EV and similar in gas mode. Cadillac will have the CT6 which is a full sized car with the new Volt power train and expectations are high for it too.

Yeah, i would like to see about half again more in base EV range, the cover the mistakes cover emergencies ev range we are not seeing now.

The most important car coming in the next two years isn't from Tesla, it is again from Chevy and it will be the Bolt, they are promising 200 miles EV at less than 40k, possibly under 30k with tax incentives. They already are testing it with near production mules and claiming that 200 was easily done. Their battery costs are 145 or lower per kwh and expected to fall to 100 by 2020. Production is slated now for late 2016 having been moved up - not back.

Re: Tesla shares dive after Consumer Reports yanks recommendation for Model S

#17

Post by proee »

derekp7 wrote: post #11

Seeing as how the battery system is primarily what makes electric cars expensive, I really wish automakers would start delivering plugin hybrids that have, say 75 - 100 mile range on battery (to keep cost down), along with a very low horsepower gas engine. (Most plugin hybrids give you about 20 - 30 miles on battery). The way it would work: the battery would drive the front wheels, and you would use the battery for m…

This is exactly what the Chevy Volt offers.

Re: Tesla shares dive after Consumer Reports yanks recommendation for Model S

#19

Post by encoderer »

simonsarris wrote: post #6

As Consumer Reports suggests, this is totally understandable. Straight from CR: > The Tesla wasn’t the only high-performance vehicle that fell below average in reliability. Others include the BMW X5 and 5 Series, and the Chevrolet Corvette. > When automakers roll out new technology, be it infotainment, transmissions, or engine variations, it often has a deleterious effect on vehicle reliability. Tesla is not only the…

Tesla's PE in 2016 is forecasted over 130. For comparison bmw is under 10. Tesla is priced for perfection.

Re: Tesla shares dive after Consumer Reports yanks recommendation for Model S

#20

Post by Lightbody »

I got my P85 in July 2013 and I can absolutely confirm what Consumer Reports is saying.

My car has (and continues) to have all sorts of small fit-and-finish issues. While I've never had a drivetrain issue or any major problem, I have had some wireless and door handle issues that required as new Master Control Unit. Sadly, the work replacing the MCU introduced even more squeaks in the dashboard area :(

That all said: I still love the car and I expect I'll buy another Tesla some day in the future.

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