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Tesla Roadster

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501–510 of 729 posts

Re: Tesla Roadster

#501
post #366

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From Wikipedia's F1 page [0]: > The 2016 F1 cars have a power-to-weight ratio of 1,400 hp/t (1.05 kW/kg). Theoretically this would allow the car to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 1 second. However the massive power cannot be converted to motion at low speeds due to traction loss and the usual figure is 2.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) Even adjusting for 60 mph = 2.4s, I don't see how the traction of the T…

I agree, I think this is another case of "well it works on our computer" pre-release specs that will turn out not to get close to real-world performance. The 0-100mph is very suspicious but I think the 0-60 time quoted is simply impossible for a road car, even making allowances for a few years of tech advancements. F1 tires are nothing like road tires. They're not even vaguely comparable - at normal operating tempera…

There are already videos of the test car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3380&v=aXWfL-1ie...

I'm pretty sure they aren't making it up.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#503
post #388

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you saying that the numbers aren't true, or that it has other weaknesses that would cause it to lose a race?

Think of it this way, if some server or database came out claiming incredible benchmark numbers you’d say okay now show me some real world workloads. Same here. 0-60 is an artificial benchmark, a circuit time is a real world workload.

They already have a test car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3380&v=aXWfL-1ie...

I'm pretty sure they aren't making it up.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#504

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if there is not a traditional transmission, there is still a gearbox behind the electric motor. Tires only rotate at ~1000 RPM on the freeway where the electric motor in a Tesla might be at 10k rpm. That 10x reduction still needs to be factored in.

Honest question: did you just make up these numbers, or are they based in fact? I was expecting the motor to turn slower.

Not OP, but Tesla Model S has approximately 1:10 fixed gear reduction.

Motor RPM will go higher than 10000 RPM at really high speeds.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#505

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to be a Tesla apologist, but how many people track their supercars? Or at least proportionally to road use? An Aventador is pretty crummy as a track car, and its performance is all but unusable on the roads (unless, ahem, liberties are taken). A lot of the appeal is in the perception of performance and that initial acceleration. It's putting your foot down with a passenger, or breezing someone at the lights whils…

More than a few race tracks in America are basically pet projects of the super rich. They operate as for profit entities and do their best to be profitable or at least break even, but really they exist for the entertainment of the billionaire owners groups.

But, what are they driving on those tracks? If I had a few 'bill laying around I'd be in a FXXK or P1 GTR, rather than a supercar or some of the hypercars, no?

Re: Tesla Roadster

#506

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I don't think (although it's complicated), Fiat still owns Ferrari?

I think not. They still have the same (biggest) ownership, but they are not the same company. FCA still owns Lamborghini, though.

As mentioned above, Lambo is VW, but FCA retains Alfa and Maserati.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#507
post #412
post #377

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You're discounting the fact that this will be released in 2020. We've had a 4x increase in density between 2010-2016. Also, Model 3 benefits from the new smaller gigafactory-made battery packages (at least a 35% increase in density over older Model S battery packs). When you take all of this into account, it's very likely that they could fit an older Model S-size battery pack (which is more from 2015-2016 era) in a R…

Oh, I don't doubt, that Tesla can do it :). I just think it is interesting that the specs to the roadster point to a clear and significant increase in battery density. The Model S went from 80 to 100 kWh in 5 years, which is a nice increase but much smaller what they seem to plan with the roadster. And it would be exciting for electrical cars in general, because with that increase a more realistic 100 kWh battery cha…

Seeing how Tesla struggles with new car production I would love to see them take a role like Samsung; they can still make popular flagship cars, but they can also become a primary battery supplier to other automakers, just like Samsung has extremely popular flagship smartphones, but also is a primary supplier of parts like OLED screens. I think selling their battery tech could help them become and stay profitable while smoothing over the wrinkles they have in car production.

This could also free up cash flow to give them more resources to work on self driving tech. Honestly, the idea of an electric Honda or Subaru with a "Powered by Tesla" logo could seems really exciting.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#508

Am I the only one who's worried that Tesla is really starting to bite off more than they can chew? Right now their finances are a mess, they are publicly struggling to produce their most important car ever, their CEO is spending time figuring out how to dig holes underneath LA...and now they're announcing a semi truck and a roaster in the same day? Don't get me wrong, Teslas are incredible cars. But this seems like a…

Yes. It is only human to be worried. They lose money on every car they sell. And the losses are accelerating. If you bought $TSLA at $300. And are looking to hold on for dear life. The next 12-24 months is gut check time.

But there is so much to be optimistic about! Uber or Lyft or Didi could place 100K size orders of Model 3s for their driverless fleets, with substantial support contracts, by 2019. Powerwalls may become standard components in emerging market power grids in the global sun belt. And envisioning charging stations as travel lounges or overnight rest stops is a stealth real estate and hospitality investment.

Tesla is acting as if the Model 3 will change the game. My personal bias is that the analysts are neglecting the raw consumer demand for this brave new electrical world. And if that holds true, continuing to raise cash to finance their production via stock, debt or pre-orders shouldn't be the hard part. Especially if 12 month price targets in the $350-375 range hold ;)

Re: Tesla Roadster

#509

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's even more amazing is that F or GM couldn't possibly do this. First mover advantage plus the allure of someone like Musk is what is needed. I know many bash him for spreading himself too thin among all his other ambitions but it gives him good will capital (which can translate to economic capital) when needed.

"First mover advantage" is a concept that applies to platforms, and not to a millionaire status symbol/fashion statement. Most people spending $200,000+ on a vehicle want to be among the only people at the country club with it. This looks like a hot car, but I wouldn't hesitate to test drive Aston Martins or Ferrari's if I was playing with that kind of cash. Also, GM and Ford do highly profitable business with the we…

They DID show a monster of a pickup truck at the unveiling as well. It's almost like a /second/ roadster but aimed at the millionaire truck lover. Of course, they aren't taking reservations for that because someone probably convinced Musk the number of rich truck lovers who also would love electric is small enough that it's not yet worth spending too much energy on the idea.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#510
post #206

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Hey folks. I was the one that took that video. let me know if you have any questions.

What is that sound that you can hear right when the car starts accelerating? Is it the tires slipping?

Look at the road, he had already done that jaunt a few times before this video was shot. The road is full of skid marks from the wheels slipping before being caught by the traction control.

This car is absolutely traction limited. It should be able to post even better times with racing slicks.

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