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Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

tesla.com

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Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#401

Post by cowmix »

base698 wrote: post #374
quanticle wrote: post #271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They break at much much lower rates, because they have many fewer parts. EVs don't have the pistons, valves, belts, fans, compressors, alternators, spark plugs, etc that gasoline engines have. There's probably order of magnitude fewer parts to break. Having seen the interior of an automatic gearbox, the surprising thing to me is that conventional automobiles are as reliable as they are.

> They break at much much lower rates, because they have many fewer parts. I don't really believe this is true. This is Tesla marketing spin. At one point every vehicle produced was having the drive unit replaced. There have been issues with water ingress and seat problems. Scour the Tesla motors forums. Also, since it's the car is an iPhone model there aren't any aftermarket repairs. Seems to me to worse in every wa…

My 2013vVolt has 105K miles (85K EV / 20K ICE) on it and besides tires and one oil change, I've done NOTHING to it. zippo.

It drives like the day I bought it.

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#402

Post by razorunreal »

dqpb wrote: post #359
alkonaut wrote: post #323

I'm wondering what types of range extension methods could be easily added to an EV. Scenario: I'm going to drive 900km/560mi and it's -10 outside (I do this multiple times per year). I want a cosy room temperature inside the cabin. - How can I ensure I waste as little range as possible on heating, so that I don't risk having to make e.g. 2 stops instead of one? - More critically, if I get stuck in traffic for several…

How is this problem specific to EV's?

Internal combustion engines throw off heat whether you want them to or not, plus the total amount of energy stored in a gas tank is vastly greater than a battery, so wasting some of it as heat is less likely to strand you. EVs only get similar range by being much more efficient, and efficiency means less energy lost to heat.

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#403

Post by hopler »

bryanlarsen wrote: post #344
bishopknight wrote: post #255

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tesla is also deep in the red so I partially read these PR announcements with a grain of salt as they desperately try to acquire capital

Toyota's debt to equity ratio is three times that of Tesla's.

With 5x equity and decades long stable business, you can carry a high debt load. Tesla has more risk of a stock price plummet if they falter.

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#404

Post by hopler »

ip26 wrote: post #392
alkonaut wrote: post #323

I'm wondering what types of range extension methods could be easily added to an EV. Scenario: I'm going to drive 900km/560mi and it's -10 outside (I do this multiple times per year). I want a cosy room temperature inside the cabin. - How can I ensure I waste as little range as possible on heating, so that I don't risk having to make e.g. 2 stops instead of one? - More critically, if I get stuck in traffic for several…

Seat warmers are a good way to warm up with less loss.

That's why even the no-frills Nissan Leaf S has multiple seat warmers and steering wheel warmer. It's as much a range extender as a luxury feature.

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#405

Post by rootusrootus »

nkristoffersen wrote: post #287
rootusrootus wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to me. I judge Tesla on the same metrics as any other car company. The Model S is getting long in the tooth.

Really? So many models live forever. Do you think the "Mustang" is long in the tooth?

The current Mustang is on the sixth generation, it got a new chassis in 2015. So, while not as aged as the Model S, it is getting towards the end of this generation, yes. The seventh generation is planned to hit streets in 2021.

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#406

Post by woodpanel »

logifail wrote: post #398
quanticle wrote: post #271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They break at much much lower rates, because they have many fewer parts. EVs don't have the pistons, valves, belts, fans, compressors, alternators, spark plugs, etc that gasoline engines have. There's probably order of magnitude fewer parts to break. Having seen the interior of an automatic gearbox, the surprising thing to me is that conventional automobiles are as reliable as they are.

> EVs don't have the pistons, valves, belts, fans, compressors, alternators, spark plugs, etc that gasoline engines have. There's probably order of magnitude fewer parts to break. If you buy a new ICE powered vehicle, how many of any of the parts you mention would one expect to replace in - for instance - the first three years of the vehicles' life? Our experience is that the first few years of a ICE vehicle's life i…

Same. Never had to repair anything in the first three years of a new ICE. If it weren't for mandatory visitations (in order to keep the guarantee) I'd have never see the dealership from within again.

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#407

Post by rootusrootus »

Unklejoe wrote: post #324
nkristoffersen wrote: post #287

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? So many models live forever. Do you think the "Mustang" is long in the tooth?

For what it’s worth, the Mustang had a somewhat significant refresh in 2011 (totally new engine design, but not considered a new generation), then another refresh around 2014 (mostly exterior body changes IIRC).

2015 it got a new chassis, that was the year Ford switched from S197 to S550. They will introduce a new one in 2021, the S650.

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#408

Post by Ajedi32 »

HeWhoLurksLate wrote: post #371
dsfyu404ed wrote: post #330

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hate to break it to you but very few vehicles are going to the dealer for engine/trans related work. Dealerships mostly only see vehicles that are new enough to be under warranty or recently out of it and major power-train stuff doesn't often break in that time period. It's stuff like steering and suspension wear items, the occasional window motor, trunk latches that won't pop, HVAC and stuff like that they make mo…

My parents both decided they trust the dealership's mechanics more than anyone else's, and have their vehicles serviced there. The family pickup, a Ford F-150, is expected to last ~18 years (makes me sad, because that's a long time to go without Bluetooth) and went out of "warranty" a few years back. The truck has yet to need major work on it, but my dad intends to get it worked on at the dealership. Mind you, we als…

> makes me sad, because that's a long time to go without Bluetooth

Kinda off topic, but you could always just get one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Sumind...

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#409

Post by rootusrootus »

dsfyu404ed wrote: post #387
Unklejoe wrote: post #324

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For what it’s worth, the Mustang had a somewhat significant refresh in 2011 (totally new engine design, but not considered a new generation), then another refresh around 2014 (mostly exterior body changes IIRC).

With the Mustang is that there's only so much you can do and still stay at the Mustang price point. The changes made to the Mustang (and Camaro for that matter) is dependent on technological progress making things that were once reserved for expensive cars cheap and regulatory compliance forcing updates to the main body structure (no reason to spend money to re-tool for a different tub if you don't need to since you…

The Mustang and Camaro are both pretty incredible cars, managing to stay fairly inexpensive* while gaining tremendous performance just in the past 10-15 years. I remember the year when the Mustang GT first matched and then exceeded the BMW M3 on the track. The rest is history, the current pony cars are amazing performers and excellent values.

* To be fair, both Mustang GT and Camaro SS are objectively not inexpensive cars except when you compare them to other cars of similar performance.

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#410

Post by oblio »

grecy wrote: post #248
oblio wrote: post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

2020 is in 8 months. They currently produce about 400k cars per year...

Also note the new Gigafactory in China is going up at a lightning pace, and very likely will be churning out 10k Model 3's a week by the end of 2019. So that factory alone will put ~ 500k Model 3's on the road by the end of 2020.

I certainly hope so. So far I'm not impressed with Tesla's manufacturing "prowess".
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