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

tesla.com

441–450 of 521 posts

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

#441

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not super different from long lasting oil? Some Petrol cars do 30'000km without and service?

I just read up on 3'000 to 5'00 mile intervals that might be prevalent in the US? To me that sounds crazy. Many synthetic oils are officially approved to 15'000 miles.

Many synthetic oils _are_ fine that long.

Very few oil filters are fine that long. I know Mobil 1 makes one rated for 15k miles, but I'm not aware of any OEM components with near that lifetime.

Hopefully that changes soon, but in the meantime I'll keep changing the oil at the rate my oil filter is rated for.

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

#442

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…

Simple, get an RTG a la The Martian...

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

#443

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course. I'm not trying to play a game of 'my EV is better than that EV' (nb I drive a Leaf). I'm pointing out that many people underestimated the lead Tesla has in EV technology. This year we've seen major, and esteemed, automakers put things into production that are clearly years behind what Tesla can do. I'm glad they are joining in, but I'm just trying to set the record straight. FWIW the Kia Niro EV (and the H…

At the last investors meeting, battery production is what Elon said is the main bottleneck at this time for model 3s. AFAIK, all the others are going to get their batteries from third party vendors (except maybe Nissan?). That is going to cause a cost for everyone but Tesla.

isn’t Panasonic the ones that provide all of the batteries that end up in Teslas?

my understanding is that Panasonic has been losing money so they’ve started scaling back production. which lead to Musk taking shots at them.

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

#444

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…

If you’re willing to drive at 25mph your range is at least 700 miles :)

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

#445
post #79

What is super cool about Tesla is their laser sharp focus on creating a good electric vehicle. From the autonomy announcement and then this one, they are creating tools purpose built for cars, like new chips for self driving, battery tech etc. They have done so much in so little time, we have come to expect more from them. There is only so much a car company can innovate, Tesla has gone beyond it. Edit: I am a Tesla…

"What is super cool about Tesla is their laser sharp focus on creating a good electric vehicle. From the autonomy announcement and then this one, they are creating tools purpose built for cars, like new chips for self driving, battery tech etc."

That's interesting that you cite that because I wish that Tesla would just focus on electric cars.

Instead I see them wasting all manner of time, energy and goodwill on autonomous driving which is not necessarily related to EVs in any way. In fact, I worry that in the long run, Tesla will be done in by autonomous driving in spite of their great vehicles.

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

#446

As a bit of a tangent but a note, this is a fantastic article. When I read it in a paper [1] by Alan Kay, I always assumed that most manufacturers would release a full battery that was twice longer than their current size (probably a little bit shorter because it would require a big recharge) in order to support these new models. [1] - http://www.arxiv.org/abs/1509.0852

It’s been a while since I’ve read a paper abstract that made me feel completely out of my depth. Can you give a little more context here?

I am sorry about this, just wanted to have some fun. I posted the title in the hn comment generator[1] and copied one of the comments here. Guess it passed the Turing test.

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19694578

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

#447

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.

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…

Very few vehicles are going to dealers for repairs at all. Most appointments are for maintenance. Oil changes, transmission fluid replacement, coolant flushes, etc. Teslas need less of this sort of stuff.

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

#448

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…

Not all dealerships are stealerships. My experience is domestic ones tend to have good service departments, especially the older, rural ones.

If you own something like a Subaru or Hyundai, then you'd best find a good indie mechanic.

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

#449
post #401

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

The volt is an ICE though? As a hybrid one might expect the problems of both ICE and electric in a Volt.

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

#450

Compare to the Audi e-Tron, which has a fairly massive 95kWH battery but only scores 204 miles of EPA range. They claim they're only using 88% of the battery capacity so that charging is faster and battery longevity is preserved, but thats a really weird engineering decision that belies the fact they have made a terribly inefficient (and perhaps rapidly degrading?) battery pack/drivetrain. Meanwhile the base Model S,…

A few observations, before I derail I do not want to dismiss the efforts of Audi or Jaguar but I think their initial focus was being good examples for their respective brands with regards to their packaging. Their interior quality of a different generation and caliber than Tesla. The EV part was an important concern but secondary. They can still rack up significant ZEV credits in California letting them off the hook…

Good point. Having driven Model S/X/3'es as well as an e-tron and i-pace I can absolutely echo your statement.

Teslas offer a different USP than E-Tron/I-Pace alikes. It's EV vs. Premium-Cars that happen to be EVs.

If you've never owned a (premium) car and thus have no feeling for differences in interior- and general-manufacturing-quality, a Tesla is the reasonable choice (it even maybe that an Audi's interior will come across as needlessly pretentious).

However, if you've driven premium Audis/Jags you will notice what Teslas are lacking.

It's reasonable to assume that Teslas are thus more likely to be bought by newly affluent millennials (than by already affluent people), though being a TSLA stockholder I wonder how large that group of millennials might be outside of my software engineering bubble.

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