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Tesla Model 3 represented over 15% of September new car sales in The Netherlands

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Re: Tesla Model 3 represented over 15% of September new car sales in The Netherlands

#281
post #267
post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Keep in mind that the best selling passenger vehicles are not called "car" in the US statistics, but "light trucks". The number of light trucks sold in September 2019 is almost three times the number of "passenger cars". https://www.marklines.com/en/statistics/flash_sales/salesfig...

That really reinforces the root comment's point about fashions in vehicle choice / driving what everyone else does being the 'safe option'. The countries most similar in culture and affluence to the US don't seem to buy those passenger utility vehicles and passenger cars in nearly the same proportions, so fashion looks like a big part of vehicle choice.

Does it?

In Canada [1] -- looks like about 3 out of the top 10 models are "passenger cars".

In Australia [2] - it's the same thing. 3 out of 10 are passenger cars (and both have a top 2 being a pickup - although the .au spread isn't as wide as .ca)

Re: Tesla Model 3 represented over 15% of September new car sales in The Netherlands

#282
post #267
post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Keep in mind that the best selling passenger vehicles are not called "car" in the US statistics, but "light trucks". The number of light trucks sold in September 2019 is almost three times the number of "passenger cars". https://www.marklines.com/en/statistics/flash_sales/salesfig...

That really reinforces the root comment's point about fashions in vehicle choice / driving what everyone else does being the 'safe option'. The countries most similar in culture and affluence to the US don't seem to buy those passenger utility vehicles and passenger cars in nearly the same proportions, so fashion looks like a big part of vehicle choice.

There are two things that drive the popularity of small SUVs/Crossovers in the US. First, gas is cheap: $2.50 a gallon vs ~$5.50 a gallon in the EU. One can get the benefit of more space and safety without paying an energy penalty. Second, the average household size is 3.1 in the US vs 2.3 in the EU. 22% of US households have 4 or more people. There is a demand for larger cars to carry more people.

Re: Tesla Model 3 represented over 15% of September new car sales in The Netherlands

#283
post #272

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understand what you’re saying. Personal bias is hard to self-monitor. But on many objective measures Tesla’s touchscreen is worlds apart from any of car touchscreen. It is iPad-like responsiveness as far as touch recognition and refresh rate. I always said I would never want a GPS/Nav system in a car, because what would be the point?! Low quality maps, no decent POI, no decent user input for querying POI, bad routi…

> I think “build quality” and “materials quality” is way more subjective and harder to quantify. But the screen interface is on a different level. Not really. The robustness of the screens in Teslas is particularly poor: https://www.thedrive.com/tech/27989/teslas-screen-saga-shows... Tesla didn't go with automotive grade screens which is why the screen failure rate is so high.

This was true in the original Model S/X, because a screen that size didn’t exist in automotive grade. They resorted to using an industrial grade screen which they qualified for use in the car, but it’s had the yellowing issue.

My understanding is all the new screens are tested to Grade 2 instead of Grade 4 like the original screens from Innolux.

[1] - https://www.thedrive.com/tech/27989/teslas-screen-saga-shows...

Re: Tesla Model 3 represented over 15% of September new car sales in The Netherlands

#284
post #283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I think “build quality” and “materials quality” is way more subjective and harder to quantify. But the screen interface is on a different level. Not really. The robustness of the screens in Teslas is particularly poor: https://www.thedrive.com/tech/27989/teslas-screen-saga-shows... Tesla didn't go with automotive grade screens which is why the screen failure rate is so high.

This was true in the original Model S/X, because a screen that size didn’t exist in automotive grade. They resorted to using an industrial grade screen which they qualified for use in the car, but it’s had the yellowing issue. My understanding is all the new screens are tested to Grade 2 instead of Grade 4 like the original screens from Innolux. [1] - https://www.thedrive.com/tech/27989/teslas-screen-saga-shows...

Where does your understanding come from? You've just listed the same link I provided.

Re: Tesla Model 3 represented over 15% of September new car sales in The Netherlands

#285
post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We have two and live in an apartment. The problem is not that insurmountable when there are chargers at work and Superchargers. At work, they are expanding the number of chargers year after year. Same with Superchargers. I am always able to charge well beyond my commute miles at work, for free. I'm not saying it's a non-issue, but it is possible for a lot of people, and it is getting better, even for people who curre…

What happens when you fall ill for a week and don’t go to work? Do you trade cars with your partner for alternate day charging?

Supercharging fills in any gaps just fine. Of course you need to live near one.

Re: Tesla Model 3 represented over 15% of September new car sales in The Netherlands

#286
post #283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This was true in the original Model S/X, because a screen that size didn’t exist in automotive grade. They resorted to using an industrial grade screen which they qualified for use in the car, but it’s had the yellowing issue. My understanding is all the new screens are tested to Grade 2 instead of Grade 4 like the original screens from Innolux. [1] - https://www.thedrive.com/tech/27989/teslas-screen-saga-shows...

Where does your understanding come from? You've just listed the same link I provided.

Oh hah, that’s funny. It says in that article they made revisions to the screen.

> Tesla appeared to mostly fix this problem with its "cabin overheat protection" feature ... as well as revisions to the Innolux panel.

For what it's worth, the TM3 appears to use an LG LA154WU1-SL01, but I can't find a detailed spec sheet on it.

Re: Tesla Model 3 represented over 15% of September new car sales in The Netherlands

#287

The one thing I really can not get over with Tesla is the dashboard. That giant screen that looks so misplaced. Cars always used to be the pinnacle of thought out design. And Tesla is supposed to be catering the more stylish crowd I think. I wonder how they decided to place a standard screen to the right of the driver. It will be interesting to see if other car manufacturers will adopt this design decision. Then it w…

i wonder when we will go straight to the next era and make the steering wheel and accelerate/brake pedals touchscreen features rather than a physical control. this will be as revolutionary as apple taking the number pad out of a mobile phone.

Re: Tesla Model 3 represented over 15% of September new car sales in The Netherlands

#288
post #286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where does your understanding come from? You've just listed the same link I provided.

Oh hah, that’s funny. It says in that article they made revisions to the screen. > Tesla appeared to mostly fix this problem with its "cabin overheat protection" feature ... as well as revisions to the Innolux panel. For what it's worth, the TM3 appears to use an LG LA154WU1-SL01, but I can't find a detailed spec sheet on it.

The article doesn't say it's now a grade 2 screen. The article does quote Mentor Graphics saying, "defining the boundary conditions for Innolux’s system is the responsibility of their customer, not Innolux."

So Innolux will quite happily sell Tesla a screen, but it's up to Tesla to use it appropriately. I think your understanding is wrong.

Re: Tesla Model 3 represented over 15% of September new car sales in The Netherlands

#289

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Germany is not building new coal plants so they are not going to burn more coal because of EVs. EVs indeed create more demand for electricity, which is met by deploying more clean energy. Coal plants stopped being a good option economically decades ago and we are now getting to the point where keeping the existing plants going is also no longer economical. Gas plants are following pretty soon as well.

People forgot that there is loads on unused grid and generation capacity at night that could be used for EV charging.

I think we need plugs where people park their cars at work rather than at homes. As that is the peak for solar power and also the point where power prices go negative in some countries because of excess production. Night time charging unless your grid is mostly nuclear or wind is probably the worst in terms of pollution.

Re: Tesla Model 3 represented over 15% of September new car sales in The Netherlands

#290
post #208
post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It depends on what price you pay for Electricity, but paying for the electricity is more than half as cheap as paying for gas. Plus in the US there are so many free chargers, I just charge my car at the office.

I have a suspicion that as electric cars become more common, free chargers will become less so. Providing free chargers (i.e. subsidizing people's driving expenses) may be great PR for businesses, municipalities, etc., as long as there are relatively few people using them, but will not be sustainable as demand increases. And as more people shift from ICE-powered vehicles to electric ones, it seems likely that some of…

> I have a suspicion that as electric cars become more common, free chargers will become less so. (Free charging) will not be sustainable as demand increases.

For "superchargers" and other fast charging, I agree.

But slower L2 entry-level chargers are so cheap, and electricity so cheap, I don't see free charging going away entirely. Already in Michigan, it's cheaper to just give away free L2 charging to anyone who wants it, than it costs to keep the lot clear of snow in the winter.

I suspect slow charging will become similar to Salt / Sugar packets in restaurants. Free basically anywhere that abuse or insane land costs aren't a problem (so free basically everywhere except major cities)

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