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Battery Swap [video]

teslamotors.com

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Re: Battery Swap [video]

#91

Post by carbocation »

mkopinsky wrote: post #89
carbocation wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actively avoid running low on fuel in New Jersey (compulsory full-service stations). I don't mind getting out of my car to get gas; the station attendant is doing nothing of value for me. I'm neither done faster not is the fuel in some way better than if I filled the car myself. In contrast, I do see the value in having a battery exchange (it's something they can do better for me than I could do myself). In that ca…

Living in NYC, I actively aim to run low on fuel in New Jersey so I can save $.50 a gallon.

We are both rational people, I see. (I was usually driving from Baltimore to NYC or destinations further north.)

Re: Battery Swap [video]

#92

Post by gmurphy »

lttlrck wrote: post #54
quackerhacker wrote: post #39

I think the greatest thing to take out of the presentation is... 1. The Tesla driver does NOT need to get out of the car (screw rain and bugs). 2. It IS a reasonable time (no need to sit in a diner and wait) 3. The mileage limitation is becoming less limiting (no different than making sure a long trip has a gas station on the way).

Still need to get out to clean the windshield. Whats the big deal with getting out anyway?

It's not so much the getting out, as the not having to do anything - you get 90 seconds of HN time!

Re: Battery Swap [video]

#93

Post by crazcarl »

a-priori wrote: post #63
btucker wrote: post #51

The swap will cost between $60 & $80[1]. [1] http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/21/us-tesla-swap-idUS...

The cost is fine, about what it costs to fill a gas tank, give or take. But what about this: " Drivers who choose to swap must reclaim their original battery on their return trip or pay the difference in cost for the new pack. " That seems... inconvenient.

If you really have to reclaim YOUR battery when you come back, that means the swap place has to keep that battery in storage and ready to go (fully charged) for the next time you come back? And they can't re-rent it out.

Re: Battery Swap [video]

#94

Post by rallison »

brianbreslin wrote: post #56
leoc wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's probably most relevant is that it would take roughly as long to half -fill the Audi as to replace the Tesla's battery. That's in many ways a fairer comparison, as the Model S has roughly half the driving range of an Audi, and (I think) most car gasoline fill-ups aren't from near-empty back to full.

The model he fills up looks to be an A8. The A8 fuel economy is around 15-18MPG. So 20 gallon tank only gets 350 mile range on it.

Aside from the top end A8s with upgraded engines, they get 18MPG city and 28MPG highway. Simply saying that the A8 gets 15-18MPG is deceptive. So, if we are talking range, an A8 will get upwards of 560 miles on a tank.

Re: Battery Swap [video]

#95

Post by quackerhacker »

btucker wrote: post #51

The swap will cost between $60 & $80[1]. [1] http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/21/us-tesla-swap-idUS...

I feel that may be high, when you factor how far are charging/swapping stations, and if the driver will run the battery to the full range.

BUT (grammar aside), I think the high margin may be the push for a franchise model for investors for charging/swapping stations. Especially when you consider BMW, and Toyota are both consulting with Tesla, and Elon may be aiming for a more affordable ($40k I vaguely remember hearing) vehicle to add to their lineup.

Re: Battery Swap [video]

#97

Post by alainbryden »

I wonder if anyone has considered buying a Tesla (free recharges for life), driving home every day and finding a way to discharge the battery back into the grid through their meter to negate their home electricity bill.

Re: Battery Swap [video]

#98

Post by umsm »

rattray wrote: post #88

Better Place, which offered batter swapping for electric cars, announced bankruptcy about a month ago. I wonder if there's any connection? Assuaging fears that battery swapping will no longer be available? Tesla can now use technology that had been patented by Better Place?

It appears like they were communicating together 4 years ago to allow for swap-style batteries:

http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=12...

Re: Battery Swap [video]

#100

Post by loceng »

a-priori wrote: post #63
btucker wrote: post #51

The swap will cost between $60 & $80[1]. [1] http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/21/us-tesla-swap-idUS...

The cost is fine, about what it costs to fill a gas tank, give or take. But what about this: " Drivers who choose to swap must reclaim their original battery on their return trip or pay the difference in cost for the new pack. " That seems... inconvenient.

I imagine they must start out doing it like this until they test usage, etc.. Who knows how people could take advantage of it otherwise. It would prevent a possible initial problem of a ton of battery packs just building up in one location. They'd want the first users to to be regular users, and by keeping it to those who it works for, the service will be available faster + once again they won't need to build capacity to store a huge excess amount of of battery packs on location.
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