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Tesla Completes L.A.-to-New York Electric Model S Drive Chargers

bloomberg.com

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Re: Tesla Completes L.A.-to-New York Electric Model S Drive Chargers

#11

Post by potatolicious »

lxmorj wrote: post #7
TallGuyShort wrote: post #3

>> provide 170 miles of range in a 30-minute charge That would have still sounded impractical to me when I was still able to just drive through the night to get where I needed to be. Now that I travel with a young baby and a dog, that's about how often and for how long I have to stop for breaks anyway. This is impressive progress anyway, but I'm especially impressed now that it really wouldn't alter my own schedule m…

Keep in mind, that's not the only size jump you can do. You'd probably start with a full charge, and so could drive a solid 3.5 hours before your first break. You're only limited to 170 miles if you stay just 30 minutes. Personally after 3.5 hours on the road I', looking for a food and bathroom break, which may take 45+ minutes, giving you a longer range for the next jump as well. Of course, you're more limited by wh…

Many of these chargers are also conveniently located at hotels, so when you take your inevitable sleep break you can start the day off with a full charge.

Re: Tesla Completes L.A.-to-New York Electric Model S Drive Chargers

#12

Post by kgermino »

alimoeeny wrote: post #8
rdl wrote: post #6

I'm curious if I'd want a Model S (top model) or a BMW 535d or other mid-luxury diesel sedan in Germany in a couple years. Around the city, sure, big advantage to the Tesla. For Autobahn trips at 150-250 km/h, stopping every 1-2h would get old fast, even if every service stop had a supercharger.

Is that within speed limit there? I didn't know that

Many stretches of the federal roads in Germany merely have an 'Advisory limit' with no legal maximum in good weather.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobahn

Re: Tesla Completes L.A.-to-New York Electric Model S Drive Chargers

#13

Post by run4_too »

alimoeeny wrote: post #8
rdl wrote: post #6

I'm curious if I'd want a Model S (top model) or a BMW 535d or other mid-luxury diesel sedan in Germany in a couple years. Around the city, sure, big advantage to the Tesla. For Autobahn trips at 150-250 km/h, stopping every 1-2h would get old fast, even if every service stop had a supercharger.

Is that within speed limit there? I didn't know that

There is no "speed limit" per se on the Autobahn.

Re: Tesla Completes L.A.-to-New York Electric Model S Drive Chargers

#14

Post by fit2rule »

I hope actually that Americans learn to drive less, not more, as a result of these sorts of changes in the market.

It always amuses me that a majority of American life is lived on the road. For all the pleasures of the free and the brave, they love their little cages..

Re: Tesla Completes L.A.-to-New York Electric Model S Drive Chargers

#15

Post by Nrsolis »

kgermino wrote: post #12
alimoeeny wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that within speed limit there? I didn't know that

Many stretches of the federal roads in Germany merely have an 'Advisory limit' with no legal maximum in good weather. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobahn

If this sounds crazy, keep in mind that getting a drivers license in Germany isn't a one-day affair with minimal testing standards like it is in the US. Getting a German driving license is somewhat laborious but the upside is that German drivers are pretty darn safe and have amazing discipline on the road.

http://www.amcham.de/services/drivers-license/us-citizens-in...

Re: Tesla Completes L.A.-to-New York Electric Model S Drive Chargers

#16

Post by melling »

sliverstorm wrote: post #5
TallGuyShort wrote: post #3

>> provide 170 miles of range in a 30-minute charge That would have still sounded impractical to me when I was still able to just drive through the night to get where I needed to be. Now that I travel with a young baby and a dog, that's about how often and for how long I have to stop for breaks anyway. This is impressive progress anyway, but I'm especially impressed now that it really wouldn't alter my own schedule m…

If that fits your pace, that's great, but that would have driven me nuts last time I was driving cross-country.

Yeah, but it's still cool that someone can drive across the country in a Tesla.

Shouldn't we get something like a 50% improvement in battery technology within 5 years? That should push it over the limit for most people.

Re: Tesla Completes L.A.-to-New York Electric Model S Drive Chargers

#17

Post by jchrisa »

fit2rule wrote: post #14

I hope actually that Americans learn to drive less , not more, as a result of these sorts of changes in the market. It always amuses me that a majority of American life is lived on the road. For all the pleasures of the free and the brave, they love their little cages..

It's self-driving cars that will finally make people feel safe walking to get places again. Electric cars will make that choice more pleasant for reasons of sound and smell. I agree, the trend is toward unwinding the prisoner's dilemma of car dependence, and more people walking means more people feel safe walking. Self driving cars could make car share super practical, which means fewer cars overall. That plus more and more people working from home, to me means the future has a chance to be alright.

Re: Tesla Completes L.A.-to-New York Electric Model S Drive Chargers

#18

Post by rdl »

Nrsolis wrote: post #15
kgermino wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many stretches of the federal roads in Germany merely have an 'Advisory limit' with no legal maximum in good weather. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobahn

If this sounds crazy, keep in mind that getting a drivers license in Germany isn't a one-day affair with minimal testing standards like it is in the US. Getting a German driving license is somewhat laborious but the upside is that German drivers are pretty darn safe and have amazing discipline on the road. http://www.amcham.de/services/drivers-license/us-citizens-in...

The nice thing is most US states have reciprocity with Germany, so you don't actually have to take the tests.

I noticed a fair number of "bad" (by German standards) drivers on the southern Autobahnen over the past few weeks, but they were mainly non-Germans; I'm 99% sure the drunk guys in the 15 year old Honda were US military, and by the plates, most of the other bad drivers were also not German. So it's not foolproof, but still the standard is far higher, and the roads are well maintained.

What I noticed most acutely was the lack of objects-in-road, vs. California. Not sure if that's due to the general lack of pickup trucks, people hauling junk, etc., or due to laws/training/maintenance.

Re: Tesla Completes L.A.-to-New York Electric Model S Drive Chargers

#19

Post by ssmoot »

fit2rule wrote: post #14

I hope actually that Americans learn to drive less , not more, as a result of these sorts of changes in the market. It always amuses me that a majority of American life is lived on the road. For all the pleasures of the free and the brave, they love their little cages..

There's no quick way to get from Dallas to Houston, Austin or San Antonio. Taking Southwest will take just about as long and then you won't have a car on the other end.

There's no rail (that I'm aware of) to make those trips convenient or cost effective either.

On top of all of that it would be cheaper to drive an electric vehicle than any of the other options.

Going on family vacation to Chicago we take Amtrak. Which is really nice/relaxing. But it's not the fastest and far from the cheapest way to travel for a family of four.

I'll be pretty pumped for the day the I-45 corridor to Houston gets a few DC quick-chargers and I can drive the Leaf to visit family in Galveston.

Re: Tesla Completes L.A.-to-New York Electric Model S Drive Chargers

#20

Post by doughj3 »

fit2rule wrote: post #14

I hope actually that Americans learn to drive less , not more, as a result of these sorts of changes in the market. It always amuses me that a majority of American life is lived on the road. For all the pleasures of the free and the brave, they love their little cages..

Have you considered that some people do feel free when driving their cars?
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