11–20 of 283 posts
Why do EVs of the current age look so douchie? I wouldn't be caught dead in one. Tesla model S, X, and Y. All Lucid models. Mercedes and Ferraris. Why can't they look neutral? I want low-key, efficient, safe, and functional. And ideally more than 35 American miles of range.
> Putting a motor on each wheel — or at least one on each axle — could translate into hair-raising EV driving performance. I don't understand this. My Plaid Tesla has a motor on each of the rear axles, and it's direct coupled to the wheel. The already are doing torque vectoring. Like all things in engineering, the trade-off's are critical. This article doesn't go at all into the pros/cons of the approach Tesla (and o…
That's not a very good rule. There a lots of things Tesla doesn't do.
- Tesla doesn't do battery swaps, but NIO does. NIO's done it 10 million times: https://www.nio.com/blog/nio-users-china-have-completed-10-m...
- Tesla doesn't do 350 kW chargers, but Ionity (among others) does. Current EV truck drivers appreciate it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UAttTG03WA
- Tesla's charging network is slowly rolling out charging to all EV brands in Europe, but Tesla still doesn't charge all brands in North America. Electrify America (among others) does.
- Tesla doesn't offer EV scooters, but Gogoro (among others) does: https://www.gogoro.com/gogoro-network/
- Tesla doesn't offer EV vans, but other manufacturers do.
- Tesla doesn't offer EV city cars, but other manufacturers do.
- Tesla doesn't do a heads-up display, but other manufacturers do.
And so on.
Why do EVs of the current age look so douchie? I wouldn't be caught dead in one. Tesla model S, X, and Y. All Lucid models. Mercedes and Ferraris. Why can't they look neutral? I want low-key, efficient, safe, and functional. And ideally more than 35 American miles of range.
I dunno. If it's electric, I guess it's supposed to look futuristic. No accounting for taste.
> Putting a motor on each wheel — or at least one on each axle — could translate into hair-raising EV driving performance. I don't understand this. My Plaid Tesla has a motor on each of the rear axles, and it's direct coupled to the wheel. The already are doing torque vectoring. Like all things in engineering, the trade-off's are critical. This article doesn't go at all into the pros/cons of the approach Tesla (and o…
The idea of a motor on each wheel independent has obviously been considered, but what is often ignored is the sprung vs unsprung weight. You could develop a pretty amazing off-road vehicle with independent electric motors in each wheel, but it would be a relatively bumpy ride.
Military EV prototypes are considering wheels-in-hubs, because they have complex suspension and because of under-armour, but yeah it means the motor is basically un-suspended.
> Putting a motor on each wheel — or at least one on each axle — could translate into hair-raising EV driving performance. I don't understand this. My Plaid Tesla has a motor on each of the rear axles, and it's direct coupled to the wheel. The already are doing torque vectoring. Like all things in engineering, the trade-off's are critical. This article doesn't go at all into the pros/cons of the approach Tesla (and o…
In addition, the extra weight also adds up, no matter how tiny the motor is. Essentially you are making each wheel heavier, adding to suspension woes.
The greatest advantage of individual motors is in cornering when you can precisely control how much power each wheel gets, and obviously on icy surfaces when you can lower the power on the slipping wheel or disengage it completely and drive power from even one wheel which still has traction and grip. Nearly the same result can be obtained by torque vectoring, which is what Tesla employs. So for may be 20% less accuracy you can do away with the individual motors.
> Putting a motor on each wheel — or at least one on each axle — could translate into hair-raising EV driving performance. I don't understand this. My Plaid Tesla has a motor on each of the rear axles, and it's direct coupled to the wheel. The already are doing torque vectoring. Like all things in engineering, the trade-off's are critical. This article doesn't go at all into the pros/cons of the approach Tesla (and o…
> As a general rule, if Tesla isn't doing it already I suspect it's either not economically feasible, difficult to manufacture, or otherwise has drawbacks they've judged signifigant. That's not a very good rule. There a lots of things Tesla doesn't do. - Tesla doesn't do battery swaps, but NIO does. NIO's done it 10 million times: https://www.nio.com/blog/nio-users-china-have-completed-10-m... - Tesla doesn't do 350…
Why do EVs of the current age look so douchie? I wouldn't be caught dead in one. Tesla model S, X, and Y. All Lucid models. Mercedes and Ferraris. Why can't they look neutral? I want low-key, efficient, safe, and functional. And ideally more than 35 American miles of range.
Look like bog-standard saloon cars. What's your issue?
Why do EVs of the current age look so douchie? I wouldn't be caught dead in one. Tesla model S, X, and Y. All Lucid models. Mercedes and Ferraris. Why can't they look neutral? I want low-key, efficient, safe, and functional. And ideally more than 35 American miles of range.
Small boring self-driving cars, possibly collectively owned instead of big expensive individually owned cars often used as a proof of social status.