> While the exact number is uncertain due to Model S breaking the testing machine...
The tone of this press release is perfect.
Tesla Model S achieves best safety rating of any car ever tested
221–230 of 306 posts
Re: Tesla Model S achieves best safety rating of any car ever tested
#222Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Personally, I hope Tesla fail, and think they will. Maybe, but you need to realize that the electric car is an obvious and timely technological development, and someone will produce a successful mass-market electric car. Why not Tesla? It's not as though they're making a lot of mistakes.
I don't believe electric cars are technologically better. Lugging a half ton battery around, then waiting for hours for it to charge doesn't seem that clever to me. Of all the things that are banes of our lives these days, surely it's everything that runs on a battery. Remember when phones would last a week or so on a charge? Now you're lucky if a smart phone lasts a day on standby. And people call it progress... So…
> I don't believe electric cars are technologically better. Lugging a half ton battery around, then waiting for hours for it to charge doesn't seem that clever to me.
Early internal combustion engines were also rather embarrassing, but this didn't hinder their adoption -- at the time they were a better choice overall.
Imagine the reverse situation -- imagine that electric cars took hold when they were first introduced in the early 1900s and saw a century of improvements. Then someone comes forward and says, "We have an idea! Instead of charging your battery all the time, you carry a tank of explosive liquid fuel with you wherever you go, and you burn the fuel as you drive."
Present battery technology is pretty terrible -- not very efficient, too heavy, low energy density, short life. But widespread adoption of electric cars will force technological improvements, just as happened with internal combustion engines.
If batteries improve -- greatly -- it will become self-evident that carrying a battery around is a better choice than carrying and burning liquid fuel, both for the environment and in a simple economic sense. At the moment, electric cars aren't an obvious improvement over an internal combustion car, but I think that will change.
In a hypothetical future with more wind and solar energy sources, and possibly fusion power in the long term, electric cars will make more environmental sense as well.
Re: Tesla Model S achieves best safety rating of any car ever tested
#223This is all very good PR.... BUT. The critical safety concern with the Tesla is....... You guessed it. The high voltage system. It can kill you or a first responder with a touch. It's not just about batteries catching fire, although that's gotten a lot of press lately. A chief concern during a Tesla accident is the exposure of high voltage components. It's a big concern for first responders. Read it from the horse's…
Good thing regular cars don't contain high voltage components or volatile, flamable fluids that can cause intense fires and even explosions...
Re: Tesla Model S achieves best safety rating of any car ever tested
#224Earlier quoted context omitted.
These are very high voltages. The Tesla is 375 volts and the Prius is 275 volts.
Technically, that puts it well into the 'low-voltage' classification; generally, 1000 V is the threshold for 'high-voltage'.
> generally, 1000 V is the threshold for 'high-voltage'
DCV? Not an expert, but my understanding was ~1000V for AC, but much lower for DC
Re: Tesla Model S achieves best safety rating of any car ever tested
#225Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is there some kind of diagram that explains how this works? I can't really see how this works just by imagining it.
Not exactly a diagram but the a video of the test: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz2FMfv-CSc A bmw 3 series (not full frontal): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XG8BQt4sHY
It's really unfair to compare offset and frontal crash tests. You can't draw any conclusions by comparing the two. For years, auto manufacturers were able to perform competently in the frontal crash test, but when the offset test was introduced, the failure rate went through the roof.
I don't mean to diminish the performance of the Tesla Model S. It is, without qualification, an incredible car. I just don't think comparing it to the offset video of a BMW are relevant.
Re: Tesla Model S achieves best safety rating of any car ever tested
#226I'm sorry, but as a car enthusiast who spent much of his younger years devouring every ounce of Road&Track/Car&Driver mags, the phrase "any car ever tested" is a bit over the top... I'm almost positive the McLaren F1 (a car 20 years older) fared better than the Tesla in safety testing and was capable of being driven away after the testing finished... F1 @ 30mph: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLare…
That's amazing! I had no idea the F1 was so sturdy. My assumption (probably common) is that these super light exotics disintegrate when hitting large insects, let alone walls.
You have big part of why in your statement. "super light" Mass * Velocity. Less mass, means less energy to dissipate.
Re: Tesla Model S achieves best safety rating of any car ever tested
#227Earlier quoted context omitted.
These are very high voltages. The Tesla is 375 volts and the Prius is 275 volts.
Technically, that puts it well into the 'low-voltage' classification; generally, 1000 V is the threshold for 'high-voltage'.
The definition depends on the context. When discussing risk of electrical shock, below 50V is usually considered low voltage (and safe).
Re: Tesla Model S achieves best safety rating of any car ever tested
#228There have been several real-world crashes of the Tesla S, and none, as far as I know, have resulted in any injuries to the driver. One was even a head on crash at fairly high speeds which killed the other vehicle's driver. The Tesla S driver walked away. Tesla never fails to amaze me.
Source on the head-on crash story?
I found this one: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=821_1367344455
Re: Tesla Model S achieves best safety rating of any car ever tested
#229Earlier quoted context omitted.
Does anyone know what the actual voltages are? Just because it is high relative to the usual 12V of cars does not mean it is terrifically fatal. An anecdote to give you a picture of things: Electric arc welders operate at around 60V with a very large amount of current. However the electricity is not particularly the dangerous thing about them, it is the 9000F arc you are making and the molten steel. So to demonstrate…
These are very high voltages. The Tesla is 375 volts and the Prius is 275 volts.
Wow, I didn't realize they went that high. Then yes, with the current output of a battery pack, I can see why people are worried.
Re: Tesla Model S achieves best safety rating of any car ever tested
#230Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Personally, I hope Tesla fail, and think they will. Maybe, but you need to realize that the electric car is an obvious and timely technological development, and someone will produce a successful mass-market electric car. Why not Tesla? It's not as though they're making a lot of mistakes.
I don't believe electric cars are technologically better. Lugging a half ton battery around, then waiting for hours for it to charge doesn't seem that clever to me. Of all the things that are banes of our lives these days, surely it's everything that runs on a battery. Remember when phones would last a week or so on a charge? Now you're lucky if a smart phone lasts a day on standby. And people call it progress... So…
"Waiting for hours for it to charge" is not accurate.
Actual On-Demand Refilling Stats:
- One hour at supercharging station
- Two minutes at battery swapping station