Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds • Hacker News Board

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#271

Post by ddingus » Sat, Jul 18, 2015, 5:54 AM UTC

oaktowner wrote: post #177

rdtsc wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aslo battery life. I used to charge my phone once a week, tops. I could drop it, throw, it fit in my hand my pocket find. Now I have to charge it every day. My android is more of a portable computer that also knows how to make calls via the cell phone network.

If you turn off data and don't use the screen, you'll get much better battery life (and have approximately the same feature set as your old phone). Old phones didn't have apps that required constant connectivity and didn't have screens at all, essentially. So the problem is that this is comparing yesterday's phone with today's pocket-sized computer. Note: you can still buy a feature phone today if you'd like.

This is entirely true.

If I run my Samsung Note 4 in it's extreme power saving mode, it's got a standby that is something like 17 days! I can easily go a few days, if I'm just talking on the phone, text, and the occasional web browser session.

If I want to play audio, it will do that for the better part of a week in that same mode. Just point Chrome at the files and go.

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#272

Post by vonmoltke » Sat, Jul 18, 2015, 6:11 AM UTC

mikeash wrote: post #258

Animats wrote: post #75

More usefully, there's an option to increase the range to 300 miles. That's still only half the range of many stock gasoline cars, though.

You only need enough range to go as far as the next charger, or until your bladder is full, whichever is last. 300 miles is plenty (overkill, really) for long distance travel. Gas car range is more about how many times per month you need to stop at the gas station in normal use. More range makes that more convenient. With home charging, the convenience of an electric car is better even with less range.

> 300 miles is plenty (overkill, really) for long distance travel.

Don't read trip with me, then. I drove from Hartford, CT to Dallas, TX last month in two days (900mi the first day, 750 the second). Trips like this are specifically why I nixed the Model S as an option and went with a turbodiesel Passat (with its 750+ highway mile range).

I realize I'm in the minority, but it is a notable minority. I don't want to be forced into an hour-long stop every 300 miles.

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#273

Post by TwoBit » Sat, Jul 18, 2015, 6:17 AM UTC

rsync wrote: post #262

city41 wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you say the other makers are passive? BMW, Mercedes, Nissan, VW, Ford and Fiat all have fully electric cars. Sure none of them get near the range the Model S does, but they are getting involved in this. A Nissan Leaf offers roughly one third the specs of a Model S, but also at one third the price. Seems like progress to me.

"Why do you say the other makers are passive? BMW, Mercedes, Nissan, VW, Ford and Fiat all have fully electric cars." BMW has an i3 that is basically an Onion article parody version of an electric car. If you had to draw a comic of an electric car, that's what you'd draw. They also have an absolutely ridiculous "electric" i8 that has a lawnmower engine shoehorned in it somewhere and you can listen to that fire off ev…

I don't get that part about a styling void, but I agree with the rest.

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#274

Post by TwoBit » Sat, Jul 18, 2015, 6:33 AM UTC

theonlyhighlndr wrote: post #50

liamk wrote: post #3

Amazing, that's as fast as the Lamborghini Aventador https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamborghini_Aventador

In a straight line... The Tesla weighs more than an F150 and corners like a boat

I have a P85 and it does not handle like a boat. The low center of gravity and 50/50 weight distribution makes it handle a lot better than you'd expect. It has good slalom course numbers, especially for a sedan, just under the Porsche Panamera.

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#275

Post by Too » Sat, Jul 18, 2015, 7:15 AM UTC

Retric wrote: post #132

jakemoshenko wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here I am trying to imagine a vehicle with infotainment but without a steering wheel. It raises so many questions! Do you assume that we will purchase self driving cars frequently enough that the infotainment will keep pace? Do you anticipate purchasing a personal train or fighter jet? Do the handlebars on a motorcycle count as a steering wheel?

People used to buy aftermarket stereos fairly frequently and I don’t see any reason why the infotainment system can’t have that kind up upgradeability. Worst case strap an iPad over the old system. PS: I can see the argument for a highly limited system when they can distract the driver, but if I am effectively a passenger that's a non-issue.

iPads are not very friendly to your face in the event of a crash. Apple devices are also famous for not wistanding heat or cold. Real automotive equipment is rigorously tested for these scenarios and many more.

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#276

Post by brobinson » Sat, Jul 18, 2015, 7:22 AM UTC

declan wrote: post #110

DanBlake wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The GTR is 2.9 seconds, so the tesla is faster- Its also faster in the 1/4 mile as well, so this is kind of a big deal. I believe this is the fastest production car under 300k that you can buy.

>I believe this is the fastest production car under 300k that you can buy. The 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo S was tested by Car and Driver at 2.5 seconds 0-60, and it's ~$200K, depending on options: http://www.caranddriver.com/porsche/911-turbo-turbo-s I suspect the 2015 Turbo S might be a bit quicker.

Car and Driver got a 2.2 second 0-60 time on the 918, apparently.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/the-2015-porsche-918-sp...

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#277

Post by pja » Sat, Jul 18, 2015, 10:03 AM UTC

toufka wrote: post #231

cherry_su wrote: post #226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's take Nurburgring-Nordschleife, since that's generally accepted as The Proving Grounds. For these three cars in question: Tesla Model S: DNF, overheated, http://insideevs.com/expected-tesla-model-s-fails-lap-nurbur... Ford GT: 07:52, https://nurburgringlaptimes.com/lap-times-top-100/ Porsche Boxster S (981): 07:58, http://fastestlaps.com/cars/porsche_boxster_s_981.html

You should at least do it the justice of pointing out what the driver said: >The lap itself was around 10 minutes Bridge to Gantry (in heavy traffic) but unfortunately the car went into a reduced power mode about 3 minutes in due to excess battery heat (at least, that’s my guess). >However, before it did it was able to keep a GT3 RS going full chat, within shouting distance (at the 2:00 mark) far longer than any 4,70…

And if wishes were horses, we’d all ride ponies?

The Model S is a really nice sedan. But its performance on the track is clearly sub par because a) it’s heavy and b) it just isn’t designed to run at full tilt for very long before the batteries or motors start to overheat. Sure, from cold the performance is impressive but if you only get that performance for a few minutes, it’s rather less so.

The design spec was probably something like “give the buyer the feeling they’ve got their money’s worth when they burn off their friends from the next set of red lights” not “beat a top-line Porsche round the Nürburgring”. And that’s OK - no one expects executive barges to be amazing track cars, except (apparently) for the hoards of Telsa boosters who don’t seem able to accept that their object of desire might have the odd flaw.

Telsa are the Apple of the automotive world, right down to having their very own reality distortion field :)

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#278

Post by CydeWeys » Sat, Jul 18, 2015, 6:26 PM UTC

Merad wrote: post #188

CydeWeys wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't it an overstatement that the batteries aren't green? Yes, there are environmental impacts from the production, but still a lot less than the environmental impacts of all the oil that would otherwise be produced and burnt to fuel the car over its lifetime, no?

But, isn't the lifetime of the battery pack significantly lower than the (presumed) lifetime of the actual car? If your Model S stays on the road 20 years but requires 3-4 battery replacements, that's several big hits against its environmental friendliness.

The lifetimes of battery packs have been greatly underestimated by detractors for quite some time. Hybrids have been on the US market since 1999, and battery life has never been a serious issue. The new batteries are far higher quality than the old ones anyway.

3-4 battery replacements over 20 years isn't anything close to what a Model S will require. Do you have a source for those figures?

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#279

Post by larrys » Sat, Jul 18, 2015, 7:09 PM UTC

Dylan16807 wrote: post #157

JoshTriplett wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The difference is that there aren't posted acceleration limits, only speed limits. (And more generally, speed reduces available reaction time and increases your inertia in a collision, which is why it's the sensible thing to limit.) The only limits on acceleration are the general requirements to drive safely. So 0-60 is a lot more interesting than -95, unless you're driving on the autobahn.

I would say that acceleration, forward and backward, in the 55-80 area is critical to safety.

Absolutely correct and one of the reasons I love that car so much. (Along with the handling and stability).

Re: Tesla’s Model S Gets “Ludicrous” Mode, Will Do 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds

#280

Post by tthayer » Sat, Jul 18, 2015, 7:12 PM UTC

mikeash wrote: post #247

mackey wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have been researching mazdas (CX-5) lately and they do get updates to the info/nav system. I think I read there is a crashing problem in v.51 or something, but its fixed in v.55. Not the same as tesla, but better than others.

Are those updates over the air, or do you need to take it to a dealer to apply them?

It looks like OTA updates will be available in the future, but who knows if 'older' models will get that feature.