Elon Musk: "If NHTSA identifies an improvement that would materially improve safety, it will be impl - Polidicks

[img]http://i.imgur.com/R1HuZYj.png[/img] [quote][B]How Does the Tesla Model S Fire Risk Compare to Gasoline Cars?[/B] Since the Model S went into production last year, there have been more than a quarter million gasoline car fires in the United States alone, [B]resulting in over 400 deaths and approximately 1,200 serious injuries[/B] (extrapolating 2012 NFPA data). However, the three Model S fires, which only occurred after very high-speed collisions and caused no serious injuries or deaths, received more national headlines than all 250,000+ gasoline fires combined. The media coverage of Model S fires vs. gasoline car fires is disproportionate by several orders of magnitude, despite the latter actually being far more deadly. Reading the headlines, it is therefore easy to assume that the Tesla Model S and perhaps electric cars in general have a greater propensity to catch fire than gasoline cars when nothing could be further from the truth. Journalists with a deep knowledge of the car industry, such as the news editor of Automotive News, understand and attempt to rebut this notion, but they have been drowned out by an onslaught of popular and financial media seeking to make a sensation out of something that a simple Google search would reveal to be false. I would also like to express appreciation for the investigative journalists who took the time to research and write an accurate article.[/quote] [quote] [B]What About Safety Overall?[/B] Our primary concern is not for the safety of the vehicle, which can easily be replaced, but for the safety of our customers and the families they entrust to our cars. Based on the Model S track record so far, you have a zero percent chance of being hurt in an accident resulting in a battery fire, but what about other types of accidents? Despite multiple high-speed accidents,[B] there have been no deaths or serious injuries in a Model S of any kind ever.[/B][/quote] [quote] [B]Further Actions[/B] While we believe the evidence is clear that there is no safer car on the road than the Model S, we are taking three specific actions.[/quote] [quote]First, [B]we have rolled out an over-the-air update to the air suspension that will result in greater ground clearance at highway speeds[/B] .... Another software update expected in January will give the driver direct control of the air suspension ride height transitions. [/quote] [quote]Second, we have requested that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conduct a full investigation as soon as possible into the fire incidents. [B]While we think it is highly unlikely, if something is discovered that would result in a material improvement in occupant fire safety, we will immediately apply that change to new cars and offer it as a free retrofit to all existing cars.[/B][/quote] [quote]Third, to reinforce how strongly we feel about the low risk of fire in our cars, we will be amending our warranty policy to cover damage due to a fire, even if due to driver error. [B]Unless a Model S owner actively tries to destroy the car, they are covered.[/B][/quote] [quote]All of these actions are taken in order to make clear the confidence we have in our product and to eliminate any misperceptions regarding the integrity of our technology and the safety of our cars.[/quote] Read the rest here: [url]http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/mission-tesla[/url] Decided to post this because people were asking about what Tesla will do to assure people about safety. Here's your answer.

Good man Elon running good company Tesla.

Musk is a bro, man.

I like how the cars can have their software updated.

[QUOTE=Petrussen;42916012]I like how the cars can have their software updated.[/QUOTE] Most car company's do this now a days

[quote]However, the three Model S fires, which only occurred after very high-speed collisions and caused no serious injuries or deaths, received more national headlines than all 250,000+ gasoline fires combined. The media coverage of Model S fires vs. gasoline car fires is disproportionate by several orders of magnitude, despite the latter actually being far more deadly. Reading the headlines, it is therefore easy to assume that the Tesla Model S and perhaps electric cars in general have a greater propensity to catch fire than gasoline cars when nothing could be further from the truth. Journalists with a deep knowledge of the car industry, such as the news editor of Automotive News, understand and attempt to rebut this notion, but they have been drowned out by an onslaught of popular and financial media seeking to make a sensation out of something that a simple Google search would reveal to be false.[/quote] I still regret the fact that the media works this way. It allows for a lot of simply stupid notions and half-truths to circulate the world.

[QUOTE=Raygen;42916065]I still regret the fact that the media works this way. It allows for a lot of simply stupid notions and half-truths to circulate the world.[/QUOTE] Same as the nonexistent Toyota defect that forced a ridiculous recall. Engineers aren't writing journalism.

[QUOTE=Petrussen;42916012]I like how the cars can have their software updated.[/QUOTE] I had to doubletake at my roommate as he said "hang on lemme download this patch for my Fusion"

[QUOTE=Petrussen;42916012]I like how the cars can have their software updated.[/QUOTE] Until it cocks up.

overclocking my car atm

My car drives pretty slowly how do I lower the graphics so it'll go faster?

My car keeps crashing, I think my drivers are bad.

My respect for this man and the company really has skyrocketed over the past few months. I want a Tesla car so fucking bad, the whole touch screen and not having to pay fuel, hnngg.

[QUOTE=DOG-GY;42916297]overclocking my car atm[/QUOTE] You can joke about it but cars have a lot more computer control than most people realize. My uncle tinkers with motorcycles as a hobby. Through a single computer chip he can remove the speed governor, alter the combustion cycle, even tweak the fuel injection to run it leaner or richer to account for altitude. [QUOTE=darth-veger;42916692]I want a Tesla car so fucking bad, the whole touch screen and not having to pay fuel, hnngg.[/QUOTE] Hold up, you still need to pay for power, and even if you take the pre-payment battery replacement that's still $12,000 for a battery to be replaced in seven years when it hits the end of its life. If you don't use the pre-payment it's somewhere between $30,000 and $36,000 for the replacement. It's still an expensive car to buy and run.

[QUOTE=catbarf;42916738]Hold up, you still need to pay for power, and even if you take the pre-payment battery replacement that's still $12,000 for a battery to be replaced in seven years when it hits the end of its life. If you don't use the pre-payment it's somewhere between $30,000 and $36,000 for the replacement. It's still an expensive car to buy and run.[/QUOTE] At the moment, all Tesla charging stations that are run by Tesla are usable free of charge. Tesla's footing the bill any time you use their stations until they reach countrywide saturation.

[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;42916788]At the moment, all Tesla charging stations that are run by Tesla are usable free of charge. Tesla's footing the bill any time you use their stations until they reach countrywide saturation.[/QUOTE] Oh, my mistake. I must be thinking of a different car.

It's too expensive for too little gain for the average consumer.

[QUOTE=catbarf;42916738]You can joke about it but cars have a lot more computer control than most people realize. My uncle tinkers with motorcycles as a hobby. Through a single computer chip he can remove the speed governor, alter the combustion cycle, even tweak the fuel injection to run it leaner or richer to account for altitude. Hold up, you still need to pay for power, and even if you take the pre-payment battery replacement that's still $12,000 for a battery to be replaced in seven years when it hits the end of its life. If you don't use the pre-payment it's somewhere between $30,000 and $36,000 for the replacement. It's still an expensive car to buy and run.[/QUOTE] Power isn't such a problem because one of these Supercharge stations are being build a few KM away from me. And Elon adressed the issue of expensive batteries and that he was finding a solution so it is cheaper to replace.

[QUOTE=catbarf;42916738] Hold up, you still need to pay for power, and even if you take the pre-payment battery replacement that's still $12,000 for a battery to be replaced in seven years when it hits the end of its life. If you don't use the pre-payment it's somewhere between $30,000 and $36,000 for the replacement. It's still an expensive car to buy and run.[/QUOTE] Price to pay for early adopters, as with basically any early adopter tech. I think it'll be very affordable in the near future.

[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;42916788]At the moment, all Tesla charging stations that are run by Tesla are usable free of charge. Tesla's footing the bill any time you use their stations until they reach countrywide saturation.[/QUOTE] Superchargers will always be free. Battery swapping will cost about the same as gas unless you decide to keep the battery (you're suppose to return it at the station) then it will cost you a few grand.

[QUOTE=catbarf;42916738]You can joke about it but cars have a lot more computer control than most people realize. My uncle tinkers with motorcycles as a hobby. Through a single computer chip he can remove the speed governor, alter the combustion cycle, even tweak the fuel injection to run it leaner or richer to account for altitude.[/QUOTE] how much ram does it have

[QUOTE=laserguided;42916808]It's too expensive for too little gain for the average consumer.[/QUOTE] Tesla is currently making a hatchback model which will be a cheaper, also this looks like you are saying "The lamborghini is to expensive and gives you little gain for the average car", this is not a Citroen DS3 we are talking about.:v:

A tesla hothatch would be sweeeet. I wonder what the price point will be...

[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;42917626]A tesla hothatch would be sweeeet. I wonder what the price point will be...[/QUOTE] It's more of a crossover SUV than a true hatchback: [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/RmZyLXS.jpg[/img_thumb]

[QUOTE=OvB;42917869]It's more of a crossover SUV than a true hatchback: [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/RmZyLXS.jpg[/img_thumb][/QUOTE] Those doors are hideous What's the Model E supposed to look like?

why does everyone look at a good car and want a bigger version that rides worse than the original

[QUOTE=Zeke129;42918025]Those doors are hideous What's the Model E supposed to look like?[/QUOTE] Nobody knows. Rumor is a sedan similar to the Model S, that will be more affordable to the public. It's codename was the blue star. [editline]19th November 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Sableye;42918071]why does everyone look at a good car and want a bigger version that rides worse than the original[/QUOTE] The ride will probably be similar to the Model S because it sits on the same chassis. Only difference is the body which will add a bit of top-heaviness.

[QUOTE=DOG-GY;42916297]overclocking my car atm[/QUOTE] chip-tuning already exists :v: Been common ever since OBD-2 became popular. [editline]19th November 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=OvB;42918075]The ride will probably be similar to the Model S because it sits on the same chassis. Only difference is the body which will add a bit of top-heaviness.[/QUOTE] It's gonna be shit at cornering or driving in windy conditions. What happened to the concept of a good ol' stationwagon?

actually it probably would handle well if the CoM on a regular model S is very low, adding taller tires and making it higher would only raise the Center of Mass to be that of a normal car

[QUOTE=OvB;42917869]It's more of a crossover SUV than a true hatchback: [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/RmZyLXS.jpg[/img_thumb][/QUOTE] That looks sexy as hell, I'd love to see what the interior is like. Although I'm not sure about the gull wing doors...they look cool and all but they are a nightmare when it comes to parking, especially in multi-storey car parks where they might hit the roof or not have enough room to open properly.