• Tesla unveils Model X SUV, wants to be your all-electric crossover
    96 replies, posted
[QUOTE=BANNED USER;34631356]If they did it the Mercedes way, they have explosive charges on the doors that shoot them off in just such an occasion.[/QUOTE] That's fucking hardcore.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;34631648]That's fucking hardcore.[/QUOTE]Typically, they take specially designed bolts (or other components, but often bolts), that contain a small amount of explosive charge inside. Then, when needed they receive a shock of some kind that detonates the charge, causing the bolt to separate.
Explosive bolts of sorts are used to remove the canopy in the case of an ejection from the cockpit of a fighter aircraft.
[QUOTE=Apache249;34631721]Explosive bolts of sorts are used to remove the canopy in the case of an ejection from the cockpit of a fighter aircraft.[/QUOTE]They're used for many applications because they are far more effective than typical latches and similar systems.
Not bad,but i don't like hybryds'electric/eco cars.
[QUOTE=!TROLLMAIL!;34631771]Not bad,but i don't like hybryds'electric/eco cars.[/QUOTE]Why? The only problems with them presently are the long charge times and the limited range.
and the extreme boringness
[QUOTE=abcpea2;34631850]and the extreme boringness[/QUOTE]What? That's as bad as the people who complain about the fact that it is quieter than an ICE.
[QUOTE=Sickle;34630888]Those wings that open up along the car to the back, can't remember their name, are much better. But these are cool.[/QUOTE] You're probably thinking of sliding doors [T]http://filesmelt.com/dl/3623735883-world-s-strangest-car-doors.jpg[/T]
[QUOTE=Metalcastr;34630875]We need better battery technology. Lighter, cheaper, more capacity. We don't have the technology.[/QUOTE] We kinda-sorta do, but it has a nasty habit of exploding in certain conditions. (lithium-air battery) Hell, any Lithium-based battery is dangerous as all get-out or down-right impractical in certain regions (Alaska? Too cold, lithium batteries don't run nearly as well in the cold. Arizona? Too hot, might cause rupture of lithium cells, and that's no beuno).
[QUOTE=abcpea2;34631850]and the extreme boringness[/QUOTE] Electric motors tend to have a lot of torque. All of that torque will be available from 0 RPM, which again means faster acceleration and more fun. The only boring thing is that there is no awesome v12 exhaust sound.
[QUOTE=gbtygfvyg;34630630]Those gullwing doors are practical and don't look completely stupid.[/QUOTE] Try opening those doors when the car is parked in a parking lot with cars on either side
[QUOTE=Sjokolade;34632209]Electric motors tend to have a lot of torque. All of that torque will be available from 0 RPM, which again means faster acceleration and more fun. The only boring thing is that there is no awesome v12 exhaust sound.[/QUOTE] In theory: True. In practice? AHAHAHAHA No. In order for the range to be even partially reasonable, the batteries have to be so heavy that acceleration is no better than ICE powered competitors, and that's only when they're >50% charge. Below that the acceleration gets real soft real fast, and this is enforced by the computers that are trying to squeeze every last inch of range out of the battery as possible. If you could get the battery to weigh no more than a typical gasoline tank while providing sufficient range, then yes, you'd have a point. But as it stands, the technology just simply doesn't exist, and the 1500 pounds of batteries you need to make it even remotely useful in the real world(IE: more than 50 miles of range) are going to slow it down. Tesla's electrified Lotus suffers from this, as they kind of didn't put enough batteries in for a good range. They accelerate like a damn bullet, sure, but you don't get more than 50-60 miles out of one before the battery's dead if you drive it in even a remotely spirited manner...and that defeats the purpose of a sports car. Also, the lack of an awesome V12 soundtrack is a dealbreaker for me*, and no amount of digital synthesizers playing through the radio will equal that. *I will also accept a throaty V8 soundtrack, as well as the sound of an inline four or small V6 revving like crazy. Flat sixes and flat twelves can sound good from time to time as well. An inline six is acceptable only if it is made by BMW, Toyota, Nissan, Aston Martin or Jaguar, the rest sound like tractor engines.
[QUOTE=Van-man;34631893]You're probably thinking of sliding doors [T]http://filesmelt.com/dl/3623735883-world-s-strangest-car-doors.jpg[/T][/QUOTE] I think that he's talking about ones that look like that and slide into that position, but then they angle themselves upwards and slide onto the corner between the roof and the car itself. Absolutely all the cars had them on in Need for Speed, I remember.
[QUOTE=shill le 2nd;34631572]It's still ridiculously more efficient than burning gasoline in an ICE.[/QUOTE] But does it excite the same way? Some of us are actually bonkers enough to enjoy all the aspects of an ICE powerplant, aspects electric motors simply can not replicate.
Dear god, it's gorgeous.
[QUOTE=Cone;34632264]I think that he's talking about ones that look like that and slide into that position, but then they angle themselves upwards and slide onto the corner between the roof and the car itself. Absolutely all the cars had them on in Need for Speed, I remember.[/QUOTE] [URL="http://filesmelt.com/dl/untitled1287975570.jpg"]Oh god, not those.[/URL]
[QUOTE=Van-man;34632320][URL="http://filesmelt.com/dl/untitled1287975570.jpg"]Oh god, not those.[/URL][/QUOTE] Yeah, those were the ones. I always thought they looked incredibly silly and probably wasted a lot of energy moving them.
[QUOTE=TestECull;34632247]In theory: True. In practice? AHAHAHAHA No. In order for the range to be even partially reasonable, the batteries have to be so heavy that acceleration is no better than ICE powered competitors, and that's only when they're >50% charge. Below that the acceleration gets real soft real fast, and this is enforced by the computers that are trying to squeeze every last inch of range out of the battery as possible. If you could get the battery to weigh no more than a typical gasoline tank while providing sufficient range, then yes, you'd have a point. But as it stands, the technology just simply doesn't exist, and the 1500 pounds of batteries you need to make it even remotely useful in the real world(IE: more than 50 miles of range) are going to slow it down. Tesla's electrified Lotus suffers from this, as they kind of didn't put enough batteries in for a good range. They accelerate like a damn bullet, sure, but you don't get more than 50-60 miles out of one before the battery's dead if you drive it in even a remotely spirited manner...and that defeats the purpose of a sports car.[/QUOTE] Difference between the electrified lotus and the Model S and Model X, is that both the S and X are built from scratch by Tesla, on their own chassis, which is very lightweight. It's not a converted combustion car, it's an electric car from the ground up. The Model S has up to 300 miles range, and the performance version accelerates from 0-60mph (0-96kph) in 4.4 seconds. [editline]10th February 2012[/editline] Also, with the special charger they are planning on putting in charging stations, it will charge in 45-60 minutes.
[QUOTE=TestECull;34632247]In theory: True. In practice? AHAHAHAHA No. In order for the range to be even partially reasonable, the batteries have to be so heavy that acceleration is no better than ICE powered competitors, and that's only when they're >50% charge. Below that the acceleration gets real soft real fast, and this is enforced by the computers that are trying to squeeze every last inch of range out of the battery as possible. If you could get the battery to weigh no more than a typical gasoline tank while providing sufficient range, then yes, you'd have a point. But as it stands, the technology just simply doesn't exist, and the 1500 pounds of batteries you need to make it even remotely useful in the real world(IE: more than 50 miles of range) are going to slow it down. Tesla's electrified Lotus suffers from this, as they kind of didn't put enough batteries in for a good range. They accelerate like a damn bullet, sure, but you don't get more than 50-60 miles out of one before the battery's dead if you drive it in even a remotely spirited manner...and that defeats the purpose of a sports car. Also, the lack of an awesome V12 soundtrack is a dealbreaker for me*, and no amount of digital synthesizers playing through the radio will equal that. *I will also accept a throaty V8 soundtrack, as well as the sound of an inline four or small V6 revving like crazy. Flat sixes and flat twelves can sound good from time to time as well. An inline six is acceptable only if it is made by BMW, Toyota, Nissan, Aston Martin or Jaguar, the rest sound like tractor engines.[/QUOTE] The top model of the Model S has a stated range of about 300 miles. Also, don't just use Top Gear as a source of information about Tesla. If you just drive your car flat out, you are bound to reduce range. [url]http://www.teslamotors.com/teslavstopgear[/url] -ninja-
[QUOTE=Sjokolade;34632473]The top model of the Model S has a stated range of about 300 miles. Also, don't just use Top Gear as a source of information about Tesla.[B] If you just drive your car flat out, you are bound to reduce range.[/B][/QUOTE] Well same shit if you're going flat out in a ordinary car. [I]Rule of thumb[/I] is to keep it in the lowest RPM range the current gear permits while the engine still have enough grunt to drive the car without stalling or struggling not to.
[QUOTE=Van-man;34632527]Well same shit if you're going flat out in a ordinary car. [I]Rule of thumb[/I] is to keep it in the lowest RPM range the current gear permits while the engine still have enough grunt to drive the car without stalling or struggling not to.[/QUOTE] What is your point? That doesn't in any way change the fact that the top model of the Model S does 300 miles / 480km on one charge.
[QUOTE=LarparNar;34632619]What is your point? That doesn't in any way change the fact that the top model of the Model S does 300 miles / 480km on one charge.[/QUOTE] It shows that a petrol car isn't better than a Tesla on that part.
[QUOTE=Sjokolade;34632655]It shows that a petrol car isn't better than a Tesla on that part.[/QUOTE] Obviously?
It looks like a maserati.
I know I'm being a bit nitpicky here, but that body isn't much larger than a typical saloon car. It's also quite useless as a sport utility if you can't carry or pull much cargo with you. [editline]00[/editline] Not to mention, with that price I could get a fully equipped 2012 Sequoia that actually lives up to it's marketing term.
Anyway How do you think this would do on a long road trip around the states? I think it would be an interesting project. With recharge times reduced to less than an hour on charging stations, and a range close to 300 miles per charge, I think it would manage it quite well. It would also be good PR for environmentally friendly cars like this. It will show that electric cars are catching up with fossil fuels on practicality. [editline]10th February 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=ExplodingGuy;34632685]I know I'm being a bit nitpicky here, but that body isn't much larger than a typical saloon car. It's also quite useless as a sport utility if you can't carry or pull much cargo with you.[/QUOTE] Have you seen the luggage space in that car? The engine(s) is so small that both the rear and front boot are available for luggage. In addition, if you don't drive with seven people in the car, the rear rows will leave space for even more luggage/equipment. The door-design will make it easier to take things in and out of the rear seats-compartment. Edit: Anyway, it's a crossover, not a SUV
[QUOTE=ExplodingGuy;34632685]I know I'm being a bit nitpicky here, but that body isn't much larger than a typical saloon car. It's also quite useless as a sport utility if you can't carry or pull much cargo with you. [editline]00[/editline] Not to mention, with that price I could get a fully equipped 2012 Sequoia that actually lives up to it's marketing term.[/QUOTE] It's got a lot of extra space everywhere because there's not anywhere near as much equipment everywhere as in a combustion car. The engines are small, there are no gears, it's all electronic, no oil that needs to be changed, no spark plugs, and electricity is usually much cheaper than gasoline or diesel. [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2668640/modelxwheels.PNG[/img]
[QUOTE=LarparNar;34632728]It's got a lot of extra space everywhere because there's not anywhere near as much equipment everywhere as in a combustion car. The engines are small, there are no gears, it's all electronic, no oil that needs to be changed, no spark plugs, and electricity is usually much cheaper than gasoline or diesel. [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2668640/modelxwheels.PNG[/img][/QUOTE] That image shows essentially all the car needs except for the computer and controls. All the extra space is for the body, luggage and passengers
[QUOTE=LarparNar;34632437] The Model S has up to 300 miles range, and the performance version accelerates from 0-60mph (0-96kph) in 4.4 seconds.[/quote] It will only do 300 miles if you drive it like James May, and if you come anywhere near that top speed it's dead in 50-75 miles. [quote]Also, with the special charger they are planning on putting in charging stations, it will charge in 45-60 minutes.[/QUOTE] And I can fill my pickup from bone dry to literally overflowing in five minutes flat. Still not a fast enough charge. I won't even consider an EV until I can take it from "So little power left the dashboard won't light up" to "100% fully charged" in the time it takes to fill a 19 gallon gasoline tank similarly drained.
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