The Future....

[Jon Tilson]

I know most of us on here tend not to be at the bank bonus end of the automotive spectrum, but just for a laugh
I test drove a Tesla 85 today.

Well why wouldnt I? They all pitched up at out local office tech park all bright eyed and bushey tailed, everything vaguely electric or hybrid....

Quite honestly the rest may as well pack up and go home. The sheer cheek at the extortionate prices being asked for vaguely electrified modern hatchbacks with sub 100 mile ranges, hybrids with needless extra engines to lug about or the stratosphericly priced but intriguing i8 from you know who...

And then there was the Tesla....
All I can say is wow! Drive one if you can. Its just blows everything else away.

I want one....

Jonners

[SprintMWU773V]

I've driven the Tesla a couple of times and will probably drive one tomorrow. I was totally taken aback by this amazing piece of technology. I've driven hybrids, hydrogen cars and other electrics like the Nissan Leaf and frankly nothing comes close to the Tesla. I liked the way it drove and the way it updates itself like a PC but most of all I loved the range and the fact it seems to get at least somewhere close to the claimed range if you're careful.

It won't be long and smaller, cheaper models will be available and then it will start to make a lot of other cars seems redundant. My wife recently bought a Lexus CT200h as it has (had) a very good tax break on it. It's a replacement for a BMW 320d ED and it cannot really be compared on performance. That said I have been very impressed by other aspects of the car like the fact it's so quiet and we see mid to high 50's mpg under the right conditions. Now next to the 60+ of the BMW then this doesn't sound so good but this is a heavy, predominantly petrol driven car. Certainly round town it's better than the diesel and doesn't kill people so much with diesel fumes. I was so impressed with the hybrid tech I quite fancied getting one myself but I've ordered another 1 series diesel instead.

Still back to the Tesla, if they can get it more mainstream and get the price down, oh and sort out some charging points then Tesla could really clean up.

Interestingly I should also drive a hydrogen fuel cell car tomorrow. This I want to try as this might even out-Tesla the Tesla in terms of tech.

[killysprint]

My wife has ran a electric car (Leaf) for the last 15 months or so as a company car (zero tax until April this year) and it has been very very surprising.

We've tried to reduce her tax liability over the last couple of cars after being screwed with a Volvo xc90 a few years ago. We've recently moved closer to the city centre and wanted something smaller to run around in and when she was offered the leaf for a trial period we thought why not.

Yes it has a limited range, she has a 30 mile round commute each day, with charging available at work, we have a 32a charger at home too, and we have never had range issues.

I work a couple of days in newcastle city centre every week, and if I have the chance to take the leaf it is perfect, as there are plenty of charging points available, combined with free parking - it makes taking it a no brainer.

It's good fun to drive, instant strong accelaration, handling is ok, as the car is quite tall but bearable, and it's been 100% reliable over 15000 miles. Nothing has gone wrong or fell off. Even petrol head friends who scoffed at the choice of the leaf have been really surprised when they've been out in it.

Economy is brilliant - if we charge at home it costs around 3p / mile. Her last car (Volvo v60 edrive) even on its best days averaging around 55-60 mpg cost 10-11 p / mile.

Would I recommend electric cars - absolutely, only if you have another car to do longer journeys in, this is the only draw back that we have with our current (no pun intended) car.

However things will change in 6 weeks - she will be getting a Tesla 70 D as a replacement to the leaf - this doesn't have the shove or the range of the 85, but should be a little better than the leaf! And the range should increase to around 200 -220 miles per charge. Her job has changed and she needs to travel to Leeds once a week and the leaf won't manage that - and work are keen to continue with electric cars. The tesla should do this no problem.

Is 100% electric power the future of motoring - I'm not sure. Battery technology limits the potential at the minute. I know the tesla 85 d has nearly 700hp and goes like a stabbed rat, but it is still compromised by range (especially when cold outside) if the performance is used to the full. And Even though our experience over the year has been extremely positive, and we are about to take the plunge, and hopefully enjoy the benefits a car with longer range and much better performance, I do feel that a hybrid electric with a ITC range extender is the way to go.

Anyway should be an interesting experience.

[SprintMWU773V]

Today i have driven the 85D which is the 4wd one and a stupid amount of power. Wow what a car. It has an acceleration mode called insane which sums it up very well. 0-60 in 3 secs or thereabouts. According to the nav unit i could also drive to Belgium and only stop once!

[tinweevil]

With the recently announced Tesla battery-for-your-house thingumy there is a 10 year guarantee on the batteries. But to achieve this there are restrictions on the load (2kw) and on the charge cycles (1000 iirc). These make the thing pretty useless and a number of studies have said that compared to established market contenders the tesla doesn't financially work. Nice unit, neat, technically very good - just not worth opening your wallet for.

Are there restrictions on the battery use in their cars? X charge cycles in the guarantee period for example?

[sprint95m]

That's rather disappointing Julian.

I find this type of new technology fascinating but have been made reluctant to buy very new technologies (in general)
because I have been stung too often.
Last year I was impressed at how competitive the electric motor bikes were at the Isle of man TT but am aware that these
were only capable of performing like that for just one lap.
Battery technology is improving....





Do I see myself owning an electric car?
Probably not. I suppose at some point it could be necessary to replace the Dolomite so would have to go for a BMW 1 series
since there are no other back wheel drive choices, that is assuming that a BMW dealer would sell one to a cash customer .




Ian.