Posted on 08/20/2013 9:10:28 PM PDT by grundle
As much as electric car builders hail their vehicles as the future of transportation, one question they couldn't answer fully was just how well their vehicles would withstand a crash. Automakers have spent decades finessing their chassis; what happened when an engine-less vehicle went head-on into a barrier wasn't clear, and as the post crash-test smoldering of a Chevy Volt demonstrated, the batteries posed new challenges.
Leave it to Tesla to provide the first hard evidence — with data from U.S. government tests showing the Model S sedan may be the most crash-proof passenger vehicle on the road today.
Normally, Tesla's garnering of five stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's crash tests wouldn't be a headline; most new cars and trucks get at least five stars in frontal crash protection and four stars in side impact. But the Model S did better than that; it got five stars in all tests; front, side impact, pole and rollover prevention. Plus, the scores of its frontal, side and rollover test combined were higher than any car ever crashed by NHTSA — and according to Tesla, at one point the testers nearly broke their equipment trying to damage the Model S.
For its front crash tests, NHTSA runs vehicles into a wall at 35 mph. Most cars use a combination of crumple zones — often pieces of their steel frames that look like accordion bellows — air bags and engine mounts that send the motor underneath the car to protect passengers. Since the Model S has no engine up front, it has more space for crumple zones in its aluminum chassis.
(Excerpt) Read more at autos.yahoo.com ...
I would count on the US version to be somewhat less capable than what the rest of the world gets.
The Civic is now the 2nd most stolen car in America. This should move it up into the top spot.
I know someone who had his Civic Si stolen right out of his locked garage.
What makes you think that?
I'm not against electric vehicles. They are fine where they are fine. I already pay highway taxes when I buy fuel, so I'm not a fan of paying tax credits for people to buy vehicles which won't pay those same fuel taxes.
I can also see the increased demand for electricity driving those rates up, and the increase of using natural gas vs. coal to generate electricity driving up the cost of my primary home heating fuel. I am against electric cars being mandated for everyone (If you don't thing the same people who are insisting global warming is a crisis even after well over a decade of no warming will push for mandating these things, you haven't been keeping up).
I live in North Dakota, and frankly, EVs are a deathtrap at this latitude and for my situation. When the places you travel are 120 plus miles apart, and that has to be done for half of the year with the heater on and likely lights as well, the battery packs just won't be enough, especially hauling a half ton or more of equipment.
If you get stranded without heat you can freeze to death (-30 temps are not uncommon in winter, and I have seen -60) and I have known a couple of people who did.
If you want an EV, fine and dandy, but I don't want to have to subsidize it.
How far with the heater running full tilt and the lights on?
Its not that Conservatives that are against electric cars, but they’re skeptical of the promoters of it. Given the history of dishonesty from the Left. I agree with them, but I treat Tesla as the exception. I don’t like Volt or Leaf, but Tesla approach is much better than any competitors
All very nice, but I can get 650 to 700 miles down the road before I have to stop for fuel--and haul a ton of stuff, too. Slow and steady and all that.
Apart from the obvious issues, the Volt is a far more practical car than the Tesla or Leaf in today’s environment.
You get less range on battery, but you have the gas engine as backup.
Tesla and Leaf are dead on the road when the battery dies.
I don’t know, but I don’t think it be any different to how much gasoline car use elec batteries to power the light etc
They are not yet practical for this latitude and climate (North Dakota), and may never be.
At this stage of development, I would not stake my life on one, and you stake your life on your vehicle when traveling in winter here, more often than not--even with the additional traffic of the oil boom.
I was looking at an Elio. Would not go on a long trip with it, but for around town or shorter trips in the 300 mile range it would be great. They are basically an encapsulated three wheeler with heat, A/C, three airbags, 1 passenger seat behind the driver. They get 84 mpg, hold 8 gal gas, will do over 100 mph, and all for $6,800.00
Www.eliomotors.com
I wish they made 4 wheels out of it instead of 3. The back of the car look ugly. The front part looks okay
With an EV, there is no waste engine heat to utilize--heat has to be generated, as well as distributed using battery power. Similarly, the lights have to be fed by the battery.
If there is nothing to charge the battery but an outlet somewhere, all power for all functions between charges has to come from the battery pack.
Keep in mind, too that batteries are notorious for losing power in extreme (subzero) cold, and the vehicle is not suitable for this area in winter except for the shortest of trips. Ground clearance is also an issue during winter here, to be able to go through snow drifts without getting high centered (drive wheels--or all four--lifted off the ground by snow under the vehicle).
I bought an AWD GMC Safari from a rental agency, it gets only 16 MPG in town, but can handle a decent amount of cargo with the rear seat removed.
What made it work was the $500 buy-in, $300 on repairs, and $500 for new tires. For an initial cost of $1300, I can buy a lot of gasoline, even at today's prices, and it will get around in winter. It isn't sexy, but it gets the job done. The turning radius and shorter wheelbase make it easy to drive and park in town, too, unlike the bigger vehicles I take when I am off to work.
After "The Ones's people in the EPA etc get done with our energy policy out power grid will be on rationing. With prohibitions and/or unrealistic restrictions and extended delays on new plants and grid upgrades because of the endangered species list Liberals expand almost on a daily basis these cars will drive electric rates through the roof. The Darn Electric Bill Too High in my area now thanks to government mandates. I'm in the Tennessee Valley.
One of the arguments I've seen made is the Tesla has lower operating and maintenance costs than gasoline powered cars. At this point in time, the $60K base model wouldn't be viable for me as a primary car. Once supercharging stations are in place the $90K performance model has a range that would meet 90% of my driving needs. I can buy a lot of gasoline powered car and not worry about that last 10%.
I suspect being able to get into the carpool lanes is a primary consideration for buying one. If I lived in a big city and could shave 30 minutes off a commute everyday, I'd consider it.
Details of the Mk VI Golf GTI just came out. 296 HP. It will come here.
And I suspect those workers on the floor are not using
drugs or drinking alcohol to excess.
Yes, cerebral flatulance, you’re right, I did mean the R and typed GTI.
All very nice, but I can get 650 to 700 miles down the road before I have to stop for fuel
Very commendable. But the higher end Tesla's with the mind bending acceleration and speeds are not exactly for taking the family to Aunt Betty's for the week.
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