3 ms·
The model S already has a 6 kW cabin heater, which is presumably fully on when starting out cold. Electric heat is great -- the cabin starts warming up immediat
by tlb 8y ago
The model S already has a 6 kW cabin heater, which is presumably fully on when starting out cold. Electric heat is great -- the cabin starts warming up immediately.
Braking normally goes up to 60 kW. Another 2-4 kW would barely make a difference.
- Scoundreller 8y agoI’m making up numbers, but I think braking is like insurance: most payouts/utilization is at the low end. You need the 60kw available for hard braking, but what percentage of the area under the curve is below the 5kw mark?
- tlb 8y ago60 kW isn't hard braking -- that's the normal level you get in a model S when you take your foot off the accelerator anywhere above 20 mph. So coming to an anticipated red light, you'd normally brake at the full 60 kW tapering down to zero at about 10 mph, then use the mechanical brake. That's makes for a comfortable stop and wastes the minimum power. Hard braking, like slamming them on at 80 mph, can exceed 1000 kW.