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I wonder if Tesla could modify their car models, such that the passenger compartment can be on a different HVAC system than the front compartment? Now that the

I wonder if Tesla could modify their car models, such that the passenger compartment can be on a different HVAC system than the front compartment? Now that the world has a recent concrete demonstration of what it means to be in a pandemic, with all of the emergent problems revealed in gory detail, shouldn't we change some things so that we can cope better in case it happens again? Like I've said, no one buckles their seatbelt in expectation of getting into a high speed crash on their current trip, but we prepare for such a severe circumstance due to the cost/benefit.

Reubachi 6y ago
I admire your problem solving ideas, but engineering this to a point that is 1. effective at mutually/exclusively recycling two sets of air and 2. cost effective is impossible. Would be akin to putting twin turbochargers in a cheap car which already has extremely high engine compression. it could be done, but only a very select customer base would pay for it, and would likely not see any benefits they don't already see from "free" things like disinfecting, social distance, etc.
- stcredzero 6y ago
  I admire your problem solving ideas, but engineering this to a point that is 1. effective at mutually/exclusively recycling two sets of air and 2. cost effective is impossible. Pretty much the same things were said about seatbelts. Would be akin to putting twin turbochargers in a cheap car which already has extremely high engine compression. Why? Please quantify and back this up. Seems to me that such mods are not that extreme. Plenty of cars in the past were not built by default, but were rather modified to be taxicabs, such that there was a wall and window completely between the passengers and front compartment. I see no reason why making that airtight is cost prohibitive. Heck, I bet people would've said that making a car's HVAC system bioweapon-agent proof would be cost prohibitive. Tesla just went and did it, and is putting that system into cars designed to hit a lower price tier than they had previously. but only a very select customer base would pay for it, Same thing was said about seatbelts. I bet plenty of Uber drivers who couldn't work otherwise right now would sign up for some kind of lease deal. and would likely not see any benefits they don't already see from "free" things like disinfecting, social distance, etc. Well, for one thing, Uber would be able to operate a passenger "rideshare" business during a pandemic.
stevehawk 6y ago
is the 'front compartment' the 'frunk' (front trunk)? What are you trying to accomplish? Cooled compartments for food/beverages in a car is old tech (many cars have had chilled glove boxes/consoles)..
- winter_blue 6y ago
  No, he means that the air circulation (HVAC) is separate for the front and rear seats. So an infected driver can't infect a customer sitting in a rear seat. The frunk is just a trunk for storing things in the front, common on Tesla cars.
  - Traster 6y ago
    It's worth remembering that COVID isn't airborne, it's transmitted through droplets, so a simple plastic panel would be sufficient. Which is basically what traditional taxis in major cities very often already have.
    - stcredzero 6y ago
      It's worth remembering that COVID isn't airborne, it's transmitted through droplets, so a simple plastic panel would be sufficient. True that, though I was thinking about rideshare being robust against any pandemic, going forward.
- stcredzero 6y ago
  is the 'front compartment' the 'frunk' (front trunk)? What are you trying to accomplish? That's where you'd keep another body. jk. I meant the front half of the passenger compartment, with the driver.
binaryblitz 6y ago
Even if that was a viable option, where would people go?
- stcredzero 6y ago
  To essential work. To essential businesses. To carry out their epidemiological tasks. To someplace not crowded. Etc.

Reubachi 6y ago

I admire your problem solving ideas, but engineering this to a point that is 1. effective at mutually/exclusively recycling two sets of air and 2. cost effective is impossible. Would be akin to putting twin turbochargers in a cheap car which already has extremely high engine compression. it could be done, but only a very select customer base would pay for it, and would likely not see any benefits they don't already see from "free" things like disinfecting, social distance, etc.

stcredzero 6y ago
I admire your problem solving ideas, but engineering this to a point that is 1. effective at mutually/exclusively recycling two sets of air and 2. cost effective is impossible. Pretty much the same things were said about seatbelts. Would be akin to putting twin turbochargers in a cheap car which already has extremely high engine compression. Why? Please quantify and back this up. Seems to me that such mods are not that extreme. Plenty of cars in the past were not built by default, but were rather modified to be taxicabs, such that there was a wall and window completely between the passengers and front compartment. I see no reason why making that airtight is cost prohibitive. Heck, I bet people would've said that making a car's HVAC system bioweapon-agent proof would be cost prohibitive. Tesla just went and did it, and is putting that system into cars designed to hit a lower price tier than they had previously. but only a very select customer base would pay for it, Same thing was said about seatbelts. I bet plenty of Uber drivers who couldn't work otherwise right now would sign up for some kind of lease deal. and would likely not see any benefits they don't already see from "free" things like disinfecting, social distance, etc. Well, for one thing, Uber would be able to operate a passenger "rideshare" business during a pandemic.

stevehawk 6y ago

is the 'front compartment' the 'frunk' (front trunk)? What are you trying to accomplish? Cooled compartments for food/beverages in a car is old tech (many cars have had chilled glove boxes/consoles)..

winter_blue 6y ago
No, he means that the air circulation (HVAC) is separate for the front and rear seats. So an infected driver can't infect a customer sitting in a rear seat. The frunk is just a trunk for storing things in the front, common on Tesla cars.
- Traster 6y ago
  It's worth remembering that COVID isn't airborne, it's transmitted through droplets, so a simple plastic panel would be sufficient. Which is basically what traditional taxis in major cities very often already have.
  - stcredzero 6y ago
    It's worth remembering that COVID isn't airborne, it's transmitted through droplets, so a simple plastic panel would be sufficient. True that, though I was thinking about rideshare being robust against any pandemic, going forward.
stcredzero 6y ago
is the 'front compartment' the 'frunk' (front trunk)? What are you trying to accomplish? That's where you'd keep another body. jk. I meant the front half of the passenger compartment, with the driver.

binaryblitz 6y ago

Even if that was a viable option, where would people go?

stcredzero 6y ago
To essential work. To essential businesses. To carry out their epidemiological tasks. To someplace not crowded. Etc.