3 ms·
> you need extra power to run the AC because of the sloped windshield My impression was the the complaint about the sloped windshield was primarily about snow;
by rootusrootus 4y ago
> you need extra power to run the AC because of the sloped windshield
My impression was the the complaint about the sloped windshield was primarily about snow; the air conditioning complaint had more to do with the enormous size. It's a big glass greenhouse.
- modeless 4y ago> "The angled windscreen means [...] cab overheating [...] You can solve it with A/C of course. Which will use even more power, shortening your range." He is explicitly claiming that the angled windshield will increase power consumption and shorten range. I think it's pretty clear that the opposite is true even in the worst case.
- simondotau 4y agoA larger but well insulated cab could have a lower A/C energy cost than a smaller but less well insulated cab. More air volume doesn't dramatically change the energy footprint when a stable temperature is being held for a long period of time. With sufficient insulation, the main consequence will be greater hysteresis, i.e. bringing the cab to temperature might consume more energy.
- modeless 4y agoWhat you say is true but I interpreted his complaint as being about the increased sunlight heating up the cab, rather than changes to insulation or air volume.
- faitswulff 4y agoIt will increase power consumption if you are using the AC to melt accumulated ice or snow.
- modeless 4y agoMelting 2" of accumulated snow from a 2m^2 area would take ~2 kWh which is roughly 1 mile of range or 0.2% of the battery, if my very approximate calculations are correct. Or, exactly 0 miles of range if you are plugged into a charger at the start of your journey. But I think the original thread is right that you'll need to manually clean ice and snow off the windshield which, unlike the AC thing, definitely seems like a legitimate complaint against sloped windshields (though I have no personal experience on this point).
- yreg 4y agoSnow is a non-issue, you just open the app before the ride and heat up the cabin.
- Dah00n 4y agoYou have never seen much snow if you think it can be removed by heat from inside the cab! You would need a shovel and a broom or a cab heated up at least hours before the ride. Not everywhere is cali.
- yreg 4y agoWell I live in a country where it snows and have been with a Tesla in the mountains when it snowed. It takes only a little while and the snow easily falls off as soon as it's not freezed to the glass. At most you need to give it a nudge.
- yibg 4y agoHave you tried waiting for the heat from a car to melt snow in a cold place on a regular car with a regular car sized windshield? On a cab like that it'll take hours.
- yreg 4y agoYes I did and it was quick. Even if it took hours, so what? You can automate it. Still saves more energy than having a non-aero cabin.