7 ms·

The length of the detour really matters here. Even if Tesla's claims were true, unless there was truly malicious reporting going on, I think even this kind of

The length of the detour really matters here. Even if Tesla's claims were true, unless there was truly malicious reporting going on, I think even this kind of basic negligence is still a valid point against the Model S. Consumers might forget to charge their car properly, or not take into account detours/pitstops when planning for the Model S's range. Note -- I absolutely love Tesla and I can't wait for them to prove everyone wrong, but that still doesn't make the initial claim entirely invalid. I want to see the data before I make conclusions.

rthomas6 14y ago
I don't really see how this is different than forgetting to put gas in a car, other than the larger amount of time it takes to charge a Tesla.
- codex 14y ago
  It is different, because range can change depending on external factors you have no control over. You can charge the car thinking you have 300 miles of range, and you do. Then you make the same trip again, but an overnight frost takes a huge chunk of that away from you, and now you can't make it back. That's the apparent situation, anyway. It won't happen often but can happen in special situations: ski trips, having to park your car outside due to lack of indoor spots, an extra day in the airport parking lot, etc.
- jessaustin 14y ago
  It's different because when you realize your mistake with a gasoline engine, as long as you aren't driving in eastern Utah or some similar remote location, you can easily stop at any one of thousands of convenient gas stations to correct your error. Perhaps that will be true someday for Tesla, but it isn't today.
  - dublinben 14y ago
    >other than the larger amount of time it takes to charge a Tesla That's exactly what they said. You can (slowly) charge a Tesla at any electrical outlet.
    - jessaustin 14y ago
      >other than some extreme inconvenience... If finding an electrical outlet the owner of which is set up to charge you money for your electrical charge and then sitting there for several hours seems as convenient to you as stopping at a gas station for several minutes, you should buy a Tesla.
      - dublinben 14y ago
        Nobody is claiming that it is as convenient as filling up a petrol tank. This reviewer went out of their way to fabricate a sub-optimal experience in the vehicle. Tesla owners seem perfectly capable (or we'd surely hear about it) of avoiding these same mistakes.
        danielweber 14y ago
        This reviewer went out of their way to fabricate a sub-optimal experience in the vehicle Can we stop this? Until Musk posts data saying otherwise, it looks like the 90-mile range dropped to a 25-mile range while the car was parked overnight. Parking a car is not something crazy.
  - STRML 14y ago
    That combined with the charging time is the only difference. I thought it strange in the Top Gear review of the Roadster that they even mentioned it only got 55 miles on a full charge on their track (and faked it running out of charge). Most gasoline cars won't do much better when driving so flat-out. That is nothing unique to electrics whatsoever. Using that as a basis to say "It simply doesn't work" was why Musk (rightly) is trying to cover himself when the press reviews. They seem to have some motive to defame Tesla. Nobody could say for sure if oil is behind it but it certainly smells fishy.
    - protomyth 14y ago
      "that they even mentioned it only got 55 miles on a full charge on their track (and faked it running out of charge). Most gasoline cars won't do much better when driving so flat-out." Uhm, even NASCAR vehicles go farther than 55 miles flat out. Most sports cars do not degrade that far. Even dropping down to 8 mpg would still net almost all sports cars over 100 mile range flat out.
Jabbles 14y ago
I haven't seen one, but I'd think it's pretty hard to think you've fully charged it when you haven't.

rthomas6 14y ago

I don't really see how this is different than forgetting to put gas in a car, other than the larger amount of time it takes to charge a Tesla.

codex 14y ago
It is different, because range can change depending on external factors you have no control over. You can charge the car thinking you have 300 miles of range, and you do. Then you make the same trip again, but an overnight frost takes a huge chunk of that away from you, and now you can't make it back. That's the apparent situation, anyway. It won't happen often but can happen in special situations: ski trips, having to park your car outside due to lack of indoor spots, an extra day in the airport parking lot, etc.
jessaustin 14y ago
It's different because when you realize your mistake with a gasoline engine, as long as you aren't driving in eastern Utah or some similar remote location, you can easily stop at any one of thousands of convenient gas stations to correct your error. Perhaps that will be true someday for Tesla, but it isn't today.
- dublinben 14y ago
  >other than the larger amount of time it takes to charge a Tesla That's exactly what they said. You can (slowly) charge a Tesla at any electrical outlet.
  - jessaustin 14y ago
    >other than some extreme inconvenience... If finding an electrical outlet the owner of which is set up to charge you money for your electrical charge and then sitting there for several hours seems as convenient to you as stopping at a gas station for several minutes, you should buy a Tesla.
    - dublinben 14y ago
      Nobody is claiming that it is as convenient as filling up a petrol tank. This reviewer went out of their way to fabricate a sub-optimal experience in the vehicle. Tesla owners seem perfectly capable (or we'd surely hear about it) of avoiding these same mistakes.
      - danielweber 14y ago
        This reviewer went out of their way to fabricate a sub-optimal experience in the vehicle Can we stop this? Until Musk posts data saying otherwise, it looks like the 90-mile range dropped to a 25-mile range while the car was parked overnight. Parking a car is not something crazy.
- STRML 14y ago
  That combined with the charging time is the only difference. I thought it strange in the Top Gear review of the Roadster that they even mentioned it only got 55 miles on a full charge on their track (and faked it running out of charge). Most gasoline cars won't do much better when driving so flat-out. That is nothing unique to electrics whatsoever. Using that as a basis to say "It simply doesn't work" was why Musk (rightly) is trying to cover himself when the press reviews. They seem to have some motive to defame Tesla. Nobody could say for sure if oil is behind it but it certainly smells fishy.
  - protomyth 14y ago
    "that they even mentioned it only got 55 miles on a full charge on their track (and faked it running out of charge). Most gasoline cars won't do much better when driving so flat-out." Uhm, even NASCAR vehicles go farther than 55 miles flat out. Most sports cars do not degrade that far. Even dropping down to 8 mpg would still net almost all sports cars over 100 mile range flat out.

Jabbles 14y ago

I haven't seen one, but I'd think it's pretty hard to think you've fully charged it when you haven't.