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I'm petty sure I'm being pedantic, but to be clear: Electric engines (motors) are great. Highly efficient, simple, powerful, scalable both ways, and reliable. I

I'm petty sure I'm being pedantic, but to be clear: Electric engines (motors) are great. Highly efficient, simple, powerful, scalable both ways, and reliable. If you've got electricity available and want things to move, they're the way to go. It's the batteries that are sub par, in many ways.

toomuchtodo 13y ago
That's exactly why diesel locomotives have always been diesel generators connected to massive electric motors; the best of both worlds.
- aaronblohowiak 13y ago
  not just locomotives. the biggest earth-movers in the world are all electric vehicles powered by onboard generators. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/10/worlds-largest-dumptruck/ http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/10/worlds-largest-dumptruc...
  - toomuchtodo 13y ago
    Because you know what happens when you try to pass immense torque through a transmission? Bad things. Its why Elon fought for so long for a 2-speed transmission on the Roadster before giving up and opting for a lower top speed. Electric motors have a ridiculous amount of force they can put out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#Timeline http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#Timeline "Subsequent to completion of production car number one at Hethel, the company announced problems with transmission reliability. The development transmission, with first gear enabled to accelerate 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) in 4 seconds, was reported to have a life expectancy of as low as only a few thousand miles. Tesla Motors' first two transmission suppliers were unable to produce transmissions, in quantity, that could withstand the gear-shift requirements of the high torque, high rpm electric motor. In December 2007, Tesla Motors announced plans to ship the initial Roadsters with the transmissions locked into second gear to provide 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) acceleration in 5.7 seconds. The first production car was not delivered with this interim solution; P1 has both transmission gears enabled. According to the plan, the initial transmissions were to be swapped out under warranty when the finalized transmission, power electronics module (PEM), and cooling system became available. The EPA range of the car was also restated downward from 245 to 221 miles (394 to 356 km). The downward revision was attributed to an error in equipment calibration at the laboratory that conducted the original test" DISCLAIMER: Tesla's final solution was a single-speed gearbox, combined with software and energy management upgrades. The electric motor will now run as high as 14K RPMs to achieve it's 125mph top speed while retaining it's 4 second 0-60 time.
    - brc 13y ago
      I think you mean 4 second 0-60 time. A 4 second 1/4 mile would be a world record.
      - toomuchtodo 13y ago
        Thank you! Corrected.

toomuchtodo 13y ago

That's exactly why diesel locomotives have always been diesel generators connected to massive electric motors; the best of both worlds.

aaronblohowiak 13y ago
not just locomotives. the biggest earth-movers in the world are all electric vehicles powered by onboard generators. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/10/worlds-largest-dumptruck/ http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/10/worlds-largest-dumptruc...
- toomuchtodo 13y ago
  Because you know what happens when you try to pass immense torque through a transmission? Bad things. Its why Elon fought for so long for a 2-speed transmission on the Roadster before giving up and opting for a lower top speed. Electric motors have a ridiculous amount of force they can put out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#Timeline http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster#Timeline "Subsequent to completion of production car number one at Hethel, the company announced problems with transmission reliability. The development transmission, with first gear enabled to accelerate 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) in 4 seconds, was reported to have a life expectancy of as low as only a few thousand miles. Tesla Motors' first two transmission suppliers were unable to produce transmissions, in quantity, that could withstand the gear-shift requirements of the high torque, high rpm electric motor. In December 2007, Tesla Motors announced plans to ship the initial Roadsters with the transmissions locked into second gear to provide 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) acceleration in 5.7 seconds. The first production car was not delivered with this interim solution; P1 has both transmission gears enabled. According to the plan, the initial transmissions were to be swapped out under warranty when the finalized transmission, power electronics module (PEM), and cooling system became available. The EPA range of the car was also restated downward from 245 to 221 miles (394 to 356 km). The downward revision was attributed to an error in equipment calibration at the laboratory that conducted the original test" DISCLAIMER: Tesla's final solution was a single-speed gearbox, combined with software and energy management upgrades. The electric motor will now run as high as 14K RPMs to achieve it's 125mph top speed while retaining it's 4 second 0-60 time.
  - brc 13y ago
    I think you mean 4 second 0-60 time. A 4 second 1/4 mile would be a world record.
    - toomuchtodo 13y ago
      Thank you! Corrected.