11555 replies to this topic

[Jackerbie]

Shouldn't they be giving us electricity for free, to wean us off fossil fuels, make us the greenest province in the land?

 

Well first we're gonna need to generate a lot more power to anticipate future demand. But hey, Site C totally isn't necessary right now, eh?

[LeoVictoria]

This is the current network of level 3 fast chargers in BC.  

 

This is what it will look like by next spring.

[UDeMan]

All electric vehicles on sale in the US compared.

 

 

The Tesla really does stand out compared to the other EVs.  With all the money being poured into these EVs, you would think the other companies would be able to provide models with similar range.

[MarkoJ]

Why can't one of these other companies with billions of dollars for R&D just buy 5 Teslas, have a bunch of engineers/programmers take them apart in a warehouse and build something similar? How far ahead Tesla is compared to everyone else is a little puzzling to me.

 

Tesla came out with a 400km range PRODUCTION car in 2012 and 5 years later the big players have yet to come out with anything half decent. They can barely hit 200km range.

 

Maybe this is like Koda when the competition just don't believe that the future is here.

[LJ]

I was reading an article today about autonomous vehicles that stated Level 4 autonomy will be achieved by 2020 and only by commercial vehicles on some routes, it will still require a driver to take over once leaving the off ramp and getting on local roads. Level 5, full autonomy, will not be achieved before 2050. 

[lanforod]

Why can't one of these other companies with billions of dollars for R&D just buy 5 Teslas, have a bunch of engineers/programmers take them apart in a warehouse and build something similar? How far ahead Tesla is compared to everyone else is a little puzzling to me.

Tesla came out with a 400km range PRODUCTION car in 2012 and 5 years later the big players have yet to come out with anything half decent. They can barely hit 200km range.

Maybe this is like Koda when the competition just don't believe that the future is here.

Range is just batteries plus efficiency. I don't get it either.

[Mike K.]

Perhaps that a reflection of the fact that most manufacturers are not convinced that EV's are really the way of the future.

[VicHockeyFan]

I was reading an article today about autonomous vehicles that stated Level 4 autonomy will be achieved by 2020 and only by commercial vehicles on some routes, it will still require a driver to take over once leaving the off ramp and getting on local roads. Level 5, full autonomy, will not be achieved before 2050.

Insurance rates will force that more quickly.

[sebberry]

Perhaps that a reflection of the fact that most manufacturers are not convinced that EV's are really the way of the future.

 

The reduced maintenance requirements of all-electric cars don't bode well for the bottom line of the extensive networks of dealerships and service centers.

Whether we want to admit it or not, there is a massive economy that exists around auto parts and service. 

 

Think of all the children and puppies that'll go hungry when the mechanic gets fired and can no longer afford to feed his family. 

[DavidSchell]

The reduced maintenance requirements of all-electric cars don't bode well for the bottom line of the extensive networks of dealerships and service centers.

Whether we want to admit it or not, there is a massive economy that exists around auto parts and service. 

 

Think of all the children and puppies that'll go hungry when the mechanic gets fired and can no longer afford to feed his family. 

 

Yes it was so sad when that happen to all the buggy whip manufacturer employees when gas powered cars replaced the horse drawn buggy.

 

We should have never allowed cars in the first place, then all those people would have never lost their jobs. 

[LeoVictoria]

Why can't one of these other companies with billions of dollars for R&D just buy 5 Teslas, have a bunch of engineers/programmers take them apart in a warehouse and build something similar? How far ahead Tesla is compared to everyone else is a little puzzling to me.

 

Tesla came out with a 400km range PRODUCTION car in 2012 and 5 years later the big players have yet to come out with anything half decent. They can barely hit 200km range.

 

Maybe this is like Koda when the competition just don't believe that the future is here.

 

A few things.  

1. The Chevy Bolt has a range of 383km so it's not like they can't do it, the problem is they really don't want to sell you one.  They brought 10 into Victoria for the whole year, which sold out immediately.   So either they aren't making money off them, they can't produce them quickly enough, or their dealers don't like them because of reduced maintenance.  

2.  40% of Tesla's engineers work in software.   Tesla is basically a rolling high performance smartphone and the other car companies don't get that at all.   They don't have the software talent right now to compete.

3.  Up until the model 3 the big car companies didn't think there was a market for EVs.   Once the model 3 starts eating into the high volume 3 series and A4 market, they will pay more attention.    Especially if Tesla achieves their 25% margin target on the model 3.

4.  Lots of aggressive plans by the other companies for EV models and EV sales, but not until 2020.    By 2020 who knows where Tesla will be.   Model Y will be shipping, Tesla Semi will be on the roads, supercharger V3 out... 

[spanky123]

Pure electric cars don't have gasoline engines or transmissions but they still have motors, brakes, tires, suspensions, heating, cooling and lots of moving bits and pieces like door handles, mirrors, etc. Apparently the waiting list for service at a Tesla dealership averages about 3-4 weeks so clearly there are maintenance and service requirements for the vehicles. 

 

In California, wait times of 30-45 days are not unusual, with San Francisco and San Diego in particular as hot spots where owners wait weeks for regular maintenance appointments. http://www.greencarr...c-cars-are-sold

Edited by spanky123, 15 August 2017 - 08:54 AM.

[rjag]

Range is one thing for some folks, looks is another. Outside of the Tesla S the rest are simply ugly.

[LeoVictoria]

Pure electric cars don't have gasoline engines or transmissions but they still have motors, brakes, tires, suspensions, heating, cooling and lots of moving bits and pieces like door handles, mirrors, etc. Apparently the waiting list for service at a Tesla dealership averages about 3-4 weeks so clearly there are maintenance and service requirements for the vehicles. 

 

In California, wait times of 30-45 days are not unusual, with San Francisco and San Diego in particular as hot spots where owners wait weeks for regular maintenance appointments. http://www.greencarr...c-cars-are-sold

 

Another huge advantage that Tesla has is remote software diagnostics and updates.   80% of repairs can be done via the mobile service trucks so that's where they are focusing the expansion.    http://www.autonews....-mobile-model-3

[LeoVictoria]

Range is one thing for some folks, looks is another. Outside of the Tesla S the rest are simply ugly.

 

Outside of the Leaf and the i3, they actually all look exactly like normal cars.

[VicHockeyFan]

Interesting, Leo.

[MarkoJ]

Pure electric cars don't have gasoline engines or transmissions but they still have motors, brakes, tires, suspensions, heating, cooling and lots of moving bits and pieces like door handles, mirrors, etc. Apparently the waiting list for service at a Tesla dealership averages about 3-4 weeks so clearly there are maintenance and service requirements for the vehicles. 

 

In California, wait times of 30-45 days are not unusual, with San Francisco and San Diego in particular as hot spots where owners wait weeks for regular maintenance appointments. http://www.greencarr...c-cars-are-sold

 

Changing out a motor in a Tesla is a lot easier than doing such in an ICE car. Brakes need a lot less maintenance due to regen braking.

 

I would also think a lot of the other components are moreso plug in a harnass type deal compared to ICE cars.  For example, for cooling it would be a heat pump that runs off the battery. 

 

All I can say is 60,000 km and zero mainteance, zero problems. 

 

As far as windows/doors those are pretty much bullet proof these days; I've never had a power window or mirror fail in my lifetime. I purchased an all original 1986 BMW 635csi recently and surprisingly the 8 way power seats work, all the windows, mirrors, etc, all work.

Edited by MarkoJ, 15 August 2017 - 10:13 AM.

[North Shore]

I was reading an article today about autonomous vehicles that stated Level 4 autonomy will be achieved by 2020 and only by commercial vehicles on some routes, it will still require a driver to take over once leaving the off ramp and getting on local roads. Level 5, full autonomy, will not be achieved before 2050. 

 

One of my co-workers used to drive transport trucks, and he's not convinced that automation can do it (yet?), because of all of the variables. Loads can shift, roads are all non-standard in terms of markings, surface condition etc.., and weather.

The first thing that could be automated is railroads, because of the consistency of a railbed, and they're not, to the best of my knowledge, talking about that...

[LJ]

Interesting article on Elon Musk and electric vehicles in the FP

 

http://business.fina...e4-03105e49a514

[VicHockeyFan]

A train can be driven by one man. With the load equivalent of 75 or 150 trucks.

So not sure the savings is that big a deal.