Tesla-Powered Cobra Racer

[olddog]

The regeneration coming down hill at 80% is superb if that is true. The motor will be lucky if it is 94% efficient, the drive that controls it likely looses another 5%, then the battery will loose at least 5% each way (in/out). If they have really achieved 80% that is fantastic.

Now the 6 mile for every 1000 foot of elevation comment, if true, means that when you come down hill you are only going to gain 80% of that back. So the fellow who claimed that it is like driving on flat ground if you come back down, is mistaken. He would still be 1.2 miles short for every 1000 feet.

Now in reality the car requires energy to roll. It require is to roll up hill and it requires it to roll down hill. Not all of the energy when going down hill is available to regenerate into the battery. Some of it is consumed by the car.

Also note they are opining there are too few charging stations. This is what is frustrating about this crowd. The real solution is a small diesel in the 25 Hp range that is slightly more than capable of maintaining highway speed. The batteries supply the instantaneous power needs and the engine can maintain the charge over the longer time period. Oh no they hate the internal combustion engine, but they will not allow the power plants to be built to power their electric cars. Hmmm how is this going to work?