Tesla-Powered Cobra Racer

[olddog]

Originally Posted by Buzz

I'm well aware of the logistics involved Dan and I have no quarrel with your calculations, but one of the beautiful things about EV's is that the vast majority of recharging can be done overnight at home. Gas powered vehicles cannot be refilled at home, hence the volume of traffic at gas stations. The only time EV owners need a recharge on the road is when the journey exceeds round trip range. Long trips just need to be planned around recharge stops. Hell - maybe there'll be rest stop type places that will offer meals and relaxation facilities to pass the time.

Use the gas car for longer trips - whatever. I'm not trying to be the champion of EV's taking over the world - I just like the phenomenal performance potential and the amazing things the cars will be able to do. If they end up being specialty or niche vehicles, then fine; but I do know one thing for sure - they offer supercar level performance, comfort, acceleration and speed at prices within the reach of normal people.

I'm excited as hell to see how the Tesla roadster will perform in the real world, and even if it falls a bit short of the range and recharging claims being made now - it will certainly be one of the fastest production cars of all time. Only a 300 or 400 mile range? With that kind of performance, who the heck cares?

I have no problem with an electric car, per say. The performance is pretty cut and dry. An electric motor is well known. Longevity is interesting. I can show you motors that have been running 24/7/365 for 30 years. They are only shut off every 5 years, when we take the plant down for electrical PM. There are many advantages to electric motors. Some of the problems is weight and cost.

Personally I believe with today's technology the best car would have a small power generation diesel (or gasoline) that only generates electricity. Motors would run the wheels. Batteries would supplement the high instantaneous power needs. It would regenerate as much power as possible. It would not need nearly as much battery, as a pure electric. None of the hybrids are a true electric car with its own power generator, as I am suggesting. It does not need a new infrastructure to support it. This could work today. It too would be expensive like the electric cars.

This could be done quickly and reduce considerably the need to burn fuel. For pure political reasons (internal combustion is bad) we have chosen to go for something that isn't going to happen anytime soon, if ever. When the half step, allows you to perfect over time a pure electric car, if that is ever needed. Talk about closed minded.

Oh buy the way, even if you charge them slowly over night every day, the power grid cannot handle it.