3.9 - it's official!

[raymond]

The Motor Trend review claims 0-60 in 4.0 sec, and mentions Tesla puts it at 3.9 sec.

2008 Tesla Roadster - First Drive - Motor Trend

 

[TEG]

Thanks for finding that! I had been scanning the mag sites but hadn't found it yet.

Sounds like they read through the various blogs & forums before writing the article. It gives a nice overview of the current state of affairs.

 

[tonybelding]

They seemed to enjoy driving it. The only genuinely worrisome bit was this. . .

Although it's a prototype I'm driving, the differential is going to need a lot less lash when you snap on and off the accelerator, which presently elicits a nasty drivetrain buck (this probably isn't helping the brittle transmission, either).

 

[donauker]

the differential is going to need a lot less lash when you snap on and off the accelerator, which presently elicits a nasty drivetrain buck (this probably isn't helping the brittle transmission, either).

This caught my attention as well. But the thing to remember is that this is a transaxle unit. So a new transmission design would basically change everything. Sounds like this could be a big part of their durability problems.

 

[AGR]

Informative review with a lot of hyperbole, but informative.

If any vehicle has a transmission with an abbreviated lifespan, accompanied by a clunking differential...if it would be a Camry most pundits would throw the car under the bus.

 

[Iz]

Did the EV1 have a 2-speed transmission? How about the EV RAV-4?

It seems as if the "it's the batteries, stupid" description of why EVs were subjugated to off-road NEV status is not as much an issue. Reviewing the early TM and TMC postings, one would never think the transmission would become such a showstopper.

Still holding out for a WhiteStar...

 

[donauker]

Did the EV1 have a 2-speed transmission? How about the EV RAV-4?

Neither of these vehicles are trying to be a 4 second sports car.

 

[TEG]

Did the EV1 have a 2-speed transmission? How about the EV RAV-4?

To answer more directly than Don... NO - none of the late 90's factory EVs had a multi-gear transmission.
Not the EV1
Not the RAV4EV
Not the RangerEV

There are certainly a lot of "home brew" conversions that mated an electric motor to a conventional transmission, but those tend to produce less HP and have much lower redline than the Tesla Roadster.

 

[Iz]

donauker/TEG thanks for the replies.

Motor Trend should write a follow-up review after the new transmissions are installed.

 

[vfx]

Seemed like he was trying to tie Edison and Tesla with DC and AC which is right but also with the batteries...not right.

Not sure he got that Tesla the compny is named more for the motor the man invented that runs the car.

 

[vfx]

I should say that I liked the writeup (cept' the edison part).

I especially liked the term "Velvety Violence".

Good review Kim.