Elon tweets EV cross-country speed record attempt

[stevezzzz]

Elon tweets: "Two teams from Tesla aiming to set a cross-country EV speed record this week. Departing Fri from LA, arriving Sun in NY."

That'll be interesting. Depending on weather, it's doable.

Questions:

1. Two teams...two cars?
2. What cars?
3. I wonder when they started planning this: before, or after John and Jill left NYC on their first-ever trans-continental Superchargers-only trip?

 

[JakeP]

This has been planned for a while, according to Tesla staff. I am guessing that is why Tesla has not said much about the Father/Daughter team.

 

[stevezzzz]

I wonder if they'll have an advance team, making sure Supercharger slot(s) are not ICEd when the record attempt car(s) get there? If they leave Hawthorne at 12:01am on Friday, for example, they'll hit Glenwood in the night; and it's a known trouble spot for overnight ICEing of the charging bays.

 

[jyc]

Too bad the final destination isn't Boston, in honor of Broder! Couldn't make NYC to Boston? How about LA to Boston in the winter? Take that!

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Good that Tesla's only trying to claim the "speed record" rather than that of the first SpC-only trip. I hope they write a good blog post, with an accompanying Elon tweet, that honors John and Jill's achievement along with their own teams'. Elon did retweet PlugShare's tweet last night from Hawthorne about the father-daughter trip.

 

[NJ Plugin]

I find it VERY interesting that they plan to end the trips in NY on Superbowl Sunday with the big game being played in NJ/NY.

Hmmm.

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

I find it VERY interesting that they plan to end the trips in NY on Superbowl Sunday with the big game being played in NJ/NY.

Hmmm.

Nice catch!

Also, a speed attempt is interesting. Wouldn't it be nice if it's a 60 and an 85 equipped with some kind of useful navigation aid than can calculate an optimal drivig speed.

 

[Discoducky]

They better go to the Superbowl!

 

[airj1012]

Nice catch!

Also, a speed attempt is interesting. Wouldn't it be nice if it's a 60 and an 85 equipped with some kind of useful navigation aid than can calculate an optimal drivig speed.

When I originally thought about it, I thought it would be 2 85s competing against each other. However I think its important to show the public that you can accomplish the feat with a 60 as well. Good luck to them.

 

[NJ Plugin]

I doubt they will do it, but others have speculated that Elon's spring trip would be in a Model X.

Anybody think one of the teams this week would be in a Model X? What about a Superbowl commercial?

 

[skdave]

Good that Tesla's only trying to claim the "speed record" rather than that of the first SpC-only trip. I hope they write a good blog post, with an accompanying Elon tweet, that honors John and Jill's achievement along with their own teams'. Elon did retweet PlugShare's tweet last night from Hawthorne about the father-daughter trip.

What is a "SpC-only trip"? Good luck and I'm sure Tesla is smart enough to tie it into the Big Game. The world will be watching. Great job Tesla!! If they do it right the press along the way to NYC will be awesome as well. We owners should meet up along the Highway and offer a "Tesla Escort"with the press.

 

[NJ Plugin]

Elon tweets: "Two teams from Tesla aiming to set a cross-country EV speed record this week. Departing Fri from LA, arriving Sun in NY."

That'll be interesting. Depending on weather, it's doable.

Does anyone know what the record NOW is for a EV cross country trip?

 

[stevezzzz]

What is a "SpC-only trip"? Good luck and I'm sure Tesla is smart enough to tie it into the Big Game. The world will be watching. Great job Tesla!! If they do it right the press along the way to NYC will be awesome as well. We owners should meet up along the Highway and offer a "Tesla Escort"with the press.

"SpC" == "Supercharger"

 

[sranger]

Good that Tesla's only trying to claim the "speed record" rather than that of the first SpC-only trip. I hope they write a good blog post, with an accompanying Elon tweet, that honors John and Jill's achievement along with their own teams'. Elon did retweet PlugShare's tweet last night from Hawthorne about the father-daughter trip.

It it did sort if seem that Tesla and Elon were not happy that someone completed the trip before the official event....

 

[Zythryn]

It it did sort if seem that Tesla and Elon were not happy that someone completed the trip before the official event....

Amazing how people assign intent.

I agree that it would have been nice to see more of a reaction from Tesla than a congratulatory tweet.
However, I also think that this shouldn't be portrayed as anything that is now out of the ordinary.

Don't get me wrong. What John and Jill did was historic and I was thrilled to follow them on their trip.

But now, with the superchargers, other than the first trip by John and Jill, it simply isn't that big of a deal.

 

[jerry33]

But now, with the superchargers, other than the first trip by John and Jill, it simply isn't that big of a deal.

I thought that was the point. To show that it's no longer a big deal. Anyone can do it.

 

[ToddRLockwood]

This trip does make me wonder what the ideal average speed would be. It's an interesting physics question. There must be a point of diminishing returns when the average driving speed reaches a certain level. But on the other hand, given the speed of the Superchargers, perhaps it's better to spend more time charging and less time driving.

 

[Zythryn]

I thought that was the point. To show that it's no longer a big deal. Anyone can do it.

Exactly my point. Tesla is planning to get into the GBWR with the fastest time, and the media will likely be all over Elon's trip in March, weather or not Tesla makes a big deal over it.
They don't want to make people think this is extraordinary or difficult.

As for Tesla at the Super Bowl, you guys really need to get your imaginations under some level of control.
Tesla is selling every car it can currently build. They have no reason for high cost marketing at those events. Same reason you don't see them at most auto shows, state fairs, etc.
Sure, they may have planned the timing to coincide (and maybe they didn't), but they certainly didn't pay for any exposure at the Super Bowl itself.

 

[apacheguy]

Questions:


1. Two teams...two cars?
2. What cars?

Team A will have an A pack and will take an extra day to complete the journey.

Team B will have a B pack and will complete the journey in record time.

 

[GSP]

This trip does make me wonder what the ideal average speed would be. It's an interesting physics question. There must be a point of diminishing returns when the average driving speed reaches a certain level. But on the other hand, given the speed of the Superchargers, perhaps it's better to spend more time charging and less time driving.

I think the ideal speed to minimize elapsed time for the trip is the 130 mph maximum speed of the P85. As long as you could make it to the next Supercharger, of course.

GSP

If they were using 80 Amp HPWCs (60 mi/hr) instead of SuperChargers (340 mi/hr), I would guess 60 mph would be the best speed to drive, same as charging speed.