TMC is an independent, primarily volunteer organization that relies on ad revenue to cover its operating costs. Please consider whitelisting TMC on your ad blocker and becoming a Supporting Member. For more info: Support TMC
  1. TMC is currently READ ONLY.
    Click here for more info.

What’s the secret sauce?

Discussion in 'Electric Vehicles' started by Gasman23, Nov 12, 2020.

  1. Gasman23

    Gasman23 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2020
    Messages:
    98
    Location:
    Wales
    So pretty much all manufacturers are dipping their toes in the world of EVs, with a raft of new cars due out over the next couple of years. Battery tech seems to be at a point where the Achilles heel of EV motoring (range) is becoming acceptable.

    Comparing those cars to Tesla’s, it seems they will have comparable battery sizes and offer only slightly less range. HOWEVER most of the other cars don’t come anywhere near the performance of Tesla’s.

    So what’s Tesla’s secret sauce? How are they able to extract so much energy from the battery?
     
  2. angelman

    angelman Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2018
    Messages:
    237
    Location:
    los angeles
    SO many reasons. I suspect though that it's almost many small things added together. I mean the fact they start with a design that is completely customised to electric power is a huge thing. The fact that they have thrown out the rule book in every single aspect of car design and manufacturing. I also think that many of the things that maybe make a Tesla seem a little less lux and at times almost a little cheap (at least on the model3) - slightly tinny doors, slightly creaky components, minimalist interior with very lightweight components without all the extra stuffing of other comparable luxury cars are actually part of the efficiency plan. Efficient not just in terms of cost but efficient in terms of weight. The car is heavy enough but I imagine it to be quite a bit lighter without the batteries at least. Of course I could be totally wrong on all of that.
     
    • Like x 2
    • Helpful x 1
  3. Watts 4 Me

    Watts 4 Me Member

    Joined:
    May 6, 2016
    Messages:
    335
    Location:
    H-town
    Its called effort in the game. Tesla does, while others dont.
     
    • Like x 3
    • Disagree x 1
  4. DaveG_NJ

    DaveG_NJ Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2020
    Messages:
    201
    Location:
    NJ
    Most other EVs (not all) are being developed by established ICE manufacturers and they're largely shoe-horning an electric powerplant into a conventional ICE design. Tesla took a clean-slate approach and so isn't shackled as much by the conventional norms or existing technology. The other manufacturers are in catch-up mode. I hope Telsa is agile and lean enough to outpace them. Time will tell.
     
    • Like x 2
  5. jeremymc7

    jeremymc7 Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2013
    Messages:
    1,212
    Location:
    U.S.
    In terms of performance my take is that the ICE manufacturer's are trying to keep costs to a minimum and maximize profit (or initial launch losses) with lower performance motors, batteries, less fine tuning, etc. In 2-3 years I think things will be more level; and Tesla will have a much hard time. At which point they will seriously need to lock down their fit, finish, quality control, paint, and customer service; otherwise it's going to hit them hard.
     
  6. Mr X

    Mr X Future Martian

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2013
    Messages:
    2,068
    Location:
    Simi Valley, CA
    [​IMG]
     
    • Funny x 3
  7. coolmanfever

    coolmanfever Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2019
    Messages:
    479
    Location:
    toronto
    two words. Elon Musk
     
    • Like x 2
    • Disagree x 1
  8. jeremymc7

    jeremymc7 Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2013
    Messages:
    1,212
    Location:
    U.S.
    Eww
     
    • Like x 1
  9. zhu-

    zhu- custom title

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2018
    Messages:
    881
    Location:
    NJ
    Never doubt the man who builds self-landing rockets, next generation automobiles, satellite internet, digs tunnels, brainchips pigs, while selling flamethrowers and tequila.
     
    • Like x 1
  10. coolmanfever

    coolmanfever Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2019
    Messages:
    479
    Location:
    toronto
    Don't doubt the man who named his kid
    X Æ A-12
     
    • Funny x 3
    • Informative x 1
  11. Nickage87

    Nickage87 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2019
    Messages:
    112
    Location:
    USA
    There is no secret source. Tesla just needs faster car to market their vehicles. Other manufacturers are established and build overall good cars. Like their interiors are way more ergonomic and lux, wiper controls exist, auto high beams work.

    Tesla has to exaggerate some features of the car. But not able to do great car all around yet.
     
    • Disagree x 2
  12. SlimJim

    SlimJim Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2019
    Messages:
    850
    Location:
    USA
    It wouldn't be a secret if I knew.
     
    • Like x 1
    • Funny x 1
  13. sduck

    sduck Mr. Duck

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2017
    Messages:
    1,381
    Location:
    Nashville TN
    This topic should be in a different forum in my opinion - perhaps the General: Electric Vehicles forum? It's not model 3 related.

    The 2 key things that are essential to EV success, once you get past the basics of actually building a reliable car with the features people want, is useable range, and charging infrastructure. IMHO of course.
     
    • Like x 1
  14. one2many

    one2many Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2019
    Messages:
    552
    Location:
    germany
    Hard work perhaps.
     
  15. Saturday

    Saturday Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2020
    Messages:
    198
    Location:
    Maine
    :p I get the sense his girlfriend had more say in that than he did.
     
  16. one2many

    one2many Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2019
    Messages:
    552
    Location:
    germany
    I am sure he will be call the X man, kinda cool.
     
  17. zhu-

    zhu- custom title

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2018
    Messages:
    881
    Location:
    NJ
    I think Elon recently said somewhere (Twitter?) that making a car or any vehicle is easy. Making it reliably and at mass scale is 100x harder which leads me to believe the Gigafactories are a significant part of the Tesla company's overall "secret".
     
  18. 30seconds

    30seconds Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2013
    Messages:
    2,160
    Location:
    SF
    There is a quote from his cousin regarding working with Musk as Chairman of SolarCity. It went something like Elon being able to avoid obstacles in the road before others can even see that they exist.

    That's what we are seeing - others can now make ~250m vehicles, but Telsa is making 300+m vehicles, making more of them, making them cheaper and with autopilot. And basically mass producing factories that can make them.

    There isn't just one thing, it is Elon's ability to see the potential based on the engineering and software fundamentals and then put tighter and drive the team to make them happen.

    Others are trying to compete by copying the products that Tesla is selling but Tesla is moving forward faster than people realize.
     
  19. Gasman23

    Gasman23 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2020
    Messages:
    98
    Location:
    Wales
    would be nice if the car he made could avoid obstacles on the road too ;)
     
  20. Spacep0d

    Spacep0d Member

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2019
    Messages:
    980
    Location:
    Santa Clarita, CA
    #20 Spacep0d, Nov 14, 2020
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2020
    Here's my take;

    1. Elon Musk. This is the source of it all, and not just Tesla. Also SpaceX (and the beneficial effects there), Tesla's Solar efforts, PowerWalls, The Boring Company, Hyperloop, etc. Nobody executes quite like Elon. SpaceX and their success has been mind-blowing lately. Getting Doug and Bob to the I.S.S. and back. Resupplying the I.S.S. Capturing boosters. Rockets landing on their pads?

    All of this matters, because it's Elon as CEO. People want to be part of greatness, and all of this helps Tesla when it comes to the Elon and company's legacy, gravitas, and perceived momentum. The stellar history of TSLA stock and Tesla's valuation and projected value are all in the mix too. Tesla makes other companies look like they're standing still, though Nio and Lucid are promising. But as Elon has been known to say (paraphrased); prototypes are easy (in comparison to) production hell.

    2. Range. Teslas have some of the best range, because EV is all they do and Elon Musk push hard to be the best. Battery Day proved that Tesla is still pushing the envelope. No company is going to catch Tesla anytime soon.

    3. The Supercharging network. Nobody else can touch this. This is Tesla's 'Killer App' in my opinion.

    4. Styling. Really, they have some of the best styling around. Their cars don't scream 'EV' so much as beautiful, timeless, flowing, minimalist, understated designs which hold up beautifully, from the first Roadster to the new.

    5. EV Specialists. Tesla cars are all EVs, and nothing but EVs. They're not just making EVs to fulfill some government mandate, which is why Tesla is able to sell EV credits to companies that are making a token effort (Honda, I'm looking at you). Also, Honda needs to bring the 'E' to the States, small-car-fears be damned.

    6. The userbase. The Tesla end-user is enthusiastic, so much so that Tesla doesn't feel any need to advertise.

    7. Their cars are QUICK. More free-advertising. Gone are the days of range anxiety and slow econoboxes that look like they dropped in from Alpha Centauri....as long as you're in a Tesla.

    8. Full Self Driving. This is going to be huge. Beta has been very promising.

    9. OTA, or Over-The-Air updates. This is something anyone with a smart phone understands, and having new functionality from a simple software download is pretty great. I specifically avoided writing 'insanely great'. ;)

    10. Courage. Tesla has moxy, and doesn't seem to design by committee or focus group or by what is 'safe'. The Cybertruck is a prime example of this. Form follows function. That or my monitor is stuck on VRML graphics mode.
     
    • Like x 1

Share This Page

  • About Us

    Formed in 2006, Tesla Motors Club (TMC) was the first independent online Tesla community. Today it remains the largest and most dynamic community of Tesla enthusiasts. Learn more.
  • Do you value your experience at TMC? Consider becoming a Supporting Member of Tesla Motors Club. As a thank you for your contribution, you'll get nearly no ads in the Community and Groups sections. Additional perks are available depending on the level of contribution. Please visit the Account Upgrades page for more details.


    SUPPORT TMC