Tesla semi

[CincyFlyer]

You miss the point. Elon is a technology disrupter on a mission to eliminate automotive vehicles as a primary contributor to air pollution. He's not trying to compete with GM or other major OEMs by producing 5-10 million vehicles annually. His goal is to produce enough affordable ZEVs, 500,000 or so per year, to keep the pressure on the big OEMs to play catchup with Tesla's products by developing ZEVs of their own. That's why nearly 10 years ago he made all of Tesla's ZEV patents public. And so far he's been able to attract a huge number of both small and large idealistic investors who share his beliefs about the future of automotive technology and who put their money on Tesla.

There isn't even any "catching up"; Elon has made all of the technology available for free.

 

[houstonscott]

You miss the point. Elon is a technology disrupter on a mission to eliminate automotive vehicles as a primary contributor to air pollution. He's not trying to compete with GM or other major OEMs by producing 5-10 million vehicles annually. His goal is to produce enough affordable ZEVs, 500,000 or so per year, to keep the pressure on the big OEMs to play catchup with Tesla's products by developing ZEVs of their own. That's why nearly 10 years ago he made all of Tesla's ZEV patents public. And so far he's been able to attract a huge number of both small and large idealistic investors who share his beliefs about the future of automotive technology and who put their money on Tesla.

unfortunately for Tesla its Tesla that's having to play catchup, he's being beaten by the manufacturers up and down. If you are truly interested in using modern EV technologies the MB C350e has about tens times as much as any Tesla. And the CO2 thing has disappeared, and modern ICE is the cleanest for air pollution you can put fuel into... The need for electric has dried up, and a real examination of how much electric power generation would really be need if you could snap you finger and have a all EV America is impossible, EVER! I'd recommend you sell your stock.

The Electric Car Fantasy | The Rush Limbaugh Show

 

[vvanders]

Ah there we go, just about right on schedule(although about half a page earlier than I predicted).

Like we covered in the massive EV thread that you managed to get locked before. If you don't like Tesla, don't buy one. If you think they're going to go under feel free to short the stock, although that would require you to put your money where your mouth is.

That's all I'll say on the subject.

 

[timswi]

Musk is addicted to the government teet..We'll see I guess.

 

[California]

Elon is a technology disrupter on a mission to eliminate automotive vehicles as a primary contributor to air pollution. He's not trying to compete with GM or other major OEMs by producing 5-10 million vehicles annually. His goal is to produce enough affordable ZEVs, 500,000 or so per year, to keep the pressure on the big OEMs to play catchup with Tesla's products by developing ZEVs of their own. That's why nearly 10 years ago he made all of Tesla's ZEV patents public. And so far he's been able to attract a huge number of both small and large idealistic investors who share his beliefs about the future of automotive technology and who put their money on Tesla.

Well said. Thank you for this clear explanation.

 

[California]

[from first page of this thread] We just came back from a jaunt up the mountains, didn't have to touch the brakes once coming back down for ~40mi. The battery pack makes a great place to store energy running downhill.

Also daugen, I fully expect to that this thread will get locked in ~5 pages. There's more than a few people here who like to come out of the woodworks any time EVs are mentioned and they don't really keep things civil.

Yeah, the trolls have appeared. Soon they will cause this thread to be locked. I never did see what brought down the Bolt thread I started. The wreck must have been cleaned up by the Mods just before the last time I looked at it. If someone could tell me in a PM what happened in the final post(s), I would appreciate it.

Trolls, why not just step back and let those interested discuss EV's? Destroying discussion isn't civil.

 

[crazyal]

Sorry but there's a huge difference between a car designed to haul 4 or 5 people using a 100 kwh to get 300 miles of range and a semi designed to haul 40k lbs. Using simple math a VW diesel might be 2 liters while a semi might be 12 liters so the battery pack would roughly need to be 6 times the size. The charge time for a 600 kwh battery pack would take hours using a super charger. At the current rate of 120kW/hr it would take 5 hours to charge a 600 kwh battery pack. I've see it estimated that 600 kwh would give 300 miles of range for a semi, most likely it'll be less than that in the real world. So even if the charge rate was tripled that would mean 4 hours or so of driving before stopping for an hour and a half. Most likely the battery will need to be at least twice the size to get about 8 hours of driving before taking 10 hours off to charge your battery at the current super charger rate. That assumes that there will be a charger at the right locations to maximize your driving time. After all truckers time behind the wheel is regulated.

 

[vvanders]

120kW is assuming that you're charging in series, there's no reason they couldn't do it in parallel. Most supercharger sites are 10 spots x 60kW each(they share a pair and will send 120kW if the other pair is unused).

600kW could still charge a 500kW pack in ~45 minutes. There's other benefits to doing it in parallel as they could run a higher pack voltage which helps with loss due to resistance/heating(V=IR and all that). My guess is they aren't going to use this for long-haul trucking in the short term but for scheduled point to point routes.

 

[California]

I've see it estimated that 600 kwh would give 300 miles of range for a semi, most likely it'll be less than that in the real world. So even if the charge rate was tripled that would mean 4 hours or so of driving before stopping for an hour and a half. Most likely the battery will need to be at least twice the size to get about 8 hours of driving before taking 10 hours off to charge your battery at the current super charger rate. That assumes that there will be a charger at the right locations to maximize your driving time.

Maybe the primary battery pack is in the trailer so it can be charged at the terminal overnight while loading?

Seems to me Musk must have included the parameters you describe in his calculations, and concluded it was workable.

Else why would he proceed as far as he has with his semi project? This guy is underbidding the traditional aerospace contractors for rockets, he's no dummy. I think he genuinely sees an opportunity here in trucking as well.

 

[houstonscott]

Yeah, the trolls have appeared. Soon they will cause this thread to be locked. I never did see what brought down the Bolt thread I started. The wreck must have been cleaned up by the Mods just before the last time I looked at it. If someone could tell me in a PM what happened in the final post(s), I would appreciate it. Trolls, why not just step back and let those interested discuss EV's? Destroying discussion isn't civil.

Rather than call people names why not respond to the articles presented and the facts? You don't really want a discussion. Defend your position with facts or understand your world view is distorted.