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Tesla Roadster 135mpg, not all that impressive?

F

fleabag

Banned
http://www.leftlanenews.com/te...o-60-in-4-seconds.html


The only reason why I found this article is because even before the thought to type in "Tesla Roadster MPG" into Google popped into my head, I had done a calculation using PGE's CO2 footprint calculator as a baseline in order to figure out the MPG of the Tesla Roadster. In the end, my calculation using the PGE as the basis for calculation came up with 123.96mpg. So while this MPG rating may sound great, it also made me realize that these figures that people are touting are forgetting one important thing, transmission efficiency. I read in various places that the charging efficiency is terrible on these electric vehicles, both the charger and the battery charging itself isn't all that efficient and because I don't know the numbers, I have no idea how to figure out what's the real energy impact of these vehicles.

Also, when a car steadily loses its charging efficiency over time, doesn't the amount of electricity in order to bring the battery to a full charge remain the same? So like it takes 100KW to put in 70KW in a new battery in order to top it off but when that battery is older and is the equivalent of 40KW, it still takes 100KW to bring it up to the same charge state? What do you guys think of all this and does anybody have any figures on battery charging efficiency in general?

Found this gem:http://www.diyelectriccar.com/.../showthread.php?p=7618

Apparently they've got 73KW in batteries for the Roadster but only 53kw is actually used to propel the car, the rest being used to cool the batteries in charging. So with this new information, I recalculated the MPG with the results updated in the above.


Garaged.

ATOT Moderator ElFenix
 
If it's anything like my laptop battery, I have no idea how that'd work out.
So you need to replace a ton worth of batteries every 3-5 years? And by the end of 2-3 years, the battery only works at half capacity?
 
Originally posted by: astroidea
If it's anything like my laptop battery, I have no idea how that'd work out.
So you need to replace a ton worth of batteries every 3-5 years? And by the end of 2-3 years, the battery only works at half capacity?
Click to expand...

Well yes and no. On the one hand they'll be using Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries which have double the cycle capacity (2000 vs. 1000), they'll have their charge range be between 30% and 85% and won't be constantly subjected to 130F temperatures. All of that is enough to extend the life of these batteries SIGNIFICANTLY, but with all this in mind, if you've got your car parked outside for 10 years in Arizona weather, I'm pretty sure these batteries will probably be entirely useless by year 5.
 
yes b/c all the guys i see bombing down skyline rd in their teslas really care about saving the environment.

personally i drive a boxster and like to hear my car, but wouldn't mind a ride in a tesla.
 
Originally posted by: fleabag
Originally posted by: astroidea
If it's anything like my laptop battery, I have no idea how that'd work out.
So you need to replace a ton worth of batteries every 3-5 years? And by the end of 2-3 years, the battery only works at half capacity?
Click to expand...

Well yes and no. On the one hand they'll be using Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries which have double the cycle capacity (2000 vs. 1000), they'll have their charge range be between 30% and 85% and won't be constantly subjected to 130F temperatures. All of that is enough to extend the life of these batteries SIGNIFICANTLY, but with all this in mind, if you've got your car parked outside for 10 years in Arizona weather, I'm pretty sure these batteries will probably be entirely useless by year 5.
Click to expand...
So it lasts 8-10yrs instead of 3-5 at best. I can't imagine this being any more eco friendly nor cost saving than your average 35mpg econobox. So why does anyone buy one of these again?
I guess the same thing is often said about the prius a la jeremy clarkson.
 
Originally posted by: astroidea
Originally posted by: fleabag
Originally posted by: astroidea
If it's anything like my laptop battery, I have no idea how that'd work out.
So you need to replace a ton worth of batteries every 3-5 years? And by the end of 2-3 years, the battery only works at half capacity?
Click to expand...

Well yes and no. On the one hand they'll be using Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries which have double the cycle capacity (2000 vs. 1000), they'll have their charge range be between 30% and 85% and won't be constantly subjected to 130F temperatures. All of that is enough to extend the life of these batteries SIGNIFICANTLY, but with all this in mind, if you've got your car parked outside for 10 years in Arizona weather, I'm pretty sure these batteries will probably be entirely useless by year 5.
Click to expand...
So it lasts 8-10yrs instead of 3-5 at best. I can't imagine this being any more eco friendly nor cost saving than your average 35mpg econobox. So why does anyone buy one of these again?
I guess the same thing is often said about the prius a la jeremy clarkson.
Click to expand...

Umm you do know this is a sports car correct? You don't buy a sports car to be "green". You buy the Tesla to be different. This isn't supposed to be like the Volt or a commercially available electric car. I hate Prius drivers as much as the next guy but this car is a sports car. People with that much to blow want to drive something different/unique.
 
Originally posted by: Fox5
Err, was anyone looking at buying the Tesla roadster for its fuel economy?
Click to expand...

Let's say we even cut that MPG in half...it's still better than any sports car sold today.
 
Originally posted by: fleabag
Originally posted by: astroidea
If it's anything like my laptop battery, I have no idea how that'd work out.
So you need to replace a ton worth of batteries every 3-5 years? And by the end of 2-3 years, the battery only works at half capacity?
Click to expand...

Well yes and no. On the one hand they'll be using Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries which have double the cycle capacity (2000 vs. 1000), they'll have their charge range be between 30% and 85% and won't be constantly subjected to 130F temperatures. All of that is enough to extend the life of these batteries SIGNIFICANTLY, but with all this in mind, if you've got your car parked outside for 10 years in Arizona weather, I'm pretty sure these batteries will probably be entirely useless by year 5.
Click to expand...

so you don`t actually know you are just spreading mis-information based on no facts other than what you think might or could happen????
 
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