"Mike Dodd" wrote in message
...
Doctor Drivel wrote:
http://www.teslamotors.com/

Made by Lotus and will do low flying. A saloon available in around 18
months time. Well by, by, internal combustion engine.

http://www.wired.com/news/wiredmag/0...ory_page_prev2


(assuming you meant "Bye Bye", as in the end of the IC...

Yep. I can't wait to see the back of them.

Still very limited - such that for most people it could not replace a
conventional IC car 100%.

A Fiesta type of car would not require a two speed gearbox as this sporty
one has, be very simple, so simple to make and run (no servicing) that
manufacturing costs will drop. The range would be there. The only initial
drawback is the charging points, which would be overcome.

$80,000 price?, say £55,000 on an optimistic $:£ technology ratio.

It is the same price as a Porche, its direct competitor. Sounds good to me.

250 miles for a 2 seater driven frugally,

Frugally? Where did you get that? The aim was car that performs the same,
or better than existing cars and with range.

then a specialised 3.5 hr recharging time. Hmmm, there goes the weekend
trips. Still, no boot space to support a weekend trip.

It is sports job, not a family tourer.

The saloon is expected to have a significantly reduced range, due at least
in part to the increased weight. Less range (still with a 3.5 hr recharge
time) - less practical.

Reduced range? You made that up. It would not require the gearbox and they
say by the time they introduce one (probably made in Malaysia by Proton as
they own Lotus) battery technology will be better. They know what is being
tested but not yet in the shops yet.

Oh, and if you think oil was scarce, try the Lithium used in the
batteries. Replace all ICs with lithium powered electric and I think
you'll hit a minor snag.

What I have read that is not a problem. Also, newer battery technologies
are emerging without Lithium.

Maybe a nice toy for whacking around country lanes, and for the local
commute.

That is its market. Sports cars are toys.

Beyond that and it is simply not practicable.

It is actually. Drive to the in-laws 200 miles away and while they feed you
another 250 miles is being fed into the thing from their socket,

Please note that I'll welcome the day that electric replaced IC - but that
day isn't here yet, nor will it be in 18 months with the release of the
saloon. With the recharging limitations of this technology you need to be
looking at something like a three-fold range improvement before you can
start scrapping the IC.

You are a very negative person. Do you think the world is going to end soon
too?

The recharging would be introduced in supermarkets, in the Canada they plug
their cars in to posts in each caring spot to keep the engine warm.
Recharging is not a big issue to implement as EVs would not flood the market
overnight. When it is clear they are here the authorities will eagerly make
provision for them, especially in cities. On main roads services would have
charging points. No one would wait 3 hours for a charge as few would allow
the charge to drop so low - as people don't allow fuel tanks to drop to near
zero they will not do that with the batteries and most don't fill fuel tanks
up either, put in £15 or £20 worth of petrol. If the battery charge is 33%
and you have a 1 hour charge as you have lunch that still gets you a long
way.

Then the Toshiba batteries are to be introduced that can take 80% of the
charge in 3 minutes and full in 5.

The future is looking rosy, so no need for you to expect the world to end.