Speaking of full nerd, the just-announced RAM Rev full-size truck will offer a range extending ICE option. Just how efficient can you make an emission compliant steady RPM generator putting out 15kw? (That’s about what it seems it would need to keep up with the discharge). Regular home generators are dinosaur tech. I would think a carmaker could make a very very efficient engine like this. Thoughts? Or should this be its own thread?
Anything connected to Musk is dead to me.
I’ve had my Model 3 for a year now, and I’m totally used to the touchscreen. I’m also getting used to the voice commands, like “warmer”, which will raise cabin temp 3 degrees without moving my eyes off the road, or my hands off the wheel.
If the car were stolen or wrecked, would I buy a Tesla again? There are more reasons not to than a year ago. There are more EVs on the market so more choices. The ones from Kia are especially nice. Also, Elon is an even bigger ass now than he was then.
OTOH, most or all of the competitors are SUV-ish, so they weigh 500+ pounds more than the 3, which is no lightweight. This is a drag on performance and efficiency, which matters a lot to me. It also burns me that the other manufacturers are so far behind in EVs and charging. With a little more foresight and a small collective investment they could have made a charging network 10x better than Tesla’s.
I’d still choose the Model 3.
Based on this resolution in the Wyoming legislature, I’d say that’s a definite No.
SJ0004 - Phasing out new electric vehicle sales by 2035.
[Thanks to @puzzlegal for the link.]
I never understood why they can’t just connect a generator to the rotating wheels to recharge the battery.
Musk doesn’t enter into the equation for me. My current lifestyle isn’t compatible with current EVs. Maybe in the future.
Re: Touch screens.
Woman falls into fountain because she is not paying attention and is looking at her phone.
What do pilots say, ‘Sometimes it’s best to look out the window, and fly the plane’.
My cousin had a person walk into the side of her car when she was 3 cars back from a stoplight. So not even a cross walk.
If I could buy one for just $15 (& had to keep it as opposed to reselling it) I wouldn’t.
- The touchscreen only controls for everything.
- I need a large rear opening - hatch/SUV/wagon for what I routinely haul. The x is just butt-ugly (& I don’t think all that much cargo area, either)
- I do enough long-distance driving, to mostly rural areas, that I’d need to keep my ICE (longer charge times, more charges, & coupled with having to drive out of my way to get to chargers would mean a significantly longer trip time); I’m not getting rid of ‘The Toy’ either & don’t have room for a third car
The X has a surprising large amount of space. Maybe not enough for you, but we have been very happy with the amount of room. The web says 91 cubic feet. Plus, a pretty wide opening. Can’t help you on the uglyness factor.
Because I couldn’t get past no (button/knob) controls & butt-ugly (& waaay more than I want to spend for a depreciating asset) I didn’t really look further.
I didn’t realize there are 3 rows; with that 3rd row down it’s not so bad, but still a hard NO for me
We didn’t get the third row of seats. So it’s huge back there.
That doesn’t happen. You choose when to apply new software updates.
Security vulnerabilities are always a threat on any connected car, but that applies to almost all cars these days (like via OnStar). And most manufacturers have been significantly worse than Tesla in that department. Like that time hackers were able to disable the brakes remotely on a Jeep:
Granted, that is several years old. But if you think not supporting OTA software updates prevents this kind of thing–well, you’re wrong. It’s pretty much as bad as ever:
Or how about the behavior of the company as a whole? Remember that time when a bunch of automakers supported Trump’s lawsuit against California’s ability to set its own emissions standards?
That shit is way worse than any personal leadership foibles. It had direct consequences for the entire planet. Thankfully, the lawsuit failed and California (and allied states) can continue to set their own standards.
If I saw one of those on the highway, I’d be disappointed that it never sprouted wings and took off, like it looks it should be able to do.
I think you want one of these:
With all of the hand-wringing regarding physical controls, and I do agree with it even though I’m used to using the touchscreen now, I wonder if a tasteful set of physical controls could be manufactured that mount onto the bottom of the touchscreen. It could use the same bluetooth comms that the app does to change the HVAC settings / control trunk/glovebox etc / change music/volume. I’m surprised nothing like this exists.
Ehh… after a quick google search there does appear to be a market for this. I just didn’t see anything on Amazon before.
My objection to the touchscreen controls is both the distraction element and the fact that shit breaks–thinking about the Rivian’s motorized vent directions and louvers in specific here, or motorized glove compartments (WTF?).
OK now this is completely out of control.
These things aren’t the preserve of EVs. When I was in South Africa last year, I had the battery die on my SUV. It turned out that there is no way to open the rear hatch without power. No mechanical key-operated release outside, not even a manual release if you crawl back there inside. With a fridge sitting in the back, there was no way to reach the toolkit.