# Tesla Hostility **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 16, 2019, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829 "2019-10-16T01:42:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/121 "2020-02-11T23:25:29Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > Having a partisan filter from which to view everything seems _exhausting_, but some seem to thrive on it. That one seems straightforward: a partisan filter gives you easy answers for any problem you throw at it, no matter how difficult or subtle. The only downside is some modest cognitive dissonance, which is avoidable if you simply choose not to think through anything at depth. And it’s very easy to avoid deep thinking if you’re willing to watch Fox News for 14 hours a day. Fortunately, defending Tesla is also pretty easy. They aren’t slow, ugly, weenie mobiles. And they aren’t imports. My car was built about 15 miles from where I live. And my parents have learned the value of plug-in vehicles via their PHEV Fusion, which they only bought due to a cheap lease, but now brag about how they only buy gas every couple of months. They still claim that anthropogenic climate change is a librul hoax, but do see the value in not paying for gas. So I guess that’s something. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/122 "2020-02-11T23:31:14Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > I pulled the trigger and bought an electric mower. Don’t run over the extension cord. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/123 "2020-02-12T07:35:23Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Don’t run over the extension cord. Our lawnmower, weedwhacker, and snowblower are all electric. Avoiding extension cords is old habit now. None are rideable so I won’t gain EV hatred taking them on roads. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/124 "2020-02-12T16:53:12Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Don’t run over the extension cord. No worries. It’s battery powered and the battery still has plenty left over after mowing my 1/4 acre. I love it: It’s got enough balls to much through thick grass, and it’s quiet, quiet, quiet. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/125 "2020-02-12T18:09:41Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > I told him my 17 year old gasoline lawn mower has reached the end of it’s usefulness, despite all the repairs I’ve done to it, and that I pulled the trigger and bought an electric mower. This is about to be me. My mower is 18 years old, and the wheels are literally about to fall off. Corded leaf blower and trimmer have always been a pain in the ass, and I’m tired of mower noise and breathing small-engine exhaust. Planning to buy a battery mower, trimmer, and leaf blower this spring, and looking forward to better health and sanity. > [@Dr. Strangelove](#): > > They still claim that anthropogenic climate change is a librul hoax, but do see the value in not paying for gas. So I guess that’s something. Hard-core conservatives ought to appreciate EVs for their ability to reduce national dependence on imported petroleum, allowing us to send less money to countries that may be funding terrorist activities. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/126 "2020-02-12T18:20:13Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Hard-core conservatives ought to appreciate EVs for their ability to reduce national dependence on imported petroleum, allowing us to send less money to countries that may be funding terrorist activities. How is the electricity generated? There are two nuclear reactors in central Arkansas. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/127 "2020-02-12T18:25:00Z")
Question on electric cars. Is there an electrocution hazard if a person is charging their car and its raining or the area around the charging station has about 1-3 inches of standing water? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/128 "2020-02-12T18:41:43Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Question on electric cars. > > Is there an electrocution hazard if a person is charging their car and its raining or the area around the charging station has about 1-3 inches of standing water? It is low voltage direct current, much less dangerous that higher voltage alternating current. Thomas Edison favored DC, and made a big deal that Westinghouse favored AC. Speaking about the AC powered electric chair, Edison was fond of saying, “The prisoner was Westinghoused to death this morning.” ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/129 "2020-02-12T18:42:46Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > It is low voltage direct current, much less dangerous that higher voltage alternating current. Thomas Edison favored DC, and made a big deal that Westinghouse favored AC. Speaking about the AC powered electric chair, Edison was fond of saying, “The prisoner was Westinghoused to death this morning.” just don’t lick the terminals. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/130 "2020-02-12T18:43:32Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > How is the electricity generated? There are two nuclear reactors in central Arkansas. > **[Electricity sector of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_sector_of_the_United_States)** > > Employment > Net electricity generation by energy source as of November 2022 > There is a large array of stakeholders that provide services through electricity generation, transmission, distribution and marketing for industrial, commercial, public and residential customers in the United States. It also includes many public institutions that regulate the sector. > In 1996, there were 3,195 electric utilities in the United States, of which fewer than 1,000 were engaged in power generation. This lea... Electricity in the US is generated by a number of methods: coal, wind, nuclear, solar, hydroelectric, natural gas all come to mind. Petroleum combustion accounts for just 0.6% of US electricity production. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/131 "2020-02-12T19:26:39Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > It is low voltage direct current, much less dangerous that higher voltage alternating current. Only fast chargers (L3) use DC, and it’s certainly not low-voltage. The Tesla superchargers are 480v fast DC chargers. EVs can also charge directly of AC via the an on-board rectifier (most have them). Most EV charging is done by plugging into an ordinary 240v AC receptacle. All charging connectors have some kind of digital handshake system that does not allow the charging current to flow until the connector is fully inserted and locked. The cables are quite beefy and designed for outdoor use. Of course, there should be GFCI protection on the circuit as well. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/132 "2020-02-12T20:25:08Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > [Electricity sector of the United States - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_sector_of_the_United_States) > > Electricity in the US is generated by a number of methods: coal, wind, nuclear, solar, hydroelectric, natural gas all come to mind. > > Petroleum combustion accounts for just 0.6% of US electricity production. Much less than I thought, but coal generates 30% of electrical power in the USA, and natural gas, better for the environment, another 30%. Friedo, what is the voltage of ev batteries? ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/133 "2020-02-12T20:55:44Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Much less than I thought, but coal generates 30% of electrical power in the USA, and natural gas, better for the environment, another 30%. > > Friedo, what is the voltage of ev batteries? Teslas operate at 350-375V DC. The new Porsche Taycan operates at 800V DC. the higher voltage lets them use thinner wiring. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/134 "2020-02-12T21:17:14Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Much less than I thought, but coal generates 30% of electrical power in the USA, Coal power plants have been retiring left and right over the past 20 years and virtually no new ones have been built to replace them. That’s going to continue for the next ten years or so until we’re down to a few that will be difficult to get rid of. > [@](#): > > and natural gas, better for the environment, another 30%. Gas isn’t actually that much better, environment-wise. It doesn’t produce ash and release heavy metals like mercury, so that’s good. But because some of the gas (which is mostly methane) escapes before being combusted, it’s not that much better in terms of carbon equivalent. And it’s not like they can make the combustion more efficient and thus reduce the methane. The gas escapes at various places along the path before it gets to the burner. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/135 "2020-02-12T21:25:30Z")
> [@Scoobysnax](#): > > Teslas operate at 350-375V DC. The new Porsche Taycan operates at 800V DC. the higher voltage lets them use thinner wiring. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/136 "2020-02-12T23:01:59Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I have a Prius, and I have no problem going 80 (which is keeping up with traffic) down I5 on the way to LA. And I still get great gas mileage doing it. > What I do notice is that some people think I will go slowly, but they learn otherwise pretty quickly. > Someday I’m going to finish my song “Hot Rod Prius” to the tune of “Hot Rod Lincoln.” > > Now I live in a place with so many Prii that in 2008 someone said that they were going to put a McCain sticker on their silver Prius to distinguish it from all the Silver Prii with Obama stickers in just about every parking lot. I know what he was talking about. I had an Insight and used to regularly make the trip from LA to SF (actually, Marin) on I5. I could usually do it in about 5.5 hours (excluding the hour or so I spent having a nice big steak at Harris Ranch). I can still remember refueling in a gas station in Vallejo and having a local coming over and checking out my car. He was so excited when I told him I still had about a quarter tank left, and I hadn’t had to stop and refuel at all on the road. It was kinda cute. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829/137 "2020-02-13T22:45:08Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Updating this thread, look at this example of what Tesla did: [Tesla turned Autopilot back on for the guy](https://thenextweb.com/cars/2020/02/13/tesla-autopilot-surreptitiously-taken-now-given-back-alec-model-s/). As best I can tell, the only real mistake here was in how Tesla advertised the car to the intermediary. It’s in their right to disable AP if the car wasn’t supposed to have it, but they should restore it or reimburse the dealer if it was advertised as a feature for the auction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-hostility/841829.md?page=6)