Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green
Tesla responds to Top Gear's test of Roadster
Click the image above to watch Top Gear's review of the Tesla Roadster after the jump
Tesla Motors is crying foul on a few of the claims made by Jeremy Clarkson in his recent review of the electric Roadster. You might recall that Clarkson ran out of juice while flinging the slinky Lotus-derived Tesla around the Top Gear test track. This was the main point driven home by the TG crew as to why electric vehicles are not yet ready for prime-time. Not so fast, says Rachel Konrad, Senior Communications Manager at Tesla Motors. Clarkson's Roadster still had 20% battery capacity left when it was pushed into a nearby hanger. Why the deception? We can't imagine Clarkson ever calling an end to his tail-out fun just because the
Another salient point from the TG review centered around a brake failure. Again, according to Konrad, the problem was actually a blown fuse, and although Clarkson makes it seem in his video review as if he was without a Roadster to continue driving while repairs were being made, that was simply not the case -- the other car was all charged up and ready to go. Lastly, Clarkson harps on the Tesla's 16-hour recharge time. It does indeed take that long to recharge from a standard outlet, but that's like filling your gas tank with an eye dropper. If absolutely necessary, it'll work, but there are much better solutions available. Tesla offers chargers that can replenish its Roadster in as little as 3.5-hours.
Later in the same episode, James May tested the Honda FCX Clarity and gave it a glowing review. There are indeed issues with EVs that will need to be addressed before we're ready for the widespread replacement of our fossil fueled cars, and the same can be said of those fueled by hydrogen. At this pivotal moment in automotive history, we wonder if a more balanced view of all the available options wouldn't be more appropriate. To watch the video review in full, click past to the break.
[Source: AutoblogGreen]
Video:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Majarvis 11:05AM (12/19/2008)
Awww, Tesla is crying, awww. You went and hurt their feelings, Jeremy. Awww.
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xpolarx 10:58PM (12/19/2008)
Honestly, Jeremy Clarkson delivers biased reviews all the time. Ever seen him drive a Porsche? It's nothing new. Tesla and EVs in general aren't getting any worse treatment than the 'flappy-paddle gearbox.'
Biff Baxter - All American 11:06AM (12/19/2008)
3.5 hours instead of 16?
Whoopdeedo.
This is such an impractical niche toy that it's laughable.
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thomas 11:48AM (12/19/2008)
i know its SO impractical to charge up your electric vehicle in your own garage while you sleep.
i'd much rather drive out to a gas station in the cold.
Noidor 12:11PM (12/19/2008)
To me, Tesla has zero credibility, especially after all the firings of top management within past 6 months, their stupid lawsuit against Henrik Fisker and so forth. In this case I think they're being deceptive and trying to discredit Clarkson's review.
Screw them...
g00fba11 1:10PM (12/19/2008)
Seconded that Tesla does NOT have any credibility left. If it weren't for all their internal turmoils and exaggerated claims/lies, their vaporware approach to product development, ridiculous hot air they were spewing, I'd have seen this in a different light. As long as Musk is there, I don't think this will change.
Big Rocket 1:43PM (12/19/2008)
@Noidor & g00fba11: Not that Top Gear has much credibility either. Remember, these are the same *entertainers* who couldn't tell the difference between horsepower generated at the engine, and horsepower delivered to the wheels.
Source:
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/hp-101-top-gear-provides-false-info-on-gt500-horsepower-rating/
V3LOCIP3D3 3:04PM (12/19/2008)
Tesla may not have any credibility, but neither does top gear. They present a skin deep review of any car for the average tv viewer . . . it's pure entertainment. Their reviews are heavily biased (which they know), Jeremy uses the same surprised exclamation of enjoyment for every car he drives . . it's entirely predictable. What Tesla says should be taken with a grain of salt, sure . . but what anyone on Top Gear says is meaningless entertainment.
Noidor 4:16PM (12/19/2008)
Yes, but it is a fallacy in logic to say that TG has no credibility so then it's okay that Tesla has no credibility either.
Big Rocket 5:14PM (12/19/2008)
@Noidor: A better way to phrase this would be, "Let he who has never sinned throw the first stone."
xspeedy 11:11AM (12/19/2008)
I'm sure like anything other entertainment program, things are exaggerated a bit to increase the dramatic value. Even if the Tesla did run out of juice at 55 miles on the track, we need to remember that we are talking about conditions of track driving and not normal road use. I'm sure the car was heavily flogged while in Jeremy's hands.
This is almost as poor as his "M3 gets better mileage than a Prius" test on the same track.
In the end, Jeremy is simply against alternative power - especially the electric and electric/gas hybrids.
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Brett MacPherson 11:11AM (12/19/2008)
"This video has been removed by the user."
Uh oh..
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Blair 11:12AM (12/19/2008)
I agree Clarkson was pretty hash on the Tesla when I think it's a lot better then it made it out to seem.
With a 3.5 Hour recharge time you won't be using this car for long trips because you 'd be stopping more then you'd generally like but as a day to day car it works great, drive it around during the day, at night plug it in just as you would with your cell phone.
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zamafir 3:47PM (12/19/2008)
Well that and anyone who proffers a hydrogen fuel cell car (not for sale, $1,000,000+) as an alternative to internal combustion cars, and one that 'will probably be cheaper because there's one moving part' without... you know... telling the audience it costs 7 figures and won't be on sale any time soon, does seem to be glossing over the reality of the situation greatly. It felt odd, like TopGear had just heard of fuel cell cars, and didn't have any chance to process any of the news relating to them over the last decade. At that point, well and when they glazed over the cost and source of hydrogen, I forgot about the Tesla all together and kept checking the title of the video to see if someone hadn’t slipped a forbes auto feature in on me.
Craig 8:54AM (12/20/2008)
Pure FUD. The FCX Clarity does not cost over $1,000,000 to purchase. In fact, you can't purchase one.
You can lease one at a quite reasonable $600 per month.
"A limited number of vehicles will be leased to Southern Californians during the summer of 2008.
* Three-year $600/month lease 1
* Exterior Color: Star Garnet Metallic
* Maintenance costs included in lease. American Honda also covers the costs of physical damage to the FCX Clarity resulting from any collision."
All info here:
http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/
Moron.
Ian 10:29PM (12/20/2008)
"You can lease one at a quite reasonable $600 per month.":
A glorified civic for $600/mo? Reasonable?
Bwhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Ha.
Jim 11:13AM (12/19/2008)
"Lastly, Clarkson harps on the Tesla's 16-hour recharge time. It does indeed take that long to recharge from a standard outlet, but that's like filling your gas tank with an eye dropper."
Well, that's all that a lot of people will have available in their garages.
"Not so fast, says Rachel Konrad, Senior Communications Manager at Tesla Motors. Clarkson's Roadster still had 20% battery capacity left when it was pushed into a nearby hanger. Why the deception?"
You don't run Li-Ion batteries flat, or else they're done for.
"Tesla offers chargers that can replenish its Roadster in as little as 3.5-hours."
Raise your hand if you have a 240 volt, 70 amp feed in your garage. Unless you plan on pulling the car into your kitchen or laundry room, and even then those are generally 30 amp circuits.
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:31AM (12/19/2008)
I disagree that most people won't have high power circuits in their garages. Most electric car owners will, because if they don't, they won't find the car useful. This is a big reason the EV1 had trouble selling, anyone who has an apartment can't really own an electric car because they can't get 220 power in there. Although note that Clarkson is in the UK, where every outlet is 220.
It's true that Li-ion batteries will degrade quicker if you discharge them deeply. So you shouldn't do it routinely. However, at 20%, there is still enough juice to drive it across the facility to the charging station in the hangar without causing a jump in the damage done, especially if you do it slowly. The pushing was a stunt, pure and simple.
You're right about the 70 A feed thing, and that electric dryers are 30A. But in a kitchen, ranges can be 40-50A. They are also hard wired though, so you can't plug into that circuit (unlike a dryer outlet).
Jim 11:42AM (12/19/2008)
"I disagree that most people won't have high power circuits in their garages. Most electric car owners will, because if they don't, they won't find the car useful."
well, the average house in my area is 40-60 years old, and AFAIK most of them were not built with 240v circuits in the garage. Though I accept that someone buying a Tesla would probably be adding such a circuit if they don't have one.
"Although note that Clarkson is in the UK, where every outlet is 220."
right, but most are only 13 amp. still double the theoretical power compared to typical US mains circuits.
"You're right about the 70 A feed thing, and that electric dryers are 30A. But in a kitchen, ranges can be 40-50A. They are also hard wired though, so you can't plug into that circuit (unlike a dryer outlet)."
is this typical for new construction? my range is plugged into a 10-50 receptacle.
why not the LS2LS7? 12:06PM (12/19/2008)
I dunno what's typical for ranges. My 80s era range is hardwired. I don't know of anyone who even puts in electric ranges anymore (everyone wants gas), so I don't know if plugs are on the way in or out.
A garage in the UK is likely to be on a ring circuit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_circuit
You can get a lot of power from these. You're right the sockets are fused at 13A, but it would be possible to put higher rated socket on one of these circuits, even though it isn't recommended for new installations.
Although I have to backtrack on one thing, at 240V 13A, it will take 16 hours to charge the car. I presumed 16 hours was the US figure, but I forgot just how large the Tesla battery is. It's about 38kWH, and 16 hours is about right for charging it at 3kW (240/13). So Clarkson used the correct UK figure for a regular outlet.