New electric car unveiled by Tesla

Batteries need to get a hell of a lot better before electric cars are viable.

Hydrogen is by far the better idea.

Reply 2

Dez

Original post by Drewski

Batteries need to get a hell of a lot better before electric cars are viable.

Hydrogen is by far the better idea.

Hydrogen, at present, is far less viable than electric. Producing hydrogen costs a lot of energy, and produces greenhouse gases too.

And with a 200 mile range, I'd say the new Tesla car is pretty viable for everyday use.

Reply 3

Original post by Dez

And with a 200 mile range, I'd say the new Tesla car is pretty viable for everyday use.

I'll reserve judgement until we see what that is in the real world - those figures (like emissions) have rarely been accurate.

Reply 4

Dez

Original post by Drewski

I'll reserve judgement until we see what that is in the real world - those figures (like emissions) have rarely been accurate.

Tesla have two cars out already.

Reply 5

Original post by Dez

Tesla have two cars out already.

The performances of which have been mixed, often failing to get the range advertised. Hence my comment.

Reply 6

The Socktor

18

Original post by Drewski

Batteries need to get a hell of a lot better before electric cars are viable.

Hydrogen is by far the better idea.

Hydrogen is the future, and it always will be.

Reply 7

Aristotle's' Disciple

Original post by Drewski

I'll reserve judgement until we see what that is in the real world - those figures (like emissions) have rarely been accurate.

Dude, you don't know what you're talking about. Tesla is hugely successful already, the reason they don't advertise is because Musk is against advertising. He has enough faith in his product that electric cars will be dominant very soon. He doesn't even care if competitors attempt to follow suit he's opened up the template to everyone. It's in the worlds interest to move towards electric vehicles.

Reply 8

Original post by Aristotle's' Disciple

Dude, you don't know what you're talking about. Tesla is hugely successful already.

They're $600m in debt.

Electric cars are a good idea, they're just not good yet. Battery technology isn't good enough yet.

Reply 9

karl pilkington

OP

Original post by Drewski

They're $600m in debt.

Electric cars are a good idea, they're just not good yet. Battery technology isn't good enough yet.

The main reason they are in debt is due to significant investment in R and D as a company their sales are strong.

Reply 10

karl pilkington

OP

Why do people go on about hydrogen why are people not buying hydrogen cars if they are so good. The batteries go down in price by 8% every year and are constantly improving. If I had the money I would consider buying the new tesla

Reply 11

GMQ

13

Original post by The Socktor

Hydrogen is the future, and it always will be.

...meaning it will never be viable?

Reply 12

Bernie2016

12

Original post by Drewski

Batteries need to get a hell of a lot better before electric cars are viable.

Hydrogen is by far the better idea.

Hydrogen likes blowing up which could be problematic.

Reply 13

Dirty Dawah

1

Original post by Drewski

They're $600m in debt.

Electric cars are a good idea, they're just not good yet. Battery technology isn't good enough yet.

Which is why companies like Tesla are needed to create the demand for better battery technology. Prior to Tesla, the main reason to invest in research in storing electricity was for phones and most people don't care so long as they last 24 hours. This gives a real incentive for serious research and the overall effect will be felt in other industries such as renewable energy for homes.

Reply 14

Original post by Dirty Dawah

Which is why companies like Tesla are needed to create the demand for better battery technology. Prior to Tesla, the main reason to invest in research in storing electricity was for phones and most people don't care so long as they last 24 hours. This gives a real incentive for serious research and the overall effect will be felt in other industries such as renewable energy for homes.

I don't deny that you need companies to create the technology, but there's no point pretending that the second generation of that technology has perfected it. It hasn't.

Are they along the right lines? Sure.
Are they there yet? No.

Original post by Bernie2016

Hydrogen likes blowing up which could be problematic.

Hydrogen concept cars have had no issue. Their only by product is water. Their range will greatly exceed electric cars.

Reply 15

Dirty Dawah

1

Original post by Drewski

I don't deny that you need companies to create the technology, but there's no point pretending that the second generation of that technology has perfected it. It hasn't.

Are they along the right lines? Sure.
Are they there yet? No.

I agree and I'm not making that claim. When you buy a Tesla, you buy it under the belief that you are supporting something which will create a better future. Right now the difference in price between a Tesla and a comparable conventional vehicle is so great that with that difference, you could purchase enough carbon bonds to offset the difference in emissions over the lifetimes of the two cars, dozens of times over.

In the past I'm sure the combustion engine was slower than a horse, but that didn't stop progress.

Reply 16

username2387497