Comments on: The Tesla Model S Is Almost Maintenance Free

By: Emmanuel Huna

Emmanuel Huna — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 00:18:00 +0000

I blogged about all the things you don’t need when you own a Nissan Leaf: http://blog.ehuna.org/2012/06/infographic_things_you_dont_ne.html – but it applies to most EVs as well.

By: Nicholas Brown

Nicholas Brown — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 16:26:00 +0000

The motors don’t really go bad. It isn’t overly optimistic for electric motors to last 20 years with no maintenance, that is average. I personally have motors that lasted that long, and all of them still work.

The battery warranties are usually 8 years. So owners can enjoy at least 8 years of unparalleled economy.

By: Martin WINLOW

Martin WINLOW — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 12:13:00 +0000

Ah, yes! Now where did I put that 3D printer…?! MW

By: MorinMoss

MorinMoss — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 06:04:00 +0000

Fun? Like torque-vectoring done well with 750 hp at your disposal?

By: Ronald Brakels

Ronald Brakels — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 03:09:00 +0000

Heh heh heh.

By: Coaltopia

Coaltopia — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 02:37:00 +0000

Ahh the Crocodile – good memories of playing Railway Tycoon in the Swiss Alps

By: Daniel Fichana

Daniel Fichana — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 10:12:00 +0000

Happen to have any data to back up the statement for when the batteries will go and at what mileage?

So far there are examples of extreme Model S drivers; whom in the past year have put between 20,000 to 30,000 miles on their cars. In terms od degradation, they have not experienced any degradation. Also the vast majority of Roadster owners (the ones who actually followed instructions), who have over 100,000 miles have much less loss than was originally expected.

Also if you car to look at the Panasonic data concerning the batteries, even in the worst, abusive usage, those batteries will still retain 70% capacity at 600,000 miles.

As for the electric motor, it is a liquid cooled, imdustrial,frictionless, sealed motor.
How long should it last… Tough question to answer since most electric motors die of negect. The rule of thumb is 40,000 to 50,000 hours of service, which would correspond to over 1,000,000 miles.

To put it in perspective, a normal car is sent to the scrap heap after around 150,000 miles, or 13 years of service. So using that an EV should last a MINIMUM of. 52 years.

By: Adam Grant

Adam Grant — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 03:45:00 +0000

Another dividend of simplicity is that it’ll eventually become possible to buy a standard car controller, sensors, batteries and motors, and build whatever kind of frame around it you want. Once the basic controller is certified road worthy, any small startup car company (or high school auto shop) with a cool styling concept will be able to cheaply develop a road-worthy car.

By: Adam Grant

Adam Grant — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 03:36:00 +0000

Hopefully the reduction in moving parts means that there’ll be space for fun things like active suspension and all-wheel steering.

By: Ronald Brakels

Ronald Brakels — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 02:27:00 +0000

I just looked up information on Swiss electric trains since my memory isn’t like it used to be and I am forgetting stuff after mere decades now. The Ge 6/6 “Crocodile” electric locomotives entered serice in the 1920s and are still being used today. I couldn’t find information on when they were recoiled except for the very first prototype which was the first Swiss electric train and served as the testbed for the entire class. It was recoiled after 42 years. The first non-prototype to be retired was in service for over 50 years and two are still in operation today.

By: beernotwar

beernotwar — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 18:29:00 +0000

And when you get that new battery pack you will probably get an increase in range. I’d bet most owners will replace their packs early just for the range increase.

By: beernotwar

beernotwar — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 18:28:00 +0000

Now that thousands are driving EV’s we can build realistic Total Cost of Ownership estimates which will make EV’s look even better compared to dinomobiles.

By: Ronald Brakels

Ronald Brakels — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 16:39:00 +0000

Say what? You do know that electric motors in trains can last over 80 years? With some Swiss electric trains they rewired them after 80 years and they still work fine now. An electric car motor has about 5 moving parts. A car internal combustion engine has over 200. As a result of this difference electric motors are much cheaper and much more reliable and require much less maintenance. If the battery goes it won’t cost a fortune if it’s still in warranty. I believe the Leaf has a warranty of 160,000 kilometers and the Tesla S 60 kWh battery has a warranty of 8 years or 200,000 kilometers and the 85 kWh battery has an eight year unlimited kilometers warranty. So while batteries will need to eventually be replaced they will still last a considerable amount of time even with pessermistic assumptions. And fortunately battery packs are likely to be considerably cheaper in the future. (Tesla will let you pay for a future replacement battery pack now for as little as $141 a kilowatt-hour.)

By: Ivor O'Connor

Ivor O'Connor — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 14:56:00 +0000

Yes. This car is made to last 100 years. You’ll be seeing it in Cuba forever!

By: MaxDamage007

MaxDamage007 — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 13:38:00 +0000

Note when a battery or motor goes it will cost a fortune. More over optimistic assumptions

By: Jouni Valkonen

Jouni Valkonen — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 12:41:00 +0000

note also that hybrid vehicles are even more complex than gas mobiles. Therefore the pure electric vehicles are the way to go.