27.08.2008
Within the perpetual colour and diversity of this modern life we lead, it isn’t often that we are presented with a genuinely new experience. This is one of the few downsides to living in a western European democracy- yes, we may not worry about catching Polio anymore, but life does seem rather straightforward and predictable sometimes. Hence the reason so many people decide to extricate themselves from the monotony of everyday life by exposing themselves to unnecessary risk. Why else would you run the Marathon Des Sables – a six day running race across the Sahara?
The Tesla Roadster is something completely new. Like any car-mad individual, much of my life is defied by car-experiences: the first time I drove an F40, the first time I rode in a McLaren F1, the first time I spun an F1 car. Each of them is an indelible high, and predictably so, given how lucky I was to be given the chance to occupy each seat. If you’d told me that a two hour drive from central London to Chobham –and back- in an electric car would rank alongside those listed above, I’d have given you short shrift. But the Tesla is astonishing.
There is no point in making profound statements about it being ‘the future’ or predicting that the internal combustion engine is living on borrowed time. I don’t have any answers to those or any similar questions because I don’t have a very big brain, but what I can tell you, and what really matters to you and me, is that I had an absolute riot in the Tesla. It goaded me into behaving like a complete arse, which on reflection is a much more significant observation than any number of statistics that explain the car’s actual performance. This is the first all-electric vehicle I have ever driven (even the buggies at the golf club have a little motor in them), and I had to restrain myself. Suddenly, the future of motoring –if indeed this is the future- doesn’t seem so bleak.
Tesla claims that the Roadster will hit 60mph in 3.9sec. It feels faster than that. The first time you push the throttle pedal half way towards the floor, you laugh at the absurdity of such urge from something that doesn’t have any con-rods. I have always assumed that noise makes an invaluable contribution to the perception of speed (a loud exhaust always makes you feel like you’re going faster) but the Tesla loops this theory back on itself. In being so quiet, it concentrates the mind on the shove. This is straight-line performance of the purest kind: acceleration distilled down to one, sumptuous push in the lower back with no gearchanges to interrupt the flow. It is utterly compelling and addictive. The traffic light grand prix will never be the same again –with 450kg of batteries sitting over the rear wheels the Tesla has the tractive quality of chewing gum on long hair, and it just flies from a standstill. The life of the motorcycle courier will never be the same again: the Tesla nails them every time. Its silence is masterful too. I love the sound of a decent exhaust or induction system as much as the next man, but very quickly found myself enjoying the serenity of the Tesla experience.
It is a long way from perfect this car. It is too expensive, it takes too long to charge and if you do fail to resist the urge to behave like a knob (as I most certainly did) then the range falls to well below 200 miles. And even with a full carbon body, it weighs 1200kg, which is too much for something based on an Elise tub. But as a marker –as a letter of intent on behalf of the electric motor and its intentions for involvement in the future of personal transportation, it is quite the most exciting car I’ll drive all year; perhaps ever. Watch the (silent) movie on DR TV.
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11 Comments
Kermit79
August 27, 2008I understand why car manufacturers are looking to the electric revolution, and yet I can’t help thinking that this is a knee-jerk reaction to a problem.
The power that this car runs from has to be generated somewhere, so is plugging 20 million cars into the national grid going to solve the problem of hydrocarbon production? I don’t think so. If this car came with an ability to charge from its own ‘green’ generator, then this would be a step in the right direction. This is just pushing the problem back up to the source.
Unfortunately, the consumer is at the receiving end of this marketing hype all too often. The advent of the mainstream diesel engine as the ‘clean’ choice is quite frankly ridiculous. Carbon emissions are one of a number of particulates that leave an exhaust. The soot cloud that emanates from a hard charging Passat TDI is enough to warrant a radar on the dashboard of the vehicle behind.
My thoughts are quite simple….if the manufacturers were forced (hyperthetically) to provision a new power source they could. It all boils down to money. It is more cost effective to run with internal combustion, because, relatively speaking, it is easier to improve what you have.
The Tesla will provide some misguided individuals the ability to sleep at night, safe in the knowledge that they are doing their bit for the environment. Downstairs the Tesla will be doing its bit to the electricity supply.
This car is not a green alternative so much as an alternative to petrol and diesel. Don’t believe the hype.
Kermit79
August 27, 2008I understand why car manufacturers are looking to the electric revolution, and yet I can’t help thinking that this is a knee-jerk reaction to a problem.
The power that this car runs from has to be generated somewhere, so is plugging 20 million cars into the national grid going to solve the problem of hydrocarbon production? I don’t think so. If this car came with an ability to charge from its own ‘green’ generator, then this would be a step in the right direction. This is just pushing the problem back up to the source.
Unfortunately, the consumer is at the receiving end of this marketing hype all too often. The advent of the mainstream diesel engine as the ‘clean’ choice is quite frankly ridiculous. Carbon emissions are one of a number of particulates that leave an exhaust. The soot cloud that emanates from a hard charging Passat TDI is enough to warrant a radar on the dashboard of the vehicle behind.
My thoughts are quite simple….if the manufacturers were forced (hyperthetically) to provision a new power source they could. It all boils down to money. It is more cost effective to run with internal combustion, because, relatively speaking, it is easier to improve what you have.
The Tesla will provide some misguided individuals the ability to sleep at night, safe in the knowledge that they are doing their bit for the environment. Downstairs the Tesla will be doing its bit to the electricity supply.
This car is not a green alternative so much as an alternative to petrol and diesel. Don’t believe the hype.
P Haynes
August 27, 2008I admire your enthusiasm. However as a (former) potential customer, I’m not convinced Tesla will make the cut. Last week, on a trip to Silicon Valley (I live in the US), I visited the new and much-hyped Tesla showroom in Menlo Park. It was mid-afternoon, and the showroom was apparently open for business. From a distance there appeared to be three Teslas on display, but as we approached the showroom it became clear that two were dummies. There was one real car on display, and its finish was pretty poor. But it was the customer service that most impressed: my wife and I — serious potential customers — were literally shooed out of the showroom the minute we tried to look at the (real) car. Nice. Nobody asked if we were interested in buying. So I then wandered around the back to the factory… which appeared to be deserted, with no employees (never mind finished or even half-finished cars) in sight. Somehow I don’t think we’ll be back.
P Haynes
August 27, 2008I admire your enthusiasm. However as a (former) potential customer, I’m not convinced Tesla will make the cut. Last week, on a trip to Silicon Valley (I live in the US), I visited the new and much-hyped Tesla showroom in Menlo Park. It was mid-afternoon, and the showroom was apparently open for business. From a distance there appeared to be three Teslas on display, but as we approached the showroom it became clear that two were dummies. There was one real car on display, and its finish was pretty poor. But it was the customer service that most impressed: my wife and I — serious potential customers — were literally shooed out of the showroom the minute we tried to look at the (real) car. Nice. Nobody asked if we were interested in buying. So I then wandered around the back to the factory… which appeared to be deserted, with no employees (never mind finished or even half-finished cars) in sight. Somehow I don’t think we’ll be back.
Rahul Nair
August 28, 2008I had the chance to visit the Tesla Factory last year and I have to say that the Tesla compares pretty well with my Elise. The only thing you miss out on are trackdays though you could theoretically charge it up at the RV hookups they have at most tracks.
I put a short writeup and some comparison photos on my blog
Rahul Nair
August 28, 2008I had the chance to visit the Tesla Factory last year and I have to say that the Tesla compares pretty well with my Elise. The only thing you miss out on are trackdays though you could theoretically charge it up at the RV hookups they have at most tracks.
I put a short writeup and some comparison photos on my blog
Bryant
August 31, 2008Kermit: With regards to your point on electric cars pushing the power problem back to the source, it does help in that the main grid power could come from a source of alternative/renewable energy (hydro, wind, nuclear) as opposed to internal combustion, which is pretty much guaranteed to be tapped from one source – the world’s oil supply.
Bryant
August 31, 2008Kermit: With regards to your point on electric cars pushing the power problem back to the source, it does help in that the main grid power could come from a source of alternative/renewable energy (hydro, wind, nuclear) as opposed to internal combustion, which is pretty much guaranteed to be tapped from one source – the world’s oil supply.
Stuart
August 31, 2008I was lucky enough to ‘have a go’ in a development car last year, and I too was astonished. I simply couldn’t configure the pace with the lack of drama; no gearchanges, no noise, no fuss. I discussed the perceived shortcomings with the engineer. He merely said that this was just the start. How exciting is that?
Great review. I loved seeing the car in action and I hope it heralds the new age of performance driving
Stuart
August 31, 2008I was lucky enough to ‘have a go’ in a development car last year, and I too was astonished. I simply couldn’t configure the pace with the lack of drama; no gearchanges, no noise, no fuss. I discussed the perceived shortcomings with the engineer. He merely said that this was just the start. How exciting is that?
Great review. I loved seeing the car in action and I hope it heralds the new age of performance driving
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