TESLA @ track - LotusTalk

DPM · 10-11-2009, 06:13 AM

Well it finally happened. Spotted a Tesla yesterday at Autobahn Country Club.

I got a chance to talk with the owner. He ran 3 sessions of 6 laps each on the North track. So that's about 30 miles. Not much juice left after that. Terminal speed 90 MPH and about 90 seconds a lap. For reference our Diasio is around 62 seconds and my previous Lotus, the CF-T was about 71 seconds.

Really weird to see a car running and not hear any engine noise, well in this case, any motor noise.

Not really practical for the track based on track time vs. charge time. Besides most would rather hear an engine working.

DPM · 10-11-2009, 06:14 AM

Here's a pix while he was loading it back up.

ads_green · 10-11-2009, 06:45 AM

The charge time is only one limiting factor but given the right support equipment it can be not as bad as you'd think. However the big killer for the tesla on track is drivetrain heat. It'll go into limp home mode quite readily if on track too much as the battery units heat up quite dramatically when under heavy use.

Pure battery based cars are ideal for some situations however the track is most definately not one of them!

ewalberg · 10-11-2009, 10:12 PM

actually it sounds like it's single gear is also a big issue on track... so it doesn't have the torque/hp at high rpm's associated with going fast. It needs to gear down to keep going faster...

It seems like it's pretty well suited to autocross where the power lays down immediately and seemlessly, and no futsing with gears, and that max torque is at low speeds. Battery heat could still be an issue.

ALl things considered, i bet it's relative silence and torque profile make it a more fun daily driving city car than the elise. With an elise you're stuck with the noisy power plant that alerts everyone and the police that you're doing over 4.5k rpm's even if you're going the speed limit it just SOUNDS like you're going fast...

ZJChaser · 10-12-2009, 01:39 AM

There were a few of them along with a bunch of other electric running around laguna Seca at speedventures "re-fuel" event a few months back....strange sight/sound

Refuel - Events - July 19, 2009 @ Laguna Seca

chandrew · 10-12-2009, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ads_green

Pure battery based cars are ideal for some situations however the track is most definately not one of them!

You might find this interesting. A Swiss company making an electric GT car with the view of competing at Le Mans. From memory they're using battery packs that can be replaced during a race.

ads_green · 10-12-2009, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chandrew

You might find this interesting. A Swiss company making an electric GT car with the view of competing at Le Mans. From memory they're using battery packs that can be replaced during a race.

It's not the charging that is the problem - you'd be amazed at how quick you charge a battery given the right equipment and replacable units would work fine.

It's the amount of heat and where it is that is the problem.

ewalberg · 10-14-2009, 03:21 PM

Just look at little Radio controlled cars if you want to see where things can go. Full sized dune buggies, after 15 years, are finally starting to look like RC cars with huge coil-overs and super long A-arms. Electric RC cars can do incredible things. Heat dissipation and battery density have always been the wrestling match, and probably always will... but i can't say i see any roadblocks there.

They'll continue to sort it out and improve on it. it'll just take some creativity as it's a different batch of problems. Tranny requirements will also likely be different becuase the power curve is MUCH different.

There are a lot of creative ways of transfering heat from one place to another. Shoot gas cars wrestle with heat issues too... that's still an ongoing issue with gas cars... and an electric car doesn't really care if your rightside up, or upside down... so you wont have get new/surprise issues associated with sticker tires or more aero cuasing oil starve issues or fuel starve issues. There can be some very strategic benefits.

Hello Kitty · 10-14-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewalberg

Just look at little Radio controlled cars if you want to see where things can go. Full sized dune buggies, after 15 years, are finally starting to look like RC cars with huge coil-overs and super long A-arms.

RC cars have the same problem as tesla. A RC car takes 15 minutes+ to charge, and they run for about 5 minutes.

Also, IMO, dune buggies have always looked like rc cars. Im not sure what you meant by "finally". Its not like a new version of the dune buggy just came out.

RC cars are a ton of fun though. The electric ones are better because they can go in reverse. The rc gas cars dont have a transmission, and cant reverse. Electric rc cars dont have a transmission either, but they can just change the polarity to the motor, and go in reverse.

10-11-2009, 06:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
DPM Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 702	TESLA @ track Well it finally happened. Spotted a Tesla yesterday at Autobahn Country Club. I got a chance to talk with the owner. He ran 3 sessions of 6 laps each on the North track. So that's about 30 miles. Not much juice left after that. Terminal speed 90 MPH and about 90 seconds a lap. For reference our Diasio is around 62 seconds and my previous Lotus, the CF-T was about 71 seconds. Really weird to see a car running and not hear any engine noise, well in this case, any motor noise. Not really practical for the track based on track time vs. charge time. Besides most would rather hear an engine working. __________________ 2006 Diasio D962R Arancio Borealis SOLD: 05 Elise, Benetec Carbon Fiber full body & rear wing, FF 275 turbo kit , Ikeya sequential shifter, Ohlins coilovers, Porterfield R-4, Sector 111 RTD brace & HNT pad, Yokohama A048, Caterham seats, Simpson 5 point belts, Moroso oil pan, Sector 111 Boomerang, AutoMeter CF Oil Pres-Boost-Vac gauges. No AC, heat, airbags. 1619 pounds "wet"

10-11-2009, 06:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
DPM Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 702	Here's a pix while he was loading it back up. Attached Images __________________ 2006 Diasio D962R Arancio Borealis SOLD: 05 Elise, Benetec Carbon Fiber full body & rear wing, FF 275 turbo kit , Ikeya sequential shifter, Ohlins coilovers, Porterfield R-4, Sector 111 RTD brace & HNT pad, Yokohama A048, Caterham seats, Simpson 5 point belts, Moroso oil pan, Sector 111 Boomerang, AutoMeter CF Oil Pres-Boost-Vac gauges. No AC, heat, airbags. 1619 pounds "wet"

10-11-2009, 10:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
ewalberg Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Redwood City, CA Posts: 716	actually it sounds like it's single gear is also a big issue on track... so it doesn't have the torque/hp at high rpm's associated with going fast. It needs to gear down to keep going faster... It seems like it's pretty well suited to autocross where the power lays down immediately and seemlessly, and no futsing with gears, and that max torque is at low speeds. Battery heat could still be an issue. ALl things considered, i bet it's relative silence and torque profile make it a more fun daily driving city car than the elise. With an elise you're stuck with the noisy power plant that alerts everyone and the police that you're doing over 4.5k rpm's even if you're going the speed limit it just SOUNDS like you're going fast... __________________ 2006 Aspen White Elise. Hard top (never left it's shipping box), LSS, LSD, Traction control, Red leather.

10-12-2009, 01:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
ZJChaser Blue Wheel Pimp Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Laguna Hills, CA Posts: 2,851	There were a few of them along with a bunch of other electric running around laguna Seca at speedventures "re-fuel" event a few months back....strange sight/sound Refuel - Events - July 19, 2009 @ Laguna Seca __________________ AJ - Akua Solutions - #128 Lotus Exige - JRZ Suspension - Innovative Mounts - Toyo Tires - TW Research Development

10-14-2009, 03:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
ewalberg Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Redwood City, CA Posts: 716	Just look at little Radio controlled cars if you want to see where things can go. Full sized dune buggies, after 15 years, are finally starting to look like RC cars with huge coil-overs and super long A-arms. Electric RC cars can do incredible things. Heat dissipation and battery density have always been the wrestling match, and probably always will... but i can't say i see any roadblocks there. They'll continue to sort it out and improve on it. it'll just take some creativity as it's a different batch of problems. Tranny requirements will also likely be different becuase the power curve is MUCH different. There are a lot of creative ways of transfering heat from one place to another. Shoot gas cars wrestle with heat issues too... that's still an ongoing issue with gas cars... and an electric car doesn't really care if your rightside up, or upside down... so you wont have get new/surprise issues associated with sticker tires or more aero cuasing oil starve issues or fuel starve issues. There can be some very strategic benefits. __________________ 2006 Aspen White Elise. Hard top (never left it's shipping box), LSS, LSD, Traction control, Red leather.

10-11-2009, 06:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
ads_green Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 359	The charge time is only one limiting factor but given the right support equipment it can be not as bad as you'd think. However the big killer for the tesla on track is drivetrain heat. It'll go into limp home mode quite readily if on track too much as the battery units heat up quite dramatically when under heavy use. Pure battery based cars are ideal for some situations however the track is most definately not one of them!

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