Tesla crashed, went "unnoticed" by other driver. - LotusTalk

tonybelding · 07-29-2008, 05:00 AM

From Wired.

Comment from Tesla and an Eyewitness on First Tesla Crash | Autopia from Wired.com

Best quote: . . .eyewitnesses to the crash told him the Roadster had gone “unnoticed” because of its low profile and silent powertrain.

Best comment: On the upside: the fact that powering a car with an electric motor makes it INVISIBLE is frickin awesome.

My suggestion: Get the Very Orange. Then nobody can say they didn't see it.

Very unfortunate to see one banged up immediately after delivery to someone who waited about two years for it. Still, this is where it gets real. Now we know they're starting to show up on the street in the hands of actual owners.

Yeti · 07-29-2008, 05:08 AM

My suggestion: the Camry driver should stay off the cell phone in stop and go traffic!! Anyone want to bet they are underinsured...

Vampyre · 07-29-2008, 05:21 AM

too bad...

Yeti · 07-29-2008, 05:30 AM

I guess I do not know what "go bumper to bumper between the cars" means. But my experience is that if you hit a car from behind even if they do something stupid, it is blamed on the back car.

Icedog_16 · 07-29-2008, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeti

I guess I do not know what "go bumper to bumper between the cars" means. But my experience is that if you hit a car from behind even if they do something stupid, it is blamed on the back car.

In other words, he tried to squeeze in between the other cars involved from another lane. The car in front stopped while he was in the process of doing so which meant that the Camry in back didn't have sufficient space to stop due to the gap behind the Mercedes that the Camry left then being partially filled by the Tesla.

lotusforsale · 07-29-2008, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeti

My suggestion: the Camry driver should stay off the cell phone in stop and go traffic!! Anyone want to bet they are underinsured...

Unless the Camry driver was backing up the wrong way on the street, or DUI, he/she almost certainly won't be cited in this accident.

Yeti · 07-29-2008, 07:26 AM

wasn't the Camry behind the Tesla and the Mercedes in front?

lotusforsale · 07-29-2008, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeti

wasn't the Camry behind the Tesla and the Mercedes in front?

Indeed, my mistake!

Chris Mackey · 07-29-2008, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeti

wasn't the Camry behind the Tesla and the Mercedes in front?

Sounds like a kinky 3 way!

Yeti · 07-29-2008, 08:00 AM

If Tesla really wanted coverage on this, they should have dumped it off a lift.

Icedog_16 · 07-29-2008, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeti

If Tesla really wanted coverage on this, they should have dumped it off a lift.

Like this...

YouTube - Forklift Flips Maserati

Yeti · 07-29-2008, 08:21 AM

I was thinking more along the lines of doing a Qball.

Icedog_16 · 07-29-2008, 08:31 AM

That'll work, too!

AgentTripleX · 07-29-2008, 03:52 PM

San Francisco drivers are not the most alert. Especially when it comes to vehicles behind them that are low. I think that's happened to me at least 4 times in the Lotus and a few times in my Porsches.

Icedog_16 · 07-29-2008, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgentTripleX

San Francisco drivers are not the most alert. Especially when it comes to vehicles behind them that are low. I think that's happened to me at least 4 times in the Lotus and a few times in my Porsches.

I know what you're saying - my ex-wife backed into mine in her driveway and she has the sensors in her bumper!

But this one wasn't backed into - it was rear-ended. From what I gathered, the Tesla driver tried to squeeze into the gap the Camry left between himself and the Mercedes and, at about the same time, the Mercedes jumped on the brakes and the Camry rear-ended the Tesla because he wasn't given enough space.

AgentTripleX · 07-29-2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icedog_16

I know what you're saying - my ex-wife backed into mine in her driveway and she has the sensors in her bumper!

But this one wasn't backed into - it was rear-ended. From what I gathered, the Tesla driver tried to squeeze into the gap the Camry left between himself and the Mercedes and, at about the same time, the Mercedes jumped on the brakes and the Camry rear-ended the Tesla because he wasn't given enough space.

Guess that would have happened to any car regardless of it's height.

Gizmo3000 · 07-29-2008, 05:14 PM

if it were an Elise, it'd be totaled I'm sure.

But wonder if it's the same for Tesla's.
(and how long it'll take the poor customer to get the car back if it's not totaled)

doma · 08-04-2008, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gizmo3000

if it were an Elise, it'd be totaled I'm sure.

But wonder if it's the same for Tesla's.
(and how long it'll take the poor customer to get the car back if it's not totaled)

Fixing his car might delay the others. Maybe he should get a new number and move to the back of the line.

As for totaled.... the batteries are probalby fine and they are almost half the cars value (if not more?). So, probaby not totaled.

JohnnyQuik · 08-05-2008, 06:29 PM

Lotus to the rescue...

Lotus Creates Artificial Engine Noise To Make Quiet Hybrids Safer

GabbaGabbaHey · 08-07-2008, 03:08 PM

As a cyclist, it is spooky to have a Hybrid sneak up on you. I would welcome an external noise maker.

07-29-2008, 05:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
tonybelding Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hamilton, Texas Posts: 96	Tesla crashed, went "unnoticed" by other driver. From Wired. Comment from Tesla and an Eyewitness on First Tesla Crash \| Autopia from Wired.com Best quote: . . .eyewitnesses to the crash told him the Roadster had gone “unnoticed” because of its low profile and silent powertrain. Best comment: On the upside: the fact that powering a car with an electric motor makes it INVISIBLE is frickin awesome. My suggestion: Get the Very Orange. Then nobody can say they didn't see it. Very unfortunate to see one banged up immediately after delivery to someone who waited about two years for it. Still, this is where it gets real. Now we know they're starting to show up on the street in the hands of actual owners.

07-29-2008, 05:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
Vampyre Sports Cars Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 1,938	too bad... __________________ 2006 Chili Red / Touring / LSD / TC / Forged Wheels / Hard & Soft Top / Lifestyle Paint / Desnorkeled / Odyssey Battery / Sector 111 Extinguisher Bracket / Sector 111 LidBone / CF Splitter / CF Bits / Lotus Stage 2 / Pure X C3 Corvette 383 TPI Stroker 6.3 liters of Torque / 1976 MG Midget, fun run about / 2005 Mits Evo 8 ACD/SSL / Dodge Van for hauling stuff / http://www.photobucket.com/mygarage

07-29-2008, 03:52 PM	#14 (permalink)
AgentTripleX #101 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 3,084	San Francisco drivers are not the most alert. Especially when it comes to vehicles behind them that are low. I think that's happened to me at least 4 times in the Lotus and a few times in my Porsches. __________________ http://www.forearthonline.com/supervixen www.facebook.com/sprvxn "Never create anything. It will be misinterpreted. It will chain you and follow you for the rest of your life. And it will never change." - I'm Not There

07-29-2008, 05:14 PM	#17 (permalink)
Gizmo3000 Register Abuser Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sherman Oaks Posts: 962	if it were an Elise, it'd be totaled I'm sure. But wonder if it's the same for Tesla's. (and how long it'll take the poor customer to get the car back if it's not totaled) __________________ 2005 Starlight Black Elise, -hardtop/touring/black interior/sector111 carpet buttons! 1991 300ZX 2+2 1974 MGB Roadster

08-05-2008, 06:29 PM	#19 (permalink)
JohnnyQuik Registered lUser Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 316	Lotus to the rescue... Lotus Creates Artificial Engine Noise To Make Quiet Hybrids Safer __________________ JohnnyQuik current toys: '05 Elise '72/'79 MGB '06 Z4

07-29-2008, 05:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
Yeti Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 1,038	My suggestion: the Camry driver should stay off the cell phone in stop and go traffic!! Anyone want to bet they are underinsured...

07-29-2008, 05:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
Yeti Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 1,038	I guess I do not know what "go bumper to bumper between the cars" means. But my experience is that if you hit a car from behind even if they do something stupid, it is blamed on the back car.

07-29-2008, 07:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
Yeti Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 1,038	wasn't the Camry behind the Tesla and the Mercedes in front?

07-29-2008, 08:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
Yeti Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 1,038	If Tesla really wanted coverage on this, they should have dumped it off a lift.

07-29-2008, 08:21 AM	#12 (permalink)
Yeti Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 1,038	I was thinking more along the lines of doing a Qball.

07-29-2008, 08:31 AM	#13 (permalink)
Icedog_16 I drank what?!? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 4,210	That'll work, too!

08-07-2008, 03:08 PM	#20 (permalink)
GabbaGabbaHey Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 761	As a cyclist, it is spooky to have a Hybrid sneak up on you. I would welcome an external noise maker.

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