@JayS, this one is for you!
I have to use Jam’s post as an excuse to post this picture. It is hilarious and sad at the same time.
so as a counterpoint to my pro-tesla stance they are working very hard to repress any news of more fires.
i found out today of a canadian example that Tesla worked very hard to sweep under the rug that hasnt been in the news at all.
i take a half-step back on the whole thing as a result.
lithium batteries don’t like to be punctured (or overheated, or cold, or overcharged, or overdischarged…)
They just need to protect them better and maybe have a smarter BMS
How many gasoline powered cars start on fire every day?
This. The fire thing seemed WAY overblown by the media considering no one seems to care about cruising around with 15 gallons of gasoline that goes up in a giant orange fireball at the slightest spark when spilled.
The fires were big news at first and could certainly put a dent in a new company trying to grow, but they offered a correction and any governmental action in the US was dropped:
Following a spate of fires late last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it would investigate the Tesla Model S for a possible recall. As of today, that inquiry is closed, and it’s all thanks to titanium. Go titanium!
Two fires last year in Washington State and Tennessee occurred after the Model S’s undercarriage was struck by road debris, igniting the battery pack that lives in the floorpan of the vehicle. These fires sparked (pardon the pun) a NHTSA investigation into the car’s safety, though fortunately no one was injured in either.
Tesla responded by releasing software update that raised the car’s ride height, and then added a triple underbody shield that includes a layer of titanium onto new cars. Existing cars will be outfitted with the shield at no cost to owners.
Apparently, NHTSA is satisfied enough with these changes to say “case closed”:
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has decided to close our investigation of the Model S Vehicle. NHTSA believes the company’s revision to the vehicle’s ride height and increased underbody protection should reduce both the frequency of underbody strikes and the risk of resulting fires. Consumers should have their vehicles serviced promptly once they receive notification from Tesla Motors.”
This is good news, and an example of how this process should work. The government raises questions about safety and the automaker makes changes on their own without necessitating a recall.
I also give a thumbs up to Musk for making good on his word from 2013:
“While we think it is highly unlikely, if something is discovered that would result in a material improvement in occupant fire safety, we will immediately apply that change to new cars and offer it as a free retrofit to all existing cars,” Musk wrote.
And that’s what they did. Titanium!
The biggest thing- no one was injured in either. Google “jeep wrangler fire” and see how much stuff pops up. Still no recall
http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/Maserati-Ghibli-takes-on-Model-S-2014-04-03
Top Gear approves it.
Chris Harris on a old review of the Roaster:
this one will be hard to hide given the high profile. Tesla has suppressed a few other fire cars.
Why would they hide it? It was a police chase that ended with the person crashing at up to a reported 100 mph and the driver not only survived but only sustained minor injuries. That speaks to the safety of the car if you ask me. And according to this, Tesla is looking to analyze the car. Probably to help solidify their reputation as being one of the most structurally sound vehicles on the road.
So I asked him what was a supercar tuner doing bringing a stock Telsa to the Nürburgring? His response was interesting.
Iain’s feeling is that the Model S is the future of the automobile. Maybe not this year or next or even in 10 years, but inexorably the battery technology found in the Tesla will be the norm rather than the exception and Iain wants to be the first to tune the bejeezus out of it.
… it was able to keep a GT3 RS going full chat, within shouting distance (at the 2:00 mark) far longer than any 4,700lb sedan has a right to.
cant wait for people to to start tuning this thing.
About the Model X coming up:
“There are no cars available for a test drive,” says Musk. “There is no information about the cars in our stores because we’re only selling the S. In fact, if somebody comes in who wants to buy the X, we try to convince them to buy the S. So we anti-sell it.”
Sure, but why not get out in front of the Model X release, and encourage people to adopt early? According to Musk, Tesla can create demand for the Model X “at will.” He just doesn’t want customers twiddling their thumbs while they wait for their new car to become available.
http://green.autoblog.com/2014/08/04/tesla-trying-to-keep-model-x-demand-low-for-now/
And now infinite mile warranty:
Wow, does that include the battery? All of my laptop batteries strangely seem to die a couple weeks before my warranty ends, I’d expect everyone’s car ones to the same after 7 years, 11 months, and 200,000 miles
Battery already is 8 years, infinite miles. :tup:
Wow. If a guy as smart as Musk has run the numbers on this and went forward with it it tells you they really believe in their build quality. I wonder about cannibalization of future sales but I assume the battery technology in 6 years will be leaps and bounds better, to give the people with money incentive to keep moving up. Especially if this props up resale and makes their trade-in worth more.
Keep sending my TSLA stock to record highs, my 401k appreciates it 
If it is all about the batteries then I guess you could buy one today and in 8 years just simply upgrade to the latest kick ass batteries. (?)