[2cycle]

I picked up a car magazine this weekend because it had done a multi day test session with the Tesla. The guy really liked it for stoplight to stoplight fun. He mentions the lack of top speed but also reminds us that top speed is rarely used and was worth the trade off of the off the line punch.
They showed some interesting numbers that were either chassis dyno figures or onboard dyno figures. It pretty much shows what I thought all along, it has great off the line torque to the rear wheels but as soon as it gets past 40 mph it's all gone and heading down hill quick. They showed a comparison to the V-6 Camaro and as soon as the Camaro shifts to second gear the torque to the wheels as already more than the Tesla is at that point during a sprint. When you campare the weight specs you will see that the Tesla is more than 1000 lbs lighter, that's where the performance comes from. After reading that write-up I would have to say a 2 or 3 speed tranny would surely make the torque to the rear wheels show better but the weight would slow it down off the line to gain the top speed and it wouldn't be worth it.

[2cycle]

After reading the article some more it does mention about going to their web site to see the dyno tests, so it sounds like they used a chassis dyno to measure rear wheel hp. I think it was something like 1200 lb/ft to the rear wheels from start to around 40 mph then it starts a linear drop to the peak speed.

[Bowser330]

Originally Posted by 2cycle

I picked up a car magazine this weekend because it had done a multi day test session with the Tesla. The guy really liked it for stoplight to stoplight fun. He mentions the lack of top speed but also reminds us that top speed is rarely used and was worth the trade off of the off the line punch.
They showed some interesting numbers that were either chassis dyno figures or onboard dyno figures. It pretty much shows what I thought all along, it has great off the line torque to the rear wheels but as soon as it gets past 40 mph it's all gone and heading down hill quick. They showed a comparison to the V-6 Camaro and as soon as the Camaro shifts to second gear the torque to the wheels as already more than the Tesla is at that point during a sprint. When you campare the weight specs you will see that the Tesla is more than 1000 lbs lighter, that's where the performance comes from. After reading that write-up I would have to say a 2 or 3 speed tranny would surely make the torque to the rear wheels show better but the weight would slow it down off the line to gain the top speed and it wouldn't be worth it.

The weight of what? The transmission? I feel the original two speed option would truly make this a super car terror... so yes it would add another 100 lbs of weight, but the car is already overall pretty damn light...and that second gear would really help that flat torque curve come to life at higher speeds...

It would be cool if they were to offer the 2 speed tranny as an add-on option...

I have noticed that the Bmw. Porsche, and other tuners are using the seconds it takes for 60-130mph as a performance comparative standard...

The figures i ran of the Tesla's multiplied torque showed it being pretty underpowered from 60-130... in comparison to a Porsche 911 turbo for example...

[ClintK]

Originally Posted by Bowser330

It would be cool if they were to offer the 2 speed tranny as an add-on option...

Wasn't one of the reasons they dropped the 2 speed was because of poor reliability? If I remember right, it was hard for them to find a transmission that could shift at 14,000 RPMs.

Side note... sure the muscle car magazines will complain it can't do 140 mph, but I'm sure a fraction of the owners will even get near 100 mph - and their waiting list for the car shows their design tradeoffs are acceptable.

[Bowser330]

Originally Posted by ClintK

Wasn't one of the reasons they dropped the 2 speed was because of poor reliability? If I remember right, it was hard for them to find a transmission that could shift at 14,000 RPMs.

Side note... sure the muscle car magazines will complain it can't do 140 mph, but I'm sure a fraction of the owners will even get near 100 mph - and their waiting list for the car shows their design tradeoffs are acceptable.

If they wanted to find a transmission that could handle it, they could have..because there are transmissions that could handle 14,000rpm...

I think they realized, like you and others have said before, that most people would care more for performance around the 0-60 range rather than 60-whatever...so they scrapped the idea of the trans more because of that rather than sourcing a transmission....

[WarpedOne]

If they wanted to find a transmission that could handle it, they could have..because there are transmissions that could handle 14,000rpm...

Such a transmission is another thing everyone says exists but noone can show it to me. Nor Tesla Motors. Magna couldn't make one, XTrac couldn't make one. They've both tried and failed.

Now, whom am I supposed to believe? A random forum guy or specialist who tried and failed?

[Bowser330]

Originally Posted by WarpedOne

Such a transmission is another thing everyone says exists but noone can show it to me. Nor Tesla Motors. Magna couldn't make one, XTrac couldn't make one. They've both tried and failed.

Now, whom am I supposed to believe? A random forum guy or specialist who tried and failed?

"Random forum guy?"

Nice to meet you too Mr. 18 posts

Believe whomever you want too warped one.

[WarpedOne]

Post count says nothing about the subject on hand.
Show me the transmission that you say exists. I am fed up with armchair engineers that know everything way better than those who do it for their living.

I would expect from people on this forum to know something about Tesla Motors, their problems and achievements yet I find the same **** here as everywhere else.

[Bowser330]

Originally Posted by WarpedOne

Post count says nothing about the subject on hand.
Show me the transmission that you say exists. I am fed up with armchair engineers that know everything way better than those who do it for their living.

I would expect from people on this forum to know something about Tesla Motors, their problems and achievements yet I find the same **** here as everywhere else.

good luck getting a healthy discussion going with your piss poor attitude.

[WarpedOne]

Form over substance eh? Lets all sing khumbaya and ignore the facts?

You came forward with:

If they wanted to find a transmission that could handle it, they could have..because there are transmissions that could handle 14,000rpm...

Facts are that Tesla Motors spent over 10 million $, tried 2 different transmission suppliers and suffered over a year of delays trying to produce a reliable 2 speed transmission that could handle those 14k rpm, be lightweight and efficient enough. And reliable. And quick.

In my book that counts for wanting it badly. They wanted it so badly that they almost failed as a company. There is a saying around here that goes something like "If there isn't any, even army can't take it".

Now, If you know of such a transmission by all means point it out. I (and many others) want to know of it also.