RE: Model X marks the spot

[Dr Jezz]

Quick question for anyone who has more knowledge on this topic - the source below suggests that, taking manufacturing and all other costs into account (I think), an electric car (in terms of CO2 output) is equivalent to an ICE vehicle which does 44 MPG (UK electrical supply specific).

http://shrinkthatfootprint.com/electric-car-emissi...


Is this broadly correct?

[otolith]

Dr Jezz said:

Quick question for anyone who has more knowledge on this topic - the source below suggests that, taking manufacturing and all other costs into account (I think), an electric car (in terms of CO2 output) is equivalent to an ICE vehicle which does 44 MPG (UK electrical supply specific).

http://shrinkthatfootprint.com/electric-car-emissi...


Is this broadly correct?

Those figures appear to be miles per US gallon, so 44 miles per US gallon would be 53 miles per imperial gallon.

They also account for "the difference in vehicle manufacturing emissions" - I'm not sure how that can be quantified, it varies enormously between different vehicles, as does the actual energy consumption of electric cars. A Tesla being driven like a maniac does not use the same amount of energy as a gently driven Leaf, so I don't see how they can give a single representative figure.

I think the take-home message from that piece is not the absolute figures, but the relative effect of power generation mix.

[Gareth79]

I agree that Tesla's styling since the Roadster has been pretty bland, but I'm sure it's just to meet the expectations of the core US buyers.

Musk is clearly a supercar fan, and the Roadster and P85/90D is great at persuading people that electric cars needn't be boring, and it's surely the best value performance car of its type.

I'm eager to see what the performance of the Model 3 will be, I'd be surprised if it doesn't blow everything else out the water at its pricepoint.

edit: I am currently driving a Leaf, which is very very nippy at town speeds. I will probably test drive a Model S when the finance comes to and end, but I probably won't be able to justify the price.

Edited by Gareth79 on Thursday 8th October 18:42

[dave_s13]

That is simply awesome. So many fantastic details. I would feckin love one.

[Dr Jezz]

otolith said:

Those figures appear to be miles per US gallon, so 44 miles per US gallon would be 53 miles per imperial gallon.

They also account for "the difference in vehicle manufacturing emissions" - I'm not sure how that can be quantified, it varies enormously between different vehicles, as does the actual energy consumption of electric cars. A Tesla being driven like a maniac does not use the same amount of energy as a gently driven Leaf, so I don't see how they can give a single representative figure.

I think the take-home message from that piece is not the absolute figures, but the relative effect of power generation mix.

Thanks - didn't realise their gallons were different and variation in MPG is going to happen in any vehicle (I'm sure mashing the pedal in ludicrous mode isn't going to save the world anytime soon). So for the purpose of a broad view, from the link below on real world MPG for MPVs, for a relevant example, a Citroen Grand C4 Picasso is going to be greener for less than a quarter of the price ... currently. Of course technology needs to develop (as does the recharging infrastructure etc), but at the moment you really do still have to pay an extraordinary premium to help this along.

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/real-world-mpg-eco...