Damn Electric Cars & Sudden Acceleration!

[BrianL99]

"When she placed her foot on the accelerator, the electric vehicle rapidly powered forward and kept going until it crashed into a home in the 1400 block of Alesio Street."

It was the car's fault, of course.

[Toymeister]

It was the car's fault, of course.

You fool! Of course it's the cars fault, after all it is an electric car!

(Sarcasm now off)

[Topspinmo]

What happen to automatic braking crash avoidance system? Guess it don’t detect houses?

[BrianL99]

What happen to automatic braking crash avoidance system? Guess it don’t detect houses?

That's a good point.

My car would have stopped itself.

The story (from the newspaper that can't be mentioned), said she was trying to "back into her driveway" and was too close, so she pulled forward ... obviously, waaaaay too far forward.

[JoMar]

What happen to automatic braking crash avoidance system? Guess it don’t detect houses?

She probably never activated it.

[villagetinker]

She probably never activated it.

I feel very sorry for the lady. No idea on Tesla, but our automatic breaking is ON when I start the car. I have read (NO personal experience) that some Tesla cars have ONE pedal operation, press gas for GO and release for BRAKE (regenerative), I believe there is actually a brake pedal also. My point this can be very confusing for a new owner.
IMHO, I would guess the Tesla is totaled, and the repair to the house will be well over $10K, so this whole accident may come out close to $100k, hope she has good insurance.

[bagboy]

I think she was in over her head with a car that has 510 horsepower and will accelerate to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. She probably had no idea what her car was capable of. Hopefully any injuries are minor.

[BrianL99]

I think she was in over her head with a car that has 510 horsepower and will accelerate to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. She probably had no idea what her car was capable of. Hopefully any injuries are minor.

So this a serious question. I've been in a Tesla and the acceleration is amazing. I've heard reports that these things actually have over 500 hp. Why?

I get it, if you're building a car to compete with a Dodge Hellcat, but why does Mr & Mrs Havisham need so much power? Is there something about electric vehicles, that demands this sort of power production?

[biker1]

It looks like a Model Y. They aren’t that fast.

I think she was in over her head with a car that has 510 horsepower and will accelerate to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. She probably had no idea what her car was capable of. Hopefully any injuries are minor.

[Tvflguy]

It looks like a Model Y. They aren’t that fast.

We have a new Tesla. Believe me, ANY Tesla - even standard versions can FLY extremely quickly from a dead stop. Does not need to be a souped up triple motor version. They are amazing.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

A former NJ world champion in sailing, in the 70s, my sophomore year sailing coach, turned lawyer, is now in his early 70s. He has been a FL lawyer since the 1980s. His last case prior to retiring to Mississippi is a sudden acceleration case again GM which has a significant personal injury component, His toughest part is being able to break the GM computer code which also covers up the events in certain ways. He also has proof that GM has known about the flaws/issues, and didn't change anything for a year or so.

This isn't Tesla's first sudden acceleration case, there are many

[ThirdOfFive]

Not unheard-of. A guy from Minnesota spent four years in prison on (as I recall) 1st degree manslaughter conviction. He claimed the accelerator on his car stuck and he was unable to free it before striking and killing three people. The court didn't buy it and sent him to prison. It was only after numerous other reports were made and recall notices sent, of the same make of car experiencing the same kind of issue that this person had experienced, that an appeal was made and he was freed.

His car was ICE, not electric. But unexpected mechanical issues can happen with any machine no matter what the power source.

Don't be too quick to judge.

[BrianL99]

Not unheard-of. A guy from Minnesota spent four years in prison on (as I recall) 1st degree manslaughter conviction. He claimed the accelerator on his car stuck and he was unable to free it before striking and killing three people. The court didn't buy it and sent him to prison. It was only after numerous other reports were made and recall notices sent, of the same make of car experiencing the same kind of issue that this person had experienced, that an appeal was made and he was freed.

His car was ICE, not electric. But unexpected mechanical issues can happen with any machine no matter what the power source.

Don't be too quick to judge.


Man Freed From Prison In Toyota Acceleration Case : The Two-Way : NPR (https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2010/08/05/129013215/man-freed-from-prison-in-toyota-acceleration-case)

[bagboy]

So this a serious question. I've been in a Tesla and the acceleration is amazing. I've heard reports that these things actually have over 500 hp. Why?

I get it, if you're building a car to compete with a Dodge Hellcat, but why does Mr & Mrs Havisham need so much power? Is there something about electric vehicles, that demands this sort of power production?

It doesn't make sense to me. My 68 Chevelle back in my youth had 375 horsepower. I can't imagine over 500.

[biker1]

I was responding to the post that claimed it was capable of 0-60 in less than 3 seconds. The car involved in the crash was a Model Y and they aren’t that fast. Yes, there are some Tesla models can meet that number and yes, all Tesla are pretty fast. I am looking to buy the refreshed Model Y in the spring. I trust you have been happy with yours?

We have a new Tesla. Believe me, ANY Tesla - even standard versions can FLY extremely quickly from a dead stop. Does not need to be a souped up triple motor version. They are amazing.

[Tvflguy]

I was responding to the post that claimed it was capable of 0-60 in less than 3 seconds. The car involved in the crash was a Model Y and they aren’t that fast. Yes, there are some Tesla models can meet that number and yes, all Tesla are pretty fast. I am looking to buy the refreshed Model Y in the spring. I trust you have been happy with yours?

Love ours. First EV/Tesla. Amazing. So easy to drive. Best feature is one pedal driving. Almost never need to touch the brake. The car slows and stops via regenerative braking with the motors, charging the batts at the same time. Brake pads last forever.

If interested the Tesla Clermont sales service, they are happy to give you complimentary 1/2 hour drives in any model.

[biker1]

I have been on a few test drives out by the airport and also the new Clermont center. The last test drive had the FSD enabled - very impressive. The one pedal driving was very convenient.

Love ours. First EV/Tesla. Amazing. So easy to drive. Best feature is one pedal driving. Almost never need to touch the brake. The car slows and stops via regenerative braking with the motors, charging the batts at the same time. Brake pads last forever.

If interested the Tesla Clermont sales service, they are happy to give you complimentary 1/2 hour drives in any model.

[MorTech]

Some people in TV complained that the electric golf carts accelerate too fast.

[Retiring]

So this a serious question. I've been in a Tesla and the acceleration is amazing. I've heard reports that these things actually have over 500 hp. Why?

I get it, if you're building a car to compete with a Dodge Hellcat, but why does Mr & Mrs Havisham need so much power? Is there something about electric vehicles, that demands this sort of power production?

Why 510hp? I believe Elon Musk would say, because it’s cool. I don’t have a Tesla, waiting for that quick charge, 1000 mile battery.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

If I had the finances (and a wider car port or a real garage) I'd definitely consider a plug-in hybrid. I wouldn't get an all-electric vehicle, I don't trust them and wouldn't ever feel safe in one. But one that uses gas and regenerative braking to charge the battery? C'mon that is just such a cool idea.

[Cuervo]

Am I reading this wrong?
Look the car could have been gas, hydrogen, electric or rubber band.
Once a person gets behind the wheel, they're the one person responsible, if they don't know what they're driving they should be walking.
You have to understand what you're driving and purchase what you need.
I see corvettes in The Villages doing 20 mph and rust covered death traps doing 90 mph.

[PersonOfInterest]

If I had the finances (and a wider car port or a real garage) I'd definitely consider a plug-in hybrid. I wouldn't get an all-electric vehicle, I don't trust them and wouldn't ever feel safe in one. But one that uses gas and regenerative braking to charge the battery? C'mon that is just such a cool idea.

What would make you 'trust' a hybrid but not trust an all electric vehicle? Isn't a hybrid an all electric vehicle with a small gas engine to charge the batteries?

[Bay Kid]

My 550 BMW is very fast but I also love the Avalon hybrid @ 50 mpg. Not a fan of total electric.

[merrymini]

Moronic. I had aTesla 3 and the moment you take your foot off the accelerator, the car comes to a dead stop. You do not even need to touch the brake. Operator error, simple.

[Caymus]

Am I reading this wrong?
Look the car could have been gas, hydrogen, electric or rubber band.
Once a person gets behind the wheel, they're the one person responsible, if they don't know what they're driving they should be walking.
You have to understand what you're driving and purchase what you need.
I see corvettes in The Villages doing 20 mph and rust covered death traps doing 90 mph.

About 10 years ago a car came racing across a parking lot and smashed into the wall near where I was standing. It turned out that the car had "hand" controls, and the driver had a medical issue.

[The_Oracle]

So this a serious question. I've been in a Tesla and the acceleration is amazing. I've heard reports that these things actually have over 500 hp. Why?

I get it, if you're building a car to compete with a Dodge Hellcat, but why does Mr & Mrs Havisham need so much power? Is there something about electric vehicles, that demands this sort of power production?
She always has the option to buy the less powerful car just as you can with Dodge. She apparently chose not to. This has nothing to do with EVs, just the marketplace and freedom.

[The_Oracle]

Automatic braking does not work very well on grass as there is a much lower coefficient of friction.

[The_Oracle]

What happen to automatic braking crash avoidance system? Guess it don’t detect houses?
It Full Self Driving was enabled, it never would have happened which is kind of the point of FSD. However FSD is still an option that must be paid for and enabled.

[HORNET]

Maybe a retesting for a drivers license

[OhioBuckeye]

Sorry but that’s funny but sorry to say it’s not. Our Nephew in Law is a Dr. & he bought 2 EV’s & said he would never buy another EV he never said why but he drives a gasoline car now. But sorry about your mishap, it’s not funny she could be seriously hurt or killed god bless her & you!

[The_Oracle]

If I had the finances (and a wider car port or a real garage) I'd definitely consider a plug-in hybrid. I wouldn't get an all-electric vehicle, I don't trust them and wouldn't ever feel safe in one. But one that uses gas and regenerative braking to charge the battery? C'mon that is just such a cool idea.
That is 2 drivetrains to maintain and is too much extra weight thus inefficient. Teslas have the best crash test ratings.

[The_Oracle]

Sorry but that’s funny but sorry to say it’s not. Our Nephew in Law is a Dr. & he bought 2 EV’s & said he would never buy another EV he never said why but he drives a gasoline car now. But sorry about your mishap, it’s not funny she could be seriously hurt or killed god bless her & you!
Good luck with that since many world politicians, countries and states are all going EV. ICE large pickup trucks might be around a little longer. Was the previous EVs a Tesla?

[Topspinmo]

So this a serious question. I've been in a Tesla and the acceleration is amazing. I've heard reports that these things actually have over 500 hp. Why?

I get it, if you're building a car to compete with a Dodge Hellcat, but why does Mr & Mrs Havisham need so much power? Is there something about electric vehicles, that demands this sort of power production?

Electric motors produce more torque than than ICE engines. IMO there should be (and probably are) torque controls limited power. IMO normal driving mode should be limited to 200 HP. Even with that 200 HP electric motor has instant torque which in this situation probably wouldn’t made difference?

[Bill14564]

It Full Self Driving was enabled, it never would have happened which is kind of the point of FSD. However FSD is still an option that must be paid for and enabled.

Not likely that FSD would have been enabled while backing into a driveway.

I don't know about Teslas but in my car I can override the crash-avoidance feature by pressing the accelerator - the car may want to stop but I can tell it to keep going. I haven't crashed into a house to see what would happen in the final second but I suspect the accelerator would override crash-avoidance.

[Bill14564]

That is 2 drivetrains to maintain and is too much extra weight thus inefficient. Teslas have the best crash test ratings.

Hybrids are wildly popular and the most gas-efficient vehicles on the road.
- My Prius got better mileage than my motorcycle
- Full EVs aren't gas efficient, they don't use gas at all

Might depend on the particular vehicle but some have a single drivetrain powered by two sources (motor or engine). Definitely more parts but not totally separate drivetrains.

[Cuervo]

I own an Ioniq 6, when I bought the car, I was totally aware of the problems I would be facing with an EV.
Distance, the time it takes to recharge the battery and the availability of charging stations. I was totally aware how quickly the car accelerates, that's all they would talk about on YouTube when you looked up EVs.
One day I realized one of the benefits when I drove by a gas station that I frequented all the time and had not stopped in since I own the car.
I'm going to be driving up to N.Y. at the end of the month and since I'm retired, I have plenty of time and I'm going to make it a 3 day trip.
You see I look at a car as a tool, and I purchased the car that met my needs.
If you buy a car because you like the look, or it is in fashion you're making a terrible mistake.

[The_Oracle]

Hybrids are wildly popular and the most gas-efficient vehicles on the road.
- My Prius got better mileage than my motorcycle
- Full EVs aren't gas efficient, they don't use gas at all

Might depend on the particular vehicle but some have a single drivetrain powered by two sources (motor or engine). Definitely more parts but not totally separate drivetrains.
A Tesla Model 3 is rated at 132mpg equivalent which no hybrid can touch. Only maintenance is tires and wiper blades. No oil changes, no brake jobs, no transmission service, no spark plugs,.......

[The_Oracle]

Electric motors produce more torque than than ICE engines. IMO there should be (and probably are) torque controls limited power. IMO normal driving mode should be limited to 200 HP. Even with that 200 HP electric motor has instant torque which in this situation probably wouldn’t made difference?
Yes we should ban Corvettes, Massive SUVs, Massive Trucks, high performance and large vehicles are overrated. All anyone needs is a Trabant

[Bill14564]

A Tesla Model 3 is rated at 132mpg equivalent which no hybrid can touch. Only maintenance is tires and wiper blades. No oil changes, no brake jobs, no transmission service, no spark plugs,.......

I didn't argue that a Tesla was not a nice car. I wrote that it does not burn gas and is therefore not gas-efficient.

I don't have a Tesla but I believe to that maintenance you have to add annual brake maintenance and more frequent and expensive tire replacement. Not unexpected with a heavy performance vehicle but definitely an added cost.

I would have been wary of the electronics and software package but as there has not been a lot of press of Tesla's "blue screening," the software must be in pretty good shape.

It would be really great if a Tesla fit my driving habits. Unfortunately, today it does not.

[The_Oracle]

I didn't argue that a Tesla was not a nice car. I wrote that it does not burn gas and is therefore not gas-efficient.

I don't have a Tesla but I believe to that maintenance you have to add annual brake maintenance and more frequent and expensive tire replacement. Not unexpected with a heavy performance vehicle but definitely an added cost.

I would have been wary of the electronics and software package but as there has not been a lot of press of Tesla's "blue screening," the software must be in pretty good shape.

It would be really great if a Tesla fit my driving habits. Unfortunately, today it does not.
Blue screening is a Microsoft issue and does not apply to any other computer system.

The standard model 3 is not a performance car but the most efficient economy car on the planet. It has a lower 5 year cost of ownership than both Accord and Camry. Maintenance is essentially zero as well. Most people I know do not enjoy having to bring their vehicle into service but to the each their own.

[jimjamuser]

That is 2 drivetrains to maintain and is too much extra weight thus inefficient. Teslas have the best crash test ratings.
Reciprocating piston engines are inherently inefficient. I would NOT worry about vehicle weight. There is a lot of weight in power windows, power mirrors, and even automatic transmissions, which people won't do without. Owning a hybrid is a good stepping stone toward a full Electric vehicle, so that is a GOOD thing. There needs to be more charging stations built so that full Electric vehicle owners do NOT experience range anxiety. Every year E-vehicles are making improvements to the batteries and charging etc. All state governments should encourage E-vehicles, not just California.

[sprech]

What happen to automatic braking crash avoidance system? Guess it don’t detect houses?

I drive a Tesla. When my car is in AutoPilot and I press the accelerator to go above the set speed, a message appears stating that the car will not brake. Perhaps that is the case because I might detect something dangerous that requires rapid acceleration. One really needs to understand what the software is designed to do.

[The_Oracle]

Reciprocating piston engines are inherently inefficient. I would NOT worry about vehicle weight. There is a lot of weight in power windows, power mirrors, and even automatic transmissions, which people won't do without. Owning a hybrid is a good stepping stone toward a full Electric vehicle, so that is a GOOD thing. There needs to be more charging stations built so that full Electric vehicle owners do NOT experience range anxiety. Every year E-vehicles are making improvements to the batteries and charging etc. All state governments should encourage E-vehicles, not just California.
My charging station is a 110V outlet.
There are quite a few of those.

In addition, an electric clothes dryer outlet works quite well but 110V is enough for me right now.

As for range anxiety, never experienced it due to the Tesla supercharger network. That includes a couple of 2000 mile trips.

[justjim]

Why 510hp? I believe Elon Musk would say, because it’s cool. I don’t have a Tesla, waiting for that quick charge, 1000 mile battery.

Me too waiting for an EV that I can take on a road trip and safely go 700 - 800 miles without stopping two or three times for several minutes to charge. For short 100 or 200 mile trips they are ok and fun but still not what I would call a road car. Meanwhile, I can see a hybrid as a possible alternative.

With their horsepower and acceleration, I think an EV could be a coffin for most teenagers to be driving. Just saying…

[biker1]

Batteries are heavy and expensive so I don’t believe you will typically see 1000 mile ranges. The average number of miles driven per day in the US is around 40. When many people can recharge over night there wouldn’t appear to be an economic reason for allocating that much costs for a battery. Typically on a rode trip, you can charge 200 miles in 20 minutes. Undoubtedly that time will continue to drop as new chargers put out more power and new batteries are able to accept higher charging rates. There is a sweet spot for the majority of customers and I doubt it is 1000 miles of range but there could be some offerings in the future at a higher cost just like there are customers for Bugattis.


Why 510hp? I believe Elon Musk would say, because it’s cool. I don’t have a Tesla, waiting for that quick charge, 1000 mile battery.

[ThirdOfFive]

Me too waiting for an EV that I can take on a road trip and safely go 700 - 800 miles without stopping two or three times for several minutes to charge. For short 100 or 200 mile trips they are ok and fun but still not what I would call a road car. Meanwhile, I can see a hybrid as a possible alternative.

With their horsepower and acceleration, I think an EV could be a coffin for most teenagers to be driving. Just saying…
Well, teenagers were probably racing their horses against each other 200 years ago, so...

As these and similar "debates" are wont to do, they devolve into "either-or" types of arguments. That is particularly illogical when the discussions involve EV vs. ICE. I remember looking at I-75 live footage during the run-up to Milton. It was a parking lot! I remember thinking that someone (probably quite a few someones) in an EV stuck out there in traffic barely moving at all, especially as a lot of that traffic included folks fleeing the wrath of the upcoming hurricane, was probably experiencing terminal range anxiety. But truth be told it was probably more anxiety than reality. Florida is warm. Their EV probably got most of them to their intended destination, maybe three or four hours late.

But I've seen the same kind of traffic in states where a blizzard can knot up traffic for many hours. And in a situation like that, if you're in an EV, that anxiety can all too often translate into reality. A blizzard in northern MN can whip winds at you of 40-50 mph, and that along with reduced or virtually no visibility can make keeping your car between the ditches a real sphincter-clenching experience. And most blizzards are followed by cold. Often, pretty severe cold. I remember a blizzard some years back that deposited 40" of snow in Duluth, MN, followed by temps in the minus 50 degrees F. actual (windchills approaching -100). All EVs, including Teslas, become less efficient in cold conditions, Teslas less than most other EVs (up to 30% loss), but as the cold temps lower, so does the overall efficiency.

Yes. EVs are fine for some people. In some situations. But I'd far rather be that guy in an EV in that line of cars on I-75 just before Milton, than I would in the same EV in any one of a dozen or so upper-tier states when snow, wind and cold are the adversaries.

[The_Oracle]

Well, teenagers were probably racing their horses against each other 200 years ago, so...

As these and similar "debates" are wont to do, they devolve into "either-or" types of arguments. That is particularly illogical when the discussions involve EV vs. ICE. I remember looking at I-75 live footage during the run-up to Milton. It was a parking lot! I remember thinking that someone (probably quite a few someones) in an EV stuck out there in traffic barely moving at all, especially as a lot of that traffic included folks fleeing the wrath of the upcoming hurricane, was probably experiencing terminal range anxiety. But truth be told it was probably more anxiety than reality. Florida is warm. Their EV probably got most of them to their intended destination, maybe three or four hours late.

But I've seen the same kind of traffic in states where a blizzard can knot up traffic for many hours. And in a situation like that, if you're in an EV, that anxiety can all too often translate into reality. A blizzard in northern MN can whip winds at you of 40-50 mph, and that along with reduced or virtually no visibility can make keeping your car between the ditches a real sphincter-clenching experience. And most blizzards are followed by cold. Often, pretty severe cold. I remember a blizzard some years back that deposited 40" of snow in Duluth, MN, followed by temps in the minus 50 degrees F. actual (windchills approaching -100). All EVs, including Teslas, become less efficient in cold conditions, Teslas less than most other EVs (up to 30% loss), but as the cold temps lower, so does the overall efficiency.

Yes. EVs are fine for some people. In some situations. But I'd far rather be that guy in an EV in that line of cars on I-75 just before Milton, than I would in the same EV in any one of a dozen or so upper-tier states when snow, wind and cold are the adversaries.
When an EV is not moving in traffic it uses very little energy thus range does not decrease by much. Your logic is better applied to an ICE vehicle not an EV. However I am sure the chargers were backed up along the route but slow traffic is not an issue.

[Topspinmo]

When an EV is not moving in traffic it uses very little energy thus range does not decrease by much. Your logic is better applied to an ICE vehicle not an EV. However I am sure the chargers were backed up along the route but slow traffic is not an issue.

So you set with A/C or heat off?

[FredMitchell]

High acceleration (from higher horsepower / torque) is very useful for reach traffic speed quickly from far less (maybe even 0). Merging onto interstates with the much shorter ramps than they had in the 60's. Right turns at red lights. Passing on undivided highways. More is better until you near the traction limits of the tires.

[The_Oracle]

So you set with A/C or heat off?
Compared with moving a vehicle ac is in the noise. Tesla uses a heat pump as well for heat and air. They did the cold weather snowed in test and the EV survived much longer. So the cold weather is a myth.

[The_Oracle]

High acceleration (from higher horsepower / torque) is very useful for reach traffic speed quickly from far less (maybe even 0). Merging onto interstates with the much shorter ramps than they had in the 60's. Right turns at red lights. Passing on undivided highways. More is better until you near the traction limits of the tires.
The model 3 is sublime in traffic

[JMintzer]

Another EV vs ICE car thread that will change no one's mind...

I'm beginning to miss the "dog poop" threads...

[The_Oracle]

Another EV vs ICE car thread that will change no one's mind...

I'm beginning to miss the "dog poop" threads...
Well somebody better change the politicians' minds quick or it will not matter what anybody else's mind thinks.

[fdpaq0580]

Another EV vs ICE car thread that will change no one's mind...

I'm beginning to miss the "dog poop" threads...

KEEP OFF MY LAWN!

Did that make you feel better? 😀

[biker1]

If you are concerned about whether you will be able to buy an ICE car in the future then I would not worry. ICE cars should be around for another 20 years or so.

Well somebody better change the politicians' minds quick or it will not matter what anybody else's mind thinks.

[Byte1]

Some folks just can't drive, period. An unfortunate argument FOR a driverless vehicle.

[Topspinmo]

Compared with moving a vehicle ac is in the noise. Tesla uses a heat pump as well for heat and air. They did the cold weather snowed in test and the EV survived much longer. So the cold weather is a myth.


Myth if you can go over 100-150 miles in subzero weather, heater or air takes battery energy they NO way around it.

[Topspinmo]

Well somebody better change the politicians' minds quick or it will not matter what anybody else's mind thinks.

You do know model T still running. But Stanley steamer and electric’s of that time been melted down.

[Dave951]

Good thing the battery didn't catch fire

[bopat]

I just love my Tesla has as much horsepower as a Corvette, and doesn't look as crappy as a Corvette

[coffeebean]

Not unheard-of. A guy from Minnesota spent four years in prison on (as I recall) 1st degree manslaughter conviction. He claimed the accelerator on his car stuck and he was unable to free it before striking and killing three people. The court didn't buy it and sent him to prison. It was only after numerous other reports were made and recall notices sent, of the same make of car experiencing the same kind of issue that this person had experienced, that an appeal was made and he was freed.

His car was ICE, not electric. But unexpected mechanical issues can happen with any machine no matter what the power source.

Don't be too quick to judge.

Seems to me the ICE vehicle's rapid acceleration was an anomaly. These electric vehicles' rapid acceleration is the norm. Big difference there. Even my little old electric Yamaha golf cart has rapid acceleration (for a golf cart that is).