But either way, driving screws up our concepts of convenience and efficiency. Drivers aren't rational actors, so even if you were only spending 10% of your time recharging it would make you crazy just like any other delay makes us go a bit nuts when we're behind the wheel.
That's at the heart of most of these discussions. So many of the decisions people make about driving aren't rational decisions, they're rationalized decisions.
Just to be clear, I'm guilty of this as well. I bought a large luxury station wagon (mostly) because it had rear-facing rumbleseats that I've used exactly once.
And if you're not a kid, there's no way in hell you're going to fit in the rear-facing seats, I'm pretty short and I still can't fit back there.
I can assure you that doing 65mph on I-90 through South Dakota is a really, really bad idea. Its listed as 75mph and that would be the low-end for what people do. Nevermind the wind that is probably going to kill your range.
Well, South Dakota I-90 where Tesla put their chargers is a single 75mph on a very busy two lane interstate with a lot of truck traffic.
Minnesota is a single 70mph on I-90. Thinking about it, I haven't seen a split speed limit in the upper plains.
"You in a Tesla driving 65 in the right lane is not going to affect traffic much."
"In the wide open spaces, there's enough room it doesn't matter."
You are going to be a nice blocker in traffic that generally flows along at 75 - 85 mph. It is a very busy truck corridor and you going 65mph is going to be a problem.
This is a good point, I wonder what the energy burden is going to be from that. You also need to factor in the impracticality of travel in the winter season (ie, near 0 deg F) in the east, or the very cold desert west of the Continental divide, particulalry at night (which is also extended in the winter).
It gets into the negatives for a lot of the winter. As I type this, it is -4F in Sioux Falls (just off I-90) with a mild 5-10mph wind with an expected low of -8F tonight.
There are a lot of windmills near I-90 since you can pretty much guarantee a constant wind.
Of course a new tech is slightly less convenient out the outset, and of course it will only appeal to a certain percentage of the population, and of course it will get better over time.
Which side of history are those people on?
Which side of history will you be on?
I understand that early adopters are damn useful, especially for all the startup creator here on HN. But seriously, "Right side of history" is pushing it. You can buy a regular car today and an electric one next time; it is not like electric car makers will refuse your business because you failed to be on the right side of history 10 year before.
Precisely. So people need to stop complaining the Tesla S doesn't meet their needs. Wait until it does, then buy one. If it never does, don't buy one, and don't complain about it.
Why is it so common for consumers to complain when a popular company makes a product that doesn't precisely fit their needs?
I personally am happy when I have no use for an expensive product, as it means I don't have any desire to spend money on it, and my $500 car will continue to meet my needs.
Yet.
There were millions that couldn't afford an automobile when they came out too you know..... Give it time, stop thinking a new product has to be everything to everyone so early on.
My personal suspicion is that electric cars will hit mainstream sales levels by around 2020 and by 2025 they'll dominate new car sales.
[1] http://www.forbes.com/sites/markrogowsky/2013/11/06/teslas-b...
Why do you think complaining about the Tesla is somehow different from complaining about all those other things when they were in their infancy?
Shouldn't we get something like a 50% improvement in battery technology within 5 years? That should push it over the limit for most people.