Comments on: Mismatched motors: Tesla and Fisker both built the wrong cars for their tech

By: Rob Enderle

Rob Enderle — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:46:25 +0000

My point was only that the Fisker needs the performance of the performance model of the S, the S would be better with a hybrid option because it is a far more practical car. All the things you say about the Fisker are common with exotics, poor performance isn't and since folks typically don't drive on long trips with an exotic, the range issues aren't that important. I wasn't saying either car was bad but that both would be better if they had the option of the other's power plant.

By: deborah.gonzalez2

deborah.gonzalez2 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:19:05 +0000

I love my Model S!!!!

By: Ian Bell

Ian Bell — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:10:33 +0000

Great feedback Richard and you are reenforcing what I was thinking about Tesla too. I think the cars are fine and hopefully I'll get one some day.

By: RichardWielder

RichardWielder — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:57:31 +0000

Enderle’s opinion is bizarre and emblematic of Broder like thinking. Having recently taken delivery of a Model S, after waiting 3 years for it, during which time I followed news and comments on both vehicles and other E-tech cars, I couldn’t disagree more with Rob’s comments. The cars aren’t fungible and are barely comparable. The Fisker is a fussy looking exotic hybrid with a cramped interior. small touch screen, some serious technical problems including a warning to all owners to not drive they cars due to potential fire hazards, small volume production and a 6 figure starting price. The Model S is a spacious, all electric car with a 50k starting price, exceptional styling that is beautiful and modern without being pretentious, a capacious interior and SUV like storage, unprecedented all electric range supported by an expanding, well planned charging network, mass production, world wide distribution, near perfect reliability to date and a versatile yet intuitive user interface on it’s 17″ touch screen. The reaction from Tesla owners has been overwhelmingly positive, even glowing and most would change little, other than adding or tweaking a few features, most of which Tesla has addressed via a few software upgrades. Personally I wouldn’t hit a dead dog in the ass with a Karma. It looks like a campy prop from a Flash Gorden movie. The Model S has beautiful and forward looking styling. The Karma is overdone, more than a little “to hip for the room” and fairly screams “look at me.” It’s a classic form over function faux pas. The ideas of robbing the Tesla of its massive cargo room, 5 to 7 passenger capacity and roomy interior and spoiling its graceful lines by covering it with a bunch of gaudy jewelry are antithetical to the car’s primary advantages and design concepts. Did Enderle share a fatty with Broder on that ill fated test drive? Guess it’s getting really hard to find a new angle to dump on Tesla’s success and acceptance in the face of an avalanche of animosity and prognostications of rejection and certain failure. This was one of the most pathetic and laughable attempts yet.

By: Ian Bell

Ian Bell — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:54:27 +0000

Dennis, can I be your friend? I really want a ride in a Fisker Karma. Come to Portland! :)

By: Ian Bell

Ian Bell — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:53:29 +0000

Thanks Stephen for clearing that up.

By: dennis.mcevoy.14

dennis.mcevoy.14 — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 06:12:28 +0000

265 miles is the range at a constant 60 mph. If you go 75 mph the range is more like 210 miles. So the reality of driving the Model S along I5 from San Jose to LA is that it takes you 1 1/2 hours to drive the 115 miles between the supercharger stations and then you charge for 45 minutes to get enough range to reach the next one. Definitely doable, but not particularly convenient. On the other hand, normally you plug in the Model S at home overnight (like your iPhone) and have enough range to do any commuting/traveling during the day without having to worry about finding a charging station.

By: Stephen Edelstein

Stephen Edelstein — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 21:31:48 +0000

The official EPA rating for the 85-kWh Model S is 265 miles and that's done in mixed driving without preference to any range-extending settings a car might have. Tesla originally quoted a 300-mile range, and they say the difference is due to a change in the testing procedure.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/one-car-two-ranges-tesla-claims-300-mile-model-s-will-be-epa-rated-at-265/

By: Rhurazz_2012

Rhurazz_2012 — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 20:45:03 +0000

Thanks for the input on owning this car Dennis. It’s very rare to find someone who owns these exotic EV vehicles and your testimony proves that your EV vehicle can do some serious business. Sometimes I think the media blows this way out of proportion so thanks again.

By: Rob Enderle

Rob Enderle — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 20:42:07 +0000

Good to know, hadn't talked to anyone who owned one since it got cold (we have a car thing every month but it shuts down from October to March).

By: Rob Enderle

Rob Enderle — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 20:41:07 +0000

They started off that way, Fisker was the initial designer of the Tesla S. He decided he could do a better job himself. I do think going the hybrid route made more sense initially and his design is certainly more impressive but Tesla had better quality and funding so I too wonder what would have happened had Tesla and Fisker remained connected.

By: Rob Enderle

Rob Enderle — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 20:38:35 +0000

When to charge or drain a LiIon battery completely it shortens the life of the battery. According to Toyota if you keep from either completely filling or draining the battery you can massively extend their life. Given the batteries are the most expensive single component in the car making them last is important.

By: dennis.mcevoy.14

dennis.mcevoy.14 — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 05:03:28 +0000

You are way out of date with you comments on Fisker Karma reliability. Since Fisker's last software update (Oct. 2012), my Karma has been 100% reliable and glitch-free. I've driven it 9000 miles in 13 months and love it.

You can confirm this sentiment with the experience of other owners on the FiskerBuzz forum. Check out the 90% customer satisfaction rating in this owner poll:

http://www.fiskerbuzz.com/forums/13-fisker-karma/1883-owners-only-what-your-current-overall-satisfaction-level-your-fisker-karma.html

By: Ian Bell

Ian Bell — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 02:16:37 +0000

Gotcha, thanks for the clarification. So you should be able to go balls to the wall and still get 260 miles out of the sucker. Not sure why Broder had trouble with the car.

By: jared.oberhaus

jared.oberhaus — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 23:59:41 +0000

Tesla range is just fine; is question was "Judgement" of Broder:
http://publiceditor.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/18/problems-with-precision-and-judgment-but-not-integrity-in-tesla-test/

And thanks for your assessment of my statement...

By: magicbotian

magicbotian — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 23:49:18 +0000

Published range is what you can get by putting it on max range setting (which charges the battery to 100% rather than 90%).

So you can use it if you absolutely need.

By: Rhurazz_2012

Rhurazz_2012 — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 23:46:07 +0000

Now what would’ve happened if both of these companies got together and made a car?

By: Joseywhales

Joseywhales — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 23:44:10 +0000

"I’m starting to think it was a brilliant marketing campaign to have Broder drive it, pan it, and then body slam him with raw data."

I know you didn't really mean that because it's an incredibly stupid statement.

And I don't know anyone that would drive from SF to LA without feeling nervous regarding the range in a Tesla.

It's great what Musk is doing, but we aren't there yet. Close, but not yet.

By: Ian Bell

Ian Bell — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 23:42:18 +0000

What's published range vs. practical range? Why not just go with practical range?

By: jared.oberhaus

jared.oberhaus — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 23:32:44 +0000

I think your article is mismatched:

The Tesla/NYT issue was so obviously tilted in Tesla's favor, I'm starting to think it was a brilliant marketing campaign to have Broder drive it, pan it, and then body slam him with raw data.

As of now electric cars are for real and very practical. You can take a Model S, commute every day in it, and road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles and back, or Boston to DC and back, with no trouble at all.

Musk got Tesla to where it is by ignoring naysayers and Just Did It. He ignored what cars are "supposed" to be, shooting for the ideal car.

By: Elp Tique

Elp Tique — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 18:03:52 +0000

Some journalists really do not know how to read and live in strange bubbles. Models S published range is 300 miles, practical range 260 miles. With free Superchargers coming online every 200 miles or less you can go to the .... MOON!!!!

Not a practical commute car? What are you? A truck driver?