As we reported recently, the Top Gear Test on the Tesla Roadster had Tesla a little miffed, to say the least.
Tesla claims that most of what went on with the test (running out of power; failed brakes etc) was just set up by the Top Gear Team for effect. But Mr C is having none of it.
The Telegraph reports that Jeremy is not remotely contrite about the piece, and claims that TG were completely honest in the report.
The main area of controversy seems to centre around the Tesla Roadster being pushed back in to the garage, seemingly out of juice. Now I have to say that that was my impression too, but Clarkson says:
“We never said once that the car had run out of power. The car had to be pushed into the warehouse because you are not allowed to drive cars into a building. We calculated that it would have run out of power after 53 miles but they can’t argue with that because that is a fact.”
Now we all know that the boys have a pretty Cavalier attitude to rules, and it seems clear that the Tesla had not run out of juice. In fact, the BBC admits as much, and describes the scene as illustrating what would happen if the Tesla had run out if power. A little disingenuous, I’d say. Still, Clarkson was unbowed on the other main issue – the brakes:
“Nobody gives a flying **** how the brakes failed. Whether it was a blown fuse or not, they were still not working.”
And I’m with him all the way. The brake issue was extremely important.
We all know that the big drawback of electric cars run by a charge (as opposed to electric cars driven by an on-board hydrogen plant) is the ridiculous inability to get juice when it’s needed. That is what makes the EV a poor option.
Still, it all makes for interesting viewing!
Tesla Roadster Gallery
Obione says
Fill up fuel tank – 3 minutes. Recharge electric car 8 hours! What renewable ebergy? Bio fuels – we’ll all starve. Windpower – not enough wind, not enough land. Nuclear – oh yeah, I’ve got a few hundred new nuclear power stations on standby! The only way is to invest in Hydrogen tech.
Jack Kruschnik says
I like your show. But some of the Tesla stuff you came up with is pure and utter carp. Sure it needs charging. But all you car driving plodders plan around topping up your fuel tank – so what’s different? And the business about electric cars being a road to nowhere is utter nonsense. Fact is that electricity can be generated using renewable energy sources. We all know you need to sell your product and are journo’s but you can also be part of making the world a better place – without the pollution, greenhouse issues, noise, and oil based economies subsidising terrorism.