Regenerative braking does slow the car down...in calm normal situations. However...you will need to apply the brakes in emergency braking or even aggressive situations.
So you go 0-60 so often (thus burning through your rubbers real quick)...this means you need to apply aggressive braking frequently.
When using the brakes...there is friction and wear/tear...so they are NOT "pretty much lifetime". I know you are quoting Musk on this...but all other EV manufacturers that use this same concept admit that brakes need replacing. Just not as often.
So you are wrong here...and misinforming the folks on this board. Just because Musk tweets and brags about stuff does not mean it is true.
The Truth About Brake Pad Replacement In Teslas And Other EVs - Jalopnik
The day after Christmas, Tesla CEO Elon Musk gave us an unexpected gift. Brake pads on Teslas would “literally never” need to be replaced, he said, thanks in part to the electric car’s regenerative brakes cutting way down on brake pad use compared to a conventional car. That seemed a little too...jalopnik.com
This really depends on the driver. I personally don't aggressively drive to the extent of needing to use the brakes much at all - I've gotten used to the regenerative function quite well. I'll gun it from a light or an interstate, and as soon as I step off the pedal, it'll begin slowing down. This is a setting that you can adjust to be really aggressive or not so much at all. I prefer the aggressive setting. I'll still need to make sure the pads are lubricated annually, I don't anticipate my driving style will require a replacement for the life of the car -- not the same can be said for the tires though! Regenerative braking certainly has a learning curve, I've become quite fond of it however.
I for one enjoy my defense mode massive HEPA filter that will guard against the zombie apocalypse (maybe I'll have to wait for the cybertruck for this one) and biological warfare, my lungs feel safe. In all seriousness, I have noticed an air quality difference compared to the other vehicles I've had and driven. The response was directed at the fact that there is only one filter I have to change in the vehicle.
There are other manufacturers that are doing autonomous driving tech. Tesla has gone a long way...but by no means should anyone follow their standard. Especially when it Teslas constantly fail at it. Someone was even killed (not sure of others). There are tons of stories of them hitting stuff...or just going out of wack. I am sure that there is other tech out there that Tesla does not use that is better.
Here is a list of several cars and the tech they use. There are others not on the list that are inventing new tech.
Top 3 companies in autonomous tech (Tesla not mentioned)...
The top 3 companies in autonomous vehicles and self-driving cars
As autonomous driving continues down the road to reality, these companies are fueling the movement.www.zdnet.com
Good read...debunks some myths...
Let's break down the common self-driving car myths
Autonomous cars are coming, but a lot of hype around self-driving cars is overblown and exaggerated.mashable.com
So again...you are making it seem like Tesla is the best at it hands down and everyone should copy them. Wrong.
You think Tesla is the only company that can communicate with their cars to analyze data? Wrong. How can you say they will improve quicker than other competitors? That is utter BS. More fanboy information.
This is a great thing that other companies are getting into the game, most of them will be years behind on the overall EV automotive game compared to Tesla. Tesla currently have the market edge (and I think they'll keep it) It certainly isn't perfect as an emerging tech, I haven't seen any other automotive manufacturer push out this grade of technology on a global scale.
I'm a fan of what Waymo is doing (lead by former Hyundai CEO, John Krafcik, which is an incredible gentleman that I've had the pleasure of directly interacting with multiple times), and I hope they continue on their crusade. Why I think Tesla is better here however in a nutshell, is that they presently put in way more miles in monthly learning than Waymo does, by nearly a factor of 750x. This generally will translate to a higher quality autonomy for those fractional situations. Waymo will push for software for the big automotive manufacturers - you can't buy a Waymo car. It will be an additive service to existing vehicles for now. This is a good step for the industry, I personally prefer the full blown vertical integration Tesla presently commands.
AI and machine learning is fascinating to study, these next few years will certainly be exciting in the automotive space.
All people that are irresponsible driving look stupid, I agree with that. I'll tell you what though, I feel way safer knowing that if I pass out in a Tesla for whatever reason, the car will automatically slow down and come to a stop with hazards flashing versus barreling into something.
The Chinese factory just started production (built in under a year), and the Germany factory is in the early planning/building phases. The company originated here, and is rapidly expanding in the automotive industry to be our #1 domestic brand in value, safety, and technology. You can't expect a successful company not to expand beyond just the US, I'm damn proud that they originated here. With regards to safety, as I explained earlier, there are general safety benchmarks which vehicles have to pass to obtain a top safety pick/5 stars as a safety ranking. Tesla's overall ranking for each one of those categories is safer due to the skateboard design of their vehicles, this provides a lower overall chance of injury compared to other automotive brands. I'm certain that once manufacturers start shifting to the popular skateboard model for their EVs, the rankings will be better as well.
He's certainly human and made mistakes, he's been at the helm as chief executive longer than any other automotive group currently. They've already hit #3 most valuable automotive brand globally, so they're doing something right. It certainly doesn't deter me personally on owning the car or stock, everyone has their own risk thresholds though.
You better get those batteries ready, this will happen sooner than you think! I appreciate the conversation and I'm always happy to continue in dialogue about the brand and my experiences with it.
I have generally noticed more of a disdain towards Tesla compared to driving other vehicles. I'm not sure why there is such a high level of that animosity towards the brand. One time at a stoplight a guy told me to take myself and my foreign car (The Model S) back to whatever country I'm from, I laughed and politely told the guy Tesla is an American car.
It is in my opinion a natural evolution to the industry as technology catches up. Lot of times I'll offer a ride along to random people for them to experience it -- and some of the biggest complaints are certainly fit & finish. It's certainly a shock coming from an expected luxury interior like the Genesis or any other luxury brand, it's one trade I've personally been happy to make for the fun, safety, and technology for my most recent purchase.
