Tesla will have major reliability issues on early models

[i3marc]

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/hybrid-electric/a18489/two-thirds-of-early-tesla-model-s/

60k limit? I am at 22k on my i3 and stills runs same as new, and after 6 months. So I expect to hit 60 k within 2 years.

I suspect BMW did its homework and the car will last its intended duration of 40 years or more.

Lately I have been also finding out the i3 is perfect for mountain driving in tight swirling roads, due to its fantastic grip and track like performance and the regenerative braking taking away from wear and tear on brakes going downhill.

http://practicalbev.blogspot.com/

 

[i3Alan]

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/hybrid-electric/a18489/two-thirds-of-early-tesla-model-s/

60k limit? I am at 22k on my i3 and stills runs same as new, and after 6 months. So I expect to hit 60 k within 2 years.

I suspect BMW did its homework and the car will last its intended duration of 40 years or more.

Lately I have been also finding out the i3 is perfect for mountain driving in tight swirling roads, due to its fantastic grip and track like performance and the regenerative braking taking away from wear and tear on brakes going downhill.

http://practicalbev.blogspot.com/

I would hardly consider Consumer's Reports as reliable on future reliability of any automobile, much less one with no corporate history to consider. This is simply their opinion, and not a particularly educated one at that, as Tesla is not sharing data with them that would be absolutely necessary for an educated opinion.

Also, BMW spec'd the i3 battery at 200K miles and 20 years. Certainly, some might be expected to last twice that, and the numbers that only go half that far will likely be small enough to keep warranty costs for BMW completely manageable.

 

[JTM]

"BMW spec'd the i3 battery at 200K miles and 20 years". One of the reasons I chose the i3 over the LEAF was the battery management and cooling systems along with significant charge/discharge buffers i.e 18.9 kWH available out of a 22.6kWh battery. Hence I'm interested in reference for the statement "BMW spec'd the i3 battery at 200K miles and 20 years" just as more reassurance that my decision making is further validated. Thanks
JTM

 

[i3marc]

I am closing in on 25k and so far not even as much as a hint of battery degradation... this testifies to the superiority of the design and engineering.

 

[michaelbmw]

I am closing in on 25k and so far not even as much as a hint of battery degradation... this testifies to the superiority of the design and engineering.

Sorry to pop your bubble, but Idaho National Laboratory has been testing batteries in numerous EVs, including the I3.

Their testing of the I3 is limited so far, but at about 4000 miles, three cars are showing about 3% degradation (range 2% to 4%). This is right in line with most other cars. BMW has NOT changed the laws of electrochemistry.

http://avt.inl.gov/fsev.shtml

BMW may mask the effects of battery capacity fade by unlocking progressively larger portions of the charge window and/or by providing a battery which initially exceeds the rated capacity, but the battery is fading.

INL tests the cars yearly, usually in the Spring. In a few months we will see the effects of perhaps 15,000 miles. Pretty much every car INL tests fades about 10% per year and 12K miles.