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Last week we heard about the world’s fastest Automobile, the Rimac Nevera. With four electric motors and over 1,900hp it was capable of 0-60 mph in less than 2 sec. and dusted the quarter mile in 8.6 seconds which was an (unofficial) production car record. The price was 2.5M Euros. The fastest Ferrari was about 1 second back of this, which at 250km/hr was a spec in the Rimac’s mirror - but in it's defence it ‘only’ cost $750,000.
This week Elon Musk introduced the Plaid version of the Model S with three motors and a host of other improvements. He is claiming a credible 1.99sec to 60mph and a top speed of 200mph. Jay Leno drove the car down the drag strip at 9.2 sec for the quarter mile - a time that easily bested the Ferrari SF90 Stradale (9.5 sec) with approximately the same power from its hybrid drivetrain (1020hp Tesla vs. 986hp Ferrari).. This from a 4 door sedan costing $C170,000...
Not that anybody is likely to do this more than a couple of times. Notwithstanding the difficulty of finding a safe place to do it, accelerating that hard isn’t a particularly pleasant sensation, and there isn’t any skill to master. The car will just accelerate as fast as you need it to with no fuss whatsoever.
Also, no matter how fast, the market for $100,000+ sedans is pretty thin. Tesla didn’t even make any Model S in the first quarter of 2021, focusing on the many times more voluminous Model 3. For the quarter ending March 31, 2021, Tesla sold 182,847 Model 3’s (up 140% from one year earlier), and only 2,030 Model S (down 83%).
What is more relevant is the technology that these two cars showcase, as it will filter down to more mainstream models. Both the Tesla and the Rimac have developed high rpm electric motors; Rimac claims 18,000rpm and Tesla over 20,000rpm while keeping near-peak levels of torque. This is an advance over the 14,000rpm rev ceiling and steep torque drop-off that necessitated multi-speed gearboxes in other high performance electrics. With a single-speed reduction gearbox they can use one gear from stoplight to a top speed of 200mph and beyond. Or, in a more practical application, a smaller electric motor can be used if it has a higher rpm range in which to operate, as long as the torque doesn’t drop off.
Also, like Rimac, Tesla added a second motor to its rear axle. With a motor dedicated to each rear wheel the need for a differential is eliminated. Also, each wheel can be accelerated and braked independently, giving the ultimate freedom for sophisticated torque vectoring. Increasing torque to one side of the axle, while decreasing it to the other side will cause the vehicle to turn. With clever software, this can make even large vehicles feel that they are cornering ‘on rails’. As each corner of the vehicle is loaded differently with weight transfer under braking and cornering loads, the respective motor/generator units can be optimized for each wheel, recouping more energy to the benefit of efficiency and range.
With the Model S Plaid, Musk eliminated the need for a multi-speed gearbox and deleted the rear differential, all the while boosting the top speed 50 km/hr and substantially lowering the acceleration times.
With smaller electric motors with higher rev ceilings, this opens the door for mainstream EV’s to have a motor/generator for each wheel. A vehicle so equipped would be able to completely eliminate understeer/oversteer, have stability control systems that act many times faster than the current electro-hydraulic brake operated systems, and even have the ability to ‘tank turn’ on low grip surfaces.
Musk made some interesting comments during the launch. He said that any driver input is basically an error, - even turning it on or selecting ‘drive’ - the car is smart enough to know that you are approaching the car (through your smartphone), and that you intend to go somewhere. No need to press any buttons. With full acoustic glass, 17 inch screen, 4 inductive chargers for phones, and the silent operation of the electric drivetrain, the autonomously piloted Model S becomes less a car, and more a transport bubble. Albeit a very fast one.
“any input is error... You don’t have to press Drive or anything like that. The car knows you want to drive. it will just keep minimizing your input until the car just reads your mind.”
- Elon Musk
This is probably a relief for some of the legacy sports car makers who cater to those who still like to drive. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche etc. are not going to be able to sell cars on performance alone, but on the driving and ownership experience.
I think there is room for both: The fast, silent, connected EV for getting from A to B, and when I want to drive - I can take out my old Land Rover to go from A to A.
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