SUV vs Tesla
One less Tesla off the road.
Would love to see the performance of Volt in such a mess.
I would think that the Volt and the Aptera would fare much better than this Tesla.

http://electricnick.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/onelesstesla.jpg

The SUV must have used the low-slung Tesla as a ramp. Looks like the SUV came out on top. ;)

I hope the driver is ok. One more reason to keep SUVs off the road if you ask me (actually a huge reason). This might as well have been any small car.

You think the Aptera would've fared better?

You think the Aptera would've fared better?

Yes. Its body frame could easily carry the rear weight of the SUV. I saw a pic with 16 people on top of Aptera body frame and it didn't deform a bit. But due to its height, I think it would rather bounce off than be run over.

Yes. Its body frame could easily carry the rear weight of the SUV. I saw a pic with 16 people on top of Aptera body frame and it didn't deform a bit. But due to its height, I think it would rather bounce off than be run over.

I'm still skeptical. Remember f=ma. 16 people might weigh 3200 pounds. But what happens when that 3200 pounds is coming at 70 mph? By the way, Kinetic Energy is proportional to Velocity squared. Hence why crumple zones were created. I hope the Aptera has a crumple zone.

I'm still skeptical. Remember f=ma. 16 people might weigh 3200 pounds. But what happens when that 3200 pounds is coming at 70 mph? By the way, Kinetic Energy is proportional to Velocity squared. Hence why crumple zones were created. I hope the Aptera has a crumple zone.

I understand that very well and I have explained to my kids how a 1-lb trout can break a 10-lb line by sprinting and the line slacked and drag not loosened.

But we are talking about the weight climbing over, and not the force of an impact collision. Moving or not, the downward force is the same. The SUV climbed over the Tesla and have used it like a ramp, but you can see that the passenger compartment is not squeezed by much, and Aptera would fare better than that. But I agree that if a 3,200 lb mass FALLS on you at 70 mph.... Ground meat anyone?

Yes, Aptera has excellent energy absorbing crumple zones too, a lot better than the Volt, based on some discussions at the Aptera forum.

And do take note, the dreaded battery chemicals oozing over and flaring up or Hollywood style explosions did not happen. And to think that Tesla used the exploding type of laptop batteries!

In other words, the lithium EV's are generally safer than the doomsayers have depicted, even with the poor type of battery chemistry chosen for Tesla.

The GM-Volts battery should even be better.

by the time the battery box is breached, it is likely the humans are paste already... in either the Volt, Tesla or Catfish II

SUV vs Tesla
One less Tesla off the road.
Would love to see the performance of Volt in such a mess.
I would think that the Volt and the Aptera would fare much better than this Tesla.

Actually, the Tesla looks like it held up pretty well. The cabin doesn't look very crushed at all. I wouldn't be surprised if the driver walked away. Don't put too much stock in carbon fiber saving the day. I know, I know, xx times stronger than steel and all that blah, blah, but it's like fiber glass which is also "stronger than steel". On impact, it fractures and comes part. It's a great material, but it's not a miracle.

Yes, Aptera has excellent energy absorbing crumple zones too, a lot better than the Volt, based on some discussions at the Aptera forum.

Good grief.:rolleyes: Where else would you find such wild speculation?

But we are talking about the weight climbing over, and not the force of an impact collision.

The SUV climbed over the Tesla and have used it like a ramp, but you can see that the passenger compartment is not squeezed by much, and Aptera would fare better than that.

I thought you said the SUV wouldn't go over the top of the Aptera due to its height? :) Oh by the way, after googling, the weight of the Porsche Cayenne (which I believe is the SUV in question).

5724 pounds! That's the weight of about 32 people.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/03q3/porsche_cayenne_turbo-road_test

Any chance that ooze is oil from the SUV's oil pan getting cracked? I've seen it happen to cars that run over far less than an exotic sports car.

Something is strange about that picture though. The driver's window didn't even crack? The back looks like a wrecking ball hit it but the SUV is unscathed on top of it apparently having come at it from the front of the driver's side? It just doesn't seem like the weight of the SUV could push out the Tesla's entrails like that, maybe it could though.

Don't put too much stock in carbon fiber saving the day. I know, I know, xx times stronger than steel and all that blah, blah, but it's like fiber glass which is also "stronger than steel". On impact, it fractures and comes part. It's a great material, but it's not a miracle.

Exhibit A: Tesla Roadster - Carbon Fiber, demolished by a mere mortal SUV

Exhibit B: Aptera - also Carbon Fiber

After arguing with Rhomodel, I remembered the Tesla and Aptera are made out of the same stuff.

http://www.teslamotors.com/blog4/?p=50

here's a bigger picture with a theory from the Tesla Board:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16822508@N05/3995784846/sizes/l/

Note the following:
1. Curved skidmarks to the left of the Tesla
2. The line of debris along the right side of the SUV
3. The (relatively) minor damage to the front left fender
4. The major damage concentrated around the left-rear
5. The SUV at right-angles to the road
6. The oil spill under the SUV

It looks like a third car (already towed) hit the Tesla in the right-rear, pushed it under the SUV front-left first, levered the SUV up and over (bursting the oil pan in the process) and rotated the SUV 90 degrees. The Tesla held up pretty well for this scenario.

Good grief.:rolleyes: Where else would you find such wild speculation?

It's not speculation, it is called simulation! Yes they even have cool programs to show that, and the Volt none! I'm getting both Aptera and Volt.

I thought you said the SUV wouldn't go over the top of the Aptera due to its height? :) Oh by the way, after googling, the weight of the Porsche Cayenne (which I believe is the SUV in question).

5724 pounds! That's the weight of about 32 people.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/03q3/porsche_cayenne_turbo-road_test

Any chance that ooze is oil from the SUV's oil pan getting cracked? I've seen it happen to cars that run over far less than an exotic sports car.

Something is strange about that picture though. The driver's window didn't even crack? The back looks like a wrecking ball hit it but the SUV is unscathed on top of it apparently having come at it from the front of the driver's side? It just doesn't seem like the weight of the SUV could push out the Tesla's entrails like that, maybe it could though.

well, picture an Aptera rear-ending a vehicle and partially climbed over it. The tail fin is now near the ground, and the SUV will use it perfectly as a ramp.

And I thought you know simple Physics! Shame on you! You see, if the total weight of the SUV is about 5724 lbs, with the engine in the forward section, guess what would be the weight of the vehicle at the rear wheels?

Exhibit A: Tesla Roadster - Carbon Fiber, demolished by a mere mortal SUV

Exhibit B: Aptera - also Carbon Fiber

After arguing with Rhomodel, I remembered the Tesla and Aptera are made out of the same stuff.

http://www.teslamotors.com/blog4/?p=50

Also the same type of crumpling materials in strategic places of the vehicles.

But I never argued with you... It was not an argument for me at least.

The only really important thing is the integrity of the passenger compartment though. From that shot it looks like it did well. Any vehicle that has the ground clearance of an SUV is going to jump over a low slung sports car. Heck they'll often ramp over many passenger car designs; which is one of the main reasons most SUV's are actually less safe on the interstate than most modern passenger cars. The chance for the rollover and the following calamity is much more likely in the SUV.

well, picture an Aptera rear-ending a vehicle and partially climbed over it. The tail fin is now near the ground, and the SUV will use it perfectly as a ramp.

And I thought you know simple Physics! Shame on you! You see, if the total weight of the SUV is about 5724 lbs, with the engine in the forward section, guess what would be the weight of the vehicle at the rear wheels?

I thought I did too until my Physics midterm last night :-). Lol, yes I thought of that too. I used to work at a steel shipping office and weighing the trailers was part of the job so I know a little about weight placement. But apparently at least for a moment, the entire SUV was on top of the Tesla!

You're right, I shouldn't say argument, more like a discussion.

here's a bigger picture with a theory from the Tesla Board:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16822508@N05/3995784846/sizes/l/

Note the following:
1. Curved skidmarks to the left of the Tesla
2. The line of debris along the right side of the SUV
3. The (relatively) minor damage to the front left fender
4. The major damage concentrated around the left-rear
5. The SUV at right-angles to the road
6. The oil spill under the SUV

It looks like a third car (already towed) hit the Tesla in the right-rear, pushed it under the SUV front-left first, levered the SUV up and over (bursting the oil pan in the process) and rotated the SUV 90 degrees. The Tesla held up pretty well for this scenario.

That's more like what I figured.

Here's a firsthand report from an owner:


Today I was clipped by a Mercedes Benz 4 door in the hills. The driver was hogging the road. I steered the Roadster into a bank and missed most of her car. The MB clipped my front fender. Amazing it only put a scratch and no real damage. Incredible how the Carbon Fiber performed. The MB had quite a dent on the rear fender. The Tesla Roadster performed amazingly not turning over but maintaining its stability and came though with just a scratch.

D*mn, I was close!


here's a bigger picture with a theory from the Tesla Board:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16822508@N05/3995784846/sizes/l/

Note the following:
1. Curved skidmarks to the left of the Tesla
2. The line of debris along the right side of the SUV
3. The (relatively) minor damage to the front left fender
4. The major damage concentrated around the left-rear
5. The SUV at right-angles to the road
6. The oil spill under the SUV

It looks like a third car (already towed) hit the Tesla in the right-rear, pushed it under the SUV front-left first, levered the SUV up and over (bursting the oil pan in the process) and rotated the SUV 90 degrees. The Tesla held up pretty well for this scenario.

Here's a picture before the third car was towed. The Tesla was standing still when a Prius rear-ended it and pushed it under the SUV.

http://images.thecarconnection.com/lrg/totaled-tesla-roadster_100231542_l.jpg

Here's a link to the story with some comments from the "driver" (not the owner) of the Tesla. It had only 400 miles on it. Pretty bad luck.

http://www.allcarselectric.com/blog/1037103_tesla-roadster-toyota-prius-vw-touareg-crash-in-denmark

Yeah, I hate it when I have to pay $275/mile :-)