Tesla responds to Top Gear's test of Roadster

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green

Click the image above to watch Top Gear's review of the Tesla Roadster after the jump

Tesla Motors is crying foul on a few of the claims made by Jeremy Clarkson in his recent review of the electric Roadster. You might recall that Clarkson ran out of juice while flinging the slinky Lotus-derived Tesla around the Top Gear test track. This was the main point driven home by the TG crew as to why electric vehicles are not yet ready for prime-time. Not so fast, says Rachel Konrad, Senior Communications Manager at Tesla Motors. Clarkson's Roadster still had 20% battery capacity left when it was pushed into a nearby hanger. Why the deception? We can't imagine Clarkson ever calling an end to his tail-out fun just because the gas power gauge reads a quarter-tank.

Another salient point from the TG review centered around a brake failure. Again, according to Konrad, the problem was actually a blown fuse, and although Clarkson makes it seem in his video review as if he was without a Roadster to continue driving while repairs were being made, that was simply not the case -- the other car was all charged up and ready to go. Lastly, Clarkson harps on the Tesla's 16-hour recharge time. It does indeed take that long to recharge from a standard outlet, but that's like filling your gas tank with an eye dropper. If absolutely necessary, it'll work, but there are much better solutions available. Tesla offers chargers that can replenish its Roadster in as little as 3.5-hours.

Later in the same episode, James May tested the Honda FCX Clarity and gave it a glowing review. There are indeed issues with EVs that will need to be addressed before we're ready for the widespread replacement of our fossil fueled cars, and the same can be said of those fueled by hydrogen. At this pivotal moment in automotive history, we wonder if a more balanced view of all the available options wouldn't be more appropriate. To watch the video review in full, click past to the break.

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

Continue reading Tesla responds to Top Gear's test of Roadster

Tesla responds to Top Gear's test of Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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