I'll bite. I own both a Bolt and a Model 3. I prefer to drive the Bolt over the Model 3 when it comes to "safety". I prefer to drive the Model 3 when it comes to long distance driving.
I think the Bolt's sensor systems are superior to the Model 3's especially to the rear and blind spot areas. My Bolt tends to warn me sooner of vehicles entering my blind spot area. Backing out of a view blocked parking space, my Bolt is conservative in detection. I love the rear view mirror camera. The sensor systems basically inform me and let me decide what to do. My Model 3's software (Autopiliot) tries to be a superior "me" but I think it fails in that it activates when it does not need to and I have experienced "phantom" braking. Blind spot vehicles appear on the console just as they are off my rear fender. All this makes me feel uneasy. I limit my use of Autopilot and hope they eventually adopt the GM approach or have it as a setting such Autopilot Lite. I think sales will take off then. The Supercharger network and fast recharge are what are needed to spur adoption. I've used the Supercharger network and love it!! I don't have to take out any cards to recharge. I open the recharge port and attach the Supercharger cable and it automatically starts to recharge. It tells me how long it's going to take and at what rate it is recharging. The stations are plentiful and cover nearing all of the USA to the point of being within 100 to 150 miles of a station in almost all areas of the country. The Bolt takes about 4 hours (based on screen from a Chevy dealer's Level 3 charger) to top off its 60 kwhr pack while the Model 3's is much faster. I understand that Tesla is building a network across North Dakota and southern Canada. This leaves just a few areas without a Supercharge station accessible within 150 mile such as SW Kansas, SE Oregon, and a few other places. In those cases, Tesla has an adapter package where you can plug into a 240 volt outlet at an RV campground and recharge at 25 miles per hour. If I plan to go cross country, I'll be doing it in a Model 3. I will worry about the longevity of Tesla when: 1) one of the established car companies comes out with their own Supercharger network and has similar recharge times. 2) their "software over the air" update system gets hacked and there is no recourse. 3) Supercharger sites, which are leased, are not renewed by the land/business owner. (Warsaw NC Supercharge site - hotel thought it would increase their business. It didn't. However, Tesla established another one not too far away.) 5) Autopilot continues to be quirky while other companies develop systems/sensor packages that work with the driver to increase his or her safety (and that of others). If the stock price of Tesla should fall, I suspect one of the auto companies will buy them out. There's a lot of good tech there and the Model 3 is a wonderful and fun car to drive. Slap on their company badge and take advantage of not having to develop their own version. Bottom line: I don't see Tesla vanishing into oblivion. Replacement parts may become from third party companies or refurbishers. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
