A Look Inside The Tesla Model 3, Chevy Bolt, and BMW i3

Are you curious how EVs work? We sure as hell are, so we found a Tesla Model 3 and two other EVs all taken totally apart, so we could take a really, really deep dive into how these cars work, from batteries to bodies to motors. Empty your brain out, because we're gonna cram a lot in.
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[@cadop]

3:20 Batteries 7:20 Motors 11:37 Inverters 14:20 Body Parts

[@dboucher26]

I drove a model 3 and I must say, I’m extremely impressed.

[@suzaquad]

Just got 2015 BMW i3 REX two weeks ago. ($17K, 15K miles). Most affordable EV right now. Still with 1 year factory warranty plus 1 extra year as CPO. Daily driver to work, 20 miles one way - before - 2.7V6 - 1 galon one way, now 3.6 kwh one way.

[@stevencastellanos8063]

Came away more impressed with Tesla than I even thought I'd be. Jolopnik articles are usually critical of Tesla so this video was surprisingly good.

[@ryccoh]

Critical lol?? Quite the understatement

[@DuckRiceFarmer]

@@ryccoh No shit, their articles read like they were written by a highschool girl who got dumped by Elon

[@jperksification]

@@DuckRiceFarmer But the Tesla fan boy stuff on a few outlets is annoying. Like that this one focused on the design rather than boy crushing on Elon.

[@pascalladal8125]

@@jperksification Marry me Elon!

[@adamhammond6250]

You might want to have a good think and do some digging about exactly why that is. Munro Associates did a teardown on the Model 3 two years ago that exposed serious safety issues and abysmal build quality. An 'anonymous' company then initiated legal action against Munro. Now there's a video out there showing all Munro's people kissing Tesla's arse. Coincidence? I think not.

[@jakespeed63]

As a 55-year-old veteran automobile technician, I feel like I’m coming in a little late in the game. The younger generation better wake up and smell the coffee with all this technology. Thank you for sharing very informative.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

The tech isn't that complicated, and yes, I'm also old and an experienced wrench. Note: the Bolt is rather simple actually, but the BMW & Tesla are overly complex in design. Fortunately I don't have to support a car newer than 1991, as I no longer bleed for a living.

[@EngineeringExplained]

Jasons can't seem to get away from hair comments. Wonderful video, excellent presentation!

[@CarlosGomez-zl3bv]

Hah, still I'd rather have grays like yours instead of his weird baldness...

[@johnmea5140]

Looking at how the different components are integrated instead of connected in the Tesla, really shows how they have managed to work together instead of as individual departments.

[@Jozavenue]

Yes and the rivits and welds are for crampy zone

[@EnlightenedSavage]

More of this. I get tired of the generic well this design is better than that. I want to know why. Down to the component level.

[@rogerstarkey5390]

Yes

[@thumbtech]

WeberAuto channel for some amazing Bolt teardown detail. The traction motor deep dive is fantastic.

[@Martian74]

Just do an engineering degree.

[@living-wellon-less5669]

All the designs have very strong points but the only one that truly stands out as superior is the battery pack for the Tesla.

[@zimbonz]

@Daniel Roig not so much the physical design, but rather the chemical composition of the batteries (NCA, or specifically Cobalt Cathodes) that are the most dense in terms of power but slightly less stable.

[@Ryanstuff]

This video validates Tesla more than any I've ever seen.

[@toyotaprius79]

Tesla does the drive train well because they have relied and poured investment into motors and battery management since 2005, 2010 since Freemont. I remember when these Munro guys sang their praises for the BMW i3, the only thing they didn't like was the 660cc motorcycle REx, but they were at a loss for words for the 0-emission constructed CFRP body married to an aluminium frame, ol' school.

[@truantray]

Too bad the company is run by a con artist.

[@andrewbezzina87]

@@truantray who the hell feeds you these lies? Let me guess Alex Jones or some other right wing maniac.

[@metrieshaw7664]

okleydokley explain

[@nc3826]

to much fanboy spin....for example they kepr trying to rationalize non-existent flaws with the i3 and Bolt's body, to make the Model 3's well known poorly designed body, to not seem as bad...and yes the Model 3 is superior in other areas just be objective and balanced...

[@free_spirit1]

That i3 is really ingeniously put together. I've had the pleasure of spending an afternoon inspecting a gutted one, and from a design for manufacturing perspective the thing is a beauty! The entire frame is bolted to the skateboard by only 4 bolts. The skateboard is bare aluminium, consists of profiles WELDED to aluminium casts which in turn have several holes and mounting points for the suspensions and axles, there are resin tabs in the carbon fiber to hold the wore harnesses (you get these for free in the molding process!), All kinds of innovative things. The whole thing is like a big experiment of innovation in manufacturing, and I love it!

[@billh2294]

And then BMW promptly sold the carbon fiber capability. I think they had enough.

[@free_spirit1]

@@billh2294 This is possibly a good thing. At least steel and aluminium can be endlessly recycled and there is already a big material recovery system in place.

[@cros13]

@@billh2294 Worse than that. A lot of the engineers and designers on the i3 project left BMW. The managers had no follow-up EV project for the team on the cards and many of them wanted to continue working in the EV space.

[@billh2294]

@@cros13 Any idea where they went?

[@cros13]

@@billh2294 A lot went to China, a disproportionate number ended up at Byton and BMW's partner there Brilliance. Some went to the american EV startups like Tesla, Rivian and Faraday.

[@tjam4229]

In the beginning when you were talking about basic design, and where the engine is placed etc, an important factor is not even mentioned: “Safety“ ...The huge areas upfron,t without any motor or battery, allows a massive crumple-zone, which drastically improves safety. Congrats Tesla!! PS: I have a premier level bolt with 360° camera, LCD rearview mirror which I love, it would be without from this point forward. I don’t know why tesla doesn’t have such techy things. It’s so useful. My parking is perfect, and you can come within an inch of the curb or wall, or garage door, without hitting it... every single time without question. My car can be completely filled with boxes, and my windows completely blacked-out, yet my rearview mirror camera allows me to see much better than an average standard mirror. Let’s go Tesla...get on it.

[@ryccoh]

Tesla's intention is that you won't be parking or driving anymore lol

[@FlipBoxStudio]

Tesla is already planning 10 years ahead, skipped the 360 parking assist camera view, and went strait for a car that parks itself whether you’re paying attention to your surroundings or not, and even when you’re not in the car. It’s like skipping Blockbuster video on your way home to watch Netflix instead.

[@AscendedSaiyan3]

I think you forgot that Tesla has a large screen for all things rear viewing. It is MUCH larger than a little rear view mirror. By the way, that one part cost GM $120. Tesla saved a lot of money and put all that functionality in one place.

[@morosis82]

Yeah, not sure how a dinky lcd on a mirror is better than a 15" monitor?!

[@CarlosGomez-zl3bv]

My advice to you is SELL the Bolt ASAP and buy a Model 3.

[@Patchuchan]

The battery pack designs are also driven by the choice of battery chemistry The Bolt uses NMC chemistry while the Tesla uses NCA cells. NCA cells have better power density than NMC but are more thermally sensitive so needed better cooling which is why Tesla went with the cell size and cooling arrangement in their pack design. The Tesla's Panasonic NCA cells are actually the older design with them first being used commercially in 1999 and used in an EV the tzero in 2004 while the LG NMC batteries in the Bolt didn't come out until 2008. But since the Panasonic cells were already used in laptops the process of manufacturing was already well developed and streamlined.

[@matthewwiemken7293]

keep in mind battery chemistry is evolving all the time and so are the processes to make them. i'm excited for solid state battery tech

[@mjb2048]

@@matthewwiemken7293 Chemistry is evolving yes BUT Tesla is NOT. Its still a rolling incendiary device.

[@robertpryor7225]

Nice!

[@lankale2009]

I watched in amazement that jalopnik was the first to LITERALLY show and tell me difference between why Tesla will win and the OEMs will lose. You can't modernize on top of a legacy platform. You must start from scratch. OEMs are mainframes, you can change the front end all you want. It's still a mainframe backend.

[@rogerstarkey5390]

Autoline today. "Chinese Tesla" stripdown by Munro

[@lankale2009]

@Coraga 1 True. But not as simply done for the masses like jalopnik just did. I forwarded this video to friends because of its simplicity. But you are correct

[@sziehr]

lankale2009 what killed me is they are the people constantly writing half truth articles for clicks about how Tesla are not great. Then when they finally you know look at in great depth with real professionals not paid by some random investor they come away with shock and amazement. Funny how that works. I have two. They are far from perfect. The service is awful. The car however is something else. The thing flys handles likes a bmw and cost me next to nothing to run. If this is the future well I am already all in. I just wished they would have done this kinda deep dive long ago and couched all the bad things with this as the back drop. Tesla engine designers work hard so do the battery and frame teams. The service side is all a cash flow issue. If they had a spare 2 billion they could buy them selves out of that hole. Traditional automakers will have to spend 10x that to get out of the r and d hole they are in.

[@AscendedSaiyan3]

@@sziehr The only thing I would like to mention is that Tesla has about $3 billion to spare (cash).

[@daweiniable]

Good thing there are so many experts on youtube and the comment section. what would we do without it..

[@Rider19Ih]

That battery guy, Mark Ellis needs to have his own KZbin channel. He knows his stuff.

[@DPortain]

Rider19Ih Yeah he seems really outgoing and relaxed on camera. Perfect type in front of a camera.

[@d0peusername]

The pillar being "3 times as wide as it needs to be" is probably one of the reasons the side impact intrusion rates are lower than any other brand on the market

[@cliffordbradford8910]

That flange has nothing to do with strength

[@zoravar.k7904]

A thin sheet metal flange isn't going to protect from side impacts.

[@suckmybat]

It's probably some obscure reason like tuning the resonant frequency of the chassis to damp vibration, I have no doubt it's exactly as wide as it needs to be.

[@kingrpriddick]

@@suckmybat It's probably something like a robot needed the flange to be that wide, then the robot didn't work right and they were all done by hand. Then it didn't make sense to change the flange width after they were already built.

[@zoravar.k7904]

@@suckmybat its probably much simpler. Tesla has struggled with the tolerances on their chassis from the start (see panel gaps). Larger pieces are easier for a robot with little mechanical sensitivity to hold in place. Not to mention metal likes to warp in one direction when you weld (the direction of your first bead), so having a strong grip is important.

[@jamesshanks2614]

One item to remember is Tesla reduced the spot welds on the model 3 by 500 spot welds without compromising body integrity. That happened roughly one year after production began as a means to speed up production.

[@maeyae]

Fun fact: I am actually (one of the) production workers for the Rotor and Stator of the BMW in Germany, made by the "Gebr. Waasner"-company. Cool to see the comparison! Great Stuff!

[@driverjamescopeland]

The reason for all the welds in the Model 3 substructure, is rigidity. It forces energy transfer where they want it to go in a collision... hence their near impeccable crash safety rating. A lot of people think this is easy, because it's electric and all the mass is low... but it's not. Don't forget, the Model 3 is an immensely heavy car. Picture a soda can with concrete in the bottom. All that battery weight carries tons of energy and momentum in a crash. Without those extra welds to force energy transfer around the passenger compartment, the energy would simply cave in the structure, and crush the passengers. By transferring the energy to other parts of the chassis, the whole car can share/distribute the energy, instead of just the impact area.

[@whitslack]

Surprised there was no mention that the motors in the Tesla Model 3 are permanent-magnet switched reluctance motors, which are fundamentally very different from the induction motors used in the Chevy and the BMW.

[@NRG1985]

If you are referring to the motor shown in this video, they are not switched reluctance...even if I read this in many websites. Eventually can be somehow classified as synchronous reluctance.

[@AudioCrossingVideos]

This video was SO AWESOME!! As a car guy, learning how modern electric cars work is like I'm a kid again and I'm learning about cars for the first time -- so exciting! Thank you Jalopnik! You've gone from merely-okay content to really awesome content in a short period of time.

[@dotJata]

Jason it's time to let the hair go. 🤣

[@Doctors_TARDIS]

Yep. Time to go with the shaved look. It worked for Picard and Sisko.

[@AM-zn9di]

Stop telling people how they should look

[@bluenation3838yoohoo]

​@@AM-zn9di "Stop telling people how they should look " aww looks like someone's triggered

[@2nd3rd1st]

@@bluenation3838yoohoo aww looks like someone is triggered by someone who's triggered by someone who's triggered by some guy's hair

[@Sgt_Glory]

Very few things trigger me. Not The sound of nails on chalkboard, not an incessantly screaming child on a long plane ride, not even the sight of my own blood. But that hair... * eye twitch * - Also, this was a really well produced and amazingly informative video that I greatly enjoyed. But that hhh... ghuh.. must control myself.

[@living-wellon-less5669]

Once the bolt is out of warranty it will be easier for the home mechanic to adapt his skills to working on the Bolt as opposed to the Tesla or BMW not to mention access to all the essential parts looks much easier on the Bolt.

[@Xyquest]

Get insulated gloves and good life insurance first.

[@living-wellon-less5669]

@@Xyquest I was an aviation electrician in the Marine Corps and retired from GM, I got it covered like a fat lady on a toilet seat!

[@living-wellon-less5669]

@@Xyquest In fact the Bolt is assembled at the plant I spent most of my GM career.

[@seanpatrickpearson]

I worked in the clean room building the inverter for the Tesla Model 3 shown, the one with pink pad on the top, funny to see something you made on here.

[@Oldbmwr100rs]

I work on the main drive unit floor, it's funny seeing the motor and inverter which i'm well familiar with.

[@TheLiddokun]

@@Oldbmwr100rs which bearings go bad in the large drive unit "milling sound"? Is it the carbon brushes that ground the rotor that go bad? I need to fix my car. email [e-mail], please? :)

[@richardalexander5758]

Very cool indeed. Good work!

[@JasonWW2000]

Edison Motors They don't use brushes. These are AC motors. For those who don't know.

[@rvhorizons2528]

I learned a lot by watching this thanks guys.

[@planpitz4190]

I can sense serious Tesla bias here! The BMW is the only one with a feather light carbon body to compensate for the heavy battery. more over the packaging is so well done it also includes a combustion engine as a range extender . Imagine the battery going dead in the middle of nowhere ,there is no limit to the range as long you fill up with petrol.Also the Tesla is not a compact size car it is much longer so it is not a mystery that it has additional storage space.

[@perforongo9078]

They didn't really mention the strangeness of the Tesla model 3 motor though. Each magnet inside the rotor is actually 4 magnets glued together facing opposite directions in polarity. It makes use of some obscure electro-magnetic effect that Sandy Munro himself elaborated upon in an interview. Tesla's electric drive train is about 97% efficient versus the 93% efficiency of a typical electric drive train. It's more efficient in a wider variety of conditions, it's more compact, and it's cheaper to make than competitors despite having more power.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Actually the Bolt has the cheaper motor design to build and the most reliable & durable design as well...

[@NRG1985]

I am very curious, I was trying to figure out where the Hallbach pattern conclusion comes from: is based on hypothesis or measurements? Is there any actual picture or plot of this field produced by these magnets?

[@rocketkinger2506]

I work on the team that directly works on those SPRs and Spot weld locations that are “unconventional” Yes the model 3 was over designed in the beginning. But if you understood what you were looking at maybe you wouldn’t be grasping at straws

[@MBergyman]

That is my take on the whole video. They should've left the "why" questions to people who actually worked on the designs or have technical expertise in the fields of study being brought up.

[@SilverSlayer23]

More than anything, this shows why Tesla is a leader and should continue to set the standards for EVs while legacy automakers should sit down and take notes. This video clearly shows who is the true expert and the product itself shows why they are so far ahead of the competition, why there is so much excitement around Tesla vs the others, and why Tesla's can't compare to any other vehicles.

[@Crusherix]

Tesla is dead serious about EVs and it shows.

[@vidznstuff1]

When it's all you have, uh, yeah....

[@captlarry-3525]

That is why there are so many dead burned out teslas !

@@captlarry-3525 the first 3 words Crusherix typed, were correct. 🤣

[@RawbLV]

@ Tesla outselling any other EV and scares other car manufacturers that even they jump on the bandwagon. Yeah, Tesla is dead.

[@vidznstuff1]

@@captlarry-3525 Show all the great numbers of fires to me. I'm using the first good data I found -- I have a general rule of not spending a lot of time on idiots. In the years 2006-2010, there were approximately 5 THOUSAND car fires. Internal Combustion (pun intended) cars. Until January 2016 Tesla had SIX car fires. SIX. Conclusion? Meh. BTW, if you do spot a burnt Tesla, PM me. I needs some car parts from a car or two for a project.

[@ryccoh]

As far as the Model 3 is concerned I think one point is often missed when it comes to the manufacturing "weirdness". Tesla really thinks about how things should bend and twist during an accident instead of just designing for the crashtest itself. They published some of their simulations you guys can probably find them on Tesla's site still. Like for example there was one that showed how everything was bending so that the front motor would sort of bend and slide underneath the cabin. I'm sure it doesn't explain all of the manufacturing quirks but I'd think it explains some stuff where traditional auto guys look at it and are like why would you do it this way.

[@pjd4268]

Re: motors sliding under the car in a crash, Both Mercedes and Volvo designed this into their cars in the 70's. Please note ESV vehicles. www.caranddriver.com/features/a15123951/five-experimental-safety-car-concepts-feature/

[@ryccoh]

@p jd Sure but designing for an electrical motor is of course different as designing that for an ICE so some things may just look weird to someone who's only ever looked at ICE vehicles. It's not like noone else has thought to do some of these things before but ultimately the Model 3 is the safest car ever tested according to the NHSTA. To have accomplished this they are bound to do things differently from industry.

[@vidznstuff1]

Meh - they tweaked until their computers told them they were good. It's pretty easy to total a crashed Tesla because of design and construction and few body shops skilled enough to do the repairs....which means high insurance rates

[@ryccoh]

@@vidznstuff1 The crash data is from physical NHSTA crash testing and the Model 3 is the safest car ever tested according to actual wired up dummies placed in these cars not computer models.

[@vidznstuff1]

@@ryccoh You fail to make any further point here other than flag waving. A car that has stellar crash performance that is not repairable is not as stellar as you fanboys wish it was. The metal used in a Tesla CRACKS when bent, making that spotwelded integral structural piece a writeoff. Now fix it when 95% of repair shops don't have the skills or equipment to repair them. Teslas are written off for minor collisions that would render other cars repairable. A "safe" car for the people that trades a luxury car payment for a lower buy plus insurance premiums is FAIL. Cars are designed an optimized by COMPUTERS now, including crash performance which is a fairly recent tool suite...dummies are only used for validation. If a newly designed platform fails crash testing, it's because bean counters stuck their noses into it. When you charge premium prices, have a poorly staffed customer service organization, and charge outrageous amounts for parts ($500 for a KEY), like Tesla does, the beancounters stay out of it.

[@KarlOsuchowski]

When you resurface from a day of diving and nobody tells you there’s still seaweed on your head.

[@qpham63]

That really bothered me the whole video...Damn man your people need to tell you you look ridiculous. Preadolescence girls wants their bangs back.

[@darrellcharles9705]

Karol Osuchowski What’s your point?

[@brianfarley4372]

I love their laymen's approach to this and how they bring in experts to explain things. Nicely done video, approachable and understandable. I also appreciate the respect they give to each manufacturer, but still stating things objectively.

[@woooweee]

The windings for the Tesla motor are also different, more efficient, some other tear down explained.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

And the Bolts motor is more durable, due to it's winding design...

[@100PercentATP]

First thing I noticed was the curly fries dangling down his head. But i appreciate the video!

[@super-sim1665]

Brilliant video. Surprised some people dislike tesla with such a clever design that is not only better than other evs but packaged better than any fossil car.

[@JoseMendoza-gq1bx]

I actually understood every bit of this tech talk, all very fascinating. I knew Tesla wasn't playing around and this is why they have become so successful.

[@maxtorque2277]

It's worth noting that the i3, being significantly older than the other two cars took a very different design direction due to the requirement to be ultra-efficient, something that was forced upon it by the, at the time, enormous cost of batteries! For example, the narrow yet tall tyres, the lightweight CF structure, the external water cooled motor, the high performance battery conditioning systems etc. All these make the i3 far more efficient than the other two, much more conventional cars, but that was a necessity because they could only afford to initially release it with a 'tiny' 18kWh (useable) battery. Todays TM3, which has a battery over 3 times the size can 'afford' to be more conventional and less efficient and still furnish the driver with a decent range.

[@UTUBESUCK666]

So what you're saying is BMW procrastinated for over half a decade and is now paying the price for it. Got it.

[@cros13]

As an i3 owner (with 200,000km on the odometer) I agree to an extent. However the i3 is not more efficient than the Model 3 due to slightly higher motor efficiency and a lower frontal area because of the difference in body design.

[@nilsjohansson9739]

From what little I know about engineering, the superior design doesn't always win out in the market. There are so many examples, like Beta vs VHS. As a very low EV IQ person, I'm interested in basic and affordable transportation. The Chevy seems to be that which I would buy. Besides, where would you service a Tesla?

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Get the Bolt and install a 220 VAC outlet for your charger and you will have a car that costs less than an ICE to own. Get the BMW or Tesla and your will spend a fortune on parts and service. Also the Bolt has a great electric brake, because it is FWD, if you learn to use it, the brakes will need little service...

[@eternitynaut]

The complaint about the Tesla Model 3 being too sturdy is from the perspective of manufacturing to maximize cost savings. Meaning they think the buyer doesn't deserve to be as safe because it would cost car makers money. Where they have a point is in the use of different welding types and fasteners which could be simplified and just as safe.

[@rogerstarkey5390]

"Hands up who wants a sturdy car?" (That'll be *everyone* )

[@Agent-000-0]

They missed the point on that, like with every other topic. The chassis is too complicated to produce. Using more material is not a problem. Having 3 different methods to weld and bolt the parts together is stupid. You need to have 3 different robots work on the same part of the chassis, which makes the production line expensive and slow. Same with the electronics, there is no compromise to save production cost and time. The only compromises are building quality (paint job, gaps, substandard interior), work-life balance for the worker and battery design. Other automakers ruled several designs out over the decades and something like the Tesla packaging was ruled out as unsafe and complicated to control. Tesla solved the latter. There is a reason for so many Teslas going up in flames and it comes to their "great" battery packaging. Sadly, that is giving EVs a bad reputation. To get EVs to the masses, they need to be safe and simple. They need to get to a price point that fits average and subaverage consumer pockets. Traditional automakers are on it, VW is going to produce a Golf seized EV that is just slightly more expensive than a midrange combustion engine model.

[@Tore_Lund]

@@rogerstarkey5390 "Sturdy" is not an engineering term. A car body only has keep structural integrity at collision speeds up to 45 mph. At higher speed than that, death and injury is ensured even if padded in full body bubble wrap. Weight however is to be avoided as much as possible = lower energy use, shorter braking, and lower manufacturing costs.

[@Muskar2]

​@@Agent-000-0 "there is a reason for so many Teslas going up in flames" ... "sadly, that is giving EVs a bad reputation". I'm not sure what "bad reputation" you speak of. I can only think of all the headlines that come when a Tesla fire occurs. Sometimes with falsified allegations, likely to be softball throws from shortsellers. First of all, there's not "so many Teslas going up in flames". What is your source for that? And what is the source you have that says that Tesla's packaging specifically is unsafe? The numbers I've seen (from 2007-2014) showed a ratio of 1 fire per 25 billion miles, with ICE fires being 90 fires per billion miles. Tesla uses a _battery chemistry_ that is _more_ prone to going up in flames than some of its competitors (NiMH) but it's still safer than ICEVs (and has lots of other benefits). The publicity around their fires is not Tesla's fault. EV fires can be a lot harder to extinguish (especially without training), and some battery chemistry failures can be dangerous _if_ the cooling and packaging isn't done right. EV development is still in its infancy, so perhaps safety might improve further (possibly together with battery chemistry). I really hope VW will be able to produce their I.D. series in the way their marketing claimed. I liked the VW e-Up and e-Golf in many ways. But I exercise caution because traditional manufacturers don't have a history of living up to their claims, where as Tesla has historically done so (albeit rarely on time). VW's plan seems good on the surface, and they have the potential to take advantage of their knowledge of building bodies that Tesla doesn't. What we have yet to see is if they can make cheap EVs at a profit. And whether they can compete with Tesla's software and infrastructure advantages. But most of all, I just hope that they actually manage to produce them in serious enough numbers for them to be sustainable.

[@eternitynaut]

@@Agent-000-0 Claims of Tesla being fire prone and the packaging is to blame is pure FUD. There is no statistical data showing they are above or even at the average of car fires in the industry. The media just gets to fan the flames easier because they clickbait articles about accidents. In fact, most manufacturers are copying Tesla's battery pack, the difference is that they keep using pouch cells or prismatic cells so they can reduce costs because less of them will be needed to be welded and connected compared to smaller cells like Tesla uses. However, larger cells are notoriously more difficult to control in terms of temperature because there is less surface area for a given amount of active material to interface the cooling or heating on the outside. It also requires compromises in chemistry being required to use less energy dense cells to counter their less effective cooling and heating of the cells in order to gain more passive stability. Regardless they pay the penalty in weight and efficiency. It's why cars like eTron or I Pace get worse range for the same capacity battery pack.

[@desiv1170]

To be fair, it's not a question of just a clean sheet design. The Bolt is also a clean sheet design. It was designed from the ground up as an EV. The difference is that as they were designing it as an EV, they were making it fit into their current production processes with their current production lines. So yes, they did base some things on how they make gas cars, but the Bolt isn't a gas car with a motor and batteries, as the Spark EV is. It's a subtle difference. Why, if Tesla just started totally clean didn't GM do the same thing? Because GM has an infrastructure that makes ICE cars that they will have to transition. Tesla doesn't. GM has to transform their manufacturing. I think the Bolt is a great way for them to do that. Legacy auto companies are at a real disadvantage to Tesla moving forward. It will be interesting to see if/how they transition. As a side note, if you haven't, you should get in a Bolt. It feels much larger from the inside. I've gotten the Tardis comment from multiple riders. Tesla is a great company with great cars. i3 was a great experiment. The Bolt is a great car and transition point for GM. I wish them all, and others, the best.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Tesla seems to be trying to re-invent service, so it takes forever and costs a fortune...

[@mokwils]

Amazing Tesla Team...Impressive technology from CA!

[@simonlynchsae]

That shelf is called a subframe and every mass produced car out there has one. It hold the engine and the transmission and some direction parts. It's not an "inelegant" design, it's a way to mass produce, reduce cost, and it stems probably from existing tooling and robots in assembly lines that are being repurposed.

[@MsSomeonenew]

That is not a subframe, that is a shelf that bolts onto the actual subframe because they don't have enough structure otherwise.

[@rogerstarkey5390]

It's an adaptor

[@cashbonanza963]

can you make a similar video on model x, e-tron and i-pace?

[@Batvolle]

Why i pace? Completetly different class.

[@cashbonanza963]

@@Batvolle it's not a proper SUV but close XD

[@cpufreak101]

Doubt it. It takes a lot to reverse engineer an entire car. It's not to say it won't happen though

[@d0peusername]

@@cpufreak101 you make no sense, all 3 of the cars in this video were reverse engineered by the company. They will probably more than likely also teardown those cars too

[@cpufreak101]

@@d0peusername the question is though of they'll allow jalopnik back in to see them though

[@usaverageguy]

This was the most informative videos I have viewed in many months.

[@scottgriggs2596]

I didn’t hear any comments about serviceability. Integrating the electronics and inverter with the motor (as is done on the Tesla) is great for package efficiency and saves some weight, but what happens when the electronics fail and have to be replaced? The Chevy has a separate module that can be removed and replaced. How easy and costly is it to do that on the Tesla? How easy is it to repair collision damage? These are all considerations the established automakers have weighed for years. Has Tesla?

[@ecospider5]

I am surprised they didn’t mention the major difference in how Tesla uses the magnets in the motor. This is a big reason for the higher power output.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Uh, the output of all three motors is probably downgraded from what they could produce...

[@thestamper]

Wrong the magnets in the motors matter as well. Tesla overlaps poles in every cell to strengthen the overall field allowing for compact power density

[@absentbrainded]

Great assembly of guest speakers and expertise. Very helpful information for an aspiring EV DIYer. Thanks guys.

[@bbbf09]

The model 3 has a good sized frunk compared with i3 because ITS A MUCH BIGGER CAR!!!! Its not fundamentally diffierent layout - you just demonstrated that yourself . If the model 3 was same size as i3 it would have a very small frunk as well.

[@jmpage2]

We know that multiple employees out of the handful that work for Munro have purchased Tesla Model 3. One has to wonder if ANY have purchased an i3 or a Bolt.

[@paulolange3462]

One is a ground up electric vehicle, other is kind of a experimental thing and the other is some sort of an adaptation to fit the factory plant. All those "weird" designs on the Bolt are to integrate that different drivetrain to the flow of the GM factory, with this design they can, at the same time and in the same plant, produce every single car, electric or gas powered.

[@rogerstarkey5390]

It was an existing bodyshell. Designed to save money. That worked well..... Not.

[@Muskar2]

The GM way is a quickfix way, making EV production possible with a minimal development cost. But the time where that is good enough is fading fast. The only way to be profitable with EVs is to design manufacturing lines from the ground up. The question is whether traditional auto makers (and their investors) are interested in doing that - and whether they dare. Because even though the auto industry is brutally competitive, they're still surviving with doing business as usual - and many of their main assets would become liabilities if they risked it all.

[@truantray]

Well, it's GM. They have never had interest in building well designed cars. GM cars have always been designed by accountants.

[@truantray]

However, unlike Tesla, GM needs to make money. Tesla just burns money because people keep throwing money at them to burn. Tesla is suffering Betamax syndrome. The better product does not always win the market.

[@Muskar2]

@@truantray But Tesla is still winning on the market share, and Tesla was profitable for 2 quarters in a row. So I don't see your point there. Tesla has significantly better gross margins on their EVs than legacy automakers. Most of them have negative gross margins - but Tesla doesn't.

[@hfe1833]

Your channel is evolving now, one of the informative topic discussed

[@AlecKristi]

was waiting for the BMW electronics... did your guys forget to cover that or is there a legal reason?

[@unnainconnu9098]

This is most likely a paid for video ad for Tesla, so I guess they "forgot" about it because it was at least as good as the Tesla.

[@xoconostle5240]

The problem with the T Mod3 is in the passenger compartment. It is simply made from too many individual components. This highly complicates fabrication of shell elements and assembly. If they can get the parts count down, will likely improve delivery numbers very quickly. Gotta say I love my Bolt and what i paid vs either the BMW or Tesla, we have ~20-25K extra working for us in the markets.

[@tylersanders6703]

The technology in modern cars espically EV's is out of this world.

[@charlech]

Only Tesla pretty much. Everyone else is way behind on every aspect.

[@greynolds17]

@@charlech not exactly.....ive seen some crazy tech in non tesla cars

[@pauL3gend]

Carbon Fiber might be new to consumer cars like the i3 but is crucual tech for the space and aerospace industries. I dont think Tesla would have the manufacturing might as BMW. Maybe SpaceX but not to mass scale. So maybe ur wrong in BMW being behind in tech in that category.

[@alphaomega9650]

pauL3gend I don’t think the chassis is the most important part of an EV. Let them build a mid sized EV with 300+ miles and 250kw charging capabilities, then get back to me on that BMW is on par with Tesla nonsense.

[@greynolds17]

@@alphaomega9650 BMW is ahead with the I3 in the use of carbon fiber for the the chassis...although it's completely the wrong car for it and was a waste of time. They are also ahead in manufacturing might. Now as far as the rest of the car, they are mostly behind except maybe a few little things here and there.

[@jackwsandoz]

Learned more from this video than I'd asked to begin with. Well done! I'd really enjoy more in-depth stuff like this.

[@keenheat3335]

cant wait until they do a teardown between cyber truck and their competitor

[@najibyarzerachic]

So it is pretty new video. I am glad I stumbled upon this. Thank you guys. I m watching Munroe on auto line tv live tomorrow. Good warm up for that.

[@abbaby555]

This had some really good information. Three very different EV designs for three very different customer demographics. demographics

[@NSEPELA]

First things first. I like Tesla. They are changing the game in terms of EV’s. However I’m kind of tired of everyone blowing them and forgetting about all the issues that come with a Tesla. I’d be willing to bet money the Chevy is a much better built product. Just a fact and I wish there was more honesty in the journalism.

[@truantray]

If you want honesty, read Tesla forums. KZbin channels have to cheerlead or they lose access.

[@UTUBESUCK666]

Explain why Model S built 9 years ago has the best resale value of any car. Yeah, that's what I thought... fucking crickets.

[@UTUBESUCK666]

@@truantray Access to WHAT??? Tesla doesn't even provide journalist with review cars and Tesla has no ad anywhere! What a stupid comment to make!

[@epsospremium6088]

All of those cars help to reduce smog in the city :-) Tesla seems to be a few years ahead in this comparison video. More electric cars will be good for the clean air in the city !

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Actually the most practical design is the Bolt, the Tesla is designed as a performance car...

[@vidznstuff1]

Not in China...their major power source is COAL

[@MrChadder007]

BMW seems to have been slacking a lot with the i3.

[@jmwarden1]

@@MrChadder007 No BMW I3 is way ahead in technology. 8 year 100,000 mile on the battery, 4 years/50,000 on the vehicle, 12 years/ unlimited miles on rust perforation,15years/150,000 on the range extender and emission control, and the only one that the lithium-ion can be repaired.

[@tieman3790]

@@jmwarden1 lol, under what kind of propaganda have you been living?

[@stephenjones62]

Interesting comparisons but I wish you would have talked about the advantages or disadvantages of each. There must be more to it than just packaging issues.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Agreed, as they didn't even cover the reason the Bolt is FWD, which is to give it excellent electric braking, something the BMW & Tesla don't have, as the rear braking is about 20% of the total...

[@jmwarden1]

@@davidhollenshead4892 The BMW I3 has some of the best braking you could ask for.

[@WANDERER0070]

Tesla is so far ahead of competition and most important it looks good ,better then other evs.. よくできました

[@truantray]

Who cares, Americans buy pickup trucks.

[@AuchInAgil]

@@truantray Americans are not as relevant for the world as you might think....

[@CRsolar]

if you like disposable

[@cashbonanza963]

the jaguar i-pace looks best

[@nickbobronnikov7213]

okleydokley Tesla is going to release a pickup truck soon, and many Americans buy other cars, which is why so many americans are already buying teslas.

[@maxflight777]

I had t previously grasped the heat and cool requirements for BOTH the batteries and motor! A beautifully crafted presentation! Thank you.

[@georgeholloway3981]

I think it's strange that the battery guy talks of the BMW i3 design in the past tense. I think it's a simply wonderful car, and still totally viable! (They're still making them, aren't they?)

[@IBMara]

I am 6'-2", weigh 300 lbs and have a bad back. It is nearly impossible for me to get in and out of the model 3. The model X costs four times what I paid for my Bolt.

[@IBMara]

@japanwatchconnection thank you for your concern and your advice.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

You bought the best EV to own. The model X has doors that will cost a fortune to service, like everything on any Tesla. Use the electric brake on the Bolt and your brakes will need little service...

[@IBMara]

@@davidhollenshead4892 I love the regenerative braking paddle on the steering wheel. I use it most of the time.

[@thosoz3431]

@@IBMara Your reply shows a charming grace all too often missing on the net. For me it's intermittent fasting, pilates and a neoprene sash to keep my lower back warm.

[@jamesallen5850]

I've just scrolled down the comments. Seems i wasnt the only one obsessing about his hair

[@herbiehusker1889]

Torch really needs to tame that beast.

[@r.perzylo]

Jason it's time to let the hair go. 🤣

[@CriticalRoleHighlights]

Jason's hair is the male equivalent to women who Botox themselves because they can't age with grace.

[@theoneed2051]

Came to the comments to see if anyone else was talking about his hair.

[@michael931]

In this episode we compare 3 hairstyles....

[@AndreSB43]

Interesting video, but I would have liked to see more of the cars like the computers, infotainment screens, cameras and sensors and so on.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

If you want an EV to use in town or for your commute, the Bolt is the best buy, and the cheapest to service. The Tesla is more like a premium car, with premium features and costs of service. The BMW is similar to the Tesla in both costs of service and features. So consider buying the Bolt, and keeping a cool car for traveling, like a Mustang, or my choice, a Vanagon Westy. [I don't need a commuter car and thus, won't be buying an EV, any time soon, however in a few years, I will have an Electric Vehicle stop 30 feet from my house, namely light rail and thus, won't need to park or drive in rush hour...]

[@pmj_studio4065]

BMW is similar to Tesla only in costs and powertrain layout. Tesla has the best range, performance, space, efficiency, charging network and safety. With over 500 km range it's rather not a commuter car... (Yes, I'm a Tesla fan)

[@zakattack721]

Love that you guys did this! I know this isn't your guys' area of expertise but you did well!

[@emo65170.]

Regarding Tesla's electric motor, if the inverter needs repair do you replace just the module or the whole electric motor as an assembly?

[@andchip.s]

Exactly.....!!! Way to integrated for my liking, how about an open sourced car, all modular designed and easy to replace parts, lets keep more stuff out of land fills !!

[@lreed3740]

Thanks much to you and Munro for this video!! But for me -the first part that pointed out that only the Bolt is FWD means that I would never consider the TSLA or BMW ,which are on the old RWD platforms. Big, big difference in handling and safety in real world weather conditions, once you get off the ideal test track in S. Arizona. Given I and many others live in NORTH America, this is a real show stopper for FWD vehicles for year round usage.

[@mcyoung21121]

I love how Monroe shit all over Tesla and then after really digging deeper, they love the car and a few of the engineers went out and purchased themselves one to own.

[@billyjack70]

I don't mind someone having an opinion so long as they are willing to correct themselves when faced with opposing facts. :)

[@mcyoung21121]

@@billyjack70 that's a good point

[@SOSLICK22]

When did they shit all over tesla? I thought they criticized some of the manufacturing decisions, but praised the tech. Seems like they were just objective.

[@PoeticJusticeSC]

@@SOSLICK22 In their initial tear down when all they had done was evaluate the body, they were not at all impressed. That was a separate video and not apparent in this one. It just turned out to be the weakest component, and the only one that they didn't see Tesla ahead on. Now that they've taken the whole thing apart their overall stance is that more balanced and they rate the Model 3 very highly.

[@pn2543]

Great video with technical detail you rarely see ever, though audio mic volume is pretty uneven making it hard to hear in spots. Anyway, IMHO eventually the automobile internal combustion engine will be as antique and quaint as a CRT display. The simplicity and reliability and low weight and high torque at low rpm of electric motors is tough to beat with the complex contraptions of pistons and automatic transmissions. Home rooftop solar with electric vehicle battery storage will be a synergistic energy revolution.

[@pogo1140]

Skipped over the part where the Model 3 body is heavier than it needs to be to get the same level of safety and rigidity.

[@j.kevinmcnary9561]

Pogo I guess they were too busy being impressed by Tesla's clearly superior design.

[@rogerstarkey5390]

@@j.kevinmcnary9561 Ouch!

[@pogo1140]

@@j.kevinmcnary9561 Easy to be impressed by vajazzle. There are pro and con's with Tesla's "superior" design. Are some of them more effective, yes, downside, it adds more complexity, more cost in both manufacturing, assembly and maintenance. These are things that any manufacturers that expect to stay in business take into account when building a car. Companies that don't end up like BMC.

[@j.kevinmcnary9561]

Pogo Some folks are clearly willing to pay more for the safest passenger sedan in the world. And if Munro considers the design and efficiency of the battery and drivetain to be superior, I will defer to that expertise.

[@pogo1140]

@@j.kevinmcnary9561 Yes, he did, now will you also defer to him when said that the chassis was over built, over weight and over complicated and had for the rigidity it had? Translation another company can build the same body, just as safely and build lighter, simpler and for less. The customers are paying for the illusion.

[@tushermyth]

The wheelbase and length of a Tesla model 3 are quite larger in comparison to i3 and Bolt. It is also seen by the dry weight of the cars.I guess packaging is highly affected by these factors. In a Hatch of i3 type apart from the seating area, you are not left with much of a space in the front and the rear. Whereas the Model 3, being a sedan, has ample space behind rear seats to fit the powertrain and the HVAC system. The i3 fits the HVAC on the front because they have seats above the rear wheels. And I agree with you on the Bolt being of a conventional layout. And I also agree with the fact that Tesla is using the first principle in a very efficient manner in the individual systems.

[@kingrpriddick]

This was just barely nerdy enough, I'd have loved much more motor detail with some benchmark info, talk about power steering, HVAC is complicated in an EV and very cool when well integrated (ie: super bottle), different regen braking tech maybe some benchmarks there too. AND REAL battery details: BMS topology, BMS differential charge or discharge rates, high and low voltage limits, rated cell life (does this seem to be an accurate rating), actual battery cooling information (actual temps that heating and cooling are initiated). With everything there I'd be reverse engineering anything I could figure out.

[@MrTsolar]

One thing they failed to touch on is that the Bolt uses a permanent magnet motor while the Tesla, and possibly the i3, use induction motors. This gives the Bolt the edge on torque, regen, and finer control of the motor. Driving the Bolt, I see: 150 kW of motive power (decreases to 140 kW as charge depletes), 10-20 kW of regen during D mode (depends on speed), no-pedal, 50 kW regen L mode, no-pedal (or D-mode and paddle), and 70 kW regen L-mode and paddle. The Bolt is able to hold the car at a complete stop on level or mild inclines (steeper grade facing up than down) using the motor alone. If the car continues creeping forward because the downgrade is too steep when being held by motor torque in L, it will apply the electric parking brake automatically to hold the car still, releasing the instant you press the throttle. Facing uphill, the Bolt can hold brake pressure until you press the throttle (Hill Start Assist), allowing you to release the brake pedal but still keep the brakes (and brake lights) applied. Tesla has a brake hold feature where if you push the brake pedal further than needed to stop the car, it will hold the brakes on until you push either pedal, which is similar to the Bolt's Hill Start Assist, but can do it at any time. With Autopilot engaged, you don't need to do anything. As for battery thermals, I don't know specifics, but I've noticed with ambient temperatures below 34 F, the Bolt will heat the battery if the car sat outside all night. It'll either do this while charging if plugged in, or during driving. The colder the battery is, the more limited regen braking is (indicated by a line on the power gauge on the dash, enhanced layout). During the summer, it will cool the pack using the A/C, and can do it with or without cabin A/C running, even though they share the compressor. It's taken a couple days above 90 F for mine to activate cooling without quick charging. The battery has a separate 2 kW heater, and all thermal management is done through a glycol loop. The Bolt only cools when necessary during quick charge, which so far has only happened once for me. The Bolt has three glycol loops. One is dedicated to the battery, another dedicated to cabin heating, and the third used for inverter/charger/drive motor cooling. The electronics/motor loop is the only loop to utilize a radiator, meaning that any thermal management of the battery is active (heater or A/C) when passive airflow cooling of the case isn't enough (air flowing under the car during driving). Fortunately, the battery balances pretty well between being insulated from the weather and being able to dump or absorb heat from ambient air. The radiator is equipped with Chevy's active shutters, which close at higher speed unless they need to be open, reducing aero drag. The Bolt uses an electromechanical coupling for the shifter. The actual shifter inside is purely electronic and commands a servo attached to the drive unit. The servo moves an electrical switch inside the drive unit and engages or releases the parking pawl (Tesla does not use any of this and relies solely on the electric parking brakes for Park). The switch in the drive unit confirms the shift. I believe this is done to prevent damage to the park pawl. Park, Reverse, Neutral, and Drive all cause the servo to move. Only switching between Drive and Low is done purely by wire, and all this really does is re-map the throttle pedal in software to enable one-pedal driving. One last thing. One-pedal driving in L is only active with the driver seat belt engaged. Without the seat belt, the car creeps forward, but slower than in D. If you are stopped while in L, and unclick the seatbelt, the parking brake will apply. With the seatbelt fastened in Drive mode, the paddle on the steering wheel will completely stop the car using only regen. Once stopped, the car will sit there until you press the throttle pedal, at which point creep will be re-enabled. If you are creeping forward and push Park, the Bolt will pump the hydraulic brakes to stop the car, apply the electric parking brake, and then shift to Park. You can even simply press the power button at a standstill and the Bolt will automatically put the car in Park and selectively apply the parking brake (still trying to figure out if this is location, terrain, or behavior based, as it still appears random) and then power down.

[@kingrpriddick]

@@MrTsolar holy information batman, I'm copy pasting this to a notepad ASAP thanks!

[@hfe1833]

Of the best jalopnik episode so far. Now I know why model3 so efficient but they didn't explain the type of magnet model 3 used which entirely different

[@samiam5557]

Living in the RUST BELT I would opt for the carbon fibered BMWi3.

[@darkhorsegarage]

I have driven an i3 for 2 years and as an experiment I have never washed it, Still as new, It's perfect where I live in Norway with salty winter roads.

[@scottkrueger1906]

what i found most fascinating is how clear the teardowns reveal the INTENTIONS and GOALS of the three companies. Tesla clearly has some talented engineers...but they also have the distinct advantage of working for a company that sincerely WANTS to make a good, sturdy, pioneering electric car. You can tell from the designs that the other two don't actually WANT to mass produce these things.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Really, then why does Tesla have so much trouble with their production line ??? Why does it suck to work on the Tesla production line ???

[@scottkrueger1906]

@@davidhollenshead4892 several hundred thousand cars a year out of one factory is not "so much trouble". They've had a lot of challenges meeting Musk's hyper-competitive and unrealistic deadlines....but ramping up a brand new car company using brand new technology hasn't happened anywhere else in a hundred years for a reason: it's hard

[@hurztwaldmeister7560]

The i3 is the best concept. Easy to change also small batterie parts at the Tesla you have to change the complete battery, what a mess. And for a samller price you get a carbon fiber cell in the i3 while the tesla is oldschool metall cell.

[@cpufreak101]

I could watch this all day seeing the differences! Thank you guys for this video

[@Consolethumbs]

Honestly the Tesla looks alien made compared to the others. It’s insane my buddy’s 2012 model s has 150k miles no issues besides new tires and brakes.

[@BosonCollider]

Right, many of the engineering solutions look like they were made by a precursor alien civilization or something. They're that crazy.

[@morosis82]

It's first principles design: 1. what's the best way to make this; 2. how do we make it that way at a price that can be profitable.

[@YouNeedToCalmDown76]

Thats all well and good, but in the real world LOTS of Model S owners have had to deal with replacement motors, steering racks and of course door handles amognst others. In the real world Tesla's don't rank very high on the reliability index.

[@morosis82]

@@YouNeedToCalmDown76 unlike most other manufacturers though, as Tesla is so young I'd suggest - and anecdotally it seems to be true - that most of the issues are in the early models. Everyone knows they had issues, and yet even most people who had those issues say they wouldn't drive anything else. Of course, it's a predominantly early adopter demographic, so that also influences those decisions.

[@jperksification]

Good explanations of the differences today between the designs.

[@richardbohlken6664]

Great video. I could watch a 2hr version of this and be riveted the whole time. But you missed an important nerd level detail on the Tesla Model 3 electric motor. Unlike the other 2 AC motors Tesla developed an all new reluctance motor. Technically it was invented in 1883 but made practical for reliability and mass production by Tesla. No doubt the details about this motor would sail over most viewers heads but it's yet another significant innovation from Tesla that gives the Model 3 a cost, weight & space saving advantage. AND Tesla bet the farm again, on a clean sheet of paper approach. This time on how to improve on existing AC motors. I'm sure your guest was dying to explain all this.

[@ryccoh]

Yeah I'm really intrigued by that motor. The fact that you use saliency so you can cut down the permanent magnets and therefore have less magnetic friction to state it simply. I still wonder about the advantages compared to an induction motor though I think it's mainly power density of the motor and thanks to that efficiency as well.

[@christoph3226]

Not true.... BMW i3 uses an reluctant motor developed from the ground up and acclaimed by motor experts years before tesla: www.greencarcongress.com/2013/08/bmw-20130812.html And this was done 5-7 years ago when tesla still designed asynchronus motors for model s/x

[@rogerstarkey5390]

@@ryccoh There's an episode of autoline daily from a few months ago were Sandy Munro talks about the motor and more specifically the magnets they use in the motor.

[@richardbohlken6664]

@@christoph3226 Thanks for the link

[@98dizzard]

Disappointed that they didn't explain that Tesla is using a completely different type of electric motor. The other two are pretty standard AC Synchronous Permanent Magnet Motors. The Tesla uses a new design of AC Synchronous Reluctance Motor, with much less permanent magnet for cost saving, it is also much more efficient.

[@truelazerlight]

So Tesla ARE in fact doing things way better than anyone else and they still get shit on the most. This is the world we live in folks.

[@daweiniable]

yes, they get a lot of shit. i see two reasons for that: 1. build quality: the fuckin door handels fall of that car! this says a lot about the whole car. 2. production quaos. They cant provide the cars fast enough. It's hard work to get a car assembly line like in big companies running. Audi builds 300 cars per shift, on one assembly line! 900 cars a day for example...

[@daweiniable]

just read, they made it to a 1000 a day.. so at least thats working now.

[@matthewbanta3240]

The nice thing about the Bolt's adaptation of a conventional car to be EV is that you can piggy back on the development costs that went into the gas powered vehicle. It might not be the most elegant solution, but I am sure it has a lot to do with the fact that when the Bolt first came out it gave you far more range and more electric car performance for your money than any other EV on the market.

[@rogerstarkey5390]

So they piggybacked the development costs and *STILL* lose money on every one?

[@matthewbanta3240]

@@rogerstarkey5390 So should they have redesigned the Bolt from the ground up? That way, just like Tesla and all the other companies making EV's these days, they would have to charge twice as much for each car and still lose money on each one.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Yes, the Bolt is the best EV you can buy right now...

[@Cyberwolfman]

To understand why Tesla didn't go conventional when building the Model 3, look at the crash test results. It's the SAFEST vehicle EVER tested by the US government. Sure they could save a few hundred dollars per car simplifying the build and welds and just barely get a 5 star rating and be like anyone else, but that isn't them. Like Volvo was, (and hopefully still is) they are all about making the car as safe as possible.

[@UTUBESUCK666]

Yes, but but but.... it's "over engineered".... What a stupid comment they made about Model 3 frame. Jalopnik can't help themselves taking jab at Tesla.

[@cros13]

Nah... the chassis design was screwed up. Elon admitted as much and actually fired the guy responsible. It's pretty much the only blind spot in an otherwise exceptional design.

[@dantheman1337]

The BMW frame will not rust...It could last forever even in horrible salty conditions. Other components are aluminium too. They are also upgrading batteries as the new ones are the same format.

[@greggb681]

The BMW is overpriced, but brilliant! Bmw was on to something with the i3 and I hope they continue making cars just like it.

[@thibo2107]

Brian Hendrickson yes I think the presenters have made the car look bad because it is not beautiful but is made very smart

[@The_General_Zubas]

7:25 it makes a ton of sence. Reminds me of the ZALMAN brand of CPU coolers. Big wavy strips of Aluminum and Copper.

[@dansanger5340]

Ironically, the Tesla looks the most conventional on the outside, even though it's very unconventional on the inside.

[@captlarry-3525]

Crap built by amatuers.

[@RawbLV]

@@captlarry-3525 Well it's a new company.

[@toml1446]

@JF F Theyre legitimately not well built, and the claims of overbuilding have nothing to do with strength but just things that add cost and complexity while significantly lowering QC. Thats from the several reports of that company that actually tore down several teslas.

[@alphaomega9650]

Tom l I’m sure their build quality will get better. But come on man. You gotta give it to them though. They are the only ones on the market with a electric car that can do over 300 miles. It’s been that way for awhile too. Also the highest safety rating possible. Not to mention they all go 0-60 in under 6 seconds. Unfortunately their QC could use some improvement, let them hire some guys that know what they are doing, problem solved. How many costumers are going to tear down their car and see it is over engineered?? Nah maybe 1 in 100k.

[@toml1446]

@@alphaomega9650 they're also funded by my tax dollars and are still grossly expensive when they were supposed to provide an affordable long range ev YEARS ago. But instead have spent our money elsewhere

[@BAndersen-ee1xy]

A great, unbiased, piece of automotive journalism conducted by a pair of Tesla fanboys. Seriously, did Elon pay you for the ad? I really like Tesla but this was embarrassing.

[@TekAutomatica]

Go visit Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Textron.... Carbon Fibre already the future in aerospace. Rather a biased piece overall guys. An engine is not directly comparable to an electric motor. In some ways the motor is like the gearbox and electrical accessories on the ICE. The battery is fundamental. 60KWh is like 6 liters (1.5 us gal) of diesel but much heavier in battery format. Formula 1 V6s are very small.

[@tyronekim3506]

I was hoping to hear about pros and cons of each models, and the number of miles the ev motors are good for.

[@martonoz3585]

Brother, a balding man to another balding man: shave it off and focus on your beard.

[@nomebear]

I fought the balding until I hemorrhaged blood and money. Was it worth it? No!

[@lewisthompson1611]

So the full report on the model 3 was excellent car but the structure and manufacturing process was all over the place in terms of build

[@davidhollenshead4892]

It also sucks to insure, repair and basically to own...

[@sjh7132]

I'm 6'5" and I fit in a Bolt, and my 6'2" son can sit behind me. I don't think writing the Bolt off as a less efficient packaging job is correct.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Agreed, as while I'm only 5'11" but have the typical Native bone structure with very broad shoulders, and many imports don't fit me. Japanese cars for example are not designed for tall or wide people.

[@SupeDefy]

Well....taller cabin design isn't what they are talking about is it? They are talking about the electrical drivetrain components and how they are designed, packaged, and integrated into the chassis.

[@rud]

sjh7132 it is also made so retooling existing production lines are less expensive.

[@ADOENDRA]

At the TESLA you can see clearly the hands of the industrial designer and not old fashion engineering.