Reliability ??

[wolf_tracker]

Hi,

You are told never to buy the 1.0 version of any product.

What kind of reliability testing is being done on the V1.

If the reliability of the V1 is being tested are there pictures of the
vehicle as tested.

If not, when do you see this testing being done?

Or will the people who first purchase the V1 be the test subjects
of the product? :eek:

Are there any insights available.

Wolf

[Lumberjack]

So long as VV tells me Im a tester I would love to be a guinea pig...

[AZEqualizer]

VV has stated that they intend to do extensive internal testing as well as with their Business partners. Also the first 4k of them that they sell they would like to pump up the warranty and keep them to CA so they can be tweaked or mod'd as needed.

[RAN]

Also the first 4k of them that they sell they would like to pump up the warranty and keep them to CA so they can be tweaked or mod'd as needed.

Hmm....

[Mark Tomlinson]

VV has stated that they intend to do extensive internal testing as well as with their Business partners. Also the first 4k of them that they sell they would like to pump up the warranty and keep them to CA so they can be tweaked or mod'd as needed.

Yeah, but how will they know how well it works in a Midwest Winter if they don't sell them to Derwin and I?

[RAN]

Or in the desert without AZE's and my feedback???? lol

I think Ian's just going to have to deal with the fact that many of the 1st 4000 are going all over the country. He'll have a riot on his hands otherwise.

And like you say Mark, he'll get feedback and valuable information on every climate the US has, from sea level to 6000+ ft, from the desert to the beaches, from the mountains to the flatlands and all points in between.

And, of course, many in CA to test the interior for latte spills :-)

Rick

[AZEqualizer]

I think that there are a number of us that having to maintain something ourselves is not a major issue... after all how long can it be until there is a dealership in your area? In the mean time software /firmware can be done long distance. And hardware...well whats the big deal... us older types ... I have built, rebuilt and made from the ground up - computers, engines, cars, motorcycles, appliances of every design and color. Whats a little hybrid motorcycle in that list of things ... And I am sure lots of the people here are of the same opinion. And Cali isn't that far from Phoenix.

[Hardtime11]

I am with AZEqualizer on this and there are a few of us here who will do the Tropics of Florida testing. Not to mention that I know I will do the long distance testing. Others like to go party and/or make a run down to the convenience store. I love to just go for a ride as a form of entertainment. :rolleyes:

As far as serviceability, I have worked on many vehicles to include balancing & Blueprinting engines, troubleshooting repairing electronics all the way down to the individual components (not just replace the board but down to the transistors/diodes etc..) and everything else previously mentioned. Computers are easy.:cool:

So, yes, it may result in long distance upgrades but I feel they would be no problem. I would even be willing to do a return trip to California for eval if really needed and time permitting. Also, It could even lead to a tax deductible trip for the staff to come check it out if needed for an excuse to visit Florida.

[Heraclid]

I am in Florida too. I'll do that in a heartbeat. We can report on how easy it is to get lovebugs off the vehicle. :-)

[Lumberjack]

I guess I will be reporting on how well It handles deer impacts LOL

[Derwin]

Also the first 4k of them that they sell they would like to pump up the warranty and keep them to CA so they can be tweaked or mod'd as needed.

AZE, Did you hear something about the first 4k that I didn't hear? I thought the question of a "California only" initial release was still up in the air.

Derwin

[Miracleman89]

Or in the desert without AZE's and my feedback???? lol

I think Ian's just going to have to deal with the fact that many of the 1st 4000 are going all over the country. He'll have a riot on his hands otherwise.

And like you say Mark, he'll get feedback and valuable information on every climate the US has, from sea level to 6000+ ft, from the desert to the beaches, from the mountains to the flatlands and all points in between.

And, of course, many in CA to test the interior for latte spills :-)

Rick


Hey bro what about me I am in Arizona too and I happen to live in the mountains so there is that added complication for the vehicle! I deal with both extreme heat and very cold. From 115 degrees to 15 degrees. Plus I have family in Illinois that I would visit, so there is the extreme cold as well as the humid summers. I also have a friend who lives in Florida so there is that climate to deal with, personally I think I would make a great test pilot!!!!=D

[Crabsoup]

I think that in the time frame that they are trying to hit they are not going to have enough time to do the proper road tests that they need to mass produce this thing. Think of it, if they start to sell them all over the place and there's a flaw in it the only place to get it fixed is at there HQ. Even if you could fix it yourself that would void the warranty. I don't want to sound negative, i want one now just like everyone else, but from the business stand point it just doesn't seem like a good idea to have your product sitting in someones driveway broken.

[RAN]

There really isn't much to break. The Carver DVC system has been in production in Europe for several years. The electric motor and the ICE are proven commodities as well. Whichever batteries they decide to use they will test extensively. I would think that most glitches in this design would be in software, and that should be able to be fixed without having to bring the V-1 to a service center.

MM, sorry I didn't include you. You get the 1st Test Pilot patch! :-)

[AZEqualizer]

Derwin The information that I gave back in Nov of 2007 was based upon things (on the FTR site and other interviews) that were said by Ian back at the beginning of 2007 -lots of things have changed since then. (including the partnership with NGEN PARTNERS in Aug.)
I no longer have all the data available that I used in Nov but I don't make this stuff up... but often posts are based upon information available at the time. Here is one of the posts I do have.

QueenBee: They're all reasonable, and well-thought-out observations.

The schedule is aggressive, but we're working with technologies that are fully mature, and have volume manufacturing processes in place.

Another key piece are the companies we're working with. In many ways, it is they who are determining the schedule. We also avoid the typical certification cycle for automobiles, and that's an enormous timesaver.

We anticipate some issues with the "Gen 1" vehicle, which is why the rollout is being done in California-only for the first year. I also expect that the warrantee for those vehicle to be particularly generous, as we'll be using the feedback we get from them, and their owners, to continually refine the product. {Posted: 2007-03-17}

[Miracleman89]

Ran- Apology accepted I will take the first! LOL

[Jack Willard]

Also the first 4k of them that they sell they would like to pump up the warranty and keep them to CA so they can be tweaked or mod'd as needed.

That would be really good.


Also the first 4k of them that they sell they would like to pump up the warranty and keep them to CA so they can be tweaked or mod'd as needed.

I would sure like to take a peak at some proposed warranty that will come with the product. Not so much because I'm afraid of the technology. I'm not. There's not that much to break. I'm really curious about the number of miles that will be covered until you're on your own! :(

This will be my commuter vehicle and my commute is 32K miles per year, not counting any fun trips with my barbie doll =D wife in the back! Just think what it will feel like if the warranty is 100K miles? That's three years!

Okay, I'll buy it anyway. But still, I'd like to know what it is before I jump.

And what if there are 4,001 Californians already ahead of me? I'm a Californian too! (Yeah, like any of you guys from any other state give a !!!! about that!) Ya big whiner! :Beer: I'm just kidding. Everyone out there wants to have there V1 first!

Anyone got any clue at all about a warranty?

[ydeardorff]

Im interested to see the crash test reports. Somebody has been doing crash testing on similiar vehicles. Ive seen the front end collision tests, but Id like to see side impact results too!

[Derwin]

Im interested to see the crash test reports. Somebody has been doing crash testing on similiar vehicles. Ive seen the front end collision tests, but Id like to see side impact results too!

Well, last I heard, Part of the design of the Persu Hybrid would include side impact air bags.

Derwin

[ydeardorff]

Thats cool, Im more concerned with being splattered like a bug. Its a very small metal coffin, so the side impact resistance would of key issue. Thats where people get pinned inside, and crushed.
So far the frontal impact crash results look very good, if not better than some cars.

[Derwin]

Thats cool, Im more concerned with being splattered like a bug. Its a very small metal coffin, so the side impact resistance would of key issue. Thats where people get pinned inside, and crushed.

Well, I'll tell you what.... We live in a world where we take risks everyday. Heck, I drive a small little Chevy Tracker, and when the 16-wheelers go by me, I know who would win if we ever met bumper to bumper!

I think the way they are designing this vehicle is superb, and very safe considering the kind of vehicle it is. You have to remember, this is no SUV, it's a ULV, and it won't have the same huge presence on the road as an SUV. But there are a heck of a lot of Motorcycle riders out there that love their ride, and are willing to take the risk of riding it. I think it's safe to say that the Persu Hybrid will be much, much safer than a motorcycle!

Derwin

[AZEqualizer]

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/72443076.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF193875DCB1DD8387ABB8BF59D329E56FB86 A40A659CEC4C8CB6

Every day I look at all the vehicles around me while I drive someplace and see all the mass of metal going down the road with mostly one person in it or maybe two. And then to hear people commonly talk about the fear they have of surviving an accident so they surround themselves in as big a vehicle as possible.... I sometimes wonder why they are aren't all driving in a semi.

I think of when I was in college and was visiting Montréal Canada and saying to myself "wow what a nice public transit system." There was fenced and guarded free public parking surrounding the city with plenty of subway stations. A clean quite, efficient , safe, subway, "The Metro," that for 35 cents covered the whole city, and it came through the station every 15 minutes. The Metro even has shopping and office complex underground as an extension to the system.

Where I live in Phoenix it is a struggle to have any type of public transportation so we are stuck in the wide variety of vehicles traveling down the more and more crowded streets with tons of people traveling alone in big vehicles, after all it is the 'Wild West' the land of the independent cowboy and the pickup truck.

Even though I have a family, most of the time when I have to go somewhere it is either by myself or with one other person. If I had my way I would have a Persu Hybrid or two and a efficient four passenger vehicle for the times when we all travel together.

I don't see the metro coming to Phoenix anytime soon but I sure wish the day of the small vehicle being the norm would happen... It has a higher probability but we have a whole lot of people that have to have their views changed to make it happen. Look at Europe where the small vehicle is the norm... even there they could benefit from having vehicles like the Persu Hybrid and for us it could be a bigger impact if we could change our mindset.... but one stubling block is that the vehicles have to be available and sold at a reasonable price. You have to ask yourself... if it was common for everyone that drove as an individual or with only one other person was driving in a small efficent vehicle, ('a very small metal coffin',) wouldn't we all be better off?

[danbucks]

A little known/believed fact (quite ironic): statistically, SUV's are the most dangerous vehicles on the road - specifically fatalities.
I will leave it as an exercise to the reader to prove why this is so.

Alas, I've met plenty who quite literally would - and I quote - "rather be dead than be caught in [a feminine, unmanly] hybrid" (they will stick to their gigantic 4x4, thank you very much)

[ydeardorff]

Well, I'll tell you what.... We live in a world where we take risks everyday....
I think it's safe to say that the Persu Hybrid will be much, much safer than a motorcycle!

Derwin

Oh very true, and I find Im rapidly approaching my 40's, at an apparent ever increasing speed.:shup: I love my sport bike, but I also know I dont heal as well as I used to, nor tolerate the cold as well either. I live in western WA, east of Everett. And we get everything weather wise. Having a safer, and more comfortable to drive motorcycle that I can drive 10 months out of the year rather than 4 or 5 would be a winner for me too. Only having to park it, when the snow finally encases my home around mid January.:confused:

And AZeq: I totally agree, I wrote something like that in a another thread. American dont change very quickly when it comes to their cars. It wasnt until the gas crunch in the late 70's that people started taking "economy cars" seriously. I think, possibly some prime time TV promo time prior to the persu's debut, might get people warmed up to the idea of these machines, and their possibilities. In our country riding the bus is almost taboo, Our attitude is its for people whom cant afford a car, the same with a train/subway system. In some cities it may be the only way to get around. In most 3rd world countries I have been to the most prominent vehicle is neither a car, train, nor bus. But ironically scooters. Heavily modified scooters that go insanely fast. Thats mostly due to population and that, that many cars wont fit. LOL
From what Ive seen all over the world, is the higher population goes up, the smaller the vehicles gets. We have the room in the US still, what we dont have is the money. Hopefully the hybrid technology will somehow drop enough in price to make it the industry standard, rather than the odd ball on the road.2thumb:up