Saturday, July 25, 2015
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Thursday, July 2, 2015
...Consumer Reports Test... Tesla P85D v. Challenger Hellcat
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Tesla Outperforming Apple Per Square Foot
Tesla Outperforming Apple Per Square Foot
Apple was previously believed to generate the highest sales per square foot in the world with their Apple stores, but Tesla recently passed them up by a long-shot.
Elon Musk pointed out last year that Tesla's sales per square foot in its retail Tesla stores was double that of Apple's. Tesla. Money magazine recently published a story about how innovative Tesla's approach is to retail with portable retail stores.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Tesla Mystery Prototype Model
Tesla Mystery Prototype Model?
What is pictured below on the right? Is it a Tesla future model prototype? When I first saw it, I genuinely had no idea. It looks like something out of Bladerunner, doesn't it? It took me a while to figure out, that it is a nose cone for the front of a Model S!
Sunday, May 17, 2015
TESLA Gigafactory Drone Flyover
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Nikola Tesla Namesake Inspiration For Telsa Motors
...Tesla Super-Coolness...
Nikola Tesla
Namesake Inspiration For Telsa Motors
Tesla Motors was named so after Nikola Tesla, who was a Serbian American inventor. Nikola Tesla was an inventor as well as being a mechanical and electrical engineer, as well as a physicist and futurist visionary. He is best known for his design contributions to creating modern electrical Alternating Current (AC) supply system.
Nikola Tesla Pictured Above In 1890
The 2014 BBC Documentary give a great in-depth overview of Nikola Tesla's lifetime career achievements, as well as offering insight into his fascinating mindset.
Friday, May 8, 2015
New Aluminum Battery Technology Could Give Tesla Model S 500 Mile Range
Thursday, May 7, 2015
What it would take to build a true Tesla competitor?
What it would take to build a true Tesla competitor?
Autoblog just posted a fascinating article titled "What it would take to build a true Tesla competitor?" This is a question I keep asking myself. In other words, I believe that in order for anybody to compete successfully in electric cars they need to use the skateboard system that Tesla patented, and later open-sourced.
The obvious challenge is that a company like Mercedes is probably highly conflicted about how to best more forward on making electric vehicles.
The obvious challenge is that a company like Mercedes is probably highly conflicted about how to best more forward on making electric vehicles.
The design challenge is that, as I just mentioned, in order to make a car with the greatest space utilization they have to incorporate Tesla's battery skateboard design. If they do this, it makes it difficult if not impossible also create ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) cars on the same platform.
Domenick Yoney wrote:
"The Tesla formula is really simple. Take the cheapest and most energy-dense lithium battery cells available, build a thin, rectangular pack and place it in the floor of the passenger cabin. To get around the low-power output ability of these individual cells, use a lot of them. Then, stick the electric motor, inverter, and gear reduction unit between the rear wheels. Immediately, this creates a vehicle with the lowest possible center of gravity and maximum amount of rotational inertia – the two most important fundamental elements for creating a great-handling car."
The photo below shows a Tesla 18650 lithium Ion battery, which was made by Panasonic. Each Model S contains approximately 7,000 of these "laptop" batteries.
Imagine if this Mercedes has the Tesla battery skateboard chassis, it would free up a tremendous amount of space in the front for huge frunk (front-trunk).
Recently I observed a current model Mercedes SL that a couple was traveling in as they were on vacation, and had their suitcases stuffed behind the rear seats. The car was parked, and the suitcase were really crammed behind the two front seats. This is because if you put the top down, there is not enough room in the trunk for the luggage. If Mercedes-Benz made an SL with the skateboard battery pack design, like the one found in the Tesla Model S, it would free up the entire front trunk for luggage, which would make perfect sense.
The challenge is that Mercedes would not be able to dual purpose such a chassis to also produce an ICE version, and therein lies the challenge.
The solution to this challenge may be found today in the BMW i3 electric car, which is the only vehicle that uses the Tesla inspired "Skateboard" design.
The image below shows the "skateboard" battery platform on the BMW i3, which is remarkably similar to the Tesla Skateboard design. There are so many benefits to this design, I don't see how any other automobile manufacture could match or exceed the design with something different.
It is going to be really interesting to see how the entire auto industry evolves of the next quarter-century, as it seem inevitable to me that in the future all cars will be electric. Until then, the Tesla Model S remains the king of cars.
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Getting Excited About The P85D Acceleration
Monday, May 4, 2015
Test Drive Of A Petrol Car
Test Drive Of A Petrol Car
There is a superb story somebody wrote about a Tesla owner who drives an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) for the first time. I highly recommend it, as a great read!
The images below shows how crazy simple the Tesla Model S motor design is compared to an internal combustion engine as seen above. The image below is of the actual Tesla Model S DC motor, which is about the size of a watermelon.
The image below shows the Tesla Model S drive unit outlined in the red rectangle. The actual motor is located on the right side, and it's lighter silver.
Since the Tesla Model S rear motor is strategically and intelligently placed between the rear wheels, it drives the rear tires directly without the need for a bulky transmission! This magnificently simple design also facilitates very fast acceleration at slow speeds.
The photos above and below show the Tesla Model S motor location, which is between the rear wheels. It is positioned so low, it sits far below the top of the rear tires on the rear transaxle. The battery pack, typically referred to as the Tesla Skateboard runs underneath the front and rear seats, thus giving the Model S, an unusually remarkable low center of gravity.
The illustration below shows all three types of engine layouts for the Model S Tesla. Obviously the one of the far right, which is a dual motor Tesla Model S P85D illustrates the super low center of gravity.
This super-low center of gravity translates into road handling characteristics that have never been seen before in a passenger vehicle. In other words, when you drive a Model S, especially a P85D, it not only maintains a perfect 50/50 front to rear weight distribution, but the car literally feels like it is almost glued to a track!!!
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Bosch Tesla User Experience
Monday, April 13, 2015
Consumer Reports Bought A P85D for Testing!!!
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Tesla P85D Superior Snow Driving Performance
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Elon Musk Interview By Neil deGrasse Tyson...
Elon Musk Interview
By Neil deGrasse Tyson
Neil deGrasse Tyson is one of the coolest guys alive, and he recently interviewed Elon Musk, and you can listen to the interview below.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Monday, March 23, 2015
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Steve Wozniak's P85D
...Tesla Coolness...
Steve Wozniak's P85D
Tesla Batmobile
Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak is pictured below in his Tesla P85D Model S.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Fascinating Tesla Model S User Interface Concept
Fascinating Tesla Model S User Interface Concept
Earlier this week, Tesla CEO and founder, Elon Musk talked about an updated user interface for version 7.0, and The Verge recently published a fascinating article that showcases this Tesla Model S Interface Concept, which is fascinating.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Mercedes-Benz F015 Self-Driving Research Vehicle
Mercedes-Benz F015
Self-Driving Research Vehicle
Yesterday Elon Musk talked a lot about the upcoming Autopilot technology built-in to the Model S, which will soon be turned on in an over-the-air update. Most people don't realize that most of the technology behind this was developed by Mercedes Benz. As a matter of fact, Mercedes was once a major investor in Tesla, and really helped Tesla get the critical traction in needed to be successful.
Also, there are parts inside the Tesla Model S that are made by Mercedes, like the gear shifter knob, and turning signal stalk, as well as the window control buttons on the door panels. Mercedes is one of the greatest automotive technology innovators in history, and this fascinating video shows Mercedes latest experimental "Autonomous Research Vehicle", which means it is designed to drive you from parking lot to parking lot, just like a taxi, but without a driver.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Tesla Model S Announcement End to Range Anxiety
Tesla Model S Announcements
End to Range Anxiety
+ 6.2 Coming Soon
Today, Elon Musk held a press conference to end range anxiety, as well as to announce some great new features for the Model S.
Musk announced that Version 6.2 of the Tesla OS will be delivered OTA (Over The Air) and it will include some awesome new features as outlined below:
Ending Range Anxiety
Tesla announced a new feature named Range Assurance, which will be included in 6.2. This innovative new solution will make sure you never run out of electricity and you can learn much more on the Tesla blog.
Blind Spot Warning
My favorite new feature is named Blind Spot Warning. Every car has some kind of blind spot where the B pillar gets in the way of you being able to see over your shoulder. The new Tesla Model S user-interface is pictured below.
The next screen-shot below shows that the car in front of you is getting too close, and the Tesla has automatically slowed down the car from 65 to 63. It also shows that there is a car traveling just behind you on your left side, so you don't try to quickly turn into the left lane.
The next screen shows how the car will warn you, and not allow you to hit the car next to you. It achieves this by using the sonar built-in to the Model S. 6.2 will also introduce a new feature that will aggressively apply the car brakes if the car detects you are likely to collide with another car or object. Notice how the UI (User Interface) automatically dims the left and right side panel information, to call attention to the pending potential collision.
Version 7.0 Preview
Elon Musk also mentioned that Tesla was working on a complete UI overhaul that would arrive as part of version 7.0. Elon said"
“We’re pretty excited about the progress we’re making there. The main test route that we’re evaluating is the San Francisco to Seattle route, and we’re now almost able to travel all the way from San Francisco to Seattle without the driver touching any controls at all. That’s a feature that requires a lot of validation testing, but we’re hoping that we can start releasing the first sort of auto-steering features in about three months or so."
He mentioned that Autopilot will only work on highways, since completely autonomous driving requires more preparation.
You can listen to the audio from the press conference below:
Tesla Model X Seen Road Testing
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Tesla P85D At The Chevron Gas Station?!?
Tesla P85D At The Chevron Gas Station?!?
What is going on in this photo? I was driving a Black on Black Tesla P85D, and the windshield was so dirty that I had to stop at a gas station to clean the windshield, and use the bathroom. I took this photo, and it kind of dawned on me: "Why don't gas stations offer Tesla Superchargers?" I don't think they should have the Superchargers next to the regular gas pumps, but I could see how they could easily have 2 to 5 Superchargers on the premises. Plus Tesla customers would inevitably buy drinks and snacks in the mini-mart. Just an idea, but it makes sense to me :-)
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Tesla Model S In The Snow
Tesla Model S P85D v. Ferrari 458 Italia
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Tesla Motors Documentary The Future Of The Electric Car
George Clooney's Tesla Roaster
...Tesla Coolness...
George Clooney
Tesla Roaster
George Clooney is pictured below in his black Tesla Roadster.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Monday, January 26, 2015
How To Remove The Front Bumper Model S Customization
...Tesla Model S Customization...
How To Remove The Front Bumper
Model S Customization
I found and article on TeslaMotorsClub.com forum that discusses how to remove the front bumper nose, which should allow access to placing a radar detector or auto toll transponder in the nose. Check out more on how to remove the front bumper of a Tesla Model S.
Here is a video that shows how to remove the nose cone.
Monday, January 19, 2015
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Monday, November 3, 2014
How To Camp In A Tesla Model S with Bjørn Nyland
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Electric Car Battery Technology Of The Future Documentary
Friday, October 31, 2014
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Elon Musk Unveils Dual Motor Tesla S Model
Tesla has rated the P85D at being able to do 0-60 in 3.2 seconds, but to the best of my knowledge, Tesla typically understates their acceleration, so I would not be surprised if the real number is in the high two seconds. In other words, the P85D is an absolute game-changer!!!! Oh, and if you charge it at home during off-peak hours, you get a range of close to 300 miles for under $5 in electricity!!?!?!! Compare that to a Bugatti Veyron that gets 7 miles to the gallon in the city.
With the advent of the P85D Tesla S, there is an upgraded all-new seat named the "Next Generation Seat", which is seen below. These new seat are beefed up, and offer more substantial seat bolsters.
Tesla has also been working on their North American Supercharger Network which allows all Tesla S owners to charge their Model S cars for free, forever. To learn more about the Tesla Supercharger network, click here.
In 2013, Consumer Reports rated the Tesla Model S as their highest scoring car in the history of their rating system.
In 2013, Consumer Reports rated the Tesla Model S as their highest scoring car in the history of their rating system.
TESLA MODEL S ACHIEVES BEST SAFETY RATING OF ANY CAR EVER TESTED
SETS NEW NHTSA VEHICLE SAFETY SCORE RECORD
MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2013
Palo Alto, CA — Independent testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has awarded the Tesla Model S a 5-star safety rating, not just overall, but in every subcategory without exception. Approximately one percent of all cars tested by the federal government achieve 5 stars across the board. NHTSA does not publish a star rating above 5, however safety levels better than 5 stars are captured in the overall Vehicle Safety Score (VSS) provided to manufacturers, where the Model S achieved a new combined record of 5.4 stars.
Of all vehicles tested, including every major make and model approved for sale in the United States, the Model S set a new record for the lowest likelihood of injury to occupants. While the Model S is a sedan, it also exceeded the safety score of all SUVs and minivans. This score takes into account the probability of injury from front, side, rear and rollover accidents.
The Model S has the advantage in the front of not having a large gasoline engine block, thus creating a much longer crumple zone to absorb a high speed impact. This is fundamentally a force over distance problem – the longer the crumple zone, the more time there is to slow down occupants at g loads that do not cause injuries. Just like jumping into a pool of water from a tall height, it is better to have the pool be deep and not contain rocks. The Model S motor is only about a foot in diameter and is mounted close to the rear axle, and the front section that would normally contain a gasoline engine is used for a second trunk.
For the side pole intrusion test, considered one of the most difficult to pass, the Model S was the only car in the "good" category among the other top one percent of vehicles tested. Compared to the Volvo S60, which is also 5-star rated in all categories, the Model S preserved 63.5 percent of driver residual space vs. 7.8 percent for the Volvo. Tesla achieved this outcome by nesting multiple deep aluminum extrusions in the side rail of the car that absorb the impact energy (a similar approach was used by the Apollo Lunar Lander) and transfer load to the rest of the vehicle. This causes the pole to be either sheared off or to stop the car before the pole hits an occupant.
The rear crash testing was particularly important, given the optional third row children's seat. For this, Tesla factory installs a double bumper if the third row seat is ordered. This was needed in order to protect against a highway speed impact in the rear with no permanently disabling injury to the third row occupants. The third row is already the safest location in the car for frontal or side injuries.
The Model S was also substantially better in rollover risk, with the other top vehicles being approximately 50 percent worse. During testing at an independent facility, the Model S refused to turn over via the normal methods and special means were needed to induce the car to roll. The reason for such a good outcome is that the battery pack is mounted below the floor pan, providing a very low center of gravity, which simultaneously ensures exceptional handling and safety.
Of note, during validation of Model S roof crush protection at an independent commercial facility, the testing machine failed at just above 4 g's. While the exact number is uncertain due to Model S breaking the testing machine, what this means is that at least four additional fully loaded Model S vehicles could be placed on top of an owner's car without the roof caving in. This is achieved primarily through a center (B) pillar reinforcement attached via aerospace grade bolts.
The above results do not tell the full story. It is possible to game the regulatory testing score to some degree by strengthening a car at the exact locations used by the regulatory testing machines. After verifying through internal testing that the Model S would achieve a NHTSA 5-star rating, Tesla then analyzed the Model S to determine the weakest points in the car and retested at those locations until the car achieved 5 stars no matter how the test equipment was configured.
The Model S lithium-ion battery did not catch fire at any time before, during or after the NHTSA testing. It is worth mentioning that no production Tesla lithium-ion battery has ever caught fire in the Model S or Roadster, despite several high speed impacts. While this is statistically unlikely to remain the case long term, Tesla is unaware of any Model S or Roadster occupant fatalities in any car ever.
The graphic below shows the statistical Relative Risk Score (RRS) of Model S compared with all other vehicles tested against the exceptionally difficult NHTSA 2011 standards. In 2011, the standards were revised upward to make it more difficult to achieve a high safety rating.
We're pleased to announce that the Tesla Model S has received a maximum-possible 5-star safety rating from the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP).
Model S is one of just a few cars to have ever achieved a 5-star safety rating from both Euro NCAP and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Additionally, Model S is the only car this year to have achieved both a 5-star Euro NCAP rating and 5 stars in every NHTSA subcategory, including frontal impact, side impact, and rollover. Only two other cars have earned the same recognition since 2011 (when NHTSA introduced its latest rating scheme).
The reason so few models achieve 5-star ratings in both Europe and the U.S. is that each program places emphasis on different safety aspects in the assessment process. NHTSA emphasizes structural and restraint safety, with a deep focus on how well the vehicle can withstand and absorb the energy of an impact while protecting its occupants. It is also primarily concerned with adult occupants. On the other hand, Euro NCAP assesses a wider range of scenarios, including tests for child and pedestrian safety. Unlike for NHTSA, active safety is also an important part of Euro NCAP's 5-star requirement. Every year, the European organization raises the standard for a 5-star rating to account for technological advances in the industry.
The dual 5-star ratings for Model S validate our holistic approach to safety. We have been engineering passive and active safety systems in parallel, so the car is structurally sound and is also designed to intelligently anticipate and react to potentially dangerous situations.
Structurally, Model S has advantages not seen in conventional cars. It has a low center of gravity because its battery pack, the largest mass in the car, is positioned underneath the passenger compartment, making rollover extremely unlikely. It also has a large front crumple zone because of the lack of an engine, meaning it can absorb more energy from a frontal impact, the most common type of crash resulting in fatalities. Its body is reinforced with aluminum extrusions at strategic locations around the car, and the roof can withstand at least 4 g's. It was for these reasons that Model S achieved 5 stars in every subcategory when tested by NHTSA in 2013.
This quarter, we started implementing the Model S active safety system in conjunction with the introduction of new Autopilot hardware, consisting of 12 ultrasonic sensors that sense up to 16 feet around the car, a forward-looking camera, a forward radar, and a digitally controlled, high-precision electric brake boost. We specifically selected this hardware to accommodate the progressive introduction of new safety features via software updates over the course of the next several months.
While the features already pushed to the Model S fleet - Lane Departure Warning and Speed Limit Warning - have proven sufficient to merit a 5-star NCAP rating, we will go much further with active safety systems. Features coming soon include Forward and Side Collision Warning and Avoidance, Blind Spot Warning, and Automatic Emergency Braking.
Safety has always been Tesla's top priority, and we remain committed to continuously improving Model S to ensure that adults, children, and pedestrians alike receive the best possible protection from the car and its technology. In the meantime, Model S owners can be secure in the knowledge that this recognition from Euro NCAP reaffirms their car's outstanding safety qualities.
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