2013 Motortrend car of the year
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Engineering Excellence
Tesla claims it has 250 patents covering the Model S, and more pending. The body is light, thanks to its all-aluminum construction, yet strong and stiff. The front and rear suspension are also mostly aluminum. At the rear are extruded rear suspension links that provide the strength of forgings at much lower cost, while up front are hollow-cast front knuckles that weigh 25 percent less than a conventional knuckle of similar strength.
The electric motor sits between the rear wheels, contributing greatly to the 47/53-percent front/rear weight distribution. The motor is an AC-induction type, the basic principles of which were demonstrated in the 1880s by Nikola Tesla himself, and it doesn't need expensive rare earth metals. .
Tesla offers three lithium-ion battery packs for the Model S -- 40-kW-hr, 60-kW-hr, and 85-kW-hr -- that are claimed to provide ranges of 140, 200, and 265 miles, respectively. The base 85-kW-hr powertrain delivers a stout 362 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque, while the performance version makes 416 hp and 443 lb-ft.The battery packs are assembled at Tesla's plant in Fremont, California, using Panasonic cells with nickel-cobalt-aluminum cathodes. Situated under the floor, the battery pack is a stressed member that further improves torsional rigidity, and helps lower the car's center of gravity to just 17.5 inches, about the same as a Ford GT's.
Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/...#ixzz2C8FiWc8vIf you don't fight for what you deserve, you deserve what you get.
We are > Fossil Fuels --- Bill McKibben 350.org
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as I continue to chat to miself
Tesla Model S - The electric car that shatters every myth
Nov 14, 2012 12:00 PM
We've driven almost every electric car made, and tested most, but the Tesla Model S comes as a revelation. We've been taking turns driving a Signature Performance version on loan to us from Tesla for about a week now and everyone has come out of it impressed.
This is a large, heavy, luxury car that's wicked quick and agile, stretch-out roomy, and whisper quiet. And besides being a hoot to drive, this is the first electric car we've experienced that has a decent range—a realistic 200 miles per charge in our borrowed high-end version.
Having visited Tesla, met several of its employees, and now driven the Model S, you get a very strong impression: These guys are serious about demolishing every obstacle that stands in the way of the electric car.
- Range anxiety? Gone. A large (optional) 85-kWh battery realistically yields 200 plus miles with no pampering.
- Slow charging times? Gone. A 10-kWh onboard charger or optional twin chargers (20 kWh), shorten charging times dramatically. A Tesla dedicated high-power charging station can funnel power quickly. Tesla is in the midst of setting up "supercharger" stations at rest areas along some interstate corridors to charge compatible versions of the car to 80-percent capacity in 30 minutes.
- Slow acceleration? Gone. We clocked a zero to 60 mph sprint in 4.6 seconds.
- Tight accommodations? Gone. The interior feels as roomy as a large luxury sedan, such as a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, with a flat floor and plenty of cargo room.
Equipped with the largest (85 kWh) of the three battery packs Tesla offers, our car's range indicator has been predicting around 245 miles on a full charge, and that's during an unusually cold early November. (Tesla claims 300 miles, the EPA pegs it at 265.) We've been getting about 200 miles of mixed driving—including expressways—without babying the car at all.
Using a loaned ($1,200) Tesla High-Power Wall Connector charging station, which resembles a parking meter with a garden-hose of a power cord, it's been taking only 4.5 to 5 hours to recharge. For context, consider that putting 75 or so miles of go juice into our 2010 Nissan Leaf EV using one of our 240-volt charging stations takes six hours. So for the much larger Tesla to get more than twice the distance in less time, well, that's a huge accomplishment.
Treating the Model S like any other car, I had no problem covering my 160-mile round-trip daily commute with heat, seat heaters, and lights blazing, plus I arrived back at the office with enough leftover range for ample peace of mind. And that's without even counting the extra 70 miles I managed to eke from "opportunity charging" at my house, on 120 volts, and at a public charging pole (240 volts) courtesy of the town of Fairfield, CT, while doing errands.
Takeoff from a standing start is smooth and effortless; 416 horsepower never felt so cultured. You feel drawn in as the landscape zooms by with just a muted whine in the background. Acceleration stats put it in Chevrolet Corvette and Porsche 911 territory, but the sensation makes it feel faster absent the engine and exhaust noise.
Despite the car's hefty 4,700-pound curb weight, it is agile, tied down, and light on its feet. Having no engine over the front axle is a pure benefit here. The ride is firm yet supple, even with the optional 21-inch summer tires—not quite Mercedes E-Class plush, but more compliant than a Porsche Panamera.
The center of the dash console is dominated by a stunningly large 17-inch touch-screen display. Picture a supersized iPad built into the dash, with vivid graphics and Google maps. Navigation, audio, phone and most other controls are operated through that command center. Although the potential for distraction is there, categories are well organized and delineated, with large landing areas for your fingers and quick response. The car also allows Internet connectivity (including web-based radio) while on the go, but even if your passenger is the one interacting with it, the distracting temptation is there for the driver.
The retractable door handles impressed everyone, but there are moments when you want them to be more readily available, especially when it's cold outside. The cabin is well finished and nicely detailed, especially the dash and door trim. The electronic shifter, stalks and window switches are sourced from Mercedes-Benz.
Thanks to the flat floor and no center tunnel intrusion there is ample rear leg room. The front cabin has lots of storage but, oddly, there are no map pockets anywhere. (Tesla did this intentionally for a clean interior look, but it's still nice to have places for stuff). There are two trunks, one beneath the rear hatch and what Tesla calls the "frunk" under the hood.
There's a lot about this car that says "Silicon Valley," and specifically Apple. From its unique plug-in connector to the large iPad-like screen, the Tesla instills an Apple-esque aura. Fittingly, Tesla showrooms are located in shopping malls, like Apple stores, rather than gasoline-alley dealerships. Some may view all this as a plus, others as a turn-off. But no doubt it's a fresh and innovative approach.
If you don't fight for what you deserve, you deserve what you get.
We are > Fossil Fuels --- Bill McKibben 350.org
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Originally posted by CeaBee View PostDid anybody famous have sex in any of these cars?If you don't fight for what you deserve, you deserve what you get.
We are > Fossil Fuels --- Bill McKibben 350.org
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Dat car really look nice...it should have been in the Bond film...Out of Many One People Online
http://www.jamaicans.com
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Originally posted by Xavier View PostDat car really look nice...it should have been in the Bond film...maybe the Tesla Roadster with the Lotus body...
Saw the car.. it is sweet.. Going to see if I can get a test drive offa itIf you don't fight for what you deserve, you deserve what you get.
We are > Fossil Fuels --- Bill McKibben 350.org
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The Tesla Model S Just Got The Best Safety Rating Of Any Car In History
Tesla Model S earns top safety ratings, reinforcing its reputation for innovation and safety in the automotive industry.
TRANSPORTATIONMore: Tesla Elon Musk
The Tesla Model S Just Got The Best Safety Rating Of Any Car In History
JOE WEISENTHAL AUG. 20, 2013, 5:43 AM 20,077 23
Tesla Motors
Here's another extraordinary accomplishment by Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk.The electric car company announced yesterday evening that its famous 'Model S' sedan has achieved the best safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of any car that's ever been tested in history.
The company says it received 5 stars in every possible category (something that's awarded to just 1% of cars) and that the ModelS set a new record for lowest likelihood of passenger injury.
Here's the full press release from Tesla:
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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 arecaptured 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 intoaccount 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 (RSS) 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.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla...#ixzz2frDN7o46
11,000 miles and we still grin when we take off!If you don't fight for what you deserve, you deserve what you get.
We are > Fossil Fuels --- Bill McKibben 350.org
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If you don't fight for what you deserve, you deserve what you get.
We are > Fossil Fuels --- Bill McKibben 350.org
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Originally posted by Emperah View Post
but why is your government so set against dem
u know why? because all their $$ is tied up in oil! & change is hard for many people!
germany is making great strides in alternative energy and its products.If you don't fight for what you deserve, you deserve what you get.
We are > Fossil Fuels --- Bill McKibben 350.org
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this statement bothers me...
The Model S lithium-ion battery did not catch fire at any time before, during or after the NHTSA testing.Last edited by Wahalla; 10-03-2013, 09:51 AM.
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Originally posted by Wahalla View Postthis statement bothers me...
Lithium Ion batteries are notorious as a potential fire hazard... there was the incident with the early I phone and the 787 dreamliner battery....and given the high temperatures and teh high concentration of aluminium in the car I assume there is something that is of concern...
Tesla was called in by Boeing to help with the Dreamliner battery ..
Tesla has something called intumescent goo in between the batteries to prevent the fire from spreading to other battery structures. There was a Tesla that had a fire when it struck some large metal. The car warned the driver to stop & get out of the car before the fire started... The fire itself was contained to one area of the battery.. Given there were 187,500 car fires in the US in 2011.. The odds are there are 1 in 1500 cars catch fire.If you don't fight for what you deserve, you deserve what you get.
We are > Fossil Fuels --- Bill McKibben 350.org
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