Tesla

[fuzzyfuzion]

Here's something that dosen't really have anything to do with pc modding, but I think is so cool it's not even funny
:D Tesla Motors (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY10ok8wZjY):D

[AJ@PR]

Didn't see the video, but definitely the Tesla Roadster looks very cool.

Very cool indeed!

[Airbozo]

I love the cars they are building. If I could afford one, I would be in line already.

$100k for an electric sports car that hits 0-60 in ~4 sec?!?! Plus it has a 350 mile range! For what I am paying in gas, I could almost afford the car payment and insurance.

[fuzzyfuzion]

If they can "prove" the demand for something like that, hopefully they will first come down in price, and second make more "familey' friendley cars. But yeah, the sprotster is TIGHT!! The battery cell is almost half the weight of the car, but the AC induction motor is only like 40 pounds (I think that's right:think:) But I do expect them to do far better in Europe then in America to start.

[Airbozo]

They sold the first 100 cars in less than 4 months. They are taking orders right now for the June 2008 model delivery, and it depends on how many reservations they get as to how many cars they produce. They are also in the process of building a 4 door sedan for under $80k. I have read several articles on this company and I am impressed. A Silicon Valley car company. Quite a different approach from traditional auto companies. One of the comments from a reporter that got the first media test drive was funny. He commented that he kept waiting for the roar of the engine until he realized he was already doing 60...

[AJ@PR]

Power an electric car with a nuclear battery (http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/feb07/4887)?
Interesting read.

As to the cars, I believe that for the time being, they should keep to "niche" markets... sports cars.
Just my thoughts on the subject, not based in any "evidence".

I wonder how much torque that little motor produces.
Yum! Torque at a lowly 1 or 2 RPMs. :)

[Airbozo]

Power an electric car with a nuclear battery (http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/feb07/4887)?
Interesting read.

As to the cars, I believe that for the time being, they should keep to "niche" markets... sports cars.
Just my thoughts on the subject, not based in any "evidence".

In the article/Interview I read, the CEO stated that in order to serve the general publics needs for electric vehicles, the starting point is indeed a niche market. That market is the mid-priced sports car sector where performance and weight are critical. Once they are able to work out all the "gotchas" with a sports car, a family car is the next logical step.

I wonder how much torque that little motor produces.
Yum! Torque at a lowly 1 or 2 RPMs. :)

Just over 200ft lb's of torque from 0-6000 rpm, where it drops off to 50 ft lb's at 14000 rpm.


Quote from the website:

"How powerful is the acceleration? A quick story to illustrate. A favorite trick here at Tesla Motors is to invite a passenger along and ask him to turn on the radio. At the precise moment we ask, we accelerate. Our passenger simply can’t sit forward enough to reach the dials. But who needs music when you’re experiencing such a symphony of motion."

[Canadian Eh?]

Quick Fact: That company is named after Nikola Tesla, An inventor who created the Tesla Coil. He was also originally given credit for inventing the transatlantic radio system. This credit was later given to Marconi. I had to write a paper En Francais about this dude, so i know a bit about him. And among this company, there many other things that are named after Tesla.

^ Pointless info but who cares?

[Redundant]

One of the main reasons I like this car (besides that it's electric) is that it's so quiet. At school I hear student cars with those huge mufflers that make them so loud I can hear them as far as I can see them. They seem to like the sound, I hate it; it's much cooler if you can drive past the back of someone 100+ mph and they don't even notice. Stealthed, in a way.

James Bond's next car better be something like this one. 8)

EDIT: Something I'd like to add is that the hydrogen cars, although good in theory, probably won't do so good. When my dad got to drive the one in Orlando (Florida), he said it takes some time to turn on (while making some cool sounds) and most people won't want to wait, with the exception of the people who are used to this because they have a glow diesel engine in their vehicle (like my dad). And besides the start-up time, we are going to need to find a cheap way to get pure hydrogen from the atmosphere, ocean, or some other place.

[fuzzyfuzion]

EDIT: Something I'd like to add is that the hydrogen cars, although good in theory, probably won't do so good. When my dad got to drive the one in Orlando (Florida), he said it takes some time to turn on (while making some cool sounds) and most people won't want to wait, with the exception of the people who are used to this because they have a glow diesel engine in their vehicle (like my dad). And besides the start-up time, we are going to need to find a cheap way to get pure hydrogen from the atmosphere, ocean, or some other place.

How bout this water for fuel (http://www.waterforfuel.com/index.html). Which uses brute force (electricity) to make hydrogen. And for the power to mabey do that we could use something like Steorn (http://www.steorn.com/Default.aspx).

[fuzzyfuzion]

BMW Hydrogen 7 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqxZj2vUpwU)