Posts tagged Electric Vehicles
The new Model S, no not xperia, but Tesla!
Jun 25th
Tesla Motors Inc., the Silicon Valley electric vehicle startup led by entrepreneur Elon Musk, is rolling out its first mainstream car; The Model S.
Its first sports car was the electric Roadster, which was priced at $109,000 which explains why it hasn’t acquired the love of the mainstream market. However, if their latest model lives to its expectations, it might reinforce the whole EV industry.
Retail customers of the first eight models were happy to hear that their Model S would start shipping this Saturday at Tesla’s factory in Fremont, Calif. The company manager was also eager to announce that they already have 10,000 orders and shall deliver 5,300 this year and 20,000 next year.
Even though there are tons and tons of reasons to keep us skeptical about this new model, it seems like one exhilarating car to drive; with its 17-inch central console touchscreen (that so elegantly controls the sunroof), music, maps and above all of that, regenerative braking strength that capture the energy and let the wheels recharge the vehicle’s batteries, quite amazing no? what’s also fantastic about these brakes is their incredible ability to swiftly slow down once you have taken your foot off the gas pedal, regardless of the speed you’re driving at; hence less maintenance and smoother ride.
Tesla S has a lot of things going for it; for instance, going from 0 to 60 mph in a whopping time that is estimated at 4.4 seconds. Another performance advantage it has over many other sports cars is the low center of gravity it boasts. Yet another thing it has in its favor is its marvelous range of 265 miles in the high-end model (160 miles with the base model), what does this mean you ask? Well, basically this destroys the anxiety that you might be having of running out of charge before reaching your destination. All of this is owing to the vehicle’s enormous battery pack (7,000 lithium-ion cells) which accounts for it to weigh at 4,400 lbs- hence the low center for gravity.
The huge touchscreen can be used for more than just control the sunroof; it can be used to update the vehicle in the instance that anything went wrong with the car, Tesla can use the car’s 3G to fix it remotely. Its maintenance policy is similar to that of the Roadster, in that they would come to customers rather than the other way round (however, we do not know how beneficial this would be in the case that Tesla gains in demand).
Still, even with all of these incredible enhancements, the two biggest elephants in the room remain; the price tag and that long road trip with no EV charging stations on the way.
The Model S start at $54,700 and range to $105,400 which is, let’s face it, quite high. If we take a look at the Nissan Leaf which is half its price, has only sold around 30,000 vehicles since 2010. Tesla might be aiming too high with its goal of selling 20,000 by 2013.
Do not be misled and assume that this is just another conventional sedan; oh no it is also a luxury car! Even though Tesla has cheaper models to be introduced in the foreseeable future, however the Model S is not one of those for it’s in the same range as a BMW or a Lexus.
As Franz Von Holzhausen, chief designer at Tesla, explains: “supposed to be an approachable, stylistic, high-design vehicle, but not one that is so quirky or weird it would only appeal to early adopters. “
To view the whole gallery, click here.
Well, we only hope that Elon Musk’s dream would one day be realized and that we would comprehend that electric cars can indeed be better than any gasoline-powered one.
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Audi; destination e-bike!
May 24th
Audi, the company that has brought us the hybrid-diesel racecars as well as many of the greatest car designs are tackling two-wheels now; the bicycles!
Yes, it is true…Audi has presented last week, at the Wörthersee Tour event in Austria a high-end, ultra-light carbon fiber electric bicycle. This new pedicycle would be ideal for stuntmen; it permits computer-controlled tricks as well as enabling you to strut down the road at 50mph!
Our inner child is incredibly thrilled yet upset that this was not available when we were actually 12 or 14 and busy learning to factor quadratic equations; a skill arguably even more useless in adulthood than being able to ride a bike on one wheel!
Audi has certainly geared up the experience with the bike’s specs:
1. A carbon fiber frame weighs just 3.53 pounds (1.6kg ) and a 2.3kW motor with a lithium ion battery (FYI; pedal-assist electric bikes’ legal maximum in most legislations is about a tenth of that). The bike’s total weight is 24lbs (11kg).
2. An on-board computer control, hydraulic brakes and gears.
3. A touch-screen on the top-tube that controls riding mode selection, recording of trick sequences as well as adjustment of various e-bike functions as electric pedaling assistance and lighting.
4. A display that show cases speed, distance, battery charge, energy consumption and inclination.
5. The battery can be charged in 2.5 hours or quickly swapped and gives a claimed range of 50-70km.
6. The seat height is continuously adjustable from a handlebar control, even while riding.
7. A Smartphone app to control the built-in immobilizer.
The bike’s designated as a high-performance bike for trick cycling, including the ability to ride on its back wheel alone in two (Power Wheelie and Balanced Wheelie) of the five available modes: Pure, Pedelec, eGrip, Power Wheelie, and Balanced Wheelie.
The pure mode is basically what you and I would simply call “pedaling”. The Pedelec mode will permit you to do 50mph. Riding solely on the back wheel is posibile by either picking an angle in Power Wheelie mode or shifting your weight in the Balanced Wheelie mode.
As stylish and high tech this bike really is, you’re going to need a license, registration and a helmet of course to be able to use it on the road.
Many automakers also sell performance bikes as lifestyle accessories, but nothing like Audi’s e-bike. BMW i Ventures, the New York City-based venture fund for mobility related investments, is providing seed money for a more mainstream electric bicycle that would be light and foldable. Drive to the train station in the suburbs, carry the bike on board, get to your destination city, unfold the bike, and motor electrically to your office a mile or two away.
There’s no word on whether Audi will ever actually sell this thing, though some automotive sites have speculated it’d have a Ducati label if they did, as the group recently bought Ducati.
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