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Thread: Tesla Roadster 2008-2012

  1. #1
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    Tesla Roadster 2008-2012

    The electric-powered Tesla Roadster boasts a top speed of more than 130 mph and a range of 250 miles on a single charge, a combination heretofore unseen in a mass-produced electric vehicle. Its extended range is due to its state-of-the-art lithium-ion Energy Storage System. The Tesla Roadster is capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in about four seconds.

    "The Tesla Roadster delivers sports car performance without using any gasoline," said Eberhard. "This is what we hoped to achieve when we started the company three years ago, to build a car with zero emissions that people would love to drive."

    Using a unique two-speed manual transmission, the Tesla Roadster's power comes from a 3-phase, 4-pole AC induction motor coupled with the Power Electronics Module (PEM) which provides multiple functionality of inverting direct current to 3-phase alternating current, the charging system, and the regenerative braking system.

    The Roadster's Energy Storage System (ESS) provides power to the entire vehicle, including the motor. Its durable, tamper-resistant enclosure includes: 6,831 lithium-ion cells; a network of microprocessors for maintaining charge balance and temperature among the batteries; a cooling system; and an independent safety system designed to disconnect power outside the enclosure under a variety of detectable safety situations.

    The Tesla Roadster comes complete with its Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE), a home-based charging system. An optional mobile charging kit, for re-charging while away from the EVSE, also features this automatic disconnect system. Charging the Tesla Roadster takes approximately 3.5 hours.

    The Tesla Roadster is capable of driving up to 250 miles (EPA Highway) on a single charge, a range roughly triple that of previous mass-produced electric vehicles, like General Motors' EV1.

    "It didn't make sense to sell a car that couldn't go 90 miles on a charge. You'd spend more time charging the old EVs than driving them," said Eberhard. "Lithium-ion technology, which has been proven in many different applications, has allowed us to achieve exactly what we thought it would in terms of power, range and efficiency."

    The body design of the Tesla Roadster, which included a collaborative effort by the company's employees, has been headed by Barney Hatt, Principal Designer at the Lotus Design Studio in England. The result is a sleek, stylish sports car that will appeal to enthusiasts and environmentalists the world over.

    Tesla designers and engineers have gone to great lengths to ensure that not only is the Tesla Roadster safe to drive, but also when charging the performance electric car, at home or on the road. Their goal is to not only meet, but to surpass the rigorous standards of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, or FMVSS, as implemented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

    Tesla co-founders Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, who serves as Vice President, Engineering, have brought together a team of automotive industry veterans plus Silicon Valley electronics and Internet engineers to bring the Tesla Roadster to life.

    Research and Development for Tesla Motors is based at the Corporate Headquarters in San Carlos, Calif. Engines are manufactured at Tesla's facility in Taiwan, and assembly takes place at Tesla's plant in England.

    Eberhard and Tarpenning provided the early funding for the company, and were joined in 2003 by Musk, CEO of SpaceX, who is the major investor in the company and serves as Chairman of Tesla Motors.

    Musk worked with Eberhard and Tarpenning to attract more investors and approach Venture Capital firms, and in June 2006, Tesla Motors announced that the company had secured and additional $40 million in financing led by Musk and VantagePoint Venture Partners, one of the largest CleanTech investors in the Silicon Valley.

    Deliveries of the Tesla Roadster are expected to begin next summer.

    About Tesla Motors
    Tesla Motors was founded in July 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning to create efficient electric cars for people who love to drive. The Chairman of Tesla Motors, a privately held company, is Elon Musk, who has lead or co-led all three rounds of investment resulting in $60 million in funding. Mr. Musk has been instrumental in both corporate and product development at Tesla Motors.

    The company currently employs 70 people, including teams in California, the U.K. and Taiwan. The background and experience of Tesla's employees mirrors the vehicle itself, drawing from diverse expertise in the electronics, automotive and Internet industries.

    Tesla Motors creates vehicles that conform to all U.S. safety, environmental and durability standards. Tesla's cars include modern safety equipment such as airbags, front crumple zones, side impact protection, and 2½ mph bumpers. Tesla will sell cars in the U.S. only when they pass the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS).

    For more information, visit www.teslamotors.com

    Motor:
    * 3-phase, 4-pole AC induction motor
    * 13,500 rpm maximum
    * Max Net Power: 185 kW
    * Max Torque: 180 lb-ft
    * Top speed: over 130 mph

    Performance
    * 0-60 mph: around four seconds
    * 0-100 mph: under 11 seconds
    * Range: 200-250 miles per charge (estimated)
    * Home-based charging system (EVSE) with integral safety features

    Transmission:
    * 2 forward speeds + reverse (by reversing the motor)
    * 1st gear: 4.20:1
    * 2nd gear: 2.17:1
    * Reverse by reversing the motor (speed electronically limited)
    * Final drive: 3.41:1

    Exterior:
    * Body: Carbon fiber
    * Unique headlamp assemblies using proprietary HID low-beam and halogen high-beam lamp units
    * LED taillights, marker lights and direction indicator lights
    * Length: 155.4 / 3946 (in/mm)
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
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    This is one of the most important questions: (From their website)

    How long do the batteries last?

    "Li-Ion batteries are good for 500 charge/discharge cycles. With 250 miles of range this works out to 125,000 miles, but our estimate is a conservative 100,000 miles. However we believe that we will get better life from our batteries due to temperature control of the batteries and intelligent charge/discharge cycling."
    Attached Images Attached Images

  3. #3
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    Last two images (for now)...
    Attached Images Attached Images

  4. #4
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    Am I the only one who thinks the front kinda resembles an older TVR model, or design that would come from TVR?
    2007 Acura TL Type-S (AEM V2, R-V6 Race/J-Pipe, ATLP Quad Exhaust)
    2011 BMW 328i Coupe

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    Yes. It looks like a Saleen S7, with a bit of Murky.

    Why didn't they mention that it's basically an Elise? And would Tesla's plant in England be anywhere near the Lotus plant?
    Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death...
    – Hunter Thompson

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by 2ndclasscitizen
    Yes. It looks like a Saleen S7, with a bit of Murky.

    Why didn't they mention that it's basically an Elise? And would Tesla's plant in England be anywhere near the Lotus plant?
    The Tesla Roadster will be built by Lotus in Lotus facilities.

    They didn't mention that it's "basically an Elise" because it isn't. The car is quite a lot more than just that - many Elise interior bits are borrowed, and the aluminum bonding technology is the same for the frame, but there isn't too much else in common other than that. The chassis is highly modified for Tesla, as in the suspension, braking technology, the entire drivetrain, the body, etc. There's not much left to a car other than that, so it goes to show that it really isn't just an electric Elise at all.

  7. #7
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    Failure in thread title: It is "Tesla", not "Telsa"
    WRC - That's motorsport!

    "If you can see the tree you are about to hit, it is called 'understeering'. If you can only hear and feel it, it was 'oversteering'."
    Walter Röhrl

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by netburner
    Failure in thread title: It is "Tesla", not "Telsa"
    Fixed.

  9. #9
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    They should have called it the "Tuslo" Roadster.
    Thanks for all the fish

  10. #10
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    This is a very promissing car indeed.

    Any ideea how many they are aiming to sell per year? and for ho much?
    Who killed the Electric Car?
    GO HABS GO!

  11. #11
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    How long do the batteries last? 2 years?
    And then how do you dispose of them - at what cost?
    A new battery cost what? 1/3rd of hte car?
    And how much does it cost in Electricity to charge it at home?

    Why is it that all electric cars never actually give these details?

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by 90ft
    How long do the batteries last? 2 years?
    And then how do you dispose of them - at what cost?
    A new battery cost what? 1/3rd of hte car?
    And how much does it cost in Electricity to charge it at home?

    Why is it that all electric cars never actually give these details?
    And don't forget that the batteries still require energy to construct and recharge.

    So most likely this car produces just as much pollution as a normal Lotus Elise, the only difference is that the pollution doesn't come out of the car directly.

    Seeing as so few of these cars are going to be around (relatively speaking) that isn't really going to bring an advantage in terms of reducing smog and pollution in city centres.

    What exactly is the point?

    A Lotus Elise with a load of disadvantages.
    Thanks for all the fish

  13. #13
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    I had a feeling you were going to march in and ruinously spit all over this car.

    Quote Originally Posted by Coventrysucks
    And don't forget that the batteries still require energy to construct and recharge.

    So most likely this car produces just as much pollution as a normal Lotus Elise, the only difference is that the pollution doesn't come out of the car directly.
    Pollution is made in the production of all cars. Saying "there will be pollution when they make the batteries" isn't a valid comparison. All components of all cars result in pollution in some form or another. The batteries are completely recyclable, by the way. They've already sorted that out.

    Seeing as so few of these cars are going to be around (relatively speaking) that isn't really going to bring an advantage in terms of reducing smog and pollution in city centres.
    Of course this car won't make a huge difference. One oil spill doesn't make a big difference in terms of global pollution. It's the fact that they can, and a new way of doing things. Who on earth said that this car would result in lower inner city pollution? Don't accuse them of being fraudelent for something they never claimed.

    What exactly is the point?

    A Lotus Elise with a load of disadvantages.
    Load of disadvantages? Look, maybe it's 500 pounds heavier. What else? It's far quicker, there are massive tax credits, it's cheaper to insure and run.

    You are seriously way too hateful. By the way, explain the "Tulso" joke, because I don't think anybody understood it.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by 90ft
    How long do the batteries last? 2 years?
    And then how do you dispose of them - at what cost?
    A new battery cost what? 1/3rd of hte car?
    And how much does it cost in Electricity to charge it at home?

    Why is it that all electric cars never actually give these details?

    Holy crap, pay attention. If you look on their homepage, it DOES give these details. I even posted the answer to the first question earlier in this thread.

  15. #15
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    Wow,that's amazing!

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