http://peakoilgarage.com/2009/02/20/new-update-from-tesla-motors-on-the-model-s/ New teaser picture of the Tesla Sedan released today. It won't be fully revealed until March 26th. Tesla Model S teaser picture Here are another previously released teaser photo of the Tesla Sedan.
I'm gonna need a quiet moment alone...wow that is sweet. The text that came with the teaser pic (directed toward prior Roadster buyers): Due to the overwhelmingly positive response from customers since we provided a teaser photo last week, we decided to offer a special opportunity to you – the early adopters of the Roadster. You have been instrumental in our early success, and we appreciate your continued passion and belief in Tesla’s vision. Instead of waiting until March 26 to reserve a Model S Signature Series, you may reserve one now for a $40,000 refundable reservation fee. There will be 1000 Signature Series sedans each for US and Europe delivery. As with the Roadster Signature Series, your vehicle production number is a function of when the reservation payment is received. At the launch party, we’ll open reservations for the Model S Signature Series and the regular Model S sedans to everyone. According to our current production plan, only the Signature series is expected to be delivered in 2011, with regular production starting in 2012. Roadster owners will receive a $10,000 discount off the final sales price of the Signature Series Model S.
The Telsa is out of my price range. Still, it interests me greatly as a cutting edge all-electric that will set the bench marks for those that follow. I wonder, are the rims unidirecional, that is, different for the two sides of the car? And why not more disc-like as a nod to max aero efficiency as for the most part braking, I would assume, will be mostly through regen with little need then to force air over the brakes. Then again, perhaps they are part of the pre-release hoopla... a styling exercise meant to grab the viewer's attention, but subject to change.
Why then wouldn't they be asymmetrical from side to side? Like on the 2010 Prius, the rims are the same whether mounted on the left or the right, but on the one side they flare forward and the other side they flare backward. If they serve a purpose (to blow out air), then they have to point in the same direction on both sides to work effectively (otherwise one side is always working 'against' the airflow. Unfortunately doing it this way will make it difficult to rotate tires from side to side.
FWIW, the rims look like front office tom-foolery to me. First, there's the question as whether they actually act to move air across the brake disks. That's not even a certainty. Second, if they do move air, the rims as shown would be forcing air inward cross the brakes and then under the body, where as I understand it there is already a slight over pressure situation, and the last place you'd want more air. And yes, this would require unidirectional rims, different on the two sides of the car Then there's the matter of the weight and rotational inertia of the massive rims themselves, 19s or 20s would be my guess. Lastly there's the extremely low profile tires, most probably very wide, with attendant power train efficiency losses. Looks like a little desperation is creeping into the ad copy... They're trying to sell the sizzle, not the steak...
I suspect there will be both sizzle and steak, much like the Roadster. This is a HOT car and if they can get the 250mile range and performance numbers approaching the roadster in a family sedan...I am SO in!
Tesla is projecting two different versions of the Sedan. One model with a 160 miles range. Another model with a 300 mile range. They are designing it so that the battery is swapable. If you are planning a longer trip, you could take the Tesla Sedan to the service center and rent a long range 300 mile battery. In testing Tesla has a charger (in the lab) at 480 volts and 160 amps that will recharge a Tesla Roadster (53 kwh) in 45 minutes. They are planning on strategically locating these high power chargers in certain locations. For example, at a restaurant between Los Angeles and Las Vegas would be an ideal location. Between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe has also been mentioned.
Darn, you mean they won't have stations that I just pull in, select my vehicle and swap my drained battery for a freshly charged one and am well along my way?
That model is silly and I expect it will fail for "Project Better Place". I have two electric vehicles and my third is arriving this summer. I have not ever been in the situation where I need to swap the battery. That is an old habit that we think we need because we have gas tanks that are only filled about once per week. So we are trained to think that we need to goto an "energy" station and refill. With an electric vehicle, you recharge in your garage (or driveway) every night. You start each day with a 100% full battery. If you have 150 miles of range, 98% of the population does not need a refill during the typical day. If recharging outlets become standard in parking lots and parking garages, then your range is effectively doubled each day. I am always plugging in my Hymotion Prius at work or in the parking lots where I shop. I know where the electricity outlets are and I use them, even though there is no sign saying "EV recharging here". As a result, my Hymotion battery can easily provide me with 60-80 miles of range per day. But I typically only use 30 miles of range per day. Here is the result. 728 miles at 99.9+ MPG
I was kidding. I'm imitating all the people that say an EV is too restrictive for them. I can't name many professions that require you to drive all day. The only thing would be faster/more powerful chargers for those that want to travel or as you said with the charging stations.
