Right Lane Cruiser
01-25-2009, 05:36 PM
It's a head-turner, jaw-dropper. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/23/AR2009012301591.html)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2008_Tesla.jpgWarren Brown - The Washington Post (http://www.deparamusposttnews.com) - Jan 25, 2009
Now if someone would just make one of these for 1/5 the price... --Ed.
Tesla's marketers say the car delivers 100 percent torque 100 percent of the time. That's a bit of a stretch. Something always gets lost in the transmission and use of power.
But it is reasonable to agree that the Tesla Roadster delivers at least 90 percent of its torque at least 90 percent of the time, which is far better than the torque delivery of cars and trucks powered by internal combustion engines.
The Tesla Roadster is powered by batteries -- a dense pack of lithium-ion cells that feed juice to a 375-volt AC (alternating current) induction, air-cooled electric motor with variable frequency drive.
That motor, which provides the gasoline-engine equivalent of 248 horsepower and 276 foot-pounds of torque, powers the Tesla's rear wheels via a single-speed, direct-drive transmission. Judging from a day behind the wheel of the car, that speed is fast!
There are people who praise the Tesla Roadster for its environmental attributes. It consumes no fossil fuels, spews no tailpipe emissions and leaves a relatively minor carbon footprint. But all of that is missing the… http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/23/AR2009012301591.html
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2008_Tesla.jpgWarren Brown - The Washington Post (http://www.deparamusposttnews.com) - Jan 25, 2009
Now if someone would just make one of these for 1/5 the price... --Ed.
Tesla's marketers say the car delivers 100 percent torque 100 percent of the time. That's a bit of a stretch. Something always gets lost in the transmission and use of power.
But it is reasonable to agree that the Tesla Roadster delivers at least 90 percent of its torque at least 90 percent of the time, which is far better than the torque delivery of cars and trucks powered by internal combustion engines.
The Tesla Roadster is powered by batteries -- a dense pack of lithium-ion cells that feed juice to a 375-volt AC (alternating current) induction, air-cooled electric motor with variable frequency drive.
That motor, which provides the gasoline-engine equivalent of 248 horsepower and 276 foot-pounds of torque, powers the Tesla's rear wheels via a single-speed, direct-drive transmission. Judging from a day behind the wheel of the car, that speed is fast!
There are people who praise the Tesla Roadster for its environmental attributes. It consumes no fossil fuels, spews no tailpipe emissions and leaves a relatively minor carbon footprint. But all of that is missing the… http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/23/AR2009012301591.html