|
Posted Jun 12, 2014, 6:28 PM
|
BANNED
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: lodged against an abutment
Posts: 7,556
|
|
Quote:
Tesla will open up its Supercharger patents to boost electric car adoption
BY Sharif Sakr
June 9th 2014, at 6:39:00 am ET
Tesla's CEO has been carefully dropping hints that he might "do something controversial" with his company's collection of technology patents, and now we know what he's on about. Speaking at the UK launch of the Tesla Model S yesterday, Elon Musk said that he specifically wants to open up the designs for his Supercharger system in order to create a standard technical specification that other electric car makers can adopt. As part of this, it's possible that Tesla might need to give away some intellectual property about components within the cars themselves, but the general idea ties in with a commitment Musk made a while ago about not wanting Superchargers to become a "walled garden." Besides, it makes a lot of sense -- especially when you imagine what it'd be like today if we had to put up with manufacturer-specific gas stations.
Then again, Superchargers are more than just fancy plug-in points: they're also a business model in which electricity is given away "free for life" for Model S owners, with all costs factored into the upfront price of the car. Musk is very clear that other EV makers would have to subscribe to this same business model if they want to partner up. They'd also have to contribute a "fair" proportion to the maintenance and running costs of the ever-expanding Supercharger network itself -- costs which he insists aren't very onerous, especially since the physical locations are often given to Tesla rent-free, and in some cases they're powered by solar panels. Rival companies might turn their noses up, of course, and in fact they're already battling over alternative charging standards, but it's clear that the offer is there if they want it.
|
http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/09/t...arger-patents/
http://gas2.org/2014/06/10/tesla-wil...o-promote-evs/
Quote:
Chevy Volt Was The Highlight Of Bob Lutz’s Career
For 47 years, Bob Lutz has bounced around the auto industry, holding high-ranking positions at Ford, Chrysler, BMW, and finally GM before his so-called “retirement”. He has seen some of the auto industry’s highest and lowest paint, and had a hand in developing cars like the Dodge Viper and the new Chevy Camaro.
But Bob Lutz’s favorite car from his 47-year career is none other than the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid. That’s saying something.
The revelation came during a recent speach at Eastern Michigan University, where the Eastern Echo quotes Bob Lutz as saying his last ten years at GM were his favorite and that “Developing the Chevy Volt was without question my favorite.” He must certainly be proud to see that sales of the Chevy Volt have continued to make it a solid contender for global EV supremacy.
|
http://evobsession.com/chevy-volt-hi...-lutzs-career/
http://www.easternecho.com/article/2...evening-at-emu
Quote:
Video: 500 Horsepower Tesla Roadster Headed to Pike’s Peak
Tesla will make its racing debut this month at Pike’s Peak, when a specially modified Tesla Roadster will race Monster Tajima’s badass plug-in up the mountain at America’s oldest and most historic motorsports event!
After crashing out at last year’s Pike’s Peak International Hillclimb and destroying their bespoke, one-off PP01 prototype, the EV racers at Drive E0 are returning to all-electric action at this year’s race – and they’ll be bringing along a specially modified Tesla Roadster. A Tesla Roadster that’s packing nearly 500 horsepower. That new racer, dubbed the Drive E0 PP02 (prototype 2, as it were), features modified rear axles powered by 360 kW (peak) twin-motor system and a 40 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. According to the team, the PP02 project is “aiming to validate the new components ahead of scaling them up for successive electric super car projects, which are already on the drawing board.”
|
http://gas2.org/2014/06/11/video-500...to-pikes-peak/
Quote:
A 750 Horsepower Electric Mustang To Silence The Haters
Finally, somebody is taking a classic Ford Mustang, and stuffing a powerful electric drivetrain under the hood. That someone is John Wayland of Plasma Boy Racing and White Zombie, the 10-second 1972 Datsun EV. He isn’t alone though, having teamed up with eager Texan tech CEO named Mitch Medford, who had the dream of a powerful electric Mustang as a Tesla competitor.
Together, John and Mitch have built a 750 horsepower 1968 Ford Mustang that runs on pure electricity, and can dash from 0 to 60 MPH in 3 seconds flat. Hemmings Auto Blog reports that Mitch came up with the initial idea of building a high-power, all-electric classic Muscle car. During his research, the name John Wayland kept coming up, so Mitch eventually reached out, and the two found enough in common to strike up a business partnership. Together them assembled a team to make the dream come true.
That dream came in the form of a 1968 Ford Mustang, originally powered by a 289 V8. That engine was removed in favor of dual 11-inch electric motors and a pair of Zilla controllers, a Gear Vendors overdrive unit, and a 40 kWh Kokam battery pack. This setup is good for an estimated 750 horsepower, 1,800 ft-lbs of torque, and about 120 miles of driving. The drivetrain adds about 600 pounds to the Mustang’s weight as well, but I think 1,800 ft-lbs of torque more than makes up for that. Coilover shocks, 13-inch disc brakes all around, and a Strange Engineering 9-inch rear end help put that zero emissions power to the pavement. Let me again mention that 0 to 60 MPH figure of 3 seconds. Mmm mmm good.
|
http://gas2.org/2014/06/12/john-wayl...ctric-mustang/
• Video Link
Last edited by amor de cosmos; Jun 12, 2014 at 6:45 PM.
|
|
|