Recent Comments:
First-hand impressions after riding in the Tesla Roadster plus an Image Gallery {Autoblog Green}
Feb 12th 2007 10:59PM Greenfaux:
In some ways, I also share your feelings. I have not been a vocal proponent of electric vehicles in the past, and still question the economic feasibility of gasoline hybrids (particularly in light of clean diesel advances). Up until quite recently, electric vehicles were highly inefficient, had poor performance and range, and are certainly NOT zero emissions (althought many consider them as such; I'm not among them).
However, electricity can also come from sources such as hydro-electric, wind, solar, and nuclear, all of which can be less environmentally impactful if managed well. Advances such as higher efficiency components, advanced battery technologies, super capacitors, and more make the promise of electric propulsion practical for many applications, but perhaps not all. Thus far, fossil fuels still represent the greatest energy per unit mass storage mechanism we have, and will continue to be a major energy source (there must have been one hell of a lot of dinosauers roaming this planet!), but if we don't work on alternatives, we're all in trouble someday. I personally think that Tesla's efforts are very much steps in the right direction, despite their need to reach even farther goals. The difference is that Tesla is making this truly a viable alternative to transportation choices from the traditional sources, who really haven't figured this out yet (or perhaps haven't cared to - until now).
Video of the Tesla Roadster testing on ice! {Autoblog Green}
Jan 28th 2007 6:20PM All:
Trust me, the Tesla is for real. I actually rode in one yesterday! It's all electric and there is no gas engine in there. Tesla invited a group of around 40 of us in the Pacific Region of the Ferrari Club of America to visit their facilities, and there was a drawing for 6 of us to get rides in one of the prototypes. I was one of the lucky six. Without a doubt, this car has awesome acceleration. The prototype did not have 1st gear working, but even from a rolling start in 2nd (there's only 2 gears) we completely dusted a tricked out 350Z that was trying to keep up with us...there was just no way. The electric motor can spin up to something like 19,000 rpm and makes a unique sound, not unlike some engines, particularly a turbo or supercharged motor. There's also a battery cooling fan than makes some noise as well.
Official announcement on Tesla's Michigan Technical Center {Autoblog Green}
Jan 25th 2007 5:26PM Telsa certainly has a lot to be proud of, and are already having an influence on future transportation. However, there are many hurdles to overcome to bring "green" transportation to the masses. Electric vehicles can answer specific market niche needs, but certainly not all. Unless the bulk of the electricity is generated by environmentally responsible sources, a market shift to electric vehicles away from fossil fuels is not the answer either. From today's data, it would appear that the most beneficial solution for mass market transport could be the clean diesel plug-in hybrid, prior to an infrastructure solution on the generation and distribution of environmentally responsible hydrogen fuels. Yet, it would seem no one is working on this yet with the appropriate focus. Tesla, don't limit yourself to electric only alternatives.
Myles H. Kitchen
M.H. KITCHEN & ASSOCIATES
www.auto-electronic.com
