Have they filed any patents for any of its design like the underbelly battery pack positioning, drive train, the large center console, etc? After watching the ongoing Samsung/Apple epic patent battle over what seems like trivial matters, it seems like a good idea for Tesla to patent everything that is unique in Model S. I was reading that the Honda Fit Electric already has its battery pack positioned just like in Model S, for super low CG.
(Brian H beat me to a click :-) )
Tiebreaker -- And - bummer - will not be able to drive a Model S on Mars...
Sure you can:
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/c104.0.403.403/p403x403/12700...
As far as driving anything on Mars -- what do you do with the heat? The atmosphere is 1% Earth's pressure & density, and even liquid cooling ends at the radiator. There'd have to be radiative cooling: maybe big red hot tail fins? Or else stick to a few days per mile like the Rovers and Curiosity.
Not sure about this either...looks like there are a lot of patents in conjunction to the one I found regarding the "venting" of metal-air batteries. Not sure why Tesla would do this as they are not in the battery business (as far as we know anyway). But maybe they think they could modify a supplier's lithium-air battery and make it work?
Long shot I know...but it's nice to dream that we might hit the magic "500 mile per charge" number sooner rather than later...we will get there eventually anyway.
Brian,
I thought that Mars was about the temperature of Antarctica on a warm day and generally much colder. Also I'd expect that you would be driving inside the terraforming domes, not outside in the Martian atmosphere.
"There'd have to be radiative cooling: maybe big red hot tail fins?"
Fortunately, aerodynamic drag would be much lower.
Unfortunately so would be grip too. Mass doesn't disappear, but weight does, so cornering would really suck.
@teddyg, those 500+Wh/kg batteries have more than twice the capacity of Model S batteries, and if Model S gets 265miles / charge you have your 500+ miles in just couple of years using just traditional batteries.
Of interest: "The first cost-plus-incentive-fee contract to Boeing was for $19,000,000 and called for delivery of the first LRV by 1 April 1971. Cost overruns, however, led to a final cost of $38,000,000"!
^^ messed up my post ^^ .... The only vehicle drive on the moon was the lunar rover.
Hm, an MS with wire-mesh wheels and outriggers (for turns). Need a lot of elbow room!
@jerry3 - LOL, matching color too. Has to be a classic non-metal-air Model S.
Just thinking, with the lower gravity and thinner air, the MS would be way over-powered! You'd get dangerous air time on every lump, bump, and hill. Probably need big 45° spoilers on front and rear for downforce and traction.
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I've been a reservation holder for over a year and a half and a long-time member of the Tesla forums, so I pretty much knew what to expect when I picked up...