Who hasn't heard of Tesla's sensational electric car brand (Tesla, and sometimes even Tesla)! We take our hats off to the enthusiasts of this brand! After all, it is they who are pushing the electric car industry into the shoulder blades and, in narrow circles of automakers, the very name Tesla causes indignation and irritation. After all, it's time to get out of greenhouse conditions (riveting ICEs that are not much different in essence) and switch to bold innovative solutions, and to be honest, such innovations are unlikely to always be profitable. This means that the bets are on the young - and these are electric cars, and in particular - Tesla!
The President of the Tesla Club in the near future promises a rapid increase in the construction of charging stations that will allow drivers to make longer trips without worrying about running out of batteries.
“You can go around the whole country without any problems,” he says. The stations are about 200 km apart, and a Tesla electric car today can travel about 418 km without recharging.
Electric car maker Tesla says it is opening more stations as it believes such a move will inevitably boost car sales.
Video: True story about the Tesla electric car (Tesla)
The prospects for electric vehicles Tesla (Tesla)
The automaker previously said that 17,400 Model S and Model X units were sold in the last three months of 2015. And in the fourth quarter, shipments of S models were already 48% more than in the previous quarter and about 75% more than in the fourth quarter. 2014.
With 17.4 million vehicles sold across America last year (meaning all manufacturers), Tesla has only a small share of the market so far.
Since Tesla electric car prices start at $70,000, this can be very expensive pleasure for an ordinary citizen, and it is very easy to lose your attractiveness in their eyes, even considering future fuel savings. Only attractive tax incentives save such a position in Tesla's sales of electric vehicles.
“But this does not mean that a sentence has been read over Tesla electric vehicles,” the president said. Tesla club. “The auto industry changes frequently and I know that Tesla will be more in demand. Time will show."
Such uncertainty does not upset the owners of Tesla electric vehicles, because their cars easily gain from zero to 100 km / h in less than six seconds!
The development of filling stations for Tesla electric vehicles will greatly influence the development of eco-motorism. To charge 
such an electric car will take only about 30 minutes. Owners can drive up to a free charging point and wait in their car for this time, or spend time in a cafe monitoring the charging process through a smartphone application.
Already today, one of the leading real estate companies in America is placing chargers throughout the United States.
“With the rapidly expanding market for electric vehicles, building the infrastructure to support charging in these vehicles is becoming increasingly important not only to Tesla electric vehicle manufacturers, but also to numerous consumers.”
Thomas Henderson, assistant director of airports in Monroe County, said he completed installation of a Tesla electric vehicle charging station in early summer 2015 at his airport. “We are already charging at least a couple of cars a day,” he said.
“And it is not surprising that similar filling stations appear at our airport, because I
I see Tesla electric cars almost every day – that means a lot.”
I personally, not so long ago, took a test drive in one of Tesla's luxury models called Model S. Highlighting the Tesla electric car over its closest competitors, based on the result of a laboratory studying the charge and development of batteries. You can believe me, they deserve to be carried to the masses.
About the cost of electric vehicles Tesla (Tesla)
Tesla Model S electric car is quite expensive (the price for it ranges from $70,000 to $100,000), 
but the mileage range is 426 km, more than three times the claimed Nissan(120 km). Within a few years, Tesla hopes to produce much more affordable electric vehicles, including one already unveiled that will cost between $30,000 and $35,000 — with a range similar to the Tesla Model S. Tesla also wants to make electric cars more practical — by improving charging stations that can get enough charge in half an hour. to drive about 320 - compared to several hours of charging an electric car at a conventional station today.
Today's electric vehicles promise a number of advantages over gas engines cars. Drivers no longer need to travel to gas stations! All you need is an outlet at work or at home, and full charge will only cost a couple of dollars! Tesla's electric motors require only one gear for any given speed, and are surprisingly responsive and powerful. Moreover, Tesla electric vehicles do not use any type of fuel and do not emit pollution into the environment.
Even if you take the fact of carbon emissions and pollution from power plants (which generate electricity to power cars) plus the recycling and production of cars themselves, then electric cars will not take away 40% of carbon dioxide and ozone than from the production of conventional cars.
Is the production of electric vehicles Tesla (Tesla) harmful?
But for all the advantages of Tesla's electric vehicles, two killer factors still follow: 
high battery costs.
This is where Tesla hopes to make a difference. The company has already created an innovative battery and technology for fast charging, which gave them a significant edge and made batteries cheaper, which would also help drive Tesla's electric vehicle costs down faster than their competitors.
At about 10 am, I left the parking lot in a Tesla electric car. My car accelerated from 0 to 50 km in 1.7 seconds. During the day, I drove around other electric cars participating in the test, which, while climbing steep hills, tried to pick up speed, but were on emergency lights.
But I felt uneasy when I noticed only 67 km from the remaining charge in Tesla battery. I was promised that I would easily drive to the nearest charging station, and the remaining charge for 32 km is about half of what I wanted to drive. I wouldn't worry if I knew I could accurately count on that figure, but like any EV, the actual range depends on driving style, terrain and traffic.
Tesla The Model S shows two different ranges that the car will cover:
- something like a fuel gauge
- showing the distance that you will travel in a Tesla electric car if you continue to drive in the same style
I turned off the Tesla electric car's air conditioner, turned off the huge 17-inch touchscreen, and began to press the accelerator pedal more gently to conserve power. And I drove the 30 km that the battery guaranteed quite easily.
Recharging the Tesla electric car was much easier than I expected, compared to the time it took to charge a Chevrolet Volt at a standard charging station to get just 50km. While I was walking around the parking lot, bought a sandwich and reached the checkout, there was already a charge for 150 km, which was enough to complete the test of the Tesla electric car. I returned the car the same evening with 200km of battery life—that's more than a fully charged battery—of electric vehicles from other automakers.
About the problems of Tesla electric vehicles Tesla
Despite convincing successes, problems for Tesla's electric vehicles remain: cost and range. Yes, and there are not charging stations on every corner, if you forgot to connect the car at night or there were power outages or some other problems, then you were simply unlucky that day. If I were testing a Tesla electric car in an underdeveloped country, or driving north instead of south, I would be stuck on the side of the road.
The issue of charging is largely a problem of lack of infrastructure. But most big problem remains 
the cost of a Tesla electric car battery. The day before my test, I visited Tesla's lab. The director of technology showed me variants of the first roadster car. I was shown what long haul passed the company. The roadster has bulky batteries that take up the entire back(almost a third of the car). Tesla's Model S electric car has lost them. Though new battery accumulates much more energy, it has become more compact: it resembles a flat plate that lies inconspicuously between the wheels and serves as part of the frame of the Tesla electric car.
Tesla Electric Vehicle Safety
I was also shown a wide variety of lithium-ion batteries, which the company is now actively testing.
Tesla's choice of these small lithium-ion batteries is perhaps one of its most important strategic directions. But, the larger the battery compartments, the more energy they contain, although they begin to pose an increased danger. Therefore, automakers use smaller batteries that are more resistant to ignition. In an attempt to compensate for the lower energy density, automakers have opted for flat-panel bays because they sit more closely together and are, unfortunately, more expensive to manufacture. Having carried out crash tests, we came to the conclusion that the battery of the Tesla electric car should be located in the most remote place from a possible impact.
A little bit about Tesla electric car batteries
By most estimates, the battery for Tesla models The S should cost between $42,500 and $55,250, which is half the price of a Tesla electric car. But the director said that today the price is already much lower. “They are, by the way, less than half, actually,” he says. “Less than a quarter of the cost in most cases. There are also many more ideas to reduce the cost of batteries. Working closely with material suppliers to maximize energy density, it reshapes cells to make them as easy to manufacture as possible.
Other global automakers are also taking note of these innovations. GM has reportedly set up a task force to look into Tesla's electric vehicles.
Brett Smith, director of operations, engineering and technology at Ann Arbor based nonprofit center automotive research, says that Tesla "has gone from being a quirky little darling of the press to something that definitely influences the industry as a whole."
Cars with the memorable name "Tesla" have long been cut through the roads of Europe and Russia. Another thing is that due to the relatively high cost and problems with charging, they are not yet very common. Nevertheless, many experts say that Tesla cars will soon become extremely popular and in demand. Let's talk in more detail about the new generation of electric vehicles. Consider their advantages, disadvantages and more.
General information
Currently, Tesla cars have a huge number of modifications - these are the Roadster, Model S, and many others. In any case, it makes sense to say that all cars are unique and interesting in their own way. All this causes unprecedented interest among potential buyers. But there is a large number of limiting factors. For example, a 2008 Tesla Roadster costs about $100,000. Naturally, not everyone could afford such a car. However, its characteristics are good level. The 250 horsepower electric motor accelerates the car to 100 km/h in 4 seconds and can travel 400 km without recharging. There are other manufacturers of electric cars, but Tesla is considered the most promising and interesting.
Tesla car: characteristics and something else
First of all, let's deal with the technical characteristics. Unlike petrol cars, in which power is the determining factor, it makes sense to pay attention to the power reserve. This indicator indicates how much the vehicle will travel on the road without recharging. Naturally, on different machines Batteries are different, as is the electric motor, however best performance managed to achieve Tesla Model S, where there is a battery of 85 kW / h. The manufacturer says that such a battery will last for 470 km, but in practice it turns out somewhat less. If you completely drown the accelerator pedal to the floor, you get no more than 300 km. Car body from this manufacturer made of special fiber, which is much lighter than steel. This improves the dynamic performance of the vehicle by an order of magnitude. Engines are also installed very different, starting with 100 and ending with 300 horses. This is enough for both calm and aggressive driving.
Can you drive in winter?
This question is actually of interest to many buyers. Everyone knows that battery capacity drops during the cold season. This is especially true for electric vehicles, which rely entirely on their batteries. But company representatives say that you have nothing to worry about. For example, if necessary, regenerative braking is turned off, and interior heating is turned on only when charging. vehicle. Also, before leaving for work in the morning, you need to put the electric car on charge, at the same time it will warm up.
As for regenerative braking, there will be some limitations in using this feature. If earlier, in order to slow down, it was enough to release the gas pedal, then in winter you will have to remember that there are also brakes. Disabling this function is due to the fact that until the battery warms up, it is impossible to obtain additional energy while driving. In any case, you will have to come to terms with the fact that the energy supply will fall by about 20%.
Tesla (car): Model S test drive
According to the manufacturer, this unique car. Nevertheless, a test drive was carried out, which showed that the car is worthy of attention, but there is nothing supernatural in it. The interior is quite simple, the only thing that catches your eye is on-board computer. But the volumes of the trunks are pleasantly pleasing, and there are two of them, and the amount of space in the cabin, especially in the front seats.
There are no complaints about the suspension of the vehicle. It copes with the task perfectly and completely protects the driver and passengers from vibration. This model boasts incredible power. Just imagine - 416 horses under the hood! There are some rolls when driving on high speeds, otherwise the steering is just excellent, the “Standard” mode is especially pleasing. As for the power reserve, it's hard to say something specific. Tests have shown that energy consumption increases dramatically when you press the accelerator. In general, Tesla cars of this model show good dynamics and stability on the road.
A few interesting details
As noted a little higher, Tesla cars are very rare in Russia. This is due solely to the fact that there are practically no special stations for recharging. If you can see a regular gas station almost every kilometer, then charging an electric car will be problematic. This, along with the cost, is the main limiter when buying cars from this manufacturer. To date, such chargers are already being installed in users' garages, but not everyone can afford such a luxury. In addition, the charger is not so easy to pick up. There are those that charge the vehicle for several days, and there are those that charge in half an hour. Some will not allow you to drive a car for several days, others destroy the battery in front of your eyes. In any case, when solving such an issue, it is better to consult with the specialists of the company where the purchase is made.
Conclusion
For many Europeans, electric vehicles have long been familiar, unlike us. It is safe to say that they are more convenient and easy to maintain. Of course, this does not mean at all that the electric motor does not require maintenance, but there will definitely be fewer problems than with gasoline engine. Nevertheless, the Tesla car, the price of which is quite high, has its drawbacks. One of them is cost. Modern electric car won't be cheap. "Roadster" - 90-110 thousand dollars, Model S - even more expensive. But we can say that prices will change somewhat with increasing demand. According to preliminary forecasts, prices may fall by 20-25%. This will make electric cars on par with gasoline-powered cars. If even 10 years ago they could laugh at the idea of creating such a car, today it is a reality that has taken root well.
Cars powered by electricity existed as early as the middle of the 19th century, and if not for the difficulty of recharging, they could compete with their gasoline counterparts. At the beginning of the 21st century, many companies began to promote their electric vehicles, and almost no model could compete with conventional cars in terms of driving performance. But the appearance in the arena Tesla Motors to some extent corrected the situation, and many believe that the future belongs to electric vehicles produced by Tesla. Is it so? - Time will tell! But let's see what Tesla cars can boast of today.
A little about Tesla Motors
It all started in 2003, when two enthusiasts Martin Eberhard and Mark Tarpenning founded a company that symbolically was named after Nikola Tesla. This scientist designed the electric motor 100 years ago.
From the very beginning, the goal of the company's activity was the commercialization of electric vehicles. First priority was the creation of a premium sports car to show that electric vehicles can compete even at the highest level. Over time, it was planned to mass-produce such cars in various bodies to be made available to the average consumer. True, while Tesla-mobiles in the normal configuration cost approximately $ 100,000 ...
The guys needed good investments, and they soon turned to Elon Musk. He became very interested in the project, because electric vehicles can make the world a better place, at least partially removing it from the oil needle. "Okay, I'm in!" Musk said, becoming the main shareholder of the company's president. His enthusiasm and, of course, financial means gave the future of Tesla motors.
Today, Elon Musk is the face of the company. He not only made huge investments in the whole enterprise, but also initiated the implementation of some technological and design solutions for Tesla cars.
In a word, Tesla Motors received proper support and funding, especially after the presentation of the first electric sports car.
They continue to move on a given course and are preparing for the release of the fourth electric car. Although it is worth noting the unpleasant fact that the company in last years works at a definite loss.
What makes Tesla mobile special
In each model of an electric car from Tesla, new chips appeared, which we will talk about later, but the main technological solutions can be traced throughout the entire model range.
Design
Everyone knows that liquid-fuel cars have hundreds of moving parts, but in the case of our electric friends, everything is a little simpler - they are provided only four major systems:
- Energy storage system (ESS);
- Power Electronics Module (PEM);
- Electric motor;
- Sequential gearbox.
Thus, electric vehicles have less weight, more usable space inside (two trunks), and less chance of breakage due to relatively few parts.
Autopilot
Tesla's advanced autopilot also deserves attention. So far, the presence of a driver behind the wheel is still not excluded, but Elon Musk promises that the car will soon will be able to drive from one American coast to another without the participation of the driver, who does not even have to deal with recharging - everything will be done by artificial intelligence.
Autopilot Tesla The autopilot can move along the road, sticking to its lane, steer and slow down so as not to collide with other cars, control speed based on traffic, and perform many other useful things.
Current models can independently (without a driver) overcome up to 12 meters, for example, in order to park or drive into a garage.
Autopilot action:
Minimalism in the cabin
The center console is represented by a huge touch screen(the size depends on the model), with the help of which the main control takes place. You will not find any toggle switches and buttons. In place of the usual dashboard there is also a display with all the necessary information.
The interior itself corresponds to the price of the car, but we will not paint it much, because there are no comrades for the taste and color.
Batteries
The power source is something without which the electric car will not go. Prior to this, large galvanic cells were used, but Tesla Motors went the other way. Their cars are battery powered from several thousand lithium-ion batteries manufactured by Panasonic, similar to those used in household appliances. 
IN Tesla roadster the battery was located behind the seats, and already in the Model S it was placed in the floor of the car. This solution allowed us to save usable space and improve handling.
"Supercharge" network
Tesla car owners should count on long trips, so Supercharger was developed - charging stations for electric vehicles. In the future, they should be as accessible and widespread as conventional gas stations.
To date, the Supercharge network is well developed in the United States: you can drive from one coast to another without fear that your battery will run out on the road and there will be nowhere to charge. Slowly, the Supercharger appears in Europe, Asia, and even in Russia, such a miracle can be seen in some places.
The battery can be charged in less than an hour.
Initially, recharging was free for Tesla car owners, but the manufacturer recently announced that, under the new rules, fees will still be charged. More precisely, each owner of such a car will be given an annual coupon for 400 kWh of free charging, and when the limit is exhausted, you will have to pay out of your own pocket. Rates are not yet known.
Tesla lineup
Since 2006, only 4 Tesla vehicles have been presented and put into production:
- Tesla Roadster sports car;
- Tesla Model S sedan;
- Crossover Tesla Model X;
- Tesla Model 3 sedan.
It's interesting that to buy a Tesla car, you must leave an application on the official website of the company. This is not typical for automotive market, because usually sales occur through dealers.
Debut Tesla job Motors - Roadster electric sports car was produced from 2008 to 2012. During this period, about 2,600 cars rolled off the assembly line.
The body and chassis were borrowed from the Lotus Elise. It was a kind of breaking the stereotype that all electric cars are not elegant. appearance. Tesla Roadster looks like a real sports car.
Electric induction motor weighs only 32 kg, while the Tesla Roadster can accelerate up to 100 km/h in just 4 seconds, and the maximum speed is 201.1 km / h. On a single charge, you can drive up to 400 km. IN basic configuration it cost $109,000.
Due to the peculiarities of the motor reaction, there was no need for complex gears. There are only three of them in the Roadster: two forward and one rear.
In addition to such goodies as heated seats, a stereo system, ABS, the following innovations appeared in this car, which are also in subsequent models:
- A unique code that allows you to start the car.
- A special transceiver with which you can control, for example, the opening of the garage door.
- Docking station for iPad.
- Electric door handles.
Interestingly, the first Tesla Roadster at the presentation in 2006 could drive no more than 5 minutes due to overheating of the batteries.
In a word, by releasing the Roadster, manufacturers were able to really express themselves and demonstrate new technological solutions in terms of production. electric transport.
Tesla Model S
This sedan was presented in 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and already in 2012 its mass production began.
Model S can pass on one charge 458 km– it became a record among other electric cars. True, for this you need to order a car with a modernized battery.
The price varies from 75 thousand to 105 thousand dollars.
It was on this car that it was first demonstrated automatic replacement batteries as an alternative to recharging. This service has become available at gas stations Supercharger stations and costs about 80 dollars.
Some journalists have already dubbed the Model S best car. Of course, the statement is controversial, but, for example, in terms of safety, it really surpasses many other cars on the market. All this thanks to design features electric car:
- Lack of combustible fuel - there is nothing to catch fire!
- Under the hood, the empty storage space is a sort of crumple zone, and it will absorb most of the impact in a frontal collision.
- The center of gravity is much lower than on other cars, therefore, the likelihood of a rollover is reduced.
A distinctive feature of the Model S is the fact that it the first electric car built from scratch. For other similar cars, ready-made bases of gasoline models were used.
Just like that, charging the car from the outlet will not learn. To do this, you will have to additionally buy a charging station or constantly visit Supercharger.
The Model S even went on a "Big Test Drive":
This electric car has become very popular and has overtaken in sales even such cars as Mercedes-Benz S-class and BMW 7 Series. In the same Norway, Tesla Model S in September 2013 became the best-selling. This was greatly facilitated governmental support electric vehicles in the form of tax breaks; and high gasoline prices.
Sales of this electric crossover began in 2015. The Model X is built on the Model S platform and is available in three trim levels: 75D, 90D, P90D, which mainly differ in battery power. Already in basic version the car is equipped with two electric motors at once.
The power reserve, depending on the battery, is up to 411 km, and the limitation top speed- 250 km / h.
The main feature of the Model X is gullwing automatic doors. This decision not only facilitated access to the car interior, but also reduced the required parking space.
The Model X 70D costs $81,000, while the top-of-the-line P90D costs $142,000.
Tesla's electric crossover was conceived as best car for family and travel. In general, the car has come in, given that the demand for the class has increased greatly in recent years. However, it was not without negativity - many owners complained about low quality Model X, both hardware problems and mechanical failures were mentioned.
Tesla Model 3 sedan
And this electric car at the time of writing the article has not yet been released, but has already been presented.
For Model 3 again developed new platform, and this time the Tesla mobile should be aimed at the mass market. Basic version will only cost $35,000.
In terms of driving performance, Model 3, of course, will be inferior to its older brothers: acceleration to 100 km / h in 6 seconds, power reserve - 346 km.
Tesla Semi Truck
In November 2017, Elon Musk presented an electric truck.
Problems
Tesla vehicles are no doubt superior to the competition in the field of electric transport, but some typical disadvantages they still have. In particular, this applies severe loss charge during even a little downtime car and fast discharge at low temperatures.
Conclusion
It is likely that liquid-fuel cars will be slowly replaced by electric cars in a few decades. Tesla was able to show that such competition is real, and successfully continue to please us innovative solutions in the automotive industry.
Tesla Motors never ceases to amaze its fans and attracts more and more attention from investors. The company is not afraid to break established patterns and create completely new vehicles that immediately become legends among supercars. The American brand has already managed to prove that the electric car is a full-fledged competitor ordinary car, which in many ways even wins against their background. For example, one of the company's developments - Tesla Model S which made a real revolution.
Tesla Model S sales began in 2012 and as of December 2016, their volume exceeded 158,000 cars, making the model the second after nissan leaf the best-selling electric car in the world. In August 2016, the model received the title of the most dynamic mass-produced car, whose acceleration from standstill to 100 km / h is 2.7 seconds. Only the Porsche 918 Spyder and LaFerrari, which, however, are no longer produced, can defeat it.
Tesla Model S
Speaking about this electric car, the review should start with the technical specifications of the Tesla Model S. Like all Tesla Motors models, it is a fully functional electric car, that is, it is driven by electrical energy and there are no other than electric motors.
In this case, you have three options for engines:
- One electric motor in the back;
- Two electric motors - front and rear;
- An electric motor in the front and a high performance motor in the rear.
The third option turns the Tesla Model S into a super sports car that can easily leave Porsche and even the BMW M5 behind! In addition, with two motors Tesla Model C gets electronic system all-wheel drive, which controls the torque of the front and rear wheels independent of each other and tenaciously holds the road.
The next important technical characteristic of electric vehicles is the battery, the capacity of which affects the range. Tesla offers a wide range of state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries, capacity from 65 to 100 kWh. When fully charged, the car can travel from 236 to 865 km, which allows it to compete with cars running on gasoline and diesel fuel.
In addition to battery capacity, mileage is also affected by speed, wheel size, air conditioning, temperature. environment and other points.
For example, at a temperature of + 20C, a speed of 100 km / h, the air conditioner is turned off and 19 ”cast wheels are installed, Tesla electric car Model S with P100D battery will travel 572 km. And at a speed of 70 km / h and an air temperature of + 30C - 834 km.
This battery life is the result of many years of work. the best specialists companies that managed to create a capacious and quickly rechargeable battery. For 1 hour of charging it from a 220V household network, 50 km of run will be replenished. Using a special charger allows you to increase the charge speed up to 110 km / h. In Europe and America, it is also possible to charge the car on the company's branded chargers for free.
Pay attention also to these Tesla specifications Model S like:
- Spacious trunk rear and front, with a total volume of 894 liters!
- 17″ screen onboard system with touch and voice control, including navigator, internet, telephone, review cameras
- 12 adjustable front seats with heating and memory settings
- 6 airbags
On this amazing specifications Tesla Model S is not ending. Be sure to check out the work autonomous control this electric car is a fantasy that has become a reality.
Tesla Model S electric car is a modern alternative to cars with gasoline engines, which will save the environment without compromising the quality of life. The company estimates that the operation of the current fleet of Tesla vehicles has already reduced CO2 emissions by 500 million tons.
Finally, the most important thing is the supply of cars in the powerful version Tesla Model S P100D has already started in Europe and America. The cost of a car with an advanced autopilot is from 146,000 USD.
In 1931, Nikola Tesla demonstrated a working prototype of an electric car, moving without any traditional current sources.
Supported by companies General Electric and Pierce-Arrow, he replaced traditional engine combustion in a new Pierce-Arrow car provided to him on an electric motor (80 hp, 1800 rpm). From radio components bought in an ordinary store, Tesla assembled a device measuring 60x30x15 cm, from which two rods protruded. Having connected the wires coming from the device to the contacts of the electric motor, Nikola Tesla got into the car and drove off.
The device that feeds the engine of a car cannot be reproduced even in our time.
Detailed history:
In 1931, Tesla removed the gasoline engine from Pierce-Arrow's new car and replaced it with an 80 hp AC motor. without any conventionally known external power supplies.
At a local radio shop, he bought 12 vacuum tubes, some wires, a handful of assorted resistors, and put the whole thing together in a box 60 cm long, 30 cm wide and 15 cm high with a pair of rods 7.5 cm long sticking out from the outside. Reinforcing the box behind the driver's seat, he extended the rods and announced, "Now we have power." After that he drove week chasing her on speeds up to 150 km/h.
Because the car had an engine alternating current and there were no batteries, the question rightly arises, where did the energy come from in it?
Popular comments attracted accusations of "black magic" (as if such an explanation immediately dotted the "i"). The sensitive genius did not like the skeptical comments of the press. He removed the mysterious box from the car, and returned to his laboratory in New York, and the secret of his power source died with him.
Quotes from the original article, which Mr. Greene used when writing his notes the following:
The Forgotten Art of Electric Vehicles
Arthur Abrom
Although electric cars were one of the earliest inventions, the fashion for them passed quickly. The development of electricity as a source of energy for humanity took place with great controversy.
Thomas A. Edison was the first to start selling electrical systems (i.e. power generators) that had any commercial value. His research and inventive talent made it possible to develop systems direct current. Courts were equipped with these systems, municipalities began to light the streets. At that time Edison was the only source of electricity!
While the commercialization of electricity was gaining momentum, Edison hired a man who showed the world an unprecedented scientific talent and developed completely new approaches to electricity. This man was a foreigner Nikola Tesla. His developments overshadowed even Edison himself! While Edison was a great experimenter, Tesla was a great theorist. Edison's constant experiments irritated him somewhat.
Tesla preferred to mathematically calculate the possibility of a process than to immediately grab a soldering iron and constantly experiment. So one day, after another heated argument, he left Edison's lab in West Orange, New Jersey.
Working independently, Tesla thought and created the first alternating current generator. He, and he alone, is responsible for all the benefits we enjoy today thanks to AC electricity.
Angry with Edison in the early 1900s, Tesla sold his new patents to George Westinghouse for $15 million. Tesla became completely independent after which he continued his research in his laboratory on 5th Avenue in New York.
George Westingous started trading this new system generators creating competition for Edison. Westinghouse won, thanks to the obvious advantage of the new generators over Edison's less efficient generators. Today, alternating current is the only source of electricity for world consumption and please remember, Nikola Tesla is the man who made it available to people.
Now, as for the early development of electric vehicles. An electric car has a number of advantages that make noisy, moody, smoky cars with engines internal combustion cannot offer.
First of all - the absolute silence that accompanies the vaz when traveling in an electric car. There is not even a hint of noise. Just turning the key and pressing the pedal - as the vehicle starts to move immediately. No rattling at the start, no shifting, no fuel pumps and problems with them, no oil levels, etc. Just flip a switch and go!
The second is the feeling of power and submissiveness of the engine. If you want to increase speed - just press on the pedal, and no jerk at the same time. Release the pedal and the vehicle immediately slows down. You are always in full control of the management. It's not hard to see why these vehicles were so popular around the turn of the century until almost 1912.
The big disadvantage of these cars was their range and the need to recharge every night. All of these electric vehicles used a range of batteries and DC motors. The batteries needed to be recharged every night and the range was limited to about 100 miles. This limitation was not severe at the beginning of this century. Doctors started going out on calls in electric cars because they no longer needed horses just to plug the car into an electric socket for the night! No movements interfere with making a net profit.
Many of the large department stores in the metropolitan areas have begun using electric vehicles to deliver goods. They were quiet and did not emit any pollutants. Electric vehicle maintenance was minimal. City life promised a great future for the electric car. However, note that all electric vehicles ran on direct current.
Two things happened that ended the popularity of the electric car. Everyone subconsciously craved the speed that captured all the car enthusiasts of that era. Every manufacturer wanted to show how far his car could go and what was its top speed.
Built by Colonel Vanderbilt, Long Island's first solid straight-section racing orbit was the epitome of the passion for the "beautiful life". Newspapers constantly print reports about new records in speeds. And, of course, car manufacturers were quick to capitalize on the publicity effect of these new speed peaks. All this created the image of electric vehicles as vehicles for old ladies or retired gentlemen.
Electric vehicles could not reach speeds of 45 or 50 m.p.h. Their batteries couldn't take it. Maximum speeds from 25 to 35 m.p.h. could be maintained for a moment or so. Usually, cruising speed- depending on traffic conditions, was from 15 to 20 m.p.h. For the standards of the years from 1900 to 1910, this was an acceptable speed to get the satisfaction of an electric vehicle.
Please note that none of the electric vehicle manufacturers have ever used a DC GENERATOR. This would allow to feed a small battery charge while driving and thus increase the range of its run. It was seen as something like perpetual motion machine and of course it was considered absolutely impossible! In fact, DC generators could work well and help the survival of electric vehicles.
As mentioned earlier, G. Westinghouse's AC electrical equipment was sold throughout the country. Earlier DC systems were removed and ignored. (As a side note: The Edison United Company of New York is still using one of Edison's DC generators installed at its 14th power plant and it's still running!) Around the time indicated, another giant corporation was formed and went into production. alternating current equipment - General Electric. This marked the absolute end of Edison's power systems as a commercial means of generating and distributing electricity.
Electric cars were not adapted to accommodate polyphase (AC) motors, since they used batteries as a power source, their extinction was a foregone conclusion. No battery can produce alternating current. Of course, a converter could be used to convert current to AC, but the size of the corresponding equipment at that time was too large to be placed on cars.
So, around 1915, electric car sank into oblivion. True, United Parcel Service still uses a few electric trucks in New York today, but most of their vehicles use gasoline or diesel fuel. Today electric cars are dead - they are treated like dinosaurs of the past.
But, let us stop for a moment to consider the benefits of using electricity as a means of moving vehicles. Maintenance is absolutely minimal. Almost no oil is required for the engine. There is no oil to change, no radiator to clean and fill, no gears to foul, no fuel pumps, no water pumps, no carburetor problems, no cranks to rot or replace and no contaminants emitted. in atmosphere. Isn't this the answer everyone seems to be looking for!
Therefore, these two problems before us, low speed with short travel distance and replacement by direct current with alternating current, can already be solved today. With today's technology, this no longer seems insurmountable. In fact, this problem has already been solved in the past. Distant past. And not very distant. Stop! Consider this for a few moments before continuing!
Somewhat earlier in this article, I mentioned a man, Nikola Tesla, and stated that he was the greatest genius that ever lived. The US Patent Office has 1,200 patents registered in Nikola Tesla's name, and it is estimated that he could have patented an additional 1,000 or so from memory!
But back to our electric cars - in 1931, funded by Pierce-Arrow and George Westinghouse. In 1931, Pierce-Arrow was selected to be tested on factory grounds in Buffalo, N.Y. The standard internal combustion engine was removed and the 80 hp. 1800 rpm electric motor, was mounted on the clutch to the transmission. The AC motor was 100 cm long and 75 cm in diameter. The energy that fed him was "in the air" and no other power sources.
At the appointed time, Nikola Tesla arrived from New York and inspected the Pierce-Arrow car. He then went to the local radio shop and bought 12 tubes, wires and various resistors. The box measured 60 cm long, 30 cm wide and 15 cm high. Having fixed the box behind the driver's seat, he connected the wires to the brushless motor air cooling. Two rods with a diameter of 0.625 mm. and about 7.5 cm long sticking out of the box.
Tesla ranked driver's seat, connected these two rods and declared, "Now we have energy." He pressed the pedal and the car drove off! This vehicle, driven by an AC motor, developed up to 150 km / h and had better performance than any car with an internal combustion engine at that time! One week was spent testing the vehicle. Several newspapers in Buffalo reported on this ordeal. When asked: "Where does the energy come from?", Tesla answered: "From the ether around all of us." People said that Tesla was insane and somehow allied with the sinister forces of the universe. Tesla was angered by this, he removed the mysterious box from the vehicle and returned to his laboratory in New York. His secret went with him!
Here I would like to note that accusations of magic constantly accompanied Tesla's activities. His lectures in New York were very popular, and people far from physics came. And not only because Tesla had the ability to explain physical laws in a simple human language of analogies, but rather because during his lectures he demonstrated experiments that even today could surprise students of radio electronics departments, not like ordinary people.
For example, Tesla took out a small TESLA TRANSFORMER from his briefcase, operating at high voltage and alternating current. high frequency at extremely low current. When he turned it on, lightning began to writhe around him, while he calmly caught them with his hands, while people from the first places in the hall hurriedly moved back. This trick is much more fun than sawing a person.
Also a good show was an experiment with light bulbs. Tesla turned on his transformer and an ordinary light bulb began to glow in his hands. It was already amazing. When he took out a light bulb without a filament spiral from his briefcase, just an empty bulb, and it still shone - there was no limit to the surprise of the listeners, and they could not explain it otherwise than by mass hypnosis or magic.
"Tricks" with light bulbs are explained simply if you know some laws. As Tesla wrote, at a certain frequency of oscillation, rarefied air conducts current as well as or even better than a copper wire. Of course, this would be impossible if there was no unified wave medium ("ether"). In the absence of air, ether becomes a pure conductor, while air only interferes because it is an insulator.
Some researchers use the Earth's magnetic field, which Tesla could use in his generator, to explain the work of Tesla's electric car. It is quite possible that using a high-frequency high-voltage alternating current circuit, Tesla tuned it into resonance with fluctuations in the Earth's "pulse" (about 7.5 hertz). At the same time, obviously, the oscillation frequency in his circuit had to be as high as possible, while remaining a multiple of 7.5 hertz (more precisely, between 7.5 and 7.8 hertz).
