How does a Tesla electric car work? Tesla cars - a new era in the automotive industry Tesla cars with an electric motor

Technologies are constantly evolving. The automotive industry is no exception. Moreover, given the incredible demand for cars and the scale of this industry, it is safe to say that this is one of the most actively developing areas. Evidence of this is the modern Tesla electric car. He is the crown of creation the best engineers peace. But what kind of car is this and how does it work?

1. Tesla electric car

The name speaks for itself. An electric car is a car that uses an electric motor instead of an engine. internal combustion. Of course, Tesla is not the only electric car in the world. But it has many features. Moreover, Tesla Motors is exclusively engaged in the production of electric cars. This means that all efforts and finances are aimed at developing the best cutting-edge car equipped electric motor.

Tesla cars meet everything modern requirements, and sometimes even exceeds all expectations. The company has done everything so that the driver and passengers, when getting into the cabin of an electric car, are transported to the future. The most modern sensors, satellite navigation, high-quality materials, the most modern wheel force distribution systems and much more. All this makes the Tesla car incredibly comfortable, reliable and easy to drive.

The answer to the question of what a Tesla electric car is, we can say with complete confidence that this is the future of the automotive industry.

Today there are two new models of Tesla electric cars:

• Tesla S;
• Tesla X;
• Tesla Roadster.

And although both of these cars use 60% of the same parts, they still have some pretty significant differences. Let's look at both models in more detail.

1.1. Tesla S electric car

One of the main factors that has a fairly strong impact on the surrounding ecology is exhaust gases. To operate a conventional internal combustion engine, liquid fuel (gasoline) is required, the combustion of which releases a large amount of harmful compounds into the atmosphere.

Scientists have been working for quite some time to create a car that would not have such emissions. And so, in 2013, Tesla Motors released an electric car that meets absolutely all safety and reliability requirements, and at the same time has an ultra-modern design. But the main feature of the car is that it is equipped with an electric motor with a capacity of 362 horsepower.

It produces a force of 440 Nm. Modern sports cars with gasoline engines have the same torque. This means that Tesla's electric car is absolutely as powerful as modern sports cars.

Automobile Tesla Model S is capable of reaching speeds of up to 201 km/h. The weight of the car is 1900 kg.

The vehicle's power reserve is about 370 km for basic configuration. This model is available in several configurations. The main difference between them is the battery capacity.

Moreover, to charge the battery at a special station you will need only 30 minutes. The only caveat is that in Russia there are only a few such gas stations, and only in large cities.

1.2. Tesla X electric car

This electric car model from Tesla Motors has much in common with the previous one. Moreover, it uses 60% of the parts and elements that are used in the Tesla S. However, despite this, Model X has significant differences and certain features. In particular:

• Tesla Model X adds a third row of seats, which increases the number of driver seats to 7;
• The weight of the car increased by 10%;
• The rear door opening system has been modernized. According to Tesla Motors engineers, vertical door opening makes boarding and disembarking passengers easier and more convenient. It is worth noting that the height of the doors exceeds the average height of a man;
• Instead of rearview mirrors, the Tesla X is equipped with cameras. In this case, the image from the cameras is displayed on the dashboard;
• The car accelerates faster to 100 km/h;
• The cruising range of a car with a 60 Watt battery is 330 km, and with an 80 Watt battery – 430 km;
• The main feature is that the Tesla X is all-wheel drive. Its design uses two electric drives - one for each axis.

Already today, the electric car of the future is conquering the open spaces Russian Federation, Ukraine, Belarus and other CIS countries.

2. TESLA electric car review: Video

2.1. Tesla Roadster

The Tesla Roadster electric car is the first car of the American company Tesla Motors. The company did not puzzle over the name of their brainchild for long, and simply called it a body type.

This car became the first production electric car, which at the same time had impressive characteristics and was not inferior to sports cars. Moreover, it had the longest range on a single battery charge compared to cars from other companies.

The Tesla Roadster electric car was first presented back in 2006, at a closed event in Santa Monica. However, only 350 specially invited guests saw it. The electric car was presented to the general public 5 months later at the international automobile show in San Francisco. At the same time, shipments of these cars began only in 2008, and the first buyer was the president of the company, Elon Musk himself.

Specifications:

• Power reserve – 400 km;
• Acceleration to 100 km/h – 3.9 seconds;
• Maximum speed – 201 km/h;
• Power 288 Horse power;
• Torque 370 Nm;
• Machine weight – 1235 kg.

In 2010, Tesla introduced the updated Tesla Roadster 2.5 electric car. The number “2.5” in the car name does not mean displacement, as in gasoline cars, but new version, as in computer programs. The new model had a lot of differences from the old one. In particular, the interior and exterior design were different. You can see ventilation holes in the front bumper, and a diffuser in the rear.

In addition, the car featured more comfortable seats, enhanced sound insulation and much more. What's most eye-catching, however, is the 7-inch touchscreen that supports a rearview camera.

Production of the Tesla Roadster was discontinued in 2012. This is due to the completion of the contract with Lotus Cars, which supplied the chassis. Since 2008, 2,400 Tesla Roadster electric cars have been sold in 31 countries on our planet.

A new generation of the Tesla Roadster electric car is expected in 2014. The car will be based on a shortened base of the Tesla Model S electric car.

Tesla electric cars have always been the best in their field, since the company does not produce cars with gasoline engines, directing all its capabilities to developing the best car.

3. American electric car Tesla: advantages and disadvantages

The undoubted advantage of electric cars is the absence of emissions. In other words, these are environmentally friendly cars that do not pollute environment. Another significant advantage is that the car does not require expensive gasoline or diesel fuel.

The design of an electric motor is much simpler than an internal combustion engine. This explains two more significant advantages of Tesla electric cars:

• Minimum consumables. This means that the motor uses a minimum of parts that constantly wear out and need to be replaced. It follows that such motors have a higher efficiency and also require less maintenance.
• Thanks to the simplicity of the drive design, a lot of free space is freed up, which can be used for other purposes. For example, Tesla electric cars have two trunks - front and rear. This allows the driver to carry more things, for example, on family trips to the resort and so on.

Of course, like other cars, Tesla cars have their drawbacks. They are mainly associated with the presence of a fairly large and heavy battery. Firstly, because of this the car has a lot of weight.

The second drawback is more significant. The fact is that lithium ion batteries, which are used to power electric drives, have a limited resource, which is about 8 years, regardless of mileage. This means that every 8 years a Tesla car needs to have its battery replaced. And this costs “decent” money.

Tesla Model S is a revolutionary electric car designed to completely destroy the internal combustion engine and instill in humanity the desire to travel exclusively on environmentally friendly transport. This car was the first to prove that the electric engine has a huge superiority over the gasoline engine, which has already outlived its usefulness and is time for a museum. So that this is not just words, let's look at specifications electric car Tesla Model S and consider all its features.

• Weight: 2108 kg
• Length: 4976 mm
• Width (including side mirrors): 1963 mm
• Height: 1435 mm
• Wheelbase: 2959 mm
• Ground clearance: 154.9 mm
• Trunk volume: 900 liters

Battery Tesla Model S and its characteristics

This electric car is equipped with a modern lithium-ion battery with a capacity 85 kWh or 60kWh (depending on the configuration) . This battery is enough to cover a distance equal to 426 km And 335 km respectively!!! This figure easily competes with other gasoline cars in the S segment. The battery consists of 16 blocks and is located along the bottom of the car, which further increases torsional rigidity and safety. Thus, this arrangement of the battery allows you to reduce the center of gravity of the car to 45 cm.

• Battery type: Li-ion
• Battery capacity: 85 / 60 kWh*
• Power reserve up to fully charged: 426 / 335 km*
• Resource: 7 years or 160 thousand km
• Battery dimensions: Length - 2.1 m, Width - 1.2 m, Height - 15 cm
• Battery weight: ~450 kg
• Charging time from a household network alternating current 110V: 8 km of travel is replenished in 1 hour
• Charging time from a household AC 220V network: 50 km of travel is replenished in 1 hour
• Full charging time at Tesla Supercharger station: 30 minutes and free

Tesla Model S battery

It is worth noting that the Tesla Model S battery has an extremely high charge density (similar batteries are used in laptops). High battery life is achieved due to modern system liquid cooling of the system, which, by the way, cools the engine itself.

Tesla Model S Engine and Transmission

The electric vehicle has an asynchronous three-phase AC motor. The engine is Tesla Motors' own development and has no analogues. The electric motor is installed on rear axle car. Tesla Model S engine power in the maximum configuration is 416 hp. s., maximum (constant) torque - 600 Nm. The electric motor is cooled using a liquid cooling system.

Tesla Model S engine

In addition, a modern electric car has a reliable transmission from Mercedes-Benz, which drives the car using a single-stage gearbox (one speed). Gear ratio gearbox 9.73.

• Top speed: 209 / 201 / 193 km/h*
• Power: 416 / 362 / 302 l. With.
• Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h: 4.4 / 5.4 / 5.9 sec*

Suspension and chassis

Tesla Model S is simply soaked modern technologies, the chassis of the car is no exception. The air suspension is capable of changing the clearance of the car; it is enough to set the desired ground clearance and the car will rise or fall at the request of the owner. Due to the low center of gravity, the car feels confident even with a decent ground clearance “ala Tiguan”.

The steering is rack and pinion and is, of course, electrically power assisted. On-board computer allows you to set the steering stiffness. There are several levels, ranging from sporty hard to comfortable “Mercedes” soft, very comfortable, don’t you agree?

Suspension

Tesla Model S Brake System deserves special attention. Main brake system consists of ventilated brake discs and electronic system parking brake. But the main feature of this electric car is the regenerative braking system. With its help, the car is able to brake the engine and convert the resulting energy into electricity, thereby charging the car's battery. This is an extremely useful and convenient feature. To activate the regenerative braking system, the driver just needs to smoothly release the gas pedal and the electric car itself will begin to slow down, converting the braking energy into useful energy.

Tesla Model S safety

5 Stars is the highest safety rating the Model S has received! The best safety record for 2013. The highest rating is achieved due to the design of the body part of the electric car. The absence of a motor and attachments under the hood and in the rear of the car allows the car body to form a strong “capsule”, which is supplemented by strength properties due to the battery located along the bottom of the car. ABOUT .

• Number of airbags: 8 pieces
• Additional braking system: ABS
• Other safety systems: Immobilizer, battery power cut-off system in case of an accident, seat belts, etc.

Price

Tesla Model S can be purchased in America and Europe. The cost depends on the selected configuration. Pricing starts at $62,400 and ends at $85,900 for the Performance trim.

*Depending on configuration.

You can learn more about another Tesla Motors electric car in the section.

Cars powered by electricity have been around since the mid-19th century, and if not for the difficulty of recharging, they could have been a healthy competitor to their gasoline-powered counterparts. At the beginning of the 21st century, many companies began to promote their electric cars, and almost no model could compete with conventional cars in terms of driving performance. But the appearance of Tesla Motors on the scene has corrected the situation to some extent, and many believe that the future belongs to electric cars produced by Tesla. Is it so? - Time will judge! 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 an electric motor 100 years ago.

From the very beginning, the company's goal was to commercialize electric vehicles. The primary goal was to create a premium sports car to show that electric vehicles can compete even on high level. Over time, serial production of similar cars in various bodies was planned, which should become accessible to the average consumer. True, while Tesla cars in normal configuration cost approximately $100,000...

The guys needed good investments, and they soon turned to Elon Musk. He was very interested in the project, because electric cars 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 and president of the company. His enthusiasm and, of course, financial resources gave the future to Tesla Motors.

Today, Elon Musk is the face of the company. He not only made a huge investment in this entire enterprise, but also initiated the introduction of some technological and design solutions for Tesla cars.

In short, Tesla Motors received due support and funding, especially after the presentation of the first electric sports car

They continue to move on the given course and are preparing to release their fourth electric vehicle. Although it is worth noting the unpleasant fact that the company has been operating at a loss in recent years.

What makes a Tesla car special?

New features have appeared in each electric car model from Tesla, 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 vehicles have hundreds of moving parts, but in the case of our electric friends, everything is a little simpler - their work is ensured only four main systems:

• Energy Storage System (ESS);
• Power Electronics Module (PEM);
• Electric motor;
• Sequential gearbox.

Thus, electric cars have less weight, more usable space inside (two trunks) and are less likely to break down due to the relatively small number of parts.

Autopilot

Tesla's advanced autopilot also deserves attention. The presence of a driver behind the wheel is still not ruled out, but Elon Musk promises that a car will be available soon will be able to travel from one American coast to another without the participation of the driver, who doesn’t even have to recharge – everything will be done by artificial intelligence.

Autopilot can move along the road, sticking to its lane, steering and braking so as not to collide with other cars, control speed taking into account traffic intensity, and perform many other useful functions.

Current models can independently (without a driver) travel up to 12 meters, for example, in order to park or enter a garage.

Autopilot action:

Minimalism in the salon

The center console is represented by a huge touch screen (size depends on the model), through which basic control occurs. You won't find any toggle switches or 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 won’t describe it too much, because there are no comrades for the taste and color.

Batteries

A power source is something without which an electric car will not run. Previously, large galvanic cells were used, but Tesla Motors went a different route. Their cars are battery powered from several thousand lithium-ion batteries manufactured by Panasonic, similar to those used in household appliances.

In the Tesla Roadster, the battery was located behind the seats, and in the Model S it was placed in the floor of the car. This solution allowed us to save usable space and improve handling.

Supercharger network

Owners of Tesla cars must expect long trips, so Superchargers were developed - charging stations for electric vehicles. In the future, they should be as accessible and widespread as regular gas stations.

Today, the Supercharger network is well developed in the United States: you can travel from one coast to the other without fear that your battery will run out on the road and there will be nowhere to charge. Slowly Supercharger appears in Europe, Asia, and even in Russia such a miracle can be seen here and there.

You can charge the battery in less than an hour.

Initially, recharging was free for owners of Tesla vehicles, but the manufacturer recently announced that according to the new rules, a fee will still be charged. More precisely, each owner of such a car will be given an annual coupon for 400 kW/h of free charging, and when the limit is exhausted, they will have to pay out of their own pocket. Prices are not yet known.

Tesla lineup

Since 2006, only 4 Tesla cars have been presented and put into production:

• Tesla Roadster sports car;
• Tesla Model S sedan;
• Tesla Model X crossover;
• Tesla Model 3 sedan.

I wonder what To purchase a Tesla car, you must leave a request on the company’s official website. This is not typical for the automotive market, as sales usually occur through dealers.

The debut work of Tesla Motors, the 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 itself were borrowed from the Lotus Elise. This was a kind of breaking the stereotype that all electric cars are not elegant appearance. Tesla Roadster looks like a real sports car.

The 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 one charge you can travel up to 400 km. In its basic configuration it cost $109,000.

Thanks 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 reverse.

In addition to such goodies as heated seats, a stereo system, ABS, this car has the following innovations, which are also present 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 a garage door.
• Docking station for iPad.
• Electric door handles.

Interestingly, the first Tesla Roadster at the presentation in 2006 could drive for no more than 5 minutes due to overheating of the batteries.

In a word, by releasing the Roadster, manufacturers were able to truly express themselves and demonstrate new technological solutions in terms of the production of electric vehicles.

Tesla Model S

This sedan was presented in 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and its mass production began in 2012.

Model S can pass on one charge 458 km– this became a record among other electric cars. True, for this you need to order a car with an upgraded battery.

The price ranges from 75 thousand to 105 thousand dollars.

It was on this car that automatic battery replacement was first demonstrated as an alternative to recharging. This service has become available at Supercharger gas stations and costs about $80.

Some journalists have already dubbed Model S the 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 flammable fuel - nothing to catch fire!
• Under the hood, the empty storage space is a crumple zone and 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 capsizing is reduced.

A distinctive feature of the Model S is the fact that it the first electric car built from scratch. Used for other similar cars ready-made databases gasoline models.

It’s not easy to learn how to charge a car from an outlet. To do this, you will have to additionally buy a charging station or constantly visit the Supercharger.

Model S even went on a “Big Test Drive”:

This electric car has become very popular and has outsold even such cars as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series. In Norway, the Tesla Model S became the best-selling vehicle in September 2013. This was largely facilitated by government support for electric vehicles in the form of tax breaks, as well as high gasoline prices.

Sales of this electric crossover began in 2015. Model X is based on the Model S platform and is available in three trim levels: 75D, 90D, P90D, which mainly differ in battery power. Already in the basic version, the car is equipped with two electric motors.

The range, depending on the battery, can be up to 411 km, and the maximum speed limit is 250 km/h.

The main feature of the Model X is automatic gull wing doors. This solution not only facilitated access to the car interior, but also reduced the required parking space.

The Model X 70D costs $81,000, and the most sophisticated P90D costs $142,000.

Tesla's electric crossover was conceived as best car for family and travel. In general, the car did well, given that the demand for the class has increased greatly in recent years. However, there was some negativity - many owners complained about low quality Model X, both hardware and mechanical problems were mentioned.

Tesla Model 3 sedan

And this electric car has not yet been released at the time of writing, but has already been presented.

A new platform has again been developed for the Model 3, and this time the Tesla car should be aimed at the mass market. Basic version will cost only $35,000.

In terms of driving performance, the Model 3 will, of course, 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 undoubtedly superior to the competition in the electric vehicle space, but some typical flaws they still have. In particular, this concerns severe loss of charge during even short periods of vehicle inactivity and rapid discharge at low temperatures.

Conclusion

It is likely that liquid fuel vehicles will gradually be replaced by electric vehicles in a few decades. Tesla were able to show that such competition is real, and they successfully continue to delight us with innovative solutions in the automotive industry.

In 1931, Nikola Tesla demonstrated a working prototype of an electric car that moved without any traditional power source.

Supported by General companies Electric and Pierce-Arrow, he replaced the traditional combustion engine of the new Pierce-Arrow car provided to him with an electric motor (80 hp, 1800 rpm). From radio components purchased 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 powers a car engine cannot be reproduced even in our time.

Detailed history:

In 1931, Tesla removed the gasoline engine from the new Pierce-Arrow automobile and replaced it with an 80-horsepower AC electric motor. without any traditionally known external power sources.

At a local radio store, he bought 12 vacuum tubes, some wires, a handful of assorted resistors, and assembled all this equipment into a box 60 cm long, 30 cm wide and 15 cm high with a pair of 7.5 cm long rods sticking out outside. Having secured the box behind the driver's seat, he pulled out the rods and announced, “Now we have energy.” After that he drove a car a week, driving her to speeds up to 150 km/h.

Since the car had an AC motor and no batteries, the question rightfully arises, where did the energy come from?

Popular comments attracted accusations of “black magic” (as if such an explanation immediately dotted the i’s). The sensitive genius did not like the skeptical comments from the press. He removed the mysterious box from the machine and returned to his laboratory in New York and the mystery of his energy source died with him.

Quotes from the original article by Mr. Green used the following when writing his note:

The Lost Art of Electric Cars

Arthur Abrom

Although electric cars were one of the earliest inventions, they quickly became a fad. The development of electricity as a source of energy for humanity took place with great contradictions.

Thomas A. Edison was the first to sell electrical systems (i.e. electric generators) of any commercial value. His research and inventive talent led to the development of direct current systems. Ships were equipped with these systems, and municipalities began to illuminate 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 unprecedented scientific talent and developed completely new approaches to electricity. This man was a foreigner Nikola Tesla. His developments eclipsed even Edison himself! While Edison was a great experimentalist, Tesla was a great theoretician. Edison's constant experiments irritated him somewhat.

Tesla preferred to mathematically calculate the possibility of some process rather than immediately grab a soldering iron and constantly experiment. So, one day, after another heated argument, he left Edison's laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey.

Working independently, Tesla thought through and created the first alternating current generator. He, and he alone, is responsible for all the benefits we enjoy today from AC electricity.

Angered by Edison in the very early 1900s, Tesla sold his new patents to George Westinghouse for $15 million. Tesla became completely independent and then continued his research in his laboratory on 5th Avenue in New York.

George Westinghouse began trading this new system electric generators creating competition for Edison. Westinghouse prevailed due to the obvious superiority of the new generators over Edison's less efficient generators. Today alternating current is the only source of electricity in the world and please remember Nikola Tesla is the man who made it available to people.

Now, regarding the early development of electric vehicles. An electric car has a number of advantages that noisy, capricious, smoky cars with internal combustion engines 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 turn the key and press the pedal - the vehicle begins to move immediately. No rattling at the start, no shifting gears, no fuel pumps and problems with them, no oil levels, etc. Just turn the switch and go!

The second is the feeling of power and obedience of the engine. If you want to increase the speed, just press on the pedal, and do not jerk at the same time. Release the pedal and the vehicle immediately slows down. You are always in complete control. It's not hard to see why these vehicles were so popular at the turn of the century and 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 series of batteries and DC motors. The batteries required recharging every night and the range was limited to approximately 100 miles. This limitation was not serious at the beginning of this century. Doctors began to go out on calls in electric cars because they no longer needed horses just to plug the car into an electrical socket at night! No movements interfere with making a net profit.

Many of the large department stores in metropolitan areas have begun using electric vehicles to deliver goods. They were quiet and did not emit any pollutants. Maintenance of electric vehicles was minimal. City life promised a great future for the electric car. However, please note that all electric vehicles ran on direct current.

Two things happened that ended the popularity of the electric car. Everyone subconsciously craved speed, which captivated all auto enthusiasts of that era. Each manufacturer sought to show how far its car could go and what its top speed was.

Built by Colonel Vanderbilt, Long Island's first solid race track was the epitome of the passion for "the good life." Newspapers constantly publish reports about new speed records. And, of course, car manufacturers were quick to capitalize on the promotional 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 stand it. Maximum speeds from 25 to 35 m.p.h. could be sustained for a moment or so. Typically, cruising speed, depending on traffic conditions, was from 15 to 20 m.p.h. For standards from 1900 to 1910, this was an acceptable speed to get satisfaction from electric vehicle.

Please note that no electric car manufacturer has ever used a DC GENERATOR. This would allow the battery to be charged with a small charge while driving and thus increase its range. This was seen as somewhat similar 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 and distributed throughout the country. Earlier DC systems were removed and ignored. (As an interesting side note, the United Edison Company of New York is still using one of Edison's DC generators installed at its 14th power plant and it is still running!) Around this time, another giant corporation was formed and went into production AC equipment - General Electric. This marked the absolute end for Edison's power systems as a commercial means of generating and distributing electricity.

Electric cars were not designed to accommodate polyphase motors (alternating current), 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 the current to alternating current, but the size of the equipment at that time was too large to be placed on cars.

So, around 1915, the electric car fell into oblivion. It's true that United Parcel Service still operates a few electric trucks in New York City today, but most of their vehicles use gasoline or diesel fuel. Today, electric cars are dead - they are seen as the dinosaurs of the past.

But, let us pause for a second to consider the benefits of using electric power to propel vehicles. Their 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 get dirty, no fuel pumps, no water pumps, no carburetor problems, no crank gears to rot or replace and no pollution emitted in atmosphere. Isn't this the answer everyone seems to be looking for!

Therefore, these two problems facing us, low speed with short travel distances and the replacement of 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! Think about what has been said for a few moments before continuing!

A little earlier in this article, I mentioned the man Nikola Tesla and stated that he was the greatest genius who ever lived. The American Patent Office has 1,200 patents filed in Nikola Tesla's name, and it is estimated that he may have patented an additional 1,000 or so from memory!

But back to our electric cars - in 1931, with funding from Pierce-Arrow and George Westinghouse. In 1931 Pierce-Arrow was selected to be tested at the factory grounds in Buffalo, N.Y. The standard internal combustion engine was removed and 80 hp. An 1800 rpm electric motor was installed on the clutch for the transmission. The AC motor had a length of 100 cm and 75 cm in diameter. The energy that fed it was “in the air” and there were 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 store and bought 12 radio tubes, wires and various resistors. The box had dimensions of 60 cm long, 30 cm wide and 15 cm high. Having secured the box behind the driver’s seat, he connected the wires to the brushless air-cooled motor. Two rods with a diameter of 0.625 mm. and about 7.5 cm long stuck out of the box.

Tesla took the driver's seat, connected the two rods and declared, "Now we have energy." He pressed the pedal and the car drove off! This vehicle, driven by an AC motor, reached speeds of 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 the ordeal. When asked: “Where does energy come from?”, Tesla answered: “From the ether around us all.” People said that Tesla was insane and somehow in league with the sinister forces of the universe. Tesla became angry at this, 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 who were far from physics came. And not only because Tesla had the ability to explain physical laws in simple human language of analogies, but rather because during his lectures he demonstrated experiments that, even today, would surprise students of radio electronics departments, not to mention ordinary people.

For example, Tesla took out from his briefcase a small TESLA TRANSFORMER, operating at high voltage and high frequency alternating current at extremely low current. When he turned it on, lightning began to wriggle 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 the light bulb experiment. Tesla turned on his transformer and an ordinary light bulb began to glow in his hands. This was already causing amazement. When he took out of his briefcase a light bulb without a filament spiral, just an empty flask, and it still glowed - there was no limit to the surprise of the listeners and they could not explain it except by mass hypnosis or magic.

"Tricks" with light bulbs can be easily explained if you know some laws. As Tesla wrote, at a certain oscillation frequency, discharged air conducts current as well or even better than copper wire. Of course, this would be impossible if there were no single wave medium (“ether”). In the absence of air, ether becomes a pure conductor, while air only interferes, since it is an insulator.

Some researchers use the Earth's magnetic field, which Tesla could use in his generator, to explain the operation 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 the oscillations of 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).

Since I saw a program about this car a year ago, you can say that it has become my dream. Just think - an electric car that does not need to be fed with gasoline or diesel that becomes more expensive every day, that does not pollute the environment, and which is recognized as the most reliable and environmentally friendly car in the world! So, here is a short story about the Tesla Model S electric car. When I learned that one of the copies of the legendary electric car had appeared in Moscow, I decided to meet its owner and see the car with my own eyes, but it turned out to be very popular among fans of electric vehicles and environmental movements, because I found her at an environmental event.
I’ll tell you a little about the car: Tesla Model S is a five-door electric car produced by the American company Tesla Motors. The prototype was first shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009. Deliveries of the car to the United States began in June 2012. The company calls its car with this body type "fastback", which we know as a "hatchback".
Prices for Model S start from 62.4 thousand dollars and go up to 87.4 thousand dollars (in the USA). The most expensive option is a car with a power reserve of almost 425 kilometers, capable of reaching “hundreds” in 4.2 seconds. At the end of the first quarter of 2013, 4,750 Tesla Model S units were sold in the United States. Thus, the model became the best-selling luxury sedan, ahead, in particular, of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series. A breakthrough also occurred in Europe. In Norway, in the first two weeks of September 2013, Tesla Model S was the best-selling car (322 units), surpassing Volkswagen Golf(256 pcs). Under the hood there is nothing that we are used to seeing in a car with an internal combustion engine. There's a trunk here instead.
The back is the same. The trunk is quite spacious; if desired, you can install child seats facing the glass.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the 85 kWh lithium-ion battery lasts for 426 km, which allows Model S to cover the greatest distance of any electric vehicle available on the market. Initially, Tesla's plans were to begin production of cars with batteries with capacities of 60 kWh (335 km) and 40 kWh (260 km) in 2013, but due to low demand, it was decided to abandon the 40 kWh model. The base S model uses a liquid-cooled AC motor that produces 362 horsepower. The car battery (there are 16 blocks) contains about 7 thousand AA batteries laid with a special distribution of positive and negative contacts, which is kept secret.
In June 2013, the company demonstrated the ability to recharge the Model S by automatic replacement batteries. During the demonstration, it was shown that the replacement procedure takes approximately 90 seconds, which is more than twice as fast as filling a full tank of a similar gasoline car. According to company president Elon Musk, “slow” (20-30 minutes) charging batteries Model S at the company's gas stations will remain free, while a quick replacement will cost the car owner about 60-80 dollars, which approximately corresponds to the cost of a full tank of gasoline.
Let's take a look inside the car. Instead of the usual instruments on the panel, there is an LCD monitor on which all the necessary functional buttons and information about the operating status of the car.


At the moment, the car is charging and instead of the speedometer, information is displayed about how charged the electric car is and how many kilometers it will last. Instead of a tachometer, the display shows ammeter data.
The back is quite spacious.
The windows on the door are without frames.

On the turn signal is the symbol of Tesla Motors, laconic and beautiful.

How to charge Tesla?

What else should you consider?