Recent content by Peter Egan

Tesla caught 'lying' again. Model 3 has 293.5 kW based on that dyno test. Makes a change from ICE vehicles which struggle to meet claimed power. Tesla has likely decided that it will put that motor in its M3, MS, MX, Semi and Roadster and use software to adjust power output. It might have...

This view of the equipment under the frunk is brilliant in that it shows there is plenty of scope to package this equipment into one large subassembly and drop it into the car in one go with a few hose and cable connections. Obvidusly, the mechanical stuff - suspension, steering, brake discs and...

During the investor call Elon said the M3 has Gigafactory 2170 cells while MS, MX have japanese 18650 cells.

I think it better to have a common reservoir as per the attached Glycol loop diagram. Every circuit will have a pair of electronically controlled valves and a pump to match fluid flow to circumstances. Also, if a leak is detected in a loop, the thermal management system needs to close it off...

I reckon the M3 will come with a 'space- like' steering wheel which will have some information display capability.

Increasing the battery voltage is not an issue. It just requires half size current collector plates and flipping the direction of half the cells in a module. When charging, each module is presently 25 volts - each module is 6 in series. Halve the size of the plates will cell flipping gives a 50V...

Front and rear steering is great for a tight turning circle and for vehicle parking. Lucid Air and some Ford trucks have it, or will have it. It is great for putting an autonomous vehicle into a tight space - great for many European cities. When will we see it on a Tesla???

To get to 20 Wh per cell requires a 75% increase in active materials. The volume increase 18650 to 21-70 is 46.6% increase. The weight increase is likely to be 56% to 75 grams The cell casing, if the thickness does not change, will decrease from about 3.8% to 3.3% at the larger size. If the...

A usable 20 Wh/cell would not surprise me.

The battery would need to be split into 8 (200 kg) or so parts so it can be inserted through a hatch between the frames of the aircraft. A special hoist would be needed to lift the sections into aircraft and they and the coolant tubing would need to be secured. The US national Fire Protection...

On further reflection, having seen the Tesla battery module deconstructed, its suggested there be two 400 kWh batteries, each comprised of 40 modules with each module packed as shown in the image. The 21-70 cells are envisaged to be rated at 3.6 V and 5.85 Ah for 21.06 Wh of which 20 Wh (95%)...

A Tesla semi might come with 500 kWh of battery and a number of DC charge points. It might go 500 km loaded. Being a truck, there is nothing to stop a driver carrying, say, a 100 kW generator on the trailer and wiring it in to the battery for on the move charging when needed. Vehicles designed...

Good to know

GE 93 turboprop has the air/gas flow from the the rear to the front of the engine. Air is sucked in rather than rammed in. Rather than the air compressor powered by a shaft from the exhaust gas turbines, it could be powered by an electric motor. Air and fuel could then be supplied solely on the...

The aviation industry will surely love that approach to battery module protection. There are a lot of short range aviation applications for under 100 km with vertical. or very short runway take-off and landing. Pure electric aircraft with current technology surely have some significant...