Hasta La Gadget!

At Tesla’s event, CEO Elon Musk has finally taken the wraps off of its Superchargers which it has already set up at six locations in California, pictured in the map after the break. The company plans installations on “high traffic corridors across the US” over the next year, with units heading to Europe and Asia in the second half of 2013. According to Musk, the solar powered systems will put more power back into the grid than the cars use while driving. Oh, and for you Model S owners? You will always be able to charge at any of the stations for free. According to Musk, the economies of scale developed while building the Model S have helped it get costs down on the chargers, although he did not offer specifics.

During the event we also saw video of drivers charging their vehicles at stations today that Tesla apparently constructed in secret. They’re using solar technology from (also owned by Musk) SolarCity, and can charge a Model S with 100 kilowatts good for three hours of driving at 60mph in about 30 minutes. Currently pushing 90kW, they could go as high as 120 in the future for even faster charging. Check the press release embedded after the break or Tesla’s website for more details.

Update: The video replay of the event itself is live, and embedded after the break.

Continue reading Tesla reveals Supercharger network it says will cover the US in two years; Model S fills up for free, always

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Tesla reveals Supercharger network it says will cover the US in two years; Model S fills up for free, always originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 23:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This test-firing may not match the flame of earlier demonstrations, but SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted out a brief eight-second video of another setup it’s testing, the “Grasshopper” reusable vertical takeoff, vertical landing rocket. While the first hop would’ve been shamed in any interstellar dunk contest, future tests will range in height from a few hundred feet to two miles. The goal is to eventually create a reusable first stage for its Falcon 9 rocket, able to land safely instead of crashing into the sea and being damaged beyond repair. Hit the more coverage links for a few more details on the project as well as pictures of it at the Texas test site, or check after the break to see the video.

Continue reading SpaceX’s ‘Grasshopper’ vertical takeoff / vertical landing rocket takes its first small leap (video)

Filed under: Transportation, Science, Alt

SpaceX’s ‘Grasshopper’ vertical takeoff / vertical landing rocket takes its first small leap (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla founder Elon Musk would like to remind you that the Model X isn’t the terminus of his company’s electric car ambitions. Far from it: Musk tells Wired that Tesla’s 2016 plans include both a crossover SUV akin to the BMW X3 as well as a pure sports car that goes beyond just a Roadster redux. The racier vehicle will have speed, but “not supercar pricing,” the CEO says. He also elaborated on already-known plans for an ‘entry’ sedan in 2015, which should resemble a 20 to 25 percent smaller Model S and cost about $30,000 if all goes well. There’s a wide gap between promises and reality in all those statements, but Musk has a reputation for largely delivering on target — which gives us hope that there will finally be Tesla EVs within range of everyday budgets.

Filed under: Transportation

Tesla CEO teases crossover and sports car EVs for 2016 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASA has reportedly picked Boeing and SpaceX as the two companies to receive primary funding for the “Commercial Crew Program.” The news was reportedly leaked to NBC News’ Jay Barbree, but all parties involved have refused to comment until NASA makes the official announcement later today. While Boeing and SpaceX are likely to take home the bulk of $1 billion in funding, Sierra Nevada has been picked as the “standby” candidate — with a mandate to step in if either primary partner fails. If true, then it means that Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin has been cut out of the race entirely — although disappointment is easier to take if you’re a billionaire… we’ve heard.

Update: NASA’s confirmed its picks, with back-up choice Sierra Nevada picking up $212.5 million, while Space X and Boeing got $440 million and $460 million, respectively. To celebrate, SpaceX’s crafted another stargazing video — it’s right after the break.

Continue reading Boeing, SpaceX win NASA ‘space taxi’ funding race (updated)

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Boeing, SpaceX win NASA ‘space taxi’ funding race (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 06:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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