Sep 19
What you’re looking at is not a real fighter plane. It’s a scale model that photographer Dan Ledesma shot to look like a real, full-sized jet. Badass.
     |
Aug 23
Remember those awesome polystyrene toy planes that used to come in paper sleeves? They were the coolest, right? Well, now you’re all grown up, how about a grown-up equivalent—in the shapes of these gorgeous wooden gliders.
| |
Aug 20
The Tesla Model S‘ all-electric infrastructure is being credited with a heck of a lot more than top-notch energy efficiency. Because of the design, the vehicle lacks a large gasoline engine block up front, boosting the “crumple zone” and ultimately saving lives during an otherwise deadly crash. As a result, the sedan scored a combined record of 5.4 stars during a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) test. That figure is higher than the maximum published rating of 5 stars, but Tesla received a more comprehensive report detailing actual results. The Model S also earned high marks with its rear-crash, side-pole-intrusion and rollover tests. Additionally, the lithium-ion battery did not catch fire at any time, and it never has in a Roadster or Model S — the same can’t be said for certain competitors.
Filed under: Transportation
Via: Autoblog
Source: Tesla
Aug 07
Tesla Model S deliveries begin outside of North America, starting with Norway
Posted in: Today's Chili
Tesla’s four-door Model S has been trickling into North American garages for a couple of years now, and it seems that production has ramped up enough to finally begin deliveries internationally. Starting today, Model S buyers across various ponds will begin to see stock appear. As seen above, the action is starting in Oslo, Norway, where that guy in the driver seat looks particularly charged up about the parade that awaits. Sorry. It seemed funnier in the moment.
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Tesla (Twitter)
Jul 24
As the days of affordable, technologically sound at-home 3D printing loom ever nearer, creative minds around the world have been dripping with the wondrous possibilities these plastic-spewing, magic machines hold. Unfortunately, magic or not, the laws of physics still apply—and your liquid plastic dreams probably don’t take into account the fact that your models are going to have to, you know, balance. The authors of Make It Stand want to take care of that for you, and they’ll take whatever monstrous contortions you toss at them and turn your rendering into something structurally sound.
| |
Jul 17
Charging time is the bane of every EV driver; even the half-hour for a partial fuel-up at a Tesla Supercharger station can feel like an eternity next to the few minutes required for gasoline. Tesla CTO JB Straubel sees this as just a temporary obstacle, however — he tells MIT Technology Review that his company could shrink recharge times to between “five to 10 minutes.” The primary challenge is optimizing the charger’s delivery rates to avoid cooking the battery, he says. While this won’t happen overnight, Straubel reminds us that today’s Superchargers seemed far-fetched a decade ago. We may not need those battery swapping stations for very long.
Filed under: Transportation
Source: MIT Technology Review
Jul 14
A 41-year-old man flying a Gaui X7 model helicopter in Lucerne, Switzerland suffered head and arm injuries and died after he was presumably struck by the helicopter. The model weighs 5 pounds, is about 4 feet 5 inches long, and has a rotor diameter of about 5 feet 4 inches.
| |
Jul 05
If you’ve tried and failed to build your own starship
| |
Jun 24
As you may or may not remember, a few years ago we posted photos
| |
Jun 20
Tesla’s 90 second battery swaps will power EVs faster than gas pumps fill tanks (video)
Posted in: Today's Chili
Tesla founder Elon Musk has mentioned battery swap service stations as an even faster alternative to charging for EV drivers, and tonight the company showed just how efficiently it can be done. In a demonstration at its design studio, it beat what it claims is the fastest gas pump in LA by exchanging a drained car battery pack for a fresh fully charged one in just 90 seconds. When the $500,000 stations start rolling out, owners will stay in the car the whole time then either swap the battery back for their original on a return trip, or get a bill for the difference based on how new their battery is. According to Reuters, the exchange is expected to cost owners between $60 – $80 each time or about the cost of 15 gallons of gas
Of course, failed outfit Better Place proposed a similar service before it shut down, but Tesla is betting that it can make it work this time. The first service stations are coming to busy corridors, with some planned for I5 in California. Still need more proof? Elon Musk tweeted that video of the event will be available in “about an hour,” so check back then.
Update: We’re still waiting on the official video, but reader Weapon sent in a link to video shot by an event attendee, which can be viewed after the break. Take a peek and see a pair of Tesla’s Model S sedans get quick battery service, one after the other in less time than a fuel pump can deliver one tank of gas.
Update 2: The official event video is up, check it out embedded after the break.
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Tesla Motors (Twitter), Tesla
Who's in charge here?
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.