VIDEO: Tesla explains the innovations on their Model S

The Tesla motor company is carryoing out Alpha tests on their Model S, basically this means that they are generally happy with the first draft of the production model and is now carrying out the first battery of tests to determine what works and what needs to be changed.

Tesla’s Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, Peter Rawlinson, talks about some of the features of Model S engineering at Tesla headquarters. He discusses the advantages of designing a car from the ground using Tesla’s proven electric powertrain, and how the result will be a drive experience to surpass any that have come before it.

See the video after the jump






Tesla Vehicle Engineering - Part 1 from Tesla Motors on Vimeo.


Tesla Vehicle Engineering - Part 2 from Tesla Motors on Vimeo.


Tesla Vehicle Engineering - Part 3 from Tesla Motors on Vimeo.

SLUGFEST: Tesla and Nissan argue who's got the better (and cheaper) battery

California-based Tesla says that their Li-Ion batteres are better and cheaper than the same kind of batteries that Nissan is using in their all-electric Leaf.

Tesla says their batteries should cost around USD200/kW/h, whereas Nissan says their packs should cost less than USD750/kW/h.

The only problem is, Nissan is talking about now while Tesla is talking about the future. Nissan has been developing their Li-ion batteries for more than a decade and the Japanese company has rolled out the Leaf without so much as a warning.

Nissan's sales programme calls for about a few hundred thousand cars sold every year while Tesla needs to sell only around 20,000 cars per year.

With those numbers in hand it is not surprising that Tesla has gone upmarket with their USD57.000 Model S while the Leaf retails for half that at around USD25,800 after tax credits.