Tesla Motors has decided to increase the range of its electric vehicles by introducing a new hybrid battery system. This technical solution made it possible to increase the distance that an electric car can travel without recharging. It is assumed that now the company's electric vehicles will be able to travel at least four hundred miles on a single charge. At the same time, most of the competitors have much smaller capabilities.

Creation of a new hybrid system

Tesla Motors is considered the leading manufacturer of electric vehicles. This manufacturer began to engage in new patent developments, which are based on the creation of new hybrid batteries. Distinctive feature These batteries are a combination of metal-air and lithium-ion batteries. Thanks to this system, the range of Tesla electric cars will reach 644 km. Modern production Tesla Model S models can travel no more than 430 km on one charge. The driving range depends on the modification of the electric car and the use of the combined EPA cycle. At the same time, many modern electric vehicles, such as the Toyota RAV-4 EV and Chevrolet Spark EV, can only travel up to 150 km without recharging. Of course, these parameters are quite enough for city residents. However, such a power reserve is not enough to go on long country trips.

Possibilities of new hybrid batteries

Despite the fact that Tesla's electric vehicles have rather high range indicators, the company is trying to increase these indicators. New combined batteries, consisting of lithium-ion and metal-air batteries, will be a revolutionary solution in the creation of electric vehicles. Metal-air batteries use oxygen as their electrode. This allows you to speed up the charging of batteries, however, over time, their resource may be depleted. Tesla believes that hybrid vehicles will be able to quickly switch from one type of battery to another. That is, Tesla is going to increase the power reserve also due to fast charging. For example, after discharging, they can simply be replaced at special stations. This procedure will last only 5-10 minutes.

Updated software

Tesla is also developing a self-driving car, promising to launch it on sale soon. The company explains that initial stage automatic control will be 90%, so the participation of the driver is still needed. A similar software improvement for Tesla Model S models will now allow their owners not to worry about driving distance. Updated hardware prevents the battery from completely draining unless specifically caused to do so. That is, the system will ensure that the driver does not drive far from charging stations.

The updated software is currently in beta testing. All Model S electric car drivers are expected to have access to new system already in the spring of 2016. The update will be available over a 3G connection. Initially, it will be used in America, where virtually the entire population is within 170 miles of Supercharger charging stations. Here, any Model S owner can quickly top up the battery by 80-100 percent. A full charge is enough for an electric car to travel 200-250 miles. Models with new hybrid batteries provide extended range up to 400 miles. By connecting to the Supercharger charging station, the Tesla electric car with the new software will tell its owner the state of charge of the battery. The system will also inform the driver about the possibility of getting to the nearest charging station. When the car runs out of charge, the equipment will immediately prompt the owner to stop at the nearest charging station without leaving their route.

Autonomous driving

In addition to managing battery drain, the new software will add several new features to make autonomous driving easier. In particular, the system analyzes parameters such as terrain, driving style and wind speed. At the same time, even if the owner of the electric car does not follow the recommendations of the equipment, the computer will still offer him the most optimal route, taking into account the placement of charging stations. The system can ignore those charging stations that are busy on this moment. At the same time, the equipment keeps track of power plants that may be free before your electric car arrives.

Additional features of the autonomous driving system

In addition to the extended range, the on-board system also offers other autonomous driving features. In particular, there is an automatic braking function in emergency situations and control over dead zones. In addition, the collision avoidance system is of interest, which automatically brakes the electric car, helping to avoid impact in a frontal collision. If the driver wants to cancel braking, then he must apply the brake or gas, and also turn the steering wheel sharply. Another important function of the autonomous driving system is the control of dead zones. The system informs the driver that he is in a dead zone that is not visible in the rear-view mirrors of other cars that are traveling at a speed of 30 to 130 km/h. If the equipment sees a risk of collision, it signals the driver with a light sound signal and vibration in the steering wheel.

In the updated software there is a Valet or Lackey function. This mode reduces engine power and restricts access to various personal data and settings. In addition, the function allows you to close the glove compartment and hide all information about yourself. This mode is useful when your electric car will be parked by employees of a hotel or other establishments.

The Moscow Tesla Club team answered the most common questions related to the operation of Tesla electric vehicles in Russia - where is it more convenient to charge, how often, how to connect the car to the Internet, how to order, what is the cost of operation. Portal VC.ru has published a lot of material about it.

How many Teslas are already on our roads?

Every year more and more Tesla electric vehicles appear in Russia. According to the official data of the analytical agency Avtostat, the sales dynamics of the brand in Russia is growing at an excellent pace - 8 cars were sold in 2013, and in 2014 this number increased to 82.

As of July 1, 2015, there were 122 officially registered Teslas on the roads of our country - and not all of them in Moscow or St. Petersburg. There are cars in Kemerovo, Barnaul, Khabarovsk and even in Anadyr - more details on the infographic of Avtostat below.

Interestingly, according to the Moscow Tesla Club, there are more Model S in Russia - about 250-300 copies. Perhaps the owners are simply in no hurry to register them.

And how is it charged if there are not enough charging stations yet?

Tesla's power reserve on a single charge allows you to do without the use of public charging stations for everyday use in urban areas. As the practical experience of the owners shows, it is much more convenient to use home stations, getting a fully charged electric car in a few night hours, when electricity rates are lower. With the installation of such a device in the parking lot, in the garage or in the office, there will be no problems. The need to recharge at a public station may arise for Tesla owners on long journeys. As far as Russia is concerned, it is still too early to talk about a developed infrastructure that would allow solving this issue.

Today, there are projects to organize a network of high-speed electric charging stations ChaDeMo. In addition, judging by the information on the official website of Tesla Motors, in 2016 Supercharger stations will appear in Russia - one each in Moscow and St. Petersburg, two on the way between them, as well as on the M9 highway towards Latvia.

Thus, in a year, a network of branded ultra-fast charging stations will connect Russia with Europe, giving happy owners Tesla in our country is an opportunity to organize a comfortable trip using only Supercharger on intercity routes and autobahns. By the way, since 2014, the ability to charge on the Supercharger network has been a free option and is included in the basic package of all Model S and Model X. Public street charging stations are necessary for electric vehicles with a shorter range than Tesla, which is often not enough for the average city dweller. This question in Russia and the CIS is still open. However, new charges are constantly appearing in major cities, so far only in the European part of Russia. Progress is already clearly visible, given both public and private initiatives, which means that very soon it will be possible to talk about a full-fledged infrastructure of charging stations for electric vehicles. By the way, a map with an up-to-date list of public charges can be found, for example,. Since the vast majority of Tesla owners charge their electric cars at home or in the office, it’s worth taking a closer look at how to do it right, how long it takes to charge, and what equipment is needed. So, a standard charger (Mobile Connector) is supplied with each electric car, and you can additionally purchase a branded high power Wall Connector - a portable charger with increased power, which is hung on the garage wall. In both cases, it is necessary that the outlet has a normal ground. Incidentally, both chargers are capable of operating at temperatures from -30 to +45 degrees Celsius, which leaves no reason to doubt their effectiveness in Russian conditions.

What is the actual mileage on a single charge? Does it decrease a lot in winter? In general, does she go in winter?

Real mileage Tesla Model S with 85-kilowatt battery in warm time year, with average urban use, is 350-400 km on one full charge. Do you know which country in Europe regularly breaks Tesla sales records? In cold Norway, where in winter the temperature can drop to -40 Celsius, which is quite comparable to even the harshest winters in Siberia. Nevertheless, more than 6 thousand Tesla Model S travel on the roads of Norway. Judging by the reviews of the owners, in winter time the power reserve is reduced by about 20-30% - this means that in any case it will be enough for the average city dweller for every day. In addition to the issue of mileage, Tesla is simply much more convenient in winter than gasoline or diesel cars - there are no difficulties with starting the engine in hard frost, no need to wait for warm-up. In Tesla, the interior (since the heater is completely electric) and the seats heat up very quickly, and in addition, you can set a comfortable temperature in the cabin using mobile application before even leaving the house. And the temperature of the battery itself is constantly maintained by the on-board computer automatically at the optimum level. By the way, there is already experience in operating Tesla Model S in Russian frosts - for example, in Barnaul at -30 Celsius.

Operating cost

And so it is clear that an electric car in everyday use is cheaper, since there is no main cost item - the cost of refueling. But it's one thing to just be aware of this fact, and quite another to look at the real numbers. So, for the most effective illustration, let's try on ourselves the following situation from real life. Let's assume that we live in Moscow, and we use a car for daily trips to work. The one-way journey takes 15 km, respectively, the minimum daily mileage is 30 km. For simplicity of the experiment, we will not take into account traffic jams and additional trips. Thus, the weekly mileage will be 150 km. Let's compare Tesla Model S P85D (700 hp, 3.3 seconds acceleration to 100 km/h, 7.3 million rubles) with competitors. For example, we will select a car comparable in dynamics and cost. Let it be the Audi RS6 Avant - costing from 6,000,000 rubles, with a capacity of 560 hp. and with acceleration to 100 km / h in 3.9 seconds. And to make it more interesting, let's add to the comparison an objectively economical car available on the Russian market - let it be a diesel Skoda Octavia 2.0D with a robotic gearbox. For all calculations, we will use the technical specifications declared by the manufacturers, as well as the cost of fuel and electricity tariffs in Moscow as of November 3, 2015.

Is Tesla safe on our roads?

This question worries many potential Tesla owners in Russia. And rightly so, given the tense traffic situation on the roads of our country. Naturally, for admission to public roads, Tesla Model S has passed all the necessary tests - EuroNCAP (Europe): and NHTSA (USA): Not only did it pass, but it became one of the few vehicles to achieve the highest overall rating of 5 stars on both methods in all types of crash tests. One of the elements that provides such a high level of security is the battery. And this fact is one of the concerns of potential Tesla owners - there is an opinion that it is not known how the battery will behave in case of mechanical damage. In addition, at the end of 2013, news about a car catching fire as a result of a collision with an obstacle was widely disseminated on the Internet. Tesla Motors responded as quickly as possible to the situation: it was found that a hole with a diameter of 7 cm in the battery pack arose from a car hitting a large metal object, whose impact force at the bottom is estimated at 25 tons. More than 5 minutes passed between the moment of impact and ignition, and the spread of the fire was facilitated by the fact that firefighters, when extinguishing, made four more holes in the protective metal shield of the battery pack, and the fire went out, but did not reach the cab.

Already in November, a software update was released that increased the ground clearance of the electric vehicle, and in the spring of 2014, changes were made to the design of the car: a special-shaped hollow aluminum beam, a titanium plate and a stamped aluminum shield are installed under the bottom.

The aluminum bar either kicks the object lying on the road, or, if it is a very hard and stable object, softens the blow and directs it up in front of the battery compartment, into the front trunk area, preventing serious damage and maintaining control of the car. The titanium plate protects vulnerable components at the front of the machine from damage, helping to neutralize debris lying on the road. An aluminum shield is installed in case the first two protection devices fail - it additionally absorbs and dissipates the impact energy. Owners of already purchased Model S can retrofit their electric vehicles with advanced protection for free at service stations. Active and passive safety systems in all Model S trim levels include 8 airbags, frontal and side collision avoidance systems, blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, driver and passenger seat position sensors, rollover sensor, automatic battery shutdown when an accident occurs and so on.

What is an autopilot? Does Tesla really drive itself?

Yes, he's going. In the presence of markings and appropriate conditions on the road. Most recently, Tesla Motors released a new firmware for their supercars, the main feature of which was an almost full-fledged autopilot for moving around the track. And we have already seen own experience how this development can improve the safety of movement on public roads: firstly, the autopilot does not have a human factor in such maneuvers as rebuilding - the car cannot “not notice” another car in the blind zone; and secondly, in front of our eyes, Tesla itself avoided a collision with an inattentive participant as correctly as possible. traffic that was captured on our video: Autopilot is a very useful feature for driving on the highway and in traffic jams. From experience - it significantly reduces driver fatigue and increases the safety of such trips.

How to service Tesla in Russia? After all, we do not have an official service

Maintenance of an electric car in Russia can be carried out in our Moscow Tesla Club - we provide non-warranty repairs, tuning and maintenance of Tesla cars. If necessary, engineers from the European representative office of Tesla Motors come to our service. And for major and warranty repairs, a process has been established for promptly sending electric vehicles for service in Germany.

We can say that the Tesla service concept is the maximum comfort and minimum headache for the owner. Tesla is missing most of the parts that work under high load and require regular maintenance in cars with internal combustion engines.

The fuel system, timing, clutch, pipes and filters, candles, rollers and other spare parts for Tesla owners are nothing more than relics of the past. In fact, Tesla does not have units operating in extreme conditions, even such consumables as brake pads have a much longer resource than in traditional cars - due to regenerative braking. The manufacturer not only updates the firmware of its electric vehicles remotely, but also conducts basic diagnostics and fixes minor problems. As for the battery, Tesla Motors gives it an 8-year unlimited mileage warranty. In case of any problems, the battery is changed free of charge. In addition, the manufacturer saves detailed statistics on the use of each battery, information about the charge-discharge, charge currents, any malfunctions and can predict the behavior of batteries for many years to come. Moscow Tesla Club provides comprehensive assistance in warranty battery replacement.

Who drives Tesla in Russia?

A variety of people, and among them - personalities in one way or another public. Perhaps we will give a few examples.

• German Gref, President of Sberbank: “These machines do not pollute nature. They are very cheap and easy to use."
• Mikhail Podorozhansky, Chief Editor“Autoreview”: “I want to understand whether it is possible in Moscow to get by with only an electric car. As long as I can do it."
• Anton Belov, director of the Garage Center for Contemporary Culture: “From what I liked especially during operation, it was the feeling of not a flawed car, but, on the contrary, a car of the future: that it was thrown off a UFO, and now it fell into your hands.”
• Dmitry Grishin, CEO Mail.Ru Group: “Tesla for cars is iPhone for smartphones.”

Is there some more interesting fact. Often Tesla cars are bought as a gift. After all, it solves a specific problem: what to give to a person who has everything? Tesla is the perfect gift in this case. And prestigious, and interesting, and causing delight later - every day of use.

How to order Tesla in Russia? What procedures will have to go through? How long should I wait?

It is very easy to order Tesla to Russia and the CIS countries. In general, the whole process consists of three steps: you contact the Moscow Tesla Club with a desire to order an electric car, and we will help you choose the right modification and tell you in detail about all the nuances. Moscow Tesla Club takes care of all the work on ordering a car, delivery and registration. You receive your Tesla in 3-4 weeks if you choose a car from a European warehouse. You can order the assembly "for yourself" - in this case, you will have to wait 2-4 months. In addition, you can choose a suitable Tesla for yourself from those available at the Moscow Tesla Club - in this case, the car can be received the very next day.

Where can I see a detailed review of the Tesla Model S and Model X?

It's not hard to guess what an innovative vehicle like Tesla has generated a lot of interest from both consumers and funds. mass media around the world. Today you can find many detailed test drives and reviews of Tesla, filmed both in the USA and Europe, and in Russia.

Well, to dispel the last doubts, if you are seriously interested in acquiring Tesla, we have compiled for you a selection of the most detailed and exciting reviews:

The Tesla car drove the third ring in Moscow on autopilot: Overview of the Model S in the Big Test Drive program: Model S winter test in the Big Test Drive program: Model S test at -31 degrees Celsius in Barnaul: Mikhail Podorozhansky (Autoreview) about Tesla Model S: Grand test from "AutoPlusTV":

How to buy, where to charge, how to connect to the Internet, who drives

To bookmarks

Since the vast majority of Tesla owners charge their electric cars at home or in the office, it’s worth taking a closer look at how to do it right, how long it takes to charge, and what equipment is needed. So, a standard charger (Mobile Connector) is supplied with each electric car, and in addition, you can purchase a branded High Power Wall Connector - a portable charger with increased power that is hung on the garage wall. In both cases, it is necessary that the outlet has a normal ground.

Mobile Connector

High Power Wall Connector

Tesla's European version has the ability to charge with three-phase current, so it charges faster than a US-spec machine. You can use the advantages of this type of charging using a three-phase red IEC 60309 socket - you can put this in your garage, they are also often found, for example, in car washes, underground parking lots, hotels and other places where powerful electrical equipment is connected.

In order to immediately answer standard questions about the charging speed from the home network and the necessary equipment, we decided to present all the information important for the consumer in the table (the data presented is relevant when connecting a three-phase current):

1. High Power Wall Connector (sample 2016) - 110 km per hour of charging.
2. Mobile Connector - 55 km per hour of charging.

In addition, there is the possibility of charging from a regular 220V home socket using the appropriate adapter for the Mobile Connector. In this case, the car does not charge quickly - 14 kilometers are added per hour.

By the way, both versions of chargers are capable of operating at temperatures from -30 to +45 degrees Celsius, which does not give reason to doubt their effectiveness in Russian conditions.

In general, listing all available Tesla charging options is a topic for a separate article, which, by the way, we plan to publish in the near future.

What is the actual mileage on a single charge? Does it decrease a lot in winter? In general, does she go in winter?

The real mileage of a Tesla Model S with an 85-kilowatt battery in the warm season, with average urban use, is 350-400 km on one full charge.

Do you know which country in Europe regularly breaks Tesla sales records? In cold Norway, where in winter the temperature can drop to -40 Celsius, which is quite comparable to even the harshest winters in Siberia.

Nevertheless, more than 6,000 Tesla Model S travel on the roads of Norway. Judging by the reviews of the owners, in winter the power reserve is reduced by about 20-30% - which means that in any case it will be enough for the average city dweller for every day.

In addition to the issue of mileage, in winter Tesla is simply much more convenient than gasoline or diesel cars - there are no difficulties with starting the engine in severe frost, there is no need to wait for warming up. In Tesla, the interior (since the heater is completely electric) and seats heat up very quickly, and in addition, you can set a comfortable temperature in the cabin using a mobile application, even before leaving the house. And the temperature of the battery itself is constantly maintained by the on-board computer automatically at the optimum level.

By the way, there is already experience in operating Tesla Model S in Russian frosts - for example, in Barnaul at -30 Celsius:

Operating cost

And so it is clear that an electric car in everyday use is cheaper, since there is no main cost item - the cost of refueling. But it's one thing to just be aware of this fact, and quite another to look at the real numbers.

So, for the most effective illustration, let's try on the following real life situation. Let's assume that we live in Moscow, and we use a car for daily trips to work.

The one-way journey takes 15 km, respectively, the minimum daily mileage is 30 km. For simplicity of the experiment, we will not take into account traffic jams and additional trips. Thus, the weekly mileage will be 150 km.

Let's compare Tesla Model S P85D (700 hp, 3.3 seconds acceleration to 100 km/h, 7.3 million rubles) with competitors. For example, we will select a car comparable in dynamics and cost. Let it be the Audi RS6 Avant - costing from 6,000,000 rubles, with a capacity of 560 hp. and with acceleration to 100 km / h in 3.9 seconds.

And to make it more interesting, let's add to the comparison an objectively economical car available on the Russian market - let it be a diesel Skoda Octavia 2.0D with a robotic gearbox.

For all calculations, we will use the technical specifications declared by the manufacturers, as well as the cost of fuel and electricity tariffs in Moscow as of November 3, 2015.

Is Tesla safe on our roads?

This question worries many potential Tesla owners in Russia. And rightly so, given the tense traffic situation on the roads of our country.

Naturally, for admission to public roads, Tesla Model S has passed all the necessary tests - EuroNCAP (Europe):

and NHTSA (USA): Not only did it pass, but it became one of the few vehicles to achieve the highest overall rating of 5 stars on both methods in all types of crash tests.

One of the elements that provides such a high level of security is the battery. And this fact is one of the concerns of potential Tesla owners - there is an opinion that it is not known how the battery will behave in case of mechanical damage.

In addition, at the end of 2013, news about a car catching fire as a result of a collision with an obstacle was widely disseminated on the Internet. Tesla Motors reacted to the situation as quickly as possible: it was found that a hole with a diameter of 7 cm in the battery pack arose from a car hitting a large metal object, the impact force of which in the bottom is estimated at 25 tons.

More than 5 minutes passed between the moment of impact and ignition, and the spread of the fire was facilitated by the fact that firefighters, when extinguishing, made four more holes in the protective metal shield of the battery pack, and the fire went out, but did not reach the cab.

Already in November, a software update was released that increased the ground clearance of the electric vehicle, and in the spring of 2014, changes were made to the design of the car: a special-shaped hollow aluminum beam, a titanium plate and a stamped aluminum shield are installed under the bottom.

The aluminum bar either kicks the object lying on the road, or, if it is a very hard and stable object, softens the blow and directs it up in front of the battery compartment, into the front trunk area, preventing serious damage and maintaining control of the car. The titanium plate protects vulnerable components at the front of the machine from damage, helping to neutralize debris lying on the road. An aluminum shield is installed in case the first two protection devices fail - it additionally absorbs and dissipates the impact energy. Owners of already purchased Model S can retrofit their electric vehicles with advanced protection for free at service stations.

Active and passive safety systems in all Model S trim levels include 8 airbags, frontal and side collision avoidance systems, blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, driver and passenger seat position sensors, rollover sensor, automatic battery shutdown when an accident occurs and so on.

What is an autopilot? Does Tesla really drive itself?

Yes, he's going. In the presence of markings and appropriate conditions on the road.

Most recently, Tesla Motors released a new firmware for their supercars, the main feature of which was an almost full-fledged autopilot for moving around the track.

And we ourselves have already seen from our own experience how this development can improve the safety of movement on public roads: firstly, the autopilot does not have a human factor in such maneuvers as rebuilding - the car cannot “not notice” another car in the blind zone; and secondly, in front of our eyes, Tesla itself avoided a collision with an inattentive road user as correctly as possible, which was captured on our video: Autopilot is a very useful feature for driving on the highway and in traffic jams. From experience - it significantly reduces driver fatigue and increases the safety of such trips.

How to service Tesla in Russia? After all, we do not have an official service

Maintenance of an electric car in Russia can be carried out in our Moscow Tesla Club - we provide non-warranty repairs, tuning and maintenance of Tesla cars. If necessary, engineers from the European representative office of Tesla Motors come to our service. And for major and warranty repairs, a process has been established for promptly sending electric vehicles for service in Germany.

We can say that the Tesla service concept is the maximum comfort and minimum headache for the owner. Tesla is missing most of the parts that work under high load and require regular maintenance in cars with internal combustion engines.

The fuel system, timing, clutch, pipes and filters, candles, rollers and other spare parts for Tesla owners are nothing more than relics of the past. In fact, Tesla does not have units operating in extreme conditions, even such consumables as brake pads have a much longer resource than in traditional cars - due to regenerative braking.

The manufacturer not only updates the firmware of its electric vehicles remotely, but also conducts basic diagnostics and fixes minor problems.

As for the battery, Tesla Motors gives it an 8-year unlimited mileage warranty. In case of any problems, the battery is changed free of charge. In addition, the manufacturer saves detailed statistics on the use of each battery, information about the charge-discharge, charge currents, any malfunctions and can predict the behavior of batteries for many years to come. Moscow Tesla Club provides comprehensive assistance in warranty battery replacement.

Does Tesla connect to the internet in Russia? Are all features available? How to manage all options?

Of course, any Tesla is easy to connect to the Internet. For Russian owners, there are two options.

You can install a SIM card in the service of our club. We have experience in calling a specialist from Germany to replace SIM cards.

Or you can do it even easier - put any wifi modem in the cabin. For example Yota.

Who drives Tesla in Russia?

A variety of people, and among them - personalities in one way or another public. Perhaps we will give a few examples.

• German Gref, President of Sberbank: “These machines do not pollute nature. They are very cheap and easy to use."
• Mikhail Podorozhansky, editor-in-chief of Autoreview: “I want to understand whether it is possible to get by with only an electric car in Moscow. As long as I can do it."
• Anton Belov, director of the Garage Center for Contemporary Culture: “From what I liked especially during operation, this is the feeling of not a flawed car, but, on the contrary, a car of the future: that it was thrown off a UFO, and now it fell into your hands” .
• Dmitry Grishin, CEO of Mail.Ru Group: "Tesla for cars is iPhone for smartphones."

There is another interesting fact. Often Tesla cars are bought as a gift. After all, it solves a specific problem: what to give to a person who has everything? Tesla is the perfect gift in this case. And prestigious, and interesting, and causing delight later - every day of use.

How to order Tesla in Russia? What procedures will have to go through? How long should I wait?

It is very easy to order Tesla to Russia and the CIS countries. In general, the whole process consists of three steps:

You apply to Moscow Tesla Club with a desire to order an electric car, and we will help you choose the right modification and tell you in detail about all the nuances.

We take care of all the work on ordering a car, delivery and registration.

You receive your Tesla in 3-4 weeks if you choose a car from a European warehouse. You can order the assembly "for yourself" - in this case, you will have to wait 2-4 months.

In addition, you can choose a suitable Tesla for yourself from those available at the Moscow Tesla Club - in this case, the car can be received the very next day.

Where can I see a detailed review of the Tesla Model S and Model X?

It's not hard to guess what an innovative vehicle like Tesla has generated a lot of interest from both consumers and the media around the world. Today you can find many detailed test drives and reviews of Tesla, filmed both in the USA and Europe, and in Russia.

Well, to dispel the last doubts, if you are seriously interested in acquiring Tesla, we have compiled for you a selection of the most detailed and exciting reviews:

The Tesla car drove the third ring in Moscow on autopilot:

Overview of the Model S in the Big Test Drive program:

Model S winter test in the Big Test Drive program:

Model S test at -31 degrees Celsius in Barnaul:

Mikhail Podorozhansky (Autoreview) about Tesla Model S: Grand test from "AutoPlusTV":

Details Published: 03.10.2015 14:28

Electric cars began to fill the streets of New York en masse 100 years ago. But why are they still not popular all over the world? The answer is simple - at that time there were not enough powerful batteries. With the development of battery technology, large capacity appeared, and quite a long time ago. Decades ago, at various exhibitions and in news stories, prototypes of electric cars began to catch the eye, which were quite efficient and practical. Each of these new products had something unique and innovative, some manufacturers even put them into mass production and set a price that was affordable for buyers. But why are cars with gasoline engines still the main means of transportation?

That's because at that time there was no electric car that could make a revolution. All electric cars were praised in narrow circles of geeks, but did not find recognition among ordinary people. There were family models that could save money, but there was no supercar, the notebook on the cover with which schoolchildren would sweep off the shelves and which the boys dreamed of with early years. In the world of electric cars, there was no iPhone and no Steve Jobs to develop it. There was no electric car with “wow!” effect.

Start

Now such a revolutionary car exists. Meet the Tesla Model S. Changing the world for the better, this full-size five-door luxury liftback began in 2012. The ideological father of the project is the American engineer and entrepreneur Elon Musk, who in 2009 presented the Model S prototype to the world at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Today, few people remember how many problems preceded this presentation, Tesla Motors was even on the verge of bankruptcy. However, Musk believed in the idea of ​​​​a mass-produced electric car to the end, invested all his savings and was able to find investors. And later his efforts paid off: the first limited edition of 1,000 copies worth about $100,000 each sold like hot cakes!

Such a fantastic success is not surprising, since Tesla still remains the electric vehicle with the largest mileage without recharging, accelerating to 100 km / h in, for a minute, 2.8 seconds !!! (meaning the top version of Modes S P85D with Ludicrous mode), and also has the title of the safest in the USA vehicle on the roads. Reality surpassed all expectations. For the first time in 10 years of existence, Tesla Motors has made a profit, paid off all debts and increased the production of Model S. By this time, about 50,000 of these electric cars drive around the world.

In fact, the best electric car in the world, Tesla Model S is today a leader not only in the category of electric cars. So, for example, at the end of 2013 in the USA, the model became the best-selling luxury sedan, ahead of, in particular, the BMW 7-series and Mercedes-Benz S-class, and in Norway, thanks to state support for electric vehicles, the Model S generally became the best-selling cars at the end of September 2013, while ahead of such a weak competitor as Volkswagen Golf.

What electric motor does Tesla Model S have

Under the hood, the Tesla does not have an engine, but a small trunk. According to the laws of automotive logic, if the trunk is designed in front, then the engine is in the back. But everything is not so simple here, because in the back of the car there is also a luggage compartment, but already much larger, there is enough space even for installing two additional child seats or placing a bicycle.

Rear wheel drive models

The designers placed the electric motor above the rear axle, and visually "do not touch it." A three-phase asynchronous electric machine with four poles is connected directly to the rear drive without a gearbox and transmission as such. top configuration its power is 310 kW or 416 horsepower, and the maximum torque that it can develop reaches 600 N m. At the same time, the engine is capable of delivering up to 16,000 rpm, which allows the car to move at speeds up to 210 km / h. Also, during energy recovery, it can work as a generator when the driver releases the accelerator pedal and the car starts to slow down. In general, rear-wheel drive Model S was originally produced in three trim levels: 60, 85 and P85. Depending on this, the engine power was respectively 225 kW, 280 kW, and in the Performance version as much as 310 kW. Since April 2015, the company has discontinued the Model S 60 and replaced the base model with the Model S 70D.

All-wheel drive models

In October 2014, Tesla announced modifications to the S-ki with all-wheel drive, which contain two electric motors each. One, as before, remained on the rear axle, while the other drives the front wheels separately. Thus, in the P85 model, another motor appeared on the front axle, the power of which was 221 hp. with., which in total with the rear, more powerful engine is almost 700 liters. With. Now acceleration to 100 km/h is possible in 3.2 seconds, which is faster than in the Porsche Panamera Turbo S! Also increased maximum speed, which is now 249.5 km / h. Other versions were installed on the front wheels of 188 "horses". All four-wheel drive modifications received the suffix "D" and became known as 70D, 85D and P85D. Interestingly, the distribution of the load on the axles was almost even in the early models, but in the new P85D it has become close to ideal - 50:50.

Tesla engineers did not stop there and in July 2015 the company introduced new versions of the Model S - 70, 90, 90D and P90D, along with an optional "ludicrous mode" ("ridiculous" mode), which allows you to accelerate to "hundreds" in 2.8 seconds. The P90D now combines 259 horsepower (193 kW) front axle and 503 horsepower (375 kW) rear axle, giving a total output of 762 hp. (568 kW). You can upgrade the car and install the "ludicrous" mode for $10,000.

What battery does a Tesla electric car have

All Model S are far from the lightest, the weight of each car is about 2 tons. Although the body elements are made of lightweight aluminum, the battery significantly increases the overall weight of the car. It is located under the floor and includes more than 7,000 modern lithium-ion cells manufactured by the Japanese Panasonic. Depending on the configuration, its power can reach 70 kWh or 85 kWh. Actually, this is where the names of a number of Tesla modifications came from. The less powerful is designed to cover a distance of 335 km on one full charge, on the other you can travel 426 km.

Placing such a heavy battery down between the wheelbase significantly shifts the center of gravity, which makes the car more stable when cornering. Separate lithium-ion modules are not evenly placed in the battery, but are compacted closer to the middle, which has a positive effect on the inertia of the S-ki about the vertical axis. The battery also has another useful function: it strengthens the body structure and stiffens its frame. The developers took into account the sad experience of several cars from the first batch, when the “gas tank” was pierced due to a collision with the bottom of hard objects, and installed a special titanium plate to protect the battery from damage.

In July 2015, Tesla Motors introduced a range upgrade that increases battery capacity to 90 kWh, which can be equipped (at an additional cost) with the top versions of the 85D and P85D. The developers explained the possibility of such an improvement in efficiency by "optimizing the chemical processes in the cell." The new batteries increased the range on a single charge by 6%.

Tesla Supercharger Charging Stations

Fast charging stations allow you to recharge Tesla electric vehicles at up to 120 kW, bypassing the basic 10-kilowatt (or additional - 20 kW) inverter. According to Tesla developers, Superchargers charge electric vehicle batteries many times faster than other types of charging stations. The result of this express charging is quite impressive - 50% of the Model S battery is replenished in just 20 minutes, and 80% in 40 minutes. A 75-minute full “fill-up” might seem like a bit of a stretch, but Tesla says it’s common to stop on long journeys, with people often warming up, eating, or showering.

The network of Superchargers, which are powered by solar panels, is constantly growing: at the end of 2015 in North America There are already 220 of them, and in Europe - 180. The company's management says that refueling for Tesla car owners will always be completely free. This stimulates the use of electric vehicles around the world. And, of course, Superchargers are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

How to drive a Tesla car

The driver will first be unusual behind the wheel and will have to get used to the features of the electric car. But these features differ in better side, so you can get used to it with pleasure. For example, Model S does not start, but is turned on by pressing the brake pedal. But that's not the first thing that draws attention, because the first thing that catches the eye is the large 17-inch display located to the right of the steering wheel.

Tesla Motors decided to minimize the number of buttons and mechanical controls, instead putting it all on one touch screen. Only a few mechanical buttons, turn and wiper switches, as well as a forward and reverse handle were left on the steering wheel and steering column. There is another screen behind the wheel, which displays information about the charge and temperature of the battery, the remaining mileage, speed, etc. There are only two pedals at the bottom, in most cases you have to use only one of them - the accelerator. Brakes are needed only in emergency cases, since when the gas pedal is released, the car "brakes the engine" and there is no clutch at all.

Unlike other electric vehicles, Tesla Model S is suitable for people who are going to move not only around the city, but also on longer journeys. Fans of gadgets will also like it, since you can control the state of the car from your smartphone. Due to its luxurious design and expensive cost, the car is in demand among businessmen and people with high incomes, at the same time, due to the high level of safety and the possibility of installing two additional seats for children, family trips will also be as comfortable as possible. And finally, the Tesla Model S is the choice of progressive people who care about questions. environment and who are ready for an early transition to the transport of the future.

Video: Tesla Model S P85 test drive

Table specifications Tesla Model S

Short description	Technology	BEV (Battery Electric vehicle)
	Direct deliveries to Ukraine	No
	Price in salons	$75 000 - $105 000 *
	Power	/362/416/762 HP*
	Fuel type	Electricity
	Charging time	Charging from household AC power: 110V for 1 hour replenishes 8 km of the path 220V for 1 hour replenishes 50 km of the way Charging at Supercharger fast charging stations in 1 hour 500 km.
	Power reserve	225/320/426/426 km * (depending on battery capacity)
Body	Type of	Sedan
	Design	Carrier
	Class	sport sedan
	Number of seats	5
	Number of doors	4
Dimensions, weights and volumes	Length	mm	4976
	Width	mm	1963
	Height	mm	1435
	Wheelbase	mm	2959
	Wheel track	front/rear mm	1661 /1699
	Clearance	mm	154.9
	Curb weight	kg	2108 *
	Trunk volume	liter	900
Performance characteristics	Max speed	km/h	225/249*
	Acceleration 0 -100 km/h	With	5,2/4,4/3,2/2,8*
	Power reserve	km	up to 426*
Engine	Type of	Asynchronous (induction type) three-phase AC motor
	Fuel type	electricity
	Model	The electric motor of own production is used
	Max. power	259/315/362/503 HP*
	Max. torque	420/430/440/600 Nm*
Traction battery	Type of	lithium ion
	Capacity	kWh	70/85/90*
Transmission	type of drive	Rear/All wheel drive
	Transmission	Single stage gearbox
	Constant gear ratio	9.73
Chassis	Steering	rack and pinion with electric booster
	Suspension	front / rear	dependent / independent
	Brake system	ventilated brake discs are used in combination with an electronic parking brake and regenerative braking system
	Tires	-Goodyear Eagle RS-A2 245/45R19 (standard 19-inch) -Continental Extreme Contact DW 245/35R21 (optional 21-inch)
Safety	Number of airbags	8
	Airbags	Side airbags for the driver and front passenger, side curtain airbags for the first and second row of seats, frontal airbags for the head and knees of the driver and front passenger
	Auxiliary braking systems	Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
	Other	Crash cut off battery sensor, immobilizer, seat belts, autopilot, etc.