Wikipedia

Draft:Model S

"Model S" redirects here. For the fighter aircraft, see Curtiss Model S.

Tesla Model S
A front-three quarter view of a red Model S
Overview
ManufacturerTesla, Inc.
ProductionJune 2012 – present
Assembly
DesignerFranz von Holzhausen
Body and chassis
ClassFull-size car
Body style5-door liftback sedan
Layout
ChassisUnibody
RelatedTesla Model X
Powertrain
Electric motor3-phase alternating current induction motor
TransmissionSingle-speed reduction gear
Battery60–100 kWh lithium-ion battery
Electric range249–405 mi (401–652 km)
Dimensions
Wheelbase116.5 in (2,960 mm)[1]
Length196.1–197.7 in (4,980–5,021 mm)[2][3]
Width77.3 in (1,960 mm)[1][note 1]
Height56.5 in (1,440 mm)[1]
Curb weight4,323–4,960 lb (1,961–2,250 kg)[4]

The Tesla Model S is a four-door, battery-electric sedan car[5] manufactured by the American automaker Tesla that has been in production for over twelve years in a single generation. Designed by Franz von Holzhausen and developed under the codename "WhiteStar", a prototype of the Model S debuted in Hawthorne, California, in March 2009.

The official manufacture of the Model S began in June 2012, at the facility in Fremont, California. The car shares thirty percent of its parts with the Model X—a mid-size luxury crossover SUV that began production in 2015. The body and chassis of the Model S are composed primarily of aluminum. The car has received numerous updates over the course of its production, with the most prominent changes occurring in 2016 and 2021. These updates include stylistic modifications such as different headlights, taillights, and redesigned interiors, as well as mechanical improvements like increased horsepower and torque, and the introduction of new trim levels.[note 2]

In 2015 and 2016, the Model S was the world's best-selling plug-in electric vehicle until it was surpassed by the Model 3. The Model S has been the subject of multiple fires, the first occurring in Kent, Washington, in October 2013. The car has earned numerous accolades, including being named one of the "Best 25 Inventions of the Year 2012" by Time and receiving the "Tech Car of the Year for 2012" award from CNET. The car has received mixed reviews: The Daily Telegraph described the Model S as a "car that changed the world",[6] but Road & Track called it "perhaps one of the worst [cars in the world]."[7]

Development

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In January 2007, Tesla, Inc. opened a facility in Michigan, employing sixty people to work on new projects, including a four-door sedan.[8] Beginning development under the codename "WhiteStar",[9] Tesla initially planned for the car to have two powertrain options. The first would be a battery-electric version with an all-electric range of 200 miles (320 km). The second was to be a range-extending vehicle, capable of traveling between 40 and 50 miles (64 and 80 km) on electric power before a small gasoline engine would recharge its batteries and power the vehicle, giving it a total range of 400 miles (640 km). However, at the GoingGreen conference in September 2008, Elon Musk—the chief executive officer of Tesla[10]—announced that the company would exclusively produce battery-electric vehicles.[11]

In 2007, Musk appointed Henrik Fisker, known for his work with Aston Martin,[12][13] as the lead designer of the WhiteStar project.[14][15][16] The company requested that he design a "sleek, four-door sedan" priced from $50,000 to $70,000, and that it be ready between late 2009 and early 2010.[17] Fisker possessed a design studio in Orange County, California, which the Tesla employees frequently visited to view his designs. However, their reactions were generally negative; Ron Lloyd, the vice president of the WhiteStar project, described Fisker's designs as "terrible [...] some of the early styles were like a giant egg".[17] When Musk rejected his designs, Fisker attributed the decision to the project's physical constraints, saying, "they wouldn't let me make the car sexy".[18] Shortly after the meetings, Fisker started his own company[19] and debuted the Fisker Karma in 2008, at the North American International Auto Show.[20][21] Musk subsequently filed a lawsuit against Fisker, accusing him of stealing Tesla's design ideas and using the $875,000 to launch his own company.[19][22] Fisker ultimately won the lawsuit, and an arbitrator ordered Tesla to reimburse Fisker's legal fees and declared Tesla's claims to be without merit.[19]

 
The development of the Model S was facilitated by a Mercedes-Benz CLS.

A small team of Tesla engineers went to a Mercedes-Benz car dealership where they test-drove a CLS-Class and an E-Class. Both cars shared a chassis, and the engineers assessed every part of the vehicles, evaluating their positives and negatives. They ultimately preferred the CLS's styling and used it as the baseline for the Model S. After purchasing a CLS, they disassembled it, modified the Roadster's battery pack, cut out the CLS's floor, and integrated it with the battery pack. They subsequently put all of its electronics and systems in the car's trunk and replaced the interior. After three months of development, the engineers completed a battery-electric version of the CLS. Tesla frequently tested the car on public roads; it had 120 miles (190 km) of all-electric range per charge and weighed more than the Roadster.[23]

In August 2008, Musk appointed Franz von Holzhausen as the project's lead designer.[24][25][26] Von Holzhausen reviewed Fisker's sketches and clay models but was unimpressed with what he saw, stating that "it was clear [...] that the people [who] had been working on this were novices". To save money, Tesla established its design center within the SpaceX factory. As von Holzhausen began designing the exterior of the Model S, Tesla engineers initiated a project to construct another electric CLS. They stripped it to its core, removed the body structure, and extended the wheelbase by 4 inches (10 cm) to align with early Model S specifications. Within approximately three months, von Holzhausen had designed 95 percent of the current Model S exterior, and the engineers had begun building a prototype around the chassis.[26] Given the battery pack's substantial weight, Musk and the team began efforts to minimize the weight of other components. To address this issue, Musk opted to use aluminum instead of steel. Musk stated that the non-battery-pack portion of the vehicle must be lighter than equivalent gasoline vehicles, and the decision to construct it entirely from aluminum was clear. He noted that the primary challenge was that if aluminum were not used in its construction, the car's performance would be compromised.[27] To accelerate the development of the Model S, one group of engineers worked during the day, while another arrived at 9 p.m. and worked through the night, both operating within a 3,000 square feet (280 m2) tent in the SpaceX factory.[28]

 
The Model S prototype at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show

Tesla debuted a prototype version of the Model S in Hawthorne, California, on March 26, 2009.[29][30][31] Tesla initially intended to manufacture the Model S in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and later in San Jose, California, but later withdrew from both plans.[32][33] In 1984, the American automaker General Motors (GM) and the Japanese automaker Toyota partnered to form New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc., on the site of a former GM assembly plant in Fremont, California.[34][35][36] The facility produced numerous vehicles, including the Chevrolet Nova and the Toyota Corolla.[37][38][39] After the Great Recession, GM found itself trying to recover from bankruptcy. It decided to abandon the facility in 2009, with Toyota soon following.[40][41] However, a month after the last car—a Corolla—rolled off the manufacturing line in April 2010, Toyota and Tesla announced a partnership and the transfer of the factory. Tesla agreed to purchase a significant portion of the facility for US$42 million, while Toyota invested US$50 million in Tesla for a 2.5 percent stake in the company.[36][42]

During the early 2010s, Musk expanded the engineering teams for the Model S, while von Holzhausen grew the design teams in Los Angeles. The engineers operated in a lab with approximately forty-five personnel. The "alpha" version of the Model S, featuring newly stamped body parts from the Fremont factory, a revamped battery pack, and improved power electronics, was completed in the basement of an office in Palo Alto, California. About twelve of these cars were produced; some were sent to suppliers such as Bosch, while others were preserved for testing and design alterations.[43] On June 22, 2012, Tesla invited its employees, select customers, and the press to watch the first production Model S roll off the manufacturing line in Fremont.[44][45][46] The car's launch event occurred in a section of the facility where the cars are completed.[47]

Design

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The Model S (left) and Model X (right) share a platform and 30 percent of their parts.

The body and the unibody chassis of the Model S are made mostly of aluminum.[48][49][50] The Model S shares its platform and thirty percent of its parts with the Model X,[51][52] a mid-size luxury crossover SUV that was introduced in 2015.[53][54][55] The Model S is a full-size sedan with four doors[56][57][58] and five seats.[59][60] The company claimed a drag coefficient of Cd=0.24,[61] the lowest of any production car at release.[62] This claim was independently verified by the magazine Car and Driver in the middle of 2014, confirming the drag coefficient as Cd=0.24.[63] The vehicle's drag coefficient was improved by a solid front fascia instead of a grille, retractable door handles, and a flat underbody with no exhaust pipes to disrupt the airflow.[50] The Model S's battery pack is the vehicle's heaviest component[64][65] and is inside the car's floor.[66][67] Consequently, the Model S has a center of gravity height of 18 inches (460 mm),[68][69] reducing the risk of rollovers.[70][71][72]

The front suspension and electrically assisted rack-and-pinion steering system are supported by a cast aluminum cross-member attached to the vehicle's body structure. At the rear, a cast subframe is connected to the body using four rubber-isolated mounts to reduce vibrations. The front suspension features a double control arm design, while the rear suspension uses a multi-link arrangement, each with an air spring for improved ride comfort. This chassis also features disc brake components produced by Brembo.[50][73] Since the Model S lacks a front engine, Tesla implemented a "frunk"—a portmanteau of "front" and "trunk"—which has 5.3 cubic feet (150 L) of storage.[1][74][75] The car's rear trunk possesses 26.6 cubic feet (750 L) of storage with the rear seats upright and 58.1 cubic feet (1,650 L) when the seats folded down.[76]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Excluding side-view mirrors
  2. ^ Trim levels are designations used by manufacturers to specify a vehicle's equipment level or special features. For example, the Model S has been available in Plaid and Standard Range trims.

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d Hutchinson, Lee (October 28, 2013). "Review: Tesla Motors' all-electric Model S is fast—but is it a good car?". Ars Technica. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  2. ^ Anthony, Sebastian (January 31, 2017). "Driving the Tesla Model S through the countryside—watch out for autopilot". Ars Technica. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  3. ^ "Tesla Model S practicality, boot size, dimensions & luggage capacity". Auto Express. February 11, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  4. ^ Kumar, Devanshu & Dwivedi 2024, p. 36.
  5. ^ Singh, Madalsa; Yuksel, Tugce; Michalek, Jeremy J.; Azevedo, Inês M. L. (January 18, 2024). "Ensuring greenhouse gas reductions from electric vehicles compared to hybrid gasoline vehicles requires a cleaner U.S. electricity grid". Scientific Reports. 14 (1). doi:10.1038/s41598-024-51697-1. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 10796910. PMID 38238349.
  6. ^ "The top 10 cars that changed the world (and one that's about to)". The Daily Telegraph. December 19, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  7. ^ Perkins, Chris (November 3, 2023). "Tesla Model S has lived long enough to see itself become a villain". Road & Track. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  8. ^ Mara, Janis (January 27, 2007). "New electric cars spark interest all over Bay Area". East Bay Times. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  9. ^ Vance 2016, p. 272.
  10. ^ Tennant, Chris; Stilgoe, Jack (2021). "The attachments of 'autonomous' vehicles". Social Studies of Science. 51 (6): 846–870. doi:10.1177/03063127211038752. ISSN 0306-3127. PMC 8586182. PMID 34396851.
  11. ^ Fessler 2019, p. 133.
  12. ^ Nast, Condé; Squatriglia, Chuck (July 2, 2010). "Henrik Fisker's 'timeless' automotive designs". WIRED. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  13. ^ Yeomans, Jon (March 26, 2023). "Henrik Fisker: 'I left Aston Martin for my electric SUV dream'". The Times. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  14. ^ Miller, Claire Cain (July 3, 2017). "Tesla promised another $40 million, loses lawsuit". The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  15. ^ Foldy, Ben (August 7, 2020). "Car designer Henrik Fisker lost his first race with Elon Musk. He wants to go again". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  16. ^ Eisenstein, Paul A. (March 27, 2019). "Fisker wants another shot at Tesla with a new Model Y fighter". CNBC. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  17. ^ a b Vance 2016, p. 273.
  18. ^ Vance 2016, pp. 273–274.
  19. ^ a b c Vance 2016, p. 274.
  20. ^ "Detroit Auto Show". The Wall Street Journal. January 17, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  21. ^ Garrett, Jerry (February 24, 2012). "Fisker Karma steps out with style and batteries". The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  22. ^ Markoff, John (April 15, 2008). "Maker of electric sports car sues a competitor". The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  23. ^ Vance 2016, pp. 275–276.
  24. ^ Patton, Phil (August 8, 2008). "Tesla plucks a Mazda designer". The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  25. ^ "Tesla snares Mazda's lead designer". Bloomberg News. August 4, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  26. ^ a b Vance 2016, pp. 278–280.
  27. ^ Vance 2016, p. 281.
  28. ^ Vance 2016, p. 283.
  29. ^ "Tesla unveils electric 'family car of the future'". The Guardian. Associated Press. March 27, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  30. ^ "Tesla's Model S is here (a prototype, anyway)". Los Angeles Times. March 26, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  31. ^ Gaylord, Chris (March 26, 2009). "The new Tesla Model S: leaks and details". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  32. ^ Nauman, Matt (January 29, 2009). "Plans for Tesla auto plant in San Jose appear doomed". The Mercury News. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  33. ^ Vance 2016, p. 285.
  34. ^ Bunkley, Nick (June 29, 2009). "G.M. exits venture with Toyota at California plant". The New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  35. ^ Holmes & Schaffarczyk 2013, p. 98.
  36. ^ a b Vance 2016, p. 289.
  37. ^ Roth & DiBella 2016, pp. 27, 42.
  38. ^ Kiley, David (April 2, 2010). "How a manufacturing plant changed the culture of the car-making". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  39. ^ Minchin 2021, p. 88.
  40. ^ Langfitt, Frank (March 26, 2010). "The end of the line for GM-Toyota joint venture". NPR. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  41. ^ Avalos, George (November 11, 2009). "NUMMI auto factory closing: End of the line". The Mercury News. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  42. ^ Garthwaite, Josie (May 21, 2010). "What the Toyota-Nummi deal could mean for Tesla's public offering". The New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  43. ^ Vance 2016, pp. 291–293.
  44. ^ Vance 2016, p. 297.
  45. ^ "Tesla to launch its first mass-market, five-seat Model S electric car". The Denver Post. Associated Press. June 21, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  46. ^ Wadhwa, Vivek (February 21, 2013). "Confessions of a Tesla 'fanboy'". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  47. ^ Vance 2016, p. 298.
  48. ^ Eisler 2022, p. 180.
  49. ^ Martenson 2023, p. 206.
  50. ^ a b c Sherman, Don (January 11, 2011). "2012 Tesla Model S electric sedan". Car and Driver. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  51. ^ Fitzgerald, Jack (December 4, 2023). "2024 Tesla Model X review, pricing, and specs". Car and Driver. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  52. ^ Doll, Scooter (October 27, 2020). "Model S vs. Model X: Tesla's expensive EVs compared". Screen Rant. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  53. ^ Paris, Martine (January 22, 2024). "The EV SUVs consumers want are coming". BBC. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  54. ^ Hirsch, Jerry; Mitchell, Russ (September 30, 2015). "Model X: Under the hood of Tesla's SUV strategy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  55. ^ Woodyard, Chris (November 24, 2015). "Tesla prices novel Model X SUV at $80,000". USA Today. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  56. ^ Warren, Tamara (September 8, 2017). "Tesla Model S P100D review: the ultimate status symbol of California cool". The Verge. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  57. ^ Bettencourt, Michael (October 24, 2012). "Latest Tesla is exotic, electric and exciting". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  58. ^ Solon, Olivia (August 23, 2016). "Improved Tesla Model S among world's fastest-accelerating cars, company says". The Guardian. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  59. ^ "2024 Tesla Model S Interior, Cargo Space & Seating". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  60. ^ Voelcker, John (April 8, 2015). "Tesla Model S 70D: Improved range, higher price for Tesla's base model". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  61. ^ Cunningham, Wayne (June 22, 2012). "Tesla Model S first drive: Quiet satisfaction". CNET. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  62. ^ Berman, Bradley (September 28, 2012). "One big step for Tesla, one giant leap for EVs". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  63. ^ "Drag queens: Aerodynamics compared". Car and Driver. June 6, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  64. ^ Weber 2022, p. 78.
  65. ^ Baer & Singer 2024, p. 95.
  66. ^ Cunningham, Wayne (October 7, 2010). "Tesla Model S: The battery pack". CNET. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  67. ^ Zohuri, Rahmani & Behgounia 2022, p. 536.
  68. ^ Fessler 2019, p. 138.
  69. ^ Dyer, Ezra (November 19, 2014). "Tesla Model S 60: 2015 10Best Cars". Car and Driver. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  70. ^ Favaro 2017, p. 113.
  71. ^ Connolly, Justin (April 4, 2016). "Tesla Model S review: Drive into the future". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  72. ^ Ingram, Antony (August 20, 2013). "Tesla crash test: Tesla Model S is the safest car in the history of the NHTSA". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  73. ^ Verpraet, Illya (August 11, 2023). "Tesla Model S Plaid review". Autocar. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  74. ^ Johnston & Sobey 2022, p. 87.
  75. ^ "2017 Tesla Model S interior, cargo space & seating". U.S. News and World Report. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  76. ^ "2014 Tesla Model S Interior, Cargo Space & Seating". U.S. News and World Report. Retrieved August 1, 2024.

Bibliography

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