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Only in America
by Bill Aulepp
Publisher - Phoenix PC Users Group
As regular readers know Web Tour appears in
the newsletter almost every month. Most, if not all,
readers know that Michael Bishop has taken over as
Editor and I have become Newsletter Publisher.
When I worked at NBC TV in New York City,
such a move was known as being "kicked upstairs".
You knew too much about the company to be fired
so you were given an office overlooking the plaza,
and forgotten.
Well, not forgotten, exactly.
At Christmas time all your old friends stopped by
to say hello and watch the lighting of the plaza's
Christmas tree.
I do not have an office overlooking anything,
and do not intend to be forgotten.
This month I beg your indulgence and ask that you
travel with me on the web.
I am a news geek so I spend hours reading the UK,
French, and German periodicals.
All have English editions.
I have come across something that illustrates
why America differs from all other countries on
this earth.
Only here could the following narrative take place.
To begin with, Mercedes plans to have in production
an all-electric car within the next few months.
Toyota is planning to have an all-electric car
but not that soon.
Many of the other car manufacturers are planning
electric cars for the future.
How is it that Mercedes can beat them all?
A small Silicon Valley company has been making
and selling all-electric sports cars since 2006.
To date, they have sold more than 1200 roadsters in
more than 28 countries.
At a sticker price of over $100,000, it appeals to a
limited few.
But those few own a sports car that leaves all other sports cars in the dust.
And I mean all!!
It goes from 0 t0 60 in 3.7 seconds.
As we know, an electric motor starts at full
torque; combustion engines do not.
Why do you think we use a transmission that shifts several gears?
Best of all, the new sports car goes over 200 miles
on a charge and that charge can be accomplished
in your garage using a 90 amp 240 volt electric
service.
Recharge time? About four hours.
You may think I am writing this for "Motor Trend".
But wait, there's more.
How has an upstart American company been
able to do what the major car companies have
failed to do?
Without any aid from Washington, adhering
to voluminous government mandated
forms and regulations, they dreamed an electric sports car, then took the route American entrepreneurs have always taken.
"Build a better mousetrap".
In this case a sports car that outclasses all others.
For the cheese - do not spend years of research on
building a suitable battery.
Look for it in the cupboard and use what is already
there!
This car is called the Tesla and uses what the
new Mercedes E-car will use - laptop batteries configured by Tesla.
Over 6000 cells sandwiched on the car floor in a
configuration that separates batteries so that if a
cell goes out, or shorts, it will not compromise
the whole grid.
Tesla also has pioneered a drive transmission that can take and use the tremendous torque the
electric motor produces.
With four years of experience building a profitable
and reliable electric car, no wonder Mercedes has
decided to go with the Tesla plan for their first
E-car.
If you wish to read further, go to the websites
below.
This could only happen in the US.
I spent a year in Germany after WWII.
I also worked on news stories and documentaries
in Europe during the 60s and 70s.
So I can say with some authority the chances of a
socialist country, and they all are, spawning anyone
who could imagine building an upscale sports car
using laptop batteries as power, and turning it into
a viable commercial venture, is nil.
Thumbs up, America!
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Tesla Roadster
Wikipedia
The car was officially unveiled to the public on July 19, 2006
◊
Jump-Starting the E-Car Revolution
Spiegel
New Mercedes
has Tesla technology under the hood
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