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How Do Tesla Cars Work?

How Do Tesla Cars Work?

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Tesla Motors has grown from a start-up to a recognized player in the market. Its remarkable history and position as a pioneer in the field of electric cars remain unaltered.

Let’s dive deeper into the topic for better understanding of Tesla Cars which will help you out to get better insights about the Tesla,  its history and how Tesla cars work and many more interesting facts.

Overview of Tesla

Tesla is a transnational American automotive and clean energy corporation. Tesla designs and produces solar roof tiles, electric vehicles (cars and trucks), grid-scale battery energy storage, home battery systems, and other related products and services.

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Let’s discuss all the topics one by one to have a clear picture about the Tesla cars.

What is a Tesla Car?

What is a Tesla Car?

One of the most recognizable brands in the auto sector is Tesla Motors, an American producer of electric vehicles. In 2003, Marc Tarpenning and Martin Eberhard founded the company. Nikola Tesla, an electrical engineer, and physicist, is honored by having his enterprise bear his name.

Nikola Tesla obtained a patent for the AC induction motor invention in 1888. The third employee of the firm, Elon Musk, was largely responsible for the initial finance.

Currently, he serves as the CEO of Tesla Motors and is the company’s primary spokesperson. Currently, the firm is the world’s top maker of battery and plug-in electric vehicles.

Now ships its models to more than 30 nations. In 2008, Tesla Inc. launched with the Roadster vehicle. The business sought to popularize the use of electric vehicles and influence people to adopt a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

It had a range of more than 245 miles and was made from the Lotus Elise’s body shell (390 kilometers). With a maximum 288 horsepower output, the Tesla Roadster could accelerate from 0 to 100 miles per hour in approximately 3.8 seconds.

Only 2500 Elise models were given to Tesla by Lotus, and in just three years, every single one of them had been sold. Tesla introduced the Model S, its first fully internal-developed all-electric vehicle, at that time. 2012 saw the release of the significantly more inexpensive model S.

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History of Tesla Cars

History of Tesla Cars

In July 2003, Marc Tarpenning and Martin Eberhard founded Tesla Motors. The company name pays homage to electrical engineer and inventor Nikola Tesla. Elon Musk became the company’s largest stakeholder with a $6.5 million investment made in February 2004. In 2008, he started serving as CEO.

Tesla, according to Musk, seeks to speed up the switch to environmentally friendly energy and transportation, with solar energy and electric cars serving as the main sources. The Roadster sports car, which was Tesla’s first vehicle model, commenced manufacturing in 2009.

Model S cars first appeared in 2012, followed by Model X SUVs in 2015, Model 3 sedans in 2017, and Model Y crossovers in 2020.

In 2021, Tesla sold 936,222 vehicles worldwide, a growth of 87% over the year before, and by the end of the year, its total sales were at 2.3 million vehicles. Tesla became the sixth corporation in American history to have a market valuation of $1 trillion when it did so in October 2021.

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Types of Tesla Cars

The ranges we’ve shown are all taken from Tesla’s cited ranges (from its US website; the UK pages could alter significantly), although they could change based on your driving habits and the surrounding conditions.

Tesla recently moved some of its models into different locations and, in certain cases, provided an upgrade to unlock power or released firmware updates that altered the official range estimates. Prices are from Germany for Europe.

Here are the various models of tesla cars which are as follows:

Tesla Model S

Tesla Model S

The Model S has long, low design lines akin to those of a Jaguar, and is definitely an executive saloon.

When it first debuted in 2012, the Model S contributed to establishing Tesla as a major automaker. Since the Model S’s launch, Tesla has continued to update it, and there are now two models: the Model S and Plaid.

Recently, the model names Long Range, Standard, and Performance have also been employed.

Tesla Model 3

Tesla Model 3

With prices having decreased to make it the most cheap Tesla, the Model 3 was introduced in the US in 2016 as an affordable alternative to the Model S.

The Model 3 is the most prevalent Tesla on the road today thanks to its enormous success. The Model 3, a four-door sedan, came with a variety of options at launch, but there are now only three left.

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Tesla Model X

Tesla Model X

It is a seven-person SUV-style electric vehicle. All of your children will believe you purchased a vehicle from the future because of its distinctive rear Falcon Wing doors (which are reminiscent of the Delorean in Back to the Future).

Tesla Model Y

Tesla Model Y

As a small SUV, the Tesla Model Y fills the void between the Model 3 and the Model X. It has room for five people, will seat them comfortably, and will particularly appeal to those searching for something less expensive than the Model X.

The same enhanced Autopilot or Full Self-Driving capability improvements as the other models are available, along with a $1000 two-hitch option, five or seven seats ($3,000), and the Enhanced Autopilot upgrade.

CyberTruck

CyberTruck

In November 2019, the Cybertruck was launched as Tesla turned its focus to the pick-up truck model. Although reservations are accepted elsewhere, it is likely that this will be far more popular in the US.

The Cybertruck will have a stainless steel body, armored glass, and a distinctive angular form. It will also have 100 CU FT (2830 liters) of storage and a towing capability of 7,500+ lbs.

Roadster

Roadster

The Tesla Roadster launched the entire trend in 2008 and was scheduled to make a comeback in 2020 (it has received reviews from select US publications, but is otherwise still only available for reservations).

The Roadster wants to be the fastest electric vehicle on the road. Impressive performance numbers have been released thus far, including a 0-60 mph time of 1.9 seconds and a top speed of over 250 mph. It has a glass canopy that is detachable and seats four people.

Now it’s time to know why there is a need for Tesla cars in the current world scenario.

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Need of Tesla Cars

In everyone’s mind there is a question why Tesla is outshining in today’s world. The answer for this question is:

Tesla wants to hasten the world’s transition to renewable energy. A group of engineers founded Tesla in 2003 with the goal of demonstrating that operating an electric vehicle didn’t necessitate making compromises and that they might be more effective, quick, and enjoyable than gasoline-powered vehicles.

Tesla developed a distinctive strategy to compete in the market. It adopted the opposite strategy, concentrating instead on developing an attractive car that would generate demand for electric vehicles, as opposed to attempting to design a reasonably priced car that it could mass-produce and market.

In contrast to other automakers which use franchised dealerships, Tesla sells directly to consumers. It has established an international network of galleries and showrooms controlled by the corporation, especially in urban areas.

How Do Tesla Cars Work?

Profoundly speaking, it’s fairly straightforward; they function similarly to other cars but with an electric motor in place of an internal combustion engine. And you charge the batteries with electricity rather than fueling them with gasoline.

There are further variations, but that is the simplest explanation of what a Tesla is and the one that in some instances enables it to run entirely on renewable energy.

The Tesla automobile line has developed over time from an electric conversion of a small sports car to brand-new designs for contemporary electric cars, SUVs, pick-ups, and even an electric semi-trailer. But regardless of the Tesla, you’re referring to, they all share the same philosophy.

It is powered by a battery. That is the most recent lithium-ion battery technology in the context of Tesla’s present designs. The rear wheels or all four wheels are powered by either a single electric motor or a pair of electric motors that are connected to that.

You provide electricity to the electric motor, and the car moves just like a slot car. A slot car, of course, doesn’t have a battery; instead, it draws its electricity from the track it drives on,

But even that may be a thing of the past for electric automobiles in the future, which may be able to wirelessly collect power from the road surface. You might be surprised to learn how close it is. Hence this is how tesla’s car works.

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Architecture of Tesla Car

The creation of the proper architecture, which establishes “what the system is supposed to do and how it will do it,” is the cornerstone of Tesla’s innovation strategy.

The architecture of an electric vehicle should evolve over time to address and satisfy a variety of continually changing criteria.

Architecture of Tesla Car
  • Body Structure

We will take a closer look at the body structure of the Tesla car as it contains exterior lighting which provides clear visibility. Furthermore, it contains exterior trim and orientation for an unorthodox look plus wipers & washers to clean the windshield of the car.

  • Interior Cabin & Cockpit

Interior Cabin & Cockpit consist of a high-tech display, HVAC(Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), Instrument panel, Interior lighting, Trim, and Seats.

  • Chassis

It consists of various systems such as  Barking System, Steering System, Suspension System, and Tires & Wheels.

  • PowerTrain

The collection of all the parts that propel your car into motion is called the powertrain. It consists of the driveshaft, axles, differential, engine, and transmission.

As Tesla cars contain engines, drivetrain, exhaust system, fluid power system, fuel system, and Vehicle drive system.

  • Electric & Electronic

As we know tesla cars are electric vehicles that carry electrical architecture, electrical systems, and electronic control systems provided by tesla cars. Moreover, it has software, sensors & actuators, and telecommunication.

Advantages of Tesla Cars

The following are a few of the top advantages of switching to a Tesla electric car:

Advantages of Tesla Cars
  • Tesla vehicles have a remarkable battery range

Tesla cars often have no trouble keeping their batteries alive while being driven about town or for commuting. Battery range is almost never an issue, especially when traveling locally.

  • Charge your car at home to save money at the pump

You won’t go broke when it comes time to charge your Tesla. This is a great deal compared to the typical $50 USD in gas it would cost to drive the same distance, costing $23 USD on average for 500 miles.

  • The Tesla network’s dependability is excellent

Access to charging stations was a major barrier in the early days of electric vehicles that kept consumers from making the switch. The extensive Tesla charging network has expanded tremendously as interest in electric vehicles has increased.

With wide geographic coverage, Tesla is quickly emerging as the most dependable option for getting access to top-notch electric chargers.

  • Tesla cars are a fantastic option for car-sharing businesses

Tesla automobiles are frequently desired by people who want to stand out due to their popularity and spectacular style. Outright purchasing a Tesla vehicle is not always a realistic objective for everyone, though, due to the high price tag.

Thankfully, there are car subscription services. Anyone can have access to the car of their dreams with a car subscription, which is offered as a pay-per-month service.

Difference between Electric Cars and Tesla Cars

Let’s discuss the differences between electric cars and Tesla cars.

Difference between Electric Cars and Tesla Cars
Comparison criterionTesla carsElectric Car
Sale modeldirectly with clientsfranchised automakers
Chargingown exclusive Network of superchargersLimited, and occasionally constrained to several third-party networks
Battery StrengthDepending on the variant, Tesla’s Model S has a range of up to 412 miles.Ford’s Mustang Mach-E Extended Range is the closest rival.
Production potentialdue to its business style, it has a low production capacity.    a larger scale of production is possible
Demand and supplyGreater demand than supplyDemand can be a limitation even while supply is not.

Price List of Tesla Cars

Model 3, Tesla’s first vehicle available in India, will be imported in its entirety as a CBU (completely built unit). It is anticipated to cost more than Rs 60 lakh. However, the government is anticipated to provide some refunds and incentives. Tesla may switch to domestic production if sales are strong in order to further cut costs.

With its entry into the Indian market, the Tesla brand will increase the options available to potential customers. The Tesla brand is primarily recognized for its automobiles, including the Tesla Cybertruck, Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, and Tesla Model Y. In the pickup truck market, the Tesla brand’s initial product is probably going to win out.

MODELPRICE
Tesla Model YUSD.87,707.90
Tesla Model XUSD 251067
Tesla Model SUSD 1,87,927.50
Tesla CybertruckUSD 62,642.50

Use Case of Tesla Cars

Let’s discuss the use cases of Tesla Cars as tesla motors has various tie-up with different companies:

  • Partnership with Panasonic

First, Panasonic and Tesla Motors signed a supply contract in 2009. In 2010, Panasonic made a $30 million investment in Tesla Motors to support their collaboration.They later entered into a supply arrangement for lithium ion batteries of the automotive grade in 2011.

  • Daimler Partnership

When Daimler AG invested $50 million to purchase a 10% equity position in Tesla Motors, the two firms’ relationship was reinforced.

The two partners are able to collaborate on a larger scale in the developing world thanks to this financing of battery systems, electric powertrain systems, and particular vehicle projects.

  • The Toyota partnership

Initially, Toyota invested $50 million in May 2010 to purchase a 3% stock position in Tesla Motors (Holmberg, 2011). Tesla Motors will also work with Toyota to develop a plug-in electric vehicle. The vehicle in question will be the RaV4 electric variant from Toyota.

  • Sotria Partnership

With numerous suppliers, with whom it has forged strategic alliances, Tesla Motors is able to obtain a sizable portion of its vehicle parts. A case in point would be the partnership between Sotira from

France. The carbon fiber body from which the chassis was constructed was provided by Sotira.

Explore some other top electric cars through the List of Electric Vehicles blog.

Conclusion

I hope this blog was insightful as Tesla did create an effective business strategy for introducing enticing electric vehicles to the marketplace. Building a network of charging stations was one of the tactics used to overcome one of the biggest challenges to the adoption of electric vehicles: refilling on lengthy journeys.

One of the reasons Tesla’s stock has skyrocketed since its initial public offering is due to its distinctive business plan, which involves maintaining control over sales and servicing.

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About the Author

Developer - EV Embedded Systems

Anamika is a results-oriented embedded EV developer with extensive experience in Matlab and STM32 microcontrollers. She is extremely passionate about electric vehicles and the future it holds. In her free time, she likes to hone her technical skills by writing technical articles on Electric Vehicles and it’s future.