Another Crash..... :'(

[Kaivball]

Except in the case of last week it wasn't positive publicity, and they lost about $2B in market cap and reputation might have been harmed. I'm still catching crap from people about my Tesla that catches fire. Maybe they should spend some money educating people.

These other accidents are just part of owning a car (as was the fire--just press and shorters decided to have a field day with it). At the end of the day the general public may or may not care.

I tell people that I now keep extra marsh mallows in the car... Just in case...

 

[bonnie]

I just laugh and say 'as long as the stock's on fire, I'm good'. If they tell me it took a tumble, my reply is 'still above $32? If so, still good. kthx.'

They always quit smirking.

 

[vfx]

I started a simple Model S "accidents" thread months ago. Google search the word "accidents" -with the "S" on the end.

http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showt...el-S-accidents

 

[Vger]

(I'm still having a hard time believing it is steel as was reported.) It took a big hunk of something to finally get around to doing significant battery damage which, like seeing bad wreck pictures where all MS occupants came out ok, is another good data point.

I have seen the empty battery cases at the factory (obviously could not photograph), and believe me, they look like military hardware. They are definitely steel, and the firewalls were evident. The Kent, WA incident truly was a freak accident. I don't think we will see another fire for a long time.

 

[Krugerrand]

They are definitely steel, and the firewalls were evident.

They are definitely NOT steel. They are aluminum. Not sure why people keep saying it's steel. It's not. Perhaps it's the green-tinged coating that the casing is painted with? If you just think about it logically, 1/4" steel battery casing would add way too much weight to the car.

 

[bonnie]

They are definitely NOT steel. They are aluminum. Not sure why people keep saying it's steel. It's not. Perhaps it's the green-tinged coating that the casing is painted with? If you just think about it logically, 1/4" steel battery casing would add way too much weight to the car.

 

[trils0n]

I have seen the empty battery cases at the factory (obviously could not photograph), and believe me, they look like military hardware.

I thought the same thing when I saw them at the factory -- looked like vehicle or tank armor. I was told they were steel when I went with my buddy to take the tour and to pick up his car. On the tour I took when I got my car, I was told they were aluminum.

 

[stopcrazypp]

Maybe select pieces are steel, but if assuming 1/4 inch plate and 54 square feet of area (just bottom plate) then:
Aluminum (3.530lb per sq ft of 1/4 inch plate): 190 lbs
Steel (10.2 lb per sq ft of 1/4 inch plate): 550 lbs

 

[bonnie]

My vote is with krug. Not steel.

 

[GSP]

Well, if someone tests the bottom of their battery with a magnet, then we will know if it is Aluminum or Steel.

GSP

PS. I like the accident reports. They are real world validation of the world's safest car.

 

[Hybris]

No magnets! You will start a fire!!!

 

[vfx]

My vote is with krug. Not steel.

And since they use the word "ballistic" the aluminum probably has special properties in it's composition or forming.

Google shows that there is ballistic aluminum.

 

[Seven7]

Anybody know what type of steel the underside of the Model S is made of? I'm going to guess it's something like abrasion resistant 500 or 400...

 

[bonnie]

Anybody know what type of steel the underside of the Model S is made of? I'm going to guess it's something like abrasion resistant 500 or 400...

The aluminum kind.

 

[Seven7]

The aluminum kind.

Are we talking about the battery casing or the underside of the car? I was thinking about the underside of the car...

 

[Seven7]

Maybe it's a big sheet of inconel, since Space X uses it in the manifolds of the Falcon rockets. :smile:

 

[Zzzz...]

The under-side of the Tesla Model S is protected by a 1/4 inch aluminum plate that serves two purposes. It provides a smooth aerodynamic flow of air underneath the car, and it is meant to protect the battery pack against damage from random stuff on the road.

http://www.torquenews.com/1075/elon-musk-gasoline-car-fires-five-times-more-likely-tesla-model-s-car-fires

Military standard for aluminum armor: MIL-A-46063

 

[Krugerrand]

Are we talking about the battery casing or the underside of the car? I was thinking about the underside of the car...

The battery casing with the battery in it is the underside of the car, thusly why the aluminum is 1/4" thick and not standard 1 mm, 1/2 mm thick sheet aluminum. There isn't a secondary 'skin' between the world and the battery casing as doing so would add weight to the car.

 

[SheldonCooper]

The Borg Queen...

Kinda reminds you of the Borg Queen after the bottom half of her body was ripped out from the spinal cord....
db

Pretty amazing.

View attachment 32902

It would be interesting to see some Model S crash statistics. Anecdotally, it seemed the Roadsters had a disproportionately high rate of trying to go under the car in front.

 

[Seven7]

http://www.torquenews.com/1075/elon...ive-times-more-likely-tesla-model-s-car-fires

Military standard for aluminum armor: MIL-A-46063

Got it! Thanks for your help.