Tesla adds Titanium Underbody Shield to Model S

[doug]

Courtesy link to the GCR article:
Life With Tesla Model S: Battery Safety Shield In Detail (Photos)

How does this addition affect battery swaps?

 

[RiverBrick]

Exactly! If I am already driving the safest passenger vehicle ever made; if I have already driven it thousands of miles without incident; if I am totally content with the current safety features, then I am going to have it done at MY convenience if I have it done at all.

All very valid points. In addition, the Tesla guarantee of replacement in case of battery fire lessens the need for an immediate fix.

 

[scaesare]

Courtesy link to the GCR article:
Life With Tesla Model S: Battery Safety Shield In Detail (Photos)

How does this addition affect battery swaps?

Ah... good pics of where the front bar mounts under the plastic underbody shield...

Thanks.

 

[JRP3]

How does this addition affect battery swaps?

I think the "T" shaped extrusion is attached to the pack and would come out with it.

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Mentioned in the NYTimes:

Tesla’s Lightweight Solution to Preventing Model S Fires

 

[ecarfan]

Quote from the NYT article: "Owners commenting on web forums soon took to referring to the parts package, a running production change also offered free to owners of existing Model S electric sedans, as the Tank Mode."

Journalists do a lot of research in online forums.

 

[TexasEV]

Another article about Tesla and fires without any context to other cars.

 

[dsm363]

Also the shield reduces the fire risk, doesn't prevent it.

 

[doug]

Quote from the NYT article: "Owners commenting on web forums soon took to referring to the parts package, a running production change also offered free to owners of existing Model S electric sedans, as the Tank Mode."

Journalists do a lot of research in online forums.

Wish they'd bother to credit us when they do that.

 

[brianman]

How does this addition affect battery swaps?

For the moment, this vaporware is unaffected by real products used by actual customers.

 

[doug]

For the moment, this vaporware is unaffected by real products used by actual customers.

Yes, but you'd hope that this modification wouldn't preclude a capability that was designed in from the start. This looks like a good solution that doesn't reduce functionality (or a promised future function).

 

[wycolo]

Finally, an actual photo of the Titanium plate, thank you NYTimes or whomever they got it from. The plate is placed vertically so is smaller than if it horizontally spanned the space between the two companion aluminum pieces. The plate is bolted at the top and its bottom edge seems to be simply inserted into the alum cross piece (no bolts needed here). Well done TM Engineers!

Titanium Plate = #2:

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[JRP3]

We've seen pictures of it before, and it's not mounted vertically, that picture is a bit distorted. The panel is on the same plane as the transverse member it's bolted to.

Better pics here: http://www.greencarreports.com/news...odel-s-battery-safety-shield-in-detail-photos

 

[wycolo]

LOL, weird Escherian Staircase perspective on that photo. The piece actually is flat and surprisingly small.
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[AmpedRealtor]

The titanium plate seems redundant if it's sitting atop a thick metal beam.

 

[apacheguy]

How does this addition affect battery swaps?

You know, I just thought I'd check back in on this as I'll be getting my tire rotation soon. I know that they're going to offer the battery shield and wanted to brush up on it and make sure I wouldn't be getting something that I'd later regret. While I doubt that they would eliminate this functionality, it did give me some pause. I got to thinking of what other unintended consequences this might have. Has anyone experienced side effects from the installation?

 

[Eggplant]

No side effects here. But The way that T-shaped bar is attached I cannot see how battery swaps will work without some modification. It overlaps the edge of the battery and the chassis.

But then, I'm skeptical we will see battery swaps in the current Model S as demonstrated in that stage presentation.

 

[AEdennis]

No side effects here. But The way that T-shaped bar is attached I cannot see how battery swaps will work without some modification. It overlaps the edge of the battery and the chassis.

But then, I'm skeptical we will see battery swaps in the current Model S as demonstrated in that stage presentation.

Given the change in how California ARB credit's are being provided, I will have to second the skepticism on the release of battery swaps.

Drive a Model S for less than a month and you get used to how long it will take you to charge and plan accordingly. And if you experience the congestion that often happens in Hawthorne Supercharger, you learn to create a buffer.

 

[lloyds]

I do see a benefit of the battery swaps. As the Supercharging stations become older some will naturally break down. I've had a handful of times where the charger's not performing as it should, which increased my time at the station.

 

[AEdennis]

I do see a benefit of the battery swaps. As the Supercharging stations become older some will naturally break down. I've had a handful of times where the charger's not performing as it should, which increased my time at the station.

I agree... In fact that happens a lot now. The Hawthorne Supercharger has outages with at least one station every three times I've stopped there... And I don't go that often.