Inspired by Nikola Tesla: a Car and an Opera
Written by SwissTesla Admin Tuesday, 15 June 2010 15:39
After a recent announcement by TESLA MOTORS, INC. and TOYOTA that they intended to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles, parts, production system and engineering support, Tesla Motors Inc. has now announced to go public and has applied to list on Nasdaq under TSLA.
The company, named for scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla, has been selling its battery powered Roadsters for about two years and is still the only company selling highway-capable electric vehicles in volume. It has reported sales of 1,063 Roadsters as of March 31 and has reservations for another 110.
The Roadster sells for $109,000, or $101,500 after US federal tax credits. The Roadster Sport edition costs an extra $19,500.
While being a good example for innovation and progress towards a cleaner generation of automobiles, Tesla cars still depend on grid power, which is too often generated by burning fossil fuels. Nikola Tesla had reportedly invented a clean and inexhaustible source of power which he had fitted into a Pierce Arrow 1931 model - but he never revealed the secret how he did it. I assume the Tesla roadster can easily be refitted with one of Nikola Tesla's gravitational energy converters - should ever someone be able to rediscover the trick and build one. The story goes:
The "energy receiver" (gravitational energy converter) had been built by Nikola Tesla himself. The dimensions of the converter housing were approximately 60 X 25 X 15 cm. It was installed in front of the dashboard. Among other things, the converter contained 12 vacuum tubes, of which three were of the 70-L-7 type. A heavy antenna, approximately 1.8 meters long, came out of the converter. Furthermore, two thick rods protruded approximately 10 cm from the converter housing. To drive the car, Tesla pushed them in. He said there was enough power in the converter to illuminate an entire house, besides running the car engine. The car was tested for a week, reaching a top speed of 90 miles per hour effortlessly. Its performance data were at least comparable to those of an automobile using gasoline. (read more about it in our free ebook Nikola Tesla - Discovering the Future)
A note on the sidebar: The Pierce Arrow disappeared soon thereafter, when the company went bankrupt and its remains were taken over by Studebaker. Just recently the initiative to revive the Pierce Arrow brand was taken up by a group of investors around the Swiss Designer Prof. Colani, however not really with the intention to build a green car. The concept targets the production of only 6 uniquely designed and handcrafted cars - not really resembling the classic Pierce Arrow -, each with a 24 cylinder 10 litre engine. Ok, there is a bit of reduction in displacement compared to the traditional 13,5 litre 66 horsepower engine from the original Pierce Arrow, and considering the improvements in engine performance over time, this should still provide sufficient thrust. Whoever can not afford it - or is too late to get one of the six cars - can still opt for a designer motorbike or one of the sporty bicycles that are offered under the same brand. You can place your order directly on their website.
Foto: Stephanie Berger for The New York Times
Interestingly Nikola Tesla also inspired a multimedia opera production. I actually was not even aware of this and just found out, when researching the story above. So I just want to add this here to round up todays excursion to the world of riches and luxury, although Violet Fire - so the name of the production - has obviously not turned into a great hit after it's debut in 2006. If you have missed out on this one too, then you can at least have a glimpse here - lean back and enjoy:
Violet fire, opera about Nikola Tesla
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