A Doctor's Tesla

Here's a Tesla I spied at a medical facility in Chicago's south suburbs.  I know it's a doctor's car because the driver is parked in a space designated for  doctors only.



Tesla Model S photo by Pat Thomas

 

 

 

I spotted it out the corner of my eye, stopped driving while thinking 'there is something different about that car'. I got out of my car (in back)  to look closer and then I noticed the Tesla badge.

 

It's a Tesla Model S trim P85, ultra-new shiny clean black.  The manufacturer claims 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds.  The Doc's car looks like it could go even faster.



Ford Unveils Solar Energi

Ford Motor Company has just changed the definition of "sunroof".  Ford debuted Solar Energi,  a concept  car version of the Ford C-MAX plug-in hybrid in January 2014.  According to Mike Tinskey, Ford's Director of Vehicle Electrification, the Solar Energi can  both convert solar energy and use conventional  electrical grids for power. 

Ford and it's contractors, re-invented solar panels to power the weights of conventionally designed cars.  Contractors working on  the Solar Energi project team include Sunpower, Eaton, Whirlpool and students at Georgia Tech.

The current plug-in Ford C-MAX version achieves 108 mpg in the city and 100 mpg combined.  There's no word yet on how much Solar Energi will top that or horsepower production.  But Ford claims that Solar Energi's  roof top panel redesign produces 50% more energy than the typical solar panels used in solar racing cars.