Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[PSA: SpaceX's Dragon due to splash down at 11:44am ET (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/psa-spacex-dragon-splashdown/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/psa-spacex-dragon-splashdown/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/psa-spacex-dragon-splashdown/#comments PSA: SpaceX's Dragon due to splash down at 11:44am ET

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft successfully departed the International Space Station at 4:07am ET and began its gentle descent into the atmosphere soon after. It's the home straight for the historic private spaceflight company as it concludes its first ever supply mission to the heavens. It's due to splash down in the Pacific Ocean, a few hundred miles off the coast of southern California at 11:44am ET. If you'd like to watch the craft being retrieved from its watery berth then head on past the break, with coverage set to begin from 10:15am ET.

Continue reading PSA: SpaceX's Dragon due to splash down at 11:44am ET (video)

PSA: SpaceX's Dragon due to splash down at 11:44am ET (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DepartureDragonElon MuskElonMuskInternational Space StationInternationalSpaceStationISSLaunchNASAPrivate SpaceflightPrivateSpaceflightReentrySpaceSpaceXSplashdownvideoThu, 31 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Watch the SpaceX Dragon's first attempt at docking right now! (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/psa-spacex-docking/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/psa-spacex-docking/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/psa-spacex-docking/#comments Image

SpaceX's Dragon is rapidly approaching its historic meeting with the International Space Station. It's due to begin its first docking procedure at 7:30am ET, and NASA is streaming footage from both the ground crew, the ISS and the private craft itself. Once within a safe range, the station will extend its robotic arm and draw the Dragon in to dock -- with the hatch being opened tomorrow. We've embedded the video after the break so you can watch along at home, popcorn in hand.

[Image credit: SpaceX]

Continue reading PSA: Watch the SpaceX Dragon's first attempt at docking right now! (video)

PSA: Watch the SpaceX Dragon's first attempt at docking right now! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 May 2012 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DockingDragonElon MuskElonMuskFalcon 9Falcon9International Space StationInternationalSpaceStationISSNASARobotic ArmRoboticArmSpaceXStreamingvideoFri, 25 May 2012 06:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Visualized: SpaceX's Dragon is a desolate vision in beige and white]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/24/visualized-spacexs-dragon-is-a-desolate-vision-in-beige-and-wh/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/24/visualized-spacexs-dragon-is-a-desolate-vision-in-beige-and-wh/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/24/visualized-spacexs-dragon-is-a-desolate-vision-in-beige-and-wh/#comments Image

Even if you squint real hard, you won't find Andie, Max or that rogue robot Jinx stowed away in that inner sanctum above. In fact, there are no humans on board Dragon whatsoever, given that this mission -- the first successful private / federal partnership with NASA -- is strictly cargo-only and a test flight to boot. After suffering several launch delays, Elon Musk's pet project finally achieved lift off this past Tuesday, giving space heads reason to exhale, all the while proving to the world that a new era in interstellar exploration has just begun. En route now to dock with the ISS and deliver its payload, SpaceX's capsule, the interior of which measures 14.4ft (4.4m) by 12ft (3.7m) and is filled with dehydrated astronaut food, clothes, supplies and student science experiments, will spend about one week tethered to that international outpost before crashing into the Pacific on its return trip home. Hit up the source below to gawk at additional shots of this spacecraft's maiden voyage.

Visualized: SpaceX's Dragon is a desolate vision in beige and white originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capsuledragonElon MuskElonMuskissnasarocketspacespace stationSpaceStationspacexvisualizedThu, 24 May 2012 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Space X's Dragon launch... is go! (update: aborted)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/space-x-launch/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/space-x-launch/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/space-x-launch/#comments Image

We're crossing our fingers and toes so hard we can barely type and walk, since it looks like the oft-delayed Dragon launch will take place tomorrow. SpaceX founder Elon Musk confirmed that the company had passed final launch review with NASA and that everything was set for the Falcon 9 to lift off at 4:15AM ET on May 19th. The lift-off will be broadcast live from the official website and is on course to be the first private spaceflight to dock and deliver essential supplies to the International Space Station. For our part? We wish the craft (and the ground crew) all the best and hope it's a perfect flight -- we wanna stay in a space hotel sooner rather than later.

Update (05/19): At around 5:06AM ET, Elon Musk tweeted that the launch had been aborted due to high combustion chamber pressure around Engine 5. It won't be leaving for another couple of days.

Continue reading Space X's Dragon launch... is go! (update: aborted)

Space X's Dragon launch... is go! (update: aborted) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DragonElon MuskElonMuskFalcon 9Falcon9International Space StationInternationalSpaceStationISSKirstin Brost GranthamKirstin GranthamKirstinBrostGranthamKirstinGranthamLaunchNASAPrivate SpaceflightPrivateSpaceflightSpace XSpaceXSpaceX DragonSpaceX Falcon 9SpacexDragonSpacexFalcon9Fri, 18 May 2012 10:39:00 EST<![CDATA[This joke isn't funny anymore, SpaceX delays ISS launch... again]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/yet-another-spacex-delay/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/yet-another-spacex-delay/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/yet-another-spacex-delay/#comments Image

Stop us (oh, oh, oh stop us) if you've heard this one before (you have): SpaceX has announced that it won't be able to make that May 7th launch date. The company hasn't disclosed the cause (the static fire tests seemed to go okay) but spokesperson Kirstin Grantham said that the company is working through the "software assurance process" with NASA. A new launch window hasn't been set, but the company says it'll tell all before the end of tomorrow -- they'd better, since the ISS crew have been waiting for these space-rations since November last year.

This joke isn't funny anymore, SpaceX delays ISS launch... again originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DelayElon MuskElonMuskInternational Space StationInternationalSpaceStationISSKirstin Brost GranthamKirstin GranthamKirstinBrostGranthamKirstinGranthamNASASpaceXSpaceX DragonSpaceX Falcon 9SpacexDragonSpacexFalcon9Thu, 03 May 2012 08:31:00 EST<![CDATA[SpaceX redefines 'fashionably late' as Dragon trip to the ISS is delayed again]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/spacex-iss-delay/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/spacex-iss-delay/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/spacex-iss-delay/#comments Image

Just a week after NASA signed off on its launch, SpaceX has had to postpone the flight of the Dragon. It's yet another delay to NASA's efforts to supply the International Space Station using private spacecraft and reduce the US's dependence on Soyuz rockets. Taking to Twitter, founder Elon Musk said that the company needed to do more testing on the docking code for the capsule, while spokesperson Kirstin Brost Grantham told Space.com that the company needed more time to test and review the hardware. Pending NASA's approval, it'll begin its journey heavenward on the head of a Falcon 9 between May 3rd and May 7th. Given that the original mission was scheduled for November last year, they'll probably need to check the use-by dates on those space rations.

Update: Elon Musk has confirmed, via Twitter, that Falcon 9 and Dragon will lift off on May 7th and rendezvous with the ISS. So long as "the company" doesn't detour them to some mysterious rock first.

SpaceX redefines 'fashionably late' as Dragon trip to the ISS is delayed again originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DelayDragonElon MuskElonMuskFalcon 9Falcon9International Space StationInternationalSpaceStationISSKirstin Brost GranthamKirstinBrostGranthamLaunchNASAPrivate SpaceflightPrivate SpaceshipPrivateSpaceflightPrivateSpaceshipSci/TechSpace XSpace X Falcon 9SpaceXSpaceX DragonSpacexDragonSpaceXFalcon9TwitterTue, 24 Apr 2012 11:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla pairs up with SolarCity, will power off-grid homes as well as cars]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/18/tesla-solarcity-batteries-off-grid-solar-homes/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/18/tesla-solarcity-batteries-off-grid-solar-homes/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/18/tesla-solarcity-batteries-off-grid-solar-homes/#comments Tesla pairs up with SolarCity, will power off-grid homes as well as cars

If you've ever dreamed of thumbing your nose at big energy and its expensive, polluting ways, then Tesla and a solar panel leasing company called SolarCity might be taking you a baby-step closer to reality. Although recognized mostly for its EVs, Tesla reckons it knows enough about batteries to solve a key problem in the solar energy chain -- namely the storage of power for use when the sun, power grid, or both go offline. The battery design, consisting of many laptop-style lithium ion batteries stacked together, was chosen after two years of research and a $1.8 million energy grant. The two companies are now waiting for tax credits from the Fed and California before rolling out the tech. And being kissing cousins -- with Elon Musk as both Chairman of SolarCity and CEO of Tesla -- certainly can't hurt.

Tesla pairs up with SolarCity, will power off-grid homes as well as cars originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CaliforniaelectricityElon MuskElonMuskenergyenergy grantEnergyGrantgranthomeHouseholdoff-gridsolarsolar energysolar panelsolar panelssolar powerSolarCitySolarPanelSolarPanelsSolarPowerTeslaTransportationWed, 18 Apr 2012 18:14:00 EST<![CDATA[SpaceX Dragon will dock with the ISS in May, for realsies this time]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/spacex-dragon-dock-iss/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/spacex-dragon-dock-iss/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/spacex-dragon-dock-iss/#comments
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell has announced that the company's Dragon craft has a NASA-approved date to dock with the International Space Station. With the original mission postponed from November last year, it's now penciled in for launch on April 30th, arriving at the ISS's front door on May 3rd, packed to the gills with fresh supplies. If successful, it'll strengthen Elon Musk's case for SpaceX to send a man into space... and beyond.

SpaceX Dragon will dock with the ISS in May, for realsies this time originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Elon MuskElonMuskInternational Space STationInternationalSpaceStationISSNASAPrivate SpaceflightPrivateSpaceflightSpace X Falcon 9SpaceXSpaceX DragonSpacexDragonSpaceXFalcon9Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla's Model X struts its stuff on video, gets serenaded by Elon Musk]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/teslas-model-x-struts-its-stuff-on-video-gets-serenaded-by-elo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/teslas-model-x-struts-its-stuff-on-video-gets-serenaded-by-elo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/teslas-model-x-struts-its-stuff-on-video-gets-serenaded-by-elo/#comments We may have attended the Model X premiere, but despite us pleading for a ride-along, Tesla PR insisted only those who'd plunked cash for a pre-order that evening would get the chauffeur treatment. Thankfully there's YouTube user TheSpeedRead, who either threw down enough cash or was swift enough to evade security, slipping into a Model X and gratuitously posting it for all to see. In the video above you'll catch a glimpse of the interior, which features the same 17-inch touchscreen as in the Model S. In addition, a Tesla employee muses about the advantages of its dual motor AWD system and low center of gravity as he sashays the crossover through a slalom course outside Tesla's design HQ. Our friends at Autoblog Green also culled a video from SmartPlanet featuring the company's CEO, Elon Musk, reflecting on the advantages of the Model X's unique "Falcon Wing" rear doors and touting the advantages of not having a space-hogging combustion engine in its front -- enabling the front trunk, or Frunk, to serve as a crumple zone "two to three times longer" than in competing vehicles. Get the full sales pitch from the entrepreneur extraordinaire after the break.

Continue reading Tesla's Model X struts its stuff on video, gets serenaded by Elon Musk

Tesla's Model X struts its stuff on video, gets serenaded by Elon Musk originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-inchcrossoverelectric carelectric driveelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricDriveElectricVehicleelon muskElonMuskEVmodel xModelXslalomteslatesla model xTeslaModelXvideoMon, 13 Feb 2012 16:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla unveils Model X SUV, wants to be your all-electric crossover]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/tesla-unveils-model-x-suv-wants-to-be-your-all-electric-crossov/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/tesla-unveils-model-x-suv-wants-to-be-your-all-electric-crossov/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/tesla-unveils-model-x-suv-wants-to-be-your-all-electric-crossov/#comments Tesla unveils Model X SUV, wants to be your all-electric crossoverWe're here at the Tesla Design Studio in Los Angeles, where Elon Musk just unveiled his startup's third vehicle: an SUV it calls the Model X. It's party piece is a pair of double-hinged "Falcon Wing" rear doors which apparently make loading people and things easier, as you reach into the car not over it. According to Musk they'll open in tighter spots than a traditional door, and swivel high enough to fit a standing human. Powered by an AWD variant of the Model S' drivetrain, it'll do 0-60MPH in 4.4 seconds in its most performant guise, a figure that matches the most brawny variant of Tesla's sedan, despite being a much larger vehicle. And because it's devoid of a space-hogging ICE, that front portion is a trunk, Musk lovingly calls the "Frunk." Per GigaOm, the seven-seater will cost in the $50,000 to $70,000 range, with first deliveries of the "Signature Series" arriving in late 2013 before mass production starts in 2014. If that sounds like your kind of beat, those interested can begin reservations on Tesla's website tomorrow at noon.

Update: Want to see the unveiling for yourself? Check out the video posted by Tesla, embedded after the break.

Gallery: Tesla Model X press shots

Gallery: Tesla Model X launch

Gallery: Tesla Model X eyes-on

Continue reading Tesla unveils Model X SUV, wants to be your all-electric crossover

Tesla unveils Model X SUV, wants to be your all-electric crossover originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automobilecarelectricelectric driveelectric SUVElectricDriveElectricSuvelon muskElonMuskmodel xModelXsuvteslatesla model xTeslaModelXtransportationvideoThu, 09 Feb 2012 23:40:00 EST<![CDATA[SpaceX test-fires its 'super' rocket engines (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/02/spacex-test-fires-its-super-rocket-engines-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/02/spacex-test-fires-its-super-rocket-engines-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/02/spacex-test-fires-its-super-rocket-engines-video/#comments

Spaceflight start-up, SpaceX, has been demonstrating the potency of its SuperDraco rockets, testing at its own facility over in Texas. The rockets will help land its Dragon spacecraft -- as demonstrated in a swish animation last year. They will also power emergency escape functions, something that will, according to founder Elon Musk, make the Dragon "the safest spacecraft in history." It has already made a successful orbital flight and will tote eight engines apparently offering up to 120,000 pounds of thrust to the spaceship. Unfortunately, SpaceX's plan for a February launch was postponed in favor of continued development time, but we're not going complain if the company still fulfills its promise of ferrying people to the ISS. Countdown from ten for ignition right after the break.

Continue reading SpaceX test-fires its 'super' rocket engines (video)

SpaceX test-fires its 'super' rocket engines (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boosterdragonElon MuskElonMusklandingparachuterocketrocketsspacespace travelSpaceTravelSpaceXsuperdracosuperdraco rocketsSuperdracoRocketsvideoThu, 02 Feb 2012 18:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla loses two Model S executives, Elon Musk says it's no big deal]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/tesla-loses-two-model-s-executives-elon-musk-says-its-no-big-d/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/tesla-loses-two-model-s-executives-elon-musk-says-its-no-big-d/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/tesla-loses-two-model-s-executives-elon-musk-says-its-no-big-d/#commentsA pair of bigwigs over at electric vehicle maker Tesla have drawn their final checks, with Peter Rawlinson and Nick Sampson calling it quits. The former was the automaker's vice president and chief engineer, while the latter "supervising vehicle and chassis engineering." Ricardo Reyes, a company spokesman, emailed the following: "Having completed conceptual and design engineering work on Model S, Peter has decided to step away to tend to personal matters in the U.K." The Model S, if you'll recall, is the un-launched four-door sedan that has heaps riding on its success, so it's no big shock to hear that the outfit's stock plunged around 20 percent following Bloomberg's report. Elon Musk, Tesla's chief executive officer and biggest shareholder, stated that "the uncertainty around [the] Model S is now much diminished, as anyone who has seen the beta vehicles and toured the factory will appreciate; there is no question in my mind that we will start delivering vehicles in July, if not sooner." Musk took to Twitter to assure people that the shock reverberating from the news was "way overstated," insinuating that the company's still well in control of its destiny. Whatever the case, we'd still take a couple of those S sedans in our garage, regardless of who's heading up their deployment.

Tesla loses two Model S executives, Elon Musk says it's no big deal originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automobilebusinesscarelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleelon muskElonMuskEVindustrymodel sModelSNick SampsonNickSampsonPeter RawlinsonPeterRawlinsonstockteslaFri, 13 Jan 2012 19:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla's Model X SUV reportedly pushed to February, first deliveries coming in 'late 2013']]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/tesla-model-x-suv-reportedly-delayed-february-2012/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/tesla-model-x-suv-reportedly-delayed-february-2012/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/tesla-model-x-suv-reportedly-delayed-february-2012/#comments Tesla confirms plans to unveil electric Model X SUV this year, $30k car by 2015 So much for December, eh? While Tesla's been talking up an electric sport utility vehicle for months on end, it's evidently harder than expected to actually deliver it. Shocking, we know. The latest hit in the saga comes via GigaOM, who has confirmed with Tesla CEO Elon Musk that the Model X will finally -- finally -- see a public unveiling on February 9th. Details beyond that aren't yet known, but Musk seems adamant that the first paying customers will see theirs in "late 2013," with 15,000 units per year being pushed out starting in 2014. We'll let you know if get an invite, deal?

Tesla's Model X SUV reportedly pushed to February, first deliveries coming in 'late 2013' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleelon muskElonMuskevmodel xModelXsport utility vehicleSportUtilityVehiclesuvteslaTesla Model XTeslaModelXvehicleFri, 06 Jan 2012 21:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Paul Allen-backed Stratolaunch Systems promises flexible, low-cost access to space]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/paul-allen-backed-stratolauch-systems-promises-flexible-low-cos/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/paul-allen-backed-stratolauch-systems-promises-flexible-low-cos/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/paul-allen-backed-stratolauch-systems-promises-flexible-low-cos/#comments
When Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, legendary aerospace designer Burt Rutan and private spaceflight proponent Elon Musk team up on something, folks are bound to pay attention -- especially when they're promising nothing short of a "revolution in space transportation." At the center of that ambitious goal is a new company backed by Allen, Stratolaunch Systems, and a massive new aircraft to be designed and built by Rutan's Scaled Composites. If all goes as planned, it will be the size of two 747s (with a wingspan greater than the length of a football field), and it will be able to carry a 120 foot long rocket built by Musk's SpaceX to an altitude suitable for launch into orbit. Stratolaunch hopes to do that for a "fraction" of the cost of current launches, and it intends to eventually send everything from satellites to manned capsules into space.

As you might expect, however, all of that is still in the early stages. According to Spaceflight Now, Stratolaunch currently employs around 100 people (it says it plans a "significant ramp-up"), and complete details on the aircraft itself remain a bit murky (intentionally so, according to Allen). Flight testing is currently slated for the "2015 timeframe," though, with the first launch expected a year later. What's more, while it's not clear how much Allen plans to invest in the project, he has managed to attract some other big names to the project; former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin has joined as a board member, and Gary Wentz, a former chief engineer at NASA, will serve as President and CEO. Head on past the break for a teaser video of what they have planned.

Continue reading Paul Allen-backed Stratolaunch Systems promises flexible, low-cost access to space

Paul Allen-backed Stratolaunch Systems promises flexible, low-cost access to space originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allenburt rutanBurtRutanelon muskElonMusklaunchlaunch vehicleLaunchVehiclepaul allenPaulAllenprivateprivate spaceflightPrivateSpaceflightrocketrutanscaled compositesScaledCompositesspacespaceflightspacexstratolaunchstratolaunch systemsStratolaunchSystemsvideoTue, 13 Dec 2011 15:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla bucks industry standard with new charging system for Model S]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/tesla-bucks-industry-standard-with-new-charging-system-for-model/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/tesla-bucks-industry-standard-with-new-charging-system-for-model/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/tesla-bucks-industry-standard-with-new-charging-system-for-model/#comments
At a time when most EV manufacturers are converging toward charging station conformity, Tesla is still marching to the beat of its own drum. Late last month, the company unveiled a new plug and charger that looks notably different from the J1772 connector -- the SAE International standard you'll find on most electric cars, including the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf. The new system, which will be available for the upcoming Model S, consists of a lightweight plug and wall-mounted unit that can supply 240 volts at up to 80 amps. It also features a comparatively thin cable that promises to deliver fast charging at 480 volts, which, according to the company, should give the Model S an extra boost. When connected to a 240 volt outlet, the car will be able to re-juice at a rate of 62 miles of travel per hour of charging. And while its streamlined aesthetics may signal a shift away from the J1772, Tesla's new charger does feature standard connectors for 120 volt and 240 volt outlets, and will ship with an adapter for industry standard plugs. So why did the manufacturer choose to ignore the J1772? CEO Elon Musk certainly has his reasons. Speaking to the New York Times, Musk poetically described the standard connector as "absolutely terrible, extremely ugly and low power." Tesla's system, by contrast, is more like "a beautiful advanced alien artifact that arrived in the middle of the night." He then went on to say how he really feels. Read more, at the source link below.

Tesla bucks industry standard with new charging system for Model S originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>240 volt240Voltchargingcharging stationChargingStationdesignelectric vehicleElectricVehicleElon MuskElonMuskenergyEVJ1772model sModelSplug inplug standardPlugInPlugStandardre chargeReChargeSAE InternationalSaeInternationalstandardTeslatesla model stesla motorsTeslaModelSTeslaMotorsMon, 07 Nov 2011 04:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla Roadster to return in 2014, 3-Series fighter in the works]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/30/telsa-roadster-to-return-in-2014-3-series-fighter-in-the-works/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/30/telsa-roadster-to-return-in-2014-3-series-fighter-in-the-works/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/30/telsa-roadster-to-return-in-2014-3-series-fighter-in-the-works/#comments
Didn't have enough time to count 10 million pennies before the original Tesla Roadster went out of production? Well you're in luck, because there'll be a successor. Space cadet and entrepreneur extraordinaire, Elon Musk, confirmed to Autocar that a new Roadster would return in 2014. Unlike its Lotus-based predecessor, the redux will apparently be based on Tesla's third-generation platform, which the automag muses will likely be built on a"shortened version of ... the Model S." Musk also noted that the platform will be more "mass-market," giving rise to more pedestrian cars "like BMW's 3 Series" -- his words, not ours. With the Model S sedan on its way, and the Model X after that, the company certainly has its work cut out for it. But, if either are as delightful as prior Teslas, that'll be reason to cheer.

Tesla Roadster to return in 2014, 3-Series fighter in the works originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 05:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoautomotiveautoscarcarselectric autoelectric carelectric vehicleElectricAutoElectricCarElectricVehicleelon muskElonMuskEVmodel Smodel XModelSModelXroadstertelsa motorsTelsaMotorsteslatesla roadsterTeslaRoadstervehicleSun, 30 Oct 2011 05:13:00 EST<![CDATA[English Court: Top Gear didn't libel Tesla]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/21/english-court-top-gear-didnt-libel-tesla/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/21/english-court-top-gear-didnt-libel-tesla/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/21/english-court-top-gear-didnt-libel-tesla/#comments
BBC's Top Gear (it's like The Engadget Show, but for cars) did not libel Tesla Motors when it reviewed the Tesla Roadster way back in 2008. Jeremy Clarkson's review showed the super-EV conking out after 55 miles of driving (a quarter of its expected range), suffering brake failures and an engine overheat that Elon Musk's company flatly denies ever happening. In the High Court, however, Mr Justice Tugendhat said that people could tell the difference between Clarkson's torturous, heavy-footed "powerrrrrrrrr" driving that goes on at Dunsfold Aerodrome, and the staid manner in which people drive on motorways. Tesla still maintains that the review has damaged its image, which is why it's also pursuing a claim for malicious falsehood, yet to be decided -- and on that bombshell, here's the original, legally non-libelous review for your enjoyment... goodnight!

Continue reading English Court: Top Gear didn't libel Tesla

English Court: Top Gear didn't libel Tesla originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 03:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DefamationElon MuskElonMuskJames MayJamesMayJeremy ClarksonJeremyClarksonLawsuitLibelRichard HammondRichardHammondTeslaTesla MotorsTeslaMotorsTop GearTop Gear v TeslaTopGearTopGearVTeslaFri, 21 Oct 2011 03:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Future SpaceX rockets will set you down gently after your long commute (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/30/future-spacex-rockets-will-set-you-down-gently-after-your-long-c/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/30/future-spacex-rockets-will-set-you-down-gently-after-your-long-c/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/30/future-spacex-rockets-will-set-you-down-gently-after-your-long-c/#comments Elon Musk's space ferries will one day require nothing so prosaic as parachutes to soften their landings. Instead, SpaceX's latest 'Dragon' design will rely totally on rocket boosters for the final leg of its descent. In fact, take that notion and triple it: it's intended that each of the Dragon's three sub-sections will be able to return to earth separately under boost power, making the system 100 percent reusable. Check out the slick animation after the break and then see this for a dose of reality.

Continue reading Future SpaceX rockets will set you down gently after your long commute (video)

Future SpaceX rockets will set you down gently after your long commute (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boosterdragonElon MuskElonMusklandingparachuterocketspacespace travelSpaceTravelSpaceXvideoFri, 30 Sep 2011 10:55:00 EST<![CDATA[SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft to dock with the ISS later this fall]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/17/spacexs-dragon-spacecraft-to-dock-with-the-iss-later-this-fall/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/17/spacexs-dragon-spacecraft-to-dock-with-the-iss-later-this-fall/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/17/spacexs-dragon-spacecraft-to-dock-with-the-iss-later-this-fall/#comments With the Space Shuttle program now boldly going nowhere, it's up to NASA partners like SpaceX to deliver on the interstellar milestones. Scheduled for a launch on November 30th of this year, the Elon Musk-funded Dragon spacecraft is set to dock for the first time with the International Space Station. The planned cargo delivery is expected to be a watershed moment for the space program, as it will cement the agency's private-public commercial endeavors, heralding the "beginning of a new era in space travel." NASA has already given the company conditional approval to merge its two planned test flights -- COTS Demo 2 and COTS Demo 3 -- into this singular mission, with formal authorization contingent upon the "resolution of any potential risks." If all goes according to plan later this year, get set to embrace a brave new world of galactic travel -- one where Musk ushers us into the stars.

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft to dock with the ISS later this fall originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 22:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Elon MuskElonMusklaunchNASAspacespace programspace shuttleSpace Shuttle Programspace shuttlesSpaceProgramSpaceShuttleSpaceShuttleProgramSpaceShuttlesSpaceXspacex dragonSpacexDragonWed, 17 Aug 2011 22:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Military lightning gun parts sold on eBay, probably built in someone's garage]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/military-lightning-gun-parts-sold-on-ebay-probably-built-in-som/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/military-lightning-gun-parts-sold-on-ebay-probably-built-in-som/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/military-lightning-gun-parts-sold-on-ebay-probably-built-in-som/#comments Lightning gun parts We're not sure where to start with this one. It's, in a word, unbelievable. Technologist Cody Oliver was digging through eBay for parts to build a robot car that Elon Musk could drive around Burning Man, when he came across surplus equipment from defense contractors Omnitech Robotics and Ionatron. The components were originally from the military's Joint Improvised Explosive Device Neutralizers, or JINs -- remote-controlled lightning guns designed to disable IEDs. But, the story quickly goes from interesting to terrifying. Oliver soon discovered the weapons were cobbled together largely from off-the-shelf parts, including a Linksys router with the serial numbers scraped off, and lacked even basic security. The now retired JINs were controlled over a standard 802.11 WiFi signal, with the encryption turned off -- leaving the multimillion dollar devices vulnerable to insurgents. Ultimately the parts were deemed unfit for even Musk's RC art car. You can read all of the horrifying details at the source link.

[Thanks, Chris]

[Image credit: Cody Oliver]

Military lightning gun parts sold on eBay, probably built in someone's garage originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 20:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cody oliverCodyOliverebayelon muskElonMuskionatronJINJoint Improvised Explosive Device NeutralizersJointImprovisedExplosiveDeviceNeutralizerslightning gunLightningGunmilitaryomnitech roboticsOmnitechRoboticspentagonrobotrobotssecuritywargadgetFri, 05 Aug 2011 20:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla Model X SUV to launch in December, will be gliding quietly down the highway by 2014]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/tesla-model-x-suv-to-launch-in-december-will-be-gliding-quietly/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/tesla-model-x-suv-to-launch-in-december-will-be-gliding-quietly/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/tesla-model-x-suv-to-launch-in-december-will-be-gliding-quietly/#comments Tesla confirms plans to unveil electric Model X SUV this year, $30k car by 2015 Well, it's not often that we hear about products being ahead of schedule. Telsa CEO Elon Musk presented some forward-looking statements during his company's quarterly earnings call this week, revealing a mid-December time frame for the unveiling of its Model X prototype, which could hit streets as soon as 2014. There hasn't been any hint as to pricing for the all-electric SUV, but we wouldn't be surprised to see Tesla's X priced comparably to BMW's identically named X model hybrid SUV -- think sub-$100,000, not "affordable." With plans to produce only 15,000 per year beginning in 2013, a high price tag won't be the only thing keeping Tesla from fulfilling the dream of having an electric car in every driveway. Range has been another obstacle for electric car makers, but with new charging stations popping up on a regular basis, we may be able to make the 165-mile drive from New York City to Albany with slightly less anxiety by the time mid-decade rolls around.

Tesla Model X SUV to launch in December, will be gliding quietly down the highway by 2014 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleElectricVehicleElon MuskElonMuskevmodel smodel xModelSModelXsuvteslatesla model stesla model xtesla motorstesla roadsterTeslaModelSTeslaModelXTeslaMotorsTeslaRoadsterFri, 05 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla Roadster nears the end of its production run, company switches focus to Model S]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/tesla-roadster-being-discontinued/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/tesla-roadster-being-discontinued/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/tesla-roadster-being-discontinued/#comments
Well, we knew this day had to come eventually: various sources are reporting that Tesla Motors has announced that production of its Roadster will soon be drawing to a close, a scant three years (and a few months) after initially launching. "I think there's a handful of cars left to sell in the US," said CEO Elon Musk. "People in Europe and Japan probably have another six months [while in] the US, it's maybe a month or two." We always thought that the company's approach was pretty gutsy, and maybe that's exactly what the automotive world needed -- a long-range (if expensive) ride that screamed: "this ain't your parents' EV." (Cue guitar solo.) For the time being, the company will be switching its focus to the more subdued Model S sedan, although we won't be surprised if we see more badass vehicles from these guys in the future. We aren't sure it'll help with the tears, but our Roadster Sport 2.5 test drive will (thankfully) live on forever.

Tesla Roadster nears the end of its production run, company switches focus to Model S originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automobileautomobilesautomotiveautomotivesbattery electric vehiclebattery lifeBatteryElectricVehicleBatteryLifecarcarsdrivingelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleelon muskElonMuskevmodel sModelSsedanteslatesla model stesla roadstertesla roadster 2.5tesla sedanTeslaModelSTeslaRoadsterTeslaRoadster2.5TeslaSedanThu, 23 Jun 2011 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Elon Musk says SpaceX will send a man to space in three years, Mars within the next two decades]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/elon-musk-says-spacex-will-send-a-man-to-space-in-three-years-m/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/elon-musk-says-spacex-will-send-a-man-to-space-in-three-years-m/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/elon-musk-says-spacex-will-send-a-man-to-space-in-three-years-m/#comments Elon Musk has never been one to shy from making bold predictions, which is why we're not surprised to hear that he has high hopes for the future of space travel. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, the SpaceX founder said his company will "probably" put a man in space within the next three years, in the hopes of sending passengers to Mars within the next ten to 20 years. Earlier this month, Musk's company unveiled plans for the "world's most powerful rocket," the Falcon Heavy, just a few weeks before receiving $75 million from NASA to help spur the development of its commercial spaceflight projects. Musk, it seems, is approaching these projects with an almost sacred sense of duty. "A future where humanity is out there exploring stars is an incredibly exciting future, and inspiring," he explained, "and that's what we're trying to help make happen." Head on past the break to see the full interview (space talk begins around the 13:00 mark).

Continue reading Elon Musk says SpaceX will send a man to space in three years, Mars within the next two decades

Elon Musk says SpaceX will send a man to space in three years, Mars within the next two decades originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commercial space flightcommercial space travelCommercialSpaceFlightCommercialSpaceTravelElon MuskElonMuskFalcon HeavyFalconHeavymarsNASAPredictionsrocketshuttlespacespace explorationspace flightspace shuttlespace travelspace xSpaceExplorationspaceflightSpaceShuttleSpaceTravelSpaceXvideoMon, 25 Apr 2011 13:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla CEO Musk says the days of batteries are numbered, ultracapacitors will power us into the future]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/tesla-ceo-musk-says-the-days-of-batteries-are-numbered-ultracap/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/tesla-ceo-musk-says-the-days-of-batteries-are-numbered-ultracap/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/tesla-ceo-musk-says-the-days-of-batteries-are-numbered-ultracap/#commentsTesla CEO Musk says the days of batteries are numbered, ultracapacitors will power us into the future The upcoming Tesla Model S has a big 'ol slab of batteries that make up the floor of the thing, shown above, but Tesla CEO Elon Musk says that sort of technology just won't do in the long run. He thinks that the days of the battery are numbered, and that it's the humble capacitor that will "supercede" traditional cells and let our future selves roam wild in our Teslas, largely free of range anxiety. Ultracapacitors are basically big, powerful versions of the capacitors that make all electronics work. Like a battery they hold a charge, but unlike a battery they can be juiced up almost instantaneously and suffer virtually no degradation through cycle after cycle. The big problem now is energy density, where batteries still have their capacitive competition beat, but hopefully that'll change soon -- maybe in time for another of Musk's predictions to come true.

Tesla CEO Musk says the days of batteries are numbered, ultracapacitors will power us into the future originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capacitorelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleelon muskelon+musk+supercapacitor+engadgetElonMuskelonmusksupercapacitorengadgetevsupercapacitorteslaultracapacitorTue, 22 Mar 2011 17:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla Model S will support third-party apps and text-to-voice, red lights will never be the same]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/17/tesla-model-s-will-support-third-party-apps-and-text-to-voice-r/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/17/tesla-model-s-will-support-third-party-apps-and-text-to-voice-r/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/17/tesla-model-s-will-support-third-party-apps-and-text-to-voice-r/#comments
Now that pretty much every gizmo from your smartphone to TV has apps available for it, what's the next logical frontier? Of course, your car! Yesterday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk told Cleantech Forum attendees in San Francisco that the upcoming Model S would indeed come with support for third-party applications to run on that monster 17-inch infotainment console. We're happy to see the company encouraging developers to put that Tegra chip to good use, though we can't help but worry about the myriad distractions that could come along with it. Of course, we're still in the dark about what OS is powering the whole shebang, but we're sure there will be a port of Angry Birds before you can come to a complete stop.

Tesla Model S will support third-party apps and text-to-voice, red lights will never be the same originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appappsautoautomobileautomobilescarcarselectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleelon muskElonMuskevmodel sModelSteslatesla model sTeslaModelStext to voicetext-to-voiceTextToVoicethird partyThirdPartyThu, 17 Mar 2011 13:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Elon Musk: all cars sold in 2030 will be electric, boogie woogie woogie optional]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/elon-musk-all-cars-sold-in-2030-will-be-electric-boogie-woogie/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/elon-musk-all-cars-sold-in-2030-will-be-electric-boogie-woogie/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/elon-musk-all-cars-sold-in-2030-will-be-electric-boogie-woogie/#commentsElon MuskApparently when Elon Musk was talking last week at the Cleantech Investors Summit, the Tesla CEO's prognosticating extended far past 2015. He reiterated that there's an electric Model X SUV coming soon and a sub-$30k Tesla within four years. However, in 20 years Mr. Musk thinks that everything will be EV -- well, everything in the US, anyway. He believes that every car sold in America in 2030 will be electric and that within a few decades after that they'll take over worldwide. Of course, this is someone who believes he'll be living on Mars in 2030, naturally sent thither astride one of his SpaceX rockets. Obviously not a man short on optimism.

Elon Musk: all cars sold in 2030 will be electric, boogie woogie woogie optional originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2030electric vehicleElectricVehicleelon muskElonMuskevfuturemuskteslatesla motorsTeslaMotorsMon, 24 Jan 2011 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla confirms plans to unveil electric Model X SUV this year, $30k car by 2015]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/21/tesla-confirms-plans-to-unveil-electric-model-x-suv-this-year/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/21/tesla-confirms-plans-to-unveil-electric-model-x-suv-this-year/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/21/tesla-confirms-plans-to-unveil-electric-model-x-suv-this-year/#commentsTesla confirms plans to unveil electric Model X SUV this year, $30k car by 2015 We've known for some time that Tesla hoped to use the underpinnings of the luscious Model S as a base platform upon which other cars would be built, even minivans. Elon Musk in the past has mentioned a Model X SUV due sometime in 2014 and he's just re-confirmed that we'll be getting our first glimpse of the thing sometime this year. Few further details are known but we wouldn't be surprised if it shared some components with the Tesla-powered Toyota RAV4 EV. Musk also took the opportunity to re-confirm that a genuinely affordable electric Tesla is coming by 2015, something priced under $30,000 and, while probably not quite as bodacious as either the Roadster or the Model S, hopefully it'll be a bit more invigorating than the Leaf.

Tesla confirms plans to unveil electric Model X SUV this year, $30k car by 2015 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleElectricVehicleelon muskElonMuskevmodel smodel xModelSModelXsuvteslaFri, 21 Jan 2011 09:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota debuts 100 mile Tesla-powered RAV4 EV, Musk says it 'helps us with the Model S']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/19/toyota-debuts-100-mile-tesla-powered-rav4-ev-musk-says-it-help/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/19/toyota-debuts-100-mile-tesla-powered-rav4-ev-musk-says-it-help/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/19/toyota-debuts-100-mile-tesla-powered-rav4-ev-musk-says-it-help/#commentsToyota debuts Tesla-powered RAV4 EV, Musk says it 'helps us with the Model S' Toyota and Tesla have been spotted holding hands behind the school gym on numerous occasions and now, finally, the result of their long hours working together in the craft room are being shown to the world. It's the RAV4 EV, announced earlier this year and finally unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Current pre-production models are delivering 100 miles per charge but apparently still need some climate-proofing to ensure that the 2012 version will hit that range regardless of conditions. That's a big deal for a big SUV, and of course it's a big deal for Tesla, which is providing the powertrain. It's also a good news for Elon Musk, surely injecting some much-needed funding to the company and, as he says, introducing other benefits as well:
We're giving Toyota a window into the entrepreneurial, Silicon Valley culture and, vice versa, we're getting a sense for the Toyota production system... I think we're learning a lot form Toyota, bidirectionally, in this process and I think that helps us with the Model S. Having access to Lexus components in the supply chain is also helpful.
In other words, expect the production Model S interior to be a little less fanciful and a little more familiar.

Toyota debuts 100 mile Tesla-powered RAV4 EV, Musk says it 'helps us with the Model S' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleelon muskElonMuskevlaaslaas 2010Laas2010los angeles auto showlos angeles auto show 2010LosAngelesAutoShowLosAngelesAutoShow2010powered by teslaPoweredByTeslarav 4Rav4rav4 evRav4EvsuvteslatoyotaFri, 19 Nov 2010 10:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla lands sudden deal with Toyota, will build Model S sedan in Fremont NUMMI plant]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/20/tesla-lands-sudden-deal-with-toyota-will-build-model-s-sedan-in/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/20/tesla-lands-sudden-deal-with-toyota-will-build-model-s-sedan-in/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/20/tesla-lands-sudden-deal-with-toyota-will-build-model-s-sedan-in/#comments Tesla's still got a ways to go before it overtakes those conventional automakers, but darn if it's not on the right track now. The company today announced a deal with Toyota -- yeah, Toyota -- in order to collaborate on the "development of electric vehicles, parts, and production system and engineering support." Reportedly, the tandem will form a specialist team to further these efforts, with Toyota agreeing to purchase $50 million of Tesla's common stock issued in a private placement. In the short term, Tesla is purchasing the former NUMMI factory in Fremont, California in order to build the Model S sedan and other "future Tesla vehicles," which should employ around 1,000 workers now to produce around 20,000 cars per year. For those unaware, the NUMMI facility was recently vacated, leaving 4,500 Toyota employees holding pink slips and ginormous frowns; Tesla CEO Elon Musk did confirm, however, that some of those have already been rehired. The good news here is that consumers should see lower prices due to Tesla having access to Toyota's streamlined supply chain (not to mention those hugely leveraged bulk buy deals), but the bad news is that citizens of Downey, California -- a town that was purportedly ready to sign a similar deal with Tesla "tomorrow" -- now have to deal with an erupted bubble. You win some, you lose some, as they say.

Tesla lands sudden deal with Toyota, will build Model S sedan in Fremont NUMMI plant originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 May 2010 21:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiaeco-friendlyelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleElon MuskElonMuskEVgreenmodel sModelSpartnerpartnershiproadsterTeslaTMCtoyotaThu, 20 May 2010 21:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Three Tesla employees killed in twin-engine plane crash]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/three-tesla-employees-killed-in-twin-engine-plane-crash/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/three-tesla-employees-killed-in-twin-engine-plane-crash/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/three-tesla-employees-killed-in-twin-engine-plane-crash/#comments Very sad news to report this morning related to a plane crash in East Palo Alto, California, on Wednesday. A plane owned by Doug Bourn, senior electrical engineer for Tesla Motors, veered off course just after taking off in heavy fog and crashed into a neighborhood killing all three Tesla employees on board. Although four houses were damaged, no one on the ground was injured. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla issued the following statement:
"Three Tesla employees were on board a plane that crashed in East Palo Alto early this morning. We are withholding their identities as we work with the relevant authorities to notify the families. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. Tesla is a small, tightly-knit company, and this is a tragic day for us."
Although not technically rock stars, the engineers that produced the Tesla Roadster, the first production electric vehicle manufactured around lithium-Ion batteries, certainly rocked the automotive world. Tragic, indeed.

Three Tesla employees killed in twin-engine plane crash originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airplanecrashdeatheast palo altoEastPaloAltoelon muskElonMuskteslatesla motorsTeslaMotorsThu, 18 Feb 2010 03:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla Motors CEO 'does not devote his full time and attention to Tesla']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/04/tesla-motors-ceo-does-not-devote-his-full-time-and-attention-to-tesla/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/04/tesla-motors-ceo-does-not-devote-his-full-time-and-attention-to-tesla/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/04/tesla-motors-ceo-does-not-devote-his-full-time-and-attention-to-tesla/#comments We've already discussed the seemingly suicidal situation Tesla finds itself in with relation to its 2011 Roadster production cessation, but that SEC submission for the company's IPO is a long, long affair (which you may read below), and there were more nuggets of madness to be found. Apparently, CEO Elon Musk is a busy man -- with CEO and CTO functions at SpaceX and a chairmanship at SolarCity to attend to -- and so he couldn't possibly be expected to focus his full attention on ensuring that the half billion dollar state loan his company received gets spent as wisely as possible. Add Musk's corporate bigamy to an expectation of "continuing losses" and dwindling waiting lists and you have to wonder who, other than the US government, will be buying shares when this offering goes public.

Tesla Motors CEO 'does not devote his full time and attention to Tesla' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carcarsdisclosureelectricelectric carselectric vehiclesElectricCarsElectricVehicleselon muskElonMuskevipoipo filingIpoFilingroadstersecteslatesla motorstesla motors ipotesla roadsterTeslaMotorsTeslaMotorsIpoTeslaRoadsterThu, 04 Feb 2010 09:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla Motors confirms it settled lawsuit with former CEO]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/tesla-motors-confirms-it-settled-lawsuit-with-former-ceo/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/tesla-motors-confirms-it-settled-lawsuit-with-former-ceo/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/tesla-motors-confirms-it-settled-lawsuit-with-former-ceo/#comments
We had some indication Tesla and its former CEO Martin Eberhard had settled their lawsuit after it just quietly went away last month, but the electric automaker has now finally come out and confirmed as much, although it's not surprisingly still staying mum on any actual details. As you may recall, Eberhard had sued Tesla and its current CEO, Elon Musk, over a whole host of grievances, including that he was pushed out of the company, denied his severance package, and generally disparaged both in the public and within the company. For its part, Tesla then fired back with some harsh words of its own, saying that Eberhard's account was "fictionalized," "twisted," and "wrong." Both parties seem to now be doing their best to put all that behind them, however, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has even go so far as to issue a statement saying that "without Martin's indispensable efforts, Tesla Motors would not be here today."

Filed under:

Tesla Motors confirms it settled lawsuit with former CEO originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>elon muskElonMusklawsuitmartin eberhardMartinEberhardsettlementteslatesla motorsTeslaMotorsMon, 21 Sep 2009 16:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla founder quietly dismisses lawsuit against the company, Musk]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/24/tesla-founder-quietly-dismisses-lawsuit-against-the-company-mus/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/24/tesla-founder-quietly-dismisses-lawsuit-against-the-company-mus/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/24/tesla-founder-quietly-dismisses-lawsuit-against-the-company-mus/#comments
Remember that time, way back in June, when we told you that former Tesla Motors exec Martin Eberhard was suing the company and its chief (a certain Mr. Elon Musk) for sundry offenses, including forcing him out of the company, wrecking his car, and besmirching his good name? According to the San Jose Business Journal, the suit was quietly and unceremoniously dropped on August 7 at the request of Eberhard. Of course, the most likely explanation for this turn of events (besides Eberhard's suddenly finding his Zen and deciding to drop out of the material world for a life of quiet contemplation) is a settlement of some sort. Maybe he's getting that coveted roadster after all? According to The Register, a Tesla spokesperson refused to "speculate on why Eberhard dropped his suit." When pressed for a follow-up, the same site received an automated reply: "I am on vacation".

[Via The Register]

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Tesla founder quietly dismisses lawsuit against the company, Musk originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>elon muskElonMusklawsuitlegalmartin eberhardMartinEberhardsettlementteslatesla motorsTeslaMotorsMon, 24 Aug 2009 09:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla founder sues Tesla, Elon Musk]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/11/tesla-founder-sues-tesla-elon-musk/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/11/tesla-founder-sues-tesla-elon-musk/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/11/tesla-founder-sues-tesla-elon-musk/#comments
Tesla's done a good job keeping itself out of the courtroom recently, but the good times don't last forever -- founder Martin Eberhard has just sued the company and CEO Elon Musk for libel, slander, and breach of contract. Eberhard claims that after he and Mark Tapenning founded Tesla, he was summarily pushed out of the company by Musk, wrongfully denied his severance package, and then disparaged both publicly and within the company -- and on top of it all, Musk sent the second Roadster produced out for "endurance testing" where it was wrecked instead being sold to Eberhard as promised. Ouch. Interestingly, the core of the lawsuit directly mirrors the suit filed former PR director David Vespremi over the same series of events, so it seems like there's a pattern here, but we'll see how much of this is true when Tesla and Eberhard face off in the courtroom -- our friends at Autoblog Green just received this statement from legendarily-prickly Tesla PR spokesperson Rachel Konrad:
This lawsuit is a fictionalized, inaccurate account of Tesla's early years -- it's twisted and wrong, and we welcome the opportunity to set the record straight. Incidentally, Tesla will also be filing counterclaims and in the process present an accurate account of the company's history.
Yeah, we'd say there are some fireworks brewing. Stay tuned.

Read - Autoblog Green
Read - Wired
Read - Eberhard's complaint [Warning: PDF]

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Tesla founder sues Tesla, Elon Musk originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>elon muskElonMusklawsuitlegalmartin eberhardMartinEberhardteslatesla motorsTeslaMotorsThu, 11 Jun 2009 11:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla exec shuffle: Elon Musk appoints himself CEO, lays off staff]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/tesla-exec-shuffle-elon-musk-appoints-himself-ceo-lays-off-sta/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/tesla-exec-shuffle-elon-musk-appoints-himself-ceo-lays-off-sta/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/tesla-exec-shuffle-elon-musk-appoints-himself-ceo-lays-off-sta/#commentsThe drama never stops at Tesla Motors -- following a morning of feverish rumors, the company has officially announced that it's replacing CEO Ze'ev Drori with board chairman Elon Musk. Tesla says that Drori will remain "active" with the company as a vice chairman of the board, but it looks like it's now more Musk's company than ever before -- and his first order of business is apparently to lay off staff to get the company "cash positive" in the next six to nine months. Other than the closing of the Detroit Tesla office, it's not clear what the layoffs will entail -- Musk say they'll be "modest" -- but hopefully we'll start to see more cars and fewer headlines from the upstart electric car company in the near future.

Read - CNET report
Read - Elon Musk blog post

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Tesla exec shuffle: Elon Musk appoints himself CEO, lays off staff originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceoelon muskElonMuskteslatesla motorsTeslaMotorszeev droriZeevDroriWed, 15 Oct 2008 17:34:00 EST<![CDATA[SpaceX slated to transport cargo and crew on Falcon 9]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/01/spacex-slated-to-transport-cargo-and-crew-on-falcon-9/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/01/spacex-slated-to-transport-cargo-and-crew-on-falcon-9/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/01/spacex-slated-to-transport-cargo-and-crew-on-falcon-9/#comments
If that homebrew rocket you've been building in your backyard isn't working out, maybe SpaceX will have some room for you on one of its many upcoming Falcon 9 missions. Now that the F1 has successfully achieved orbit, the F9 is slated for launch in Q1 2009. As you may recall, the aptly named Falcon 9 has nine engines rather than one, as with the F1. These redundancies were inspired by the Apollo's Saturn V and Saturn I rockets, noted for their flawless flight records despite engine failures. If all goes well, the launch will be followed by three more, including one with a crew and an F9 "Heavy" -- handy if you've got 25,300 lbs of marbles or whatever to haul up to the International Space Station. If you plan on hitching a ride, get your job applications in now -- only valued employees are scheduled to be passengers at this time. Got a more exotic destination in mind? Next up Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, has his sights set on building a "Mars lander of some kind."

[Via Wired]

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SpaceX slated to transport cargo and crew on Falcon 9 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cargo dragonCargoDragoncrew dragonCrewDragonelon muskElonMuskf1f9f9 heavyF9Heavyfalcon 9Falcon9marsmars landerMarsLanderspacexWed, 01 Oct 2008 23:08:00 EST<![CDATA[SpaceX's Falcon 1 makes orbit after four attempts]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/29/spacexs-falcon-1-makes-orbit-after-four-attempts/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/29/spacexs-falcon-1-makes-orbit-after-four-attempts/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/29/spacexs-falcon-1-makes-orbit-after-four-attempts/#comments
It's been a long road plagued with disappointments and major mishaps, but SpaceX (and founder Elon Musk) has finally made history -- on Sunday the company's Falcon 1 rocket reached orbit. After three attempts to bring the dream to life, the space exploration company succeeded in putting the first privately-developed rocket into space. The liftoff was seen live during a webcast, and the company's site was continuously updated with news, including a message written at 16:26PDT reading:

T+0:08:21 Falcon 1 reached orbital velocity, 5200 m/s

Nominal Second stage cut off (SECO) - Falcon 1 has made history as the first privately developed liquid fueled launch vehicle to achieve earth orbit!!!!!!

Needless to say, after the trials and tribulations SpaceX has gone through (including the loss of Star Trek star James Doohan's ashes), this must be welcome relief... as well as the birth of a potentially lucrative new enterprise. Er, no pun intended.

[Via Slashdot; Thanks, Kenneth]

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SpaceX's Falcon 1 makes orbit after four attempts originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>elon muskElonMuskfalcon 1Falcon1launchorbitspacexsuccessMon, 29 Sep 2008 01:11:00 EST<![CDATA[SpaceX's Elon Musk figures out Falcon 1 mishap, hopes for flight 4 next month]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/07/spacexs-elon-musk-figures-out-falcon-1-mishap-hopes-for-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/07/spacexs-elon-musk-figures-out-falcon-1-mishap-hopes-for-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/07/spacexs-elon-musk-figures-out-falcon-1-mishap-hopes-for-flight/#comments
Wipe those tears away, budding astronaut. SpaceX's latest failure wasn't completely in vain. According to head honcho Elon Musk, the problem came just after a "picture perfect first stage flight" when a longer than expected thrust decay transient of the new Merlin 1C regeneratively cooled engine became "just enough to overcome the stage separation pusher impulse." You honestly may need to be a rocket scientist to digest all of that, but here's something even the layman can understand: Musk wants flight 4 in the air as early as next month. We're told that the long gap between flights 2 and 3 was simply due to all that engine engineering, but technologically speaking, nothing will change for the next attempt. Godspeed, Falcon 1 (v4).

[Thanks, Kenneth]

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SpaceX's Elon Musk figures out Falcon 1 mishap, hopes for flight 4 next month originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crashelon muskElonMuskfailfailureFalcon 1Falcon1galaxylaunchrocketsatellitespacespacexThu, 07 Aug 2008 10:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla's Elon Musk promises sub-$30k all-electric car in less than four years]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/30/tesla-motors-elon-musk-promises-sub-30k-all-electric-car-in-le/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/30/tesla-motors-elon-musk-promises-sub-30k-all-electric-car-in-le/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/30/tesla-motors-elon-musk-promises-sub-30k-all-electric-car-in-le/#comments
Yes -- more breaking electric car news! Just after Tesla CEO Ze'ev Drori announced Telsa's plans to build the Model S, Elon Musk began discussing its development of electric car tech to get the price of future cars to (and below) $30,000. When asked when that technology would be commercially available, Musk said that it shouldn't be any more than four years from now. Granted, a $60,000 car is affordable but still quite steep for most buyers -- but a vehicle mass-produced at half the price is essentially mainstream, which could have a substantial impact on the automotive world.

[Image courtesy of Edmunds]

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Tesla's Elon Musk promises sub-$30k all-electric car in less than four years originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewselon muskElonMuskmodel sModelSteslatesla motorsTeslaMotorsMon, 30 Jun 2008 15:09:00 EST