Mechanical Technology September 2015

⎪ Nota bene ⎪

Tesla has announced a new entry-level Model S along with battery updates and the addition of what it is calling ‘Ludicrous Mode’ on the Model S P85 D. Tesla launches entry-level Model S and upgrades

Index to advertisers Aesseal..............................................2 Air Liquide........................................26 BMG................................................17 Clyde Bergemann Africa.....................25 Centrifugal pumps: Larry Bachus.........16 Festo................................................31 Instruweld........................................34 Koike...............................................15 SKF................................................IBC SMC Pneumatics.............................. IFC ThyssenKrupp.........................OFC, OBC Verder Pumps...................................33 Weir Minerals Africa.....................18, 20 Zest WEG Group. ..............................12 2KG Training.....................................19 info@offshore-energy.biz www.offshore-energy.biz www.navingo.com Philip Mulder, +31 10 2092 674 pmu@navingo.com 2015 Johannesburg International Motor Show 14-25 Oct Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec. Pula Dippenaar: media@sashows.com +27 11 494 3114
 www.jhbmotorshow.co.za Industry diary October 2015 Valves Selection, Installation & Operation (4 Day) 12-15 October Johannesburg, Cedar Park Phindi Mbedzi:+27 11 325 0686 phindi@2kg.co.za www.2kg.co.za For the next six months, current own‑ ers of the Model S P85 D can upgrade to ‘Ludicrous Mode”, for an additional $5 000 plus installation labour, while people buying a new Model S new will have to find $10 000 for the option. q ered in 10.9 seconds and the zero to 250 km/h time cut by 20%. For people who are worried about running out of charge on the go, Tesla is also offering a 90 kWh battery pack (up from 85 kWh), which, it claims, will offer over 480 km of range at a steady 100 km/h on the highway. The battery upgrade will cost $3 000, but Elon Musk has advised owners to hold off upgrading unless they’re already on the edge of the range envelope. Offshore Energy 2015 13-14 October Amsterdam RAI

The recently launched entry-level Tesla Model S, with the new single-motor, rear-drive and a 70 kWh battery, is priced at $5 000 below the dual-motor version (the all-wheel drive Model S 70D) launched in April this year.

T esla has announced a new entry- level single-motor, rear-drive Model S with a 70 kWh battery, which is priced at $5 000 below the dual-motor version (the all-wheel drive Model S 70D) launched in April this year. That puts the newly discounted car’s price at $70 000 – R950 000 at mid- September exchange rates. With the included US road tax subsidies and the average petrol savings over a typical five-years ownership period, Elon Musk calculates this as equivalent to buying a $50 000 (R650 000) fuel-based car.

The entry-level versions bigger brother is the Model S 70D launched in April this year, an all-wheel drive electric car with a 0-100 km/h time of 5.2 seconds and an on-highway 400 km range. In addition to having independently operational front and rear motors, the 70D includes su‑ percharging to enable free long-distance travel, autopilot hardware, navigation, blind spot detection and many other features. As with every Model S, the 70 and 70D will receive free over-the-air up‑ dates that add functionality and improve the driving experience for years to come. Along with its new entry-level car, the company announced a series of upgrade options. Thanks to a redesigned fuse on the car’s battery, the Model S can now be made to accelerate to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds – similar to the times achieved by hypercars such as the McLaren P1. The new fuse design that allows this performance boost has its own elec‑ tronics and a small lithium-ion battery. Instead of melting beyond the preset am‑ perage as is the case with the standard fuse, the new fuse constantly monitors the current and is pyro-activated to cut power whenever necessary. This has been coupled with an up‑ grade to the main battery pack contac‑ tor, which eschews steel for Inconel, an oxidation and corrosion resistant superal‑ loy. Because Inconel stays springy under the heat of a heavy current, the car’s maximum power pack amperage can be increased from 1 300 to 1 500 A. As a result, in this ‘ludicrous mode’ the upgraded Tesla P85 D can acceler‑ ate 10% faster than previous generation Teslas, with a quarter mile being cov‑

The 2015 SAAFF annual Congress

Taking place from October 14 to 16 at the Durban International Convention Centre, KwaZulu-Natal, this year’s Congress theme is ‘New Frontiers’, for the local freight forwarding industry. The popularity of trade with Africa, while still perceived as a challenge for many, is seen as a huge growth opportunity for others. “As Africa has risen to prominence as an invest‑ ment destination over the past few years, so the role of transport and logistics has taken on greater significance,” says Andrew Shaw, PwC Transport & Logistics Leader for South Africa in his presentation ‘Business into Africa’. Shaw will be speaking at the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) Congress 2015 in Durban in October, highlighting many of these opportunities. “Logistics strategists can’t afford to ignore the African market of the future,” Shaw believes. For more information, contact Catherine or Elize at CVLC. catherine@cvlc.co.za: www.saaff.org.za

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Mechanical Technology — September 2015