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Tesla started out by converting an existing lead acid electric car to lithium ion. It's smart to try to understand and optimize the already existing thing befor

by Joeri 9y ago

Tesla started out by converting an existing lead acid electric car to lithium ion. It's smart to try to understand and optimize the already existing thing before you redesign it from scratch.

agumonkey 9y ago
They didn't start from a clean slate ?
- tsuraan 9y ago
  The tesla roadster started with a Lotus Elise body and frame. The S was the first tesla that was entirely their design (AFAIK). EDIT: actually, from looking at [0], Tesla says it was based on licensed Lotus tech, but most definitely not an electrified Elise. TIL. [0] - https://www.tesla.com/blog/lotus-position https://www.tesla.com/blog/lotus-position
  - agumonkey 9y ago
    Ha, I never knew that
- Joeri 9y ago
  They originally got venture capital by shopping around an existing handmade electric car, the AC Propulsion tzero. https://evannex.com/blogs/news/75692101-from-tzero-to-model-s-how-ac-propulsion-was-a-catalyst-for-tesla-motors https://evannex.com/blogs/news/75692101-from-tzero-to-model-...
  - agumonkey 9y ago
    wow amazing, I never read about anything involving musk prior Tesla incorporation.