Tesla Adds Titanium Underbody Shield and Aluminum Deflector Plates to Model S

From an engineering/cost standpoint, it would be interesting to know the Tesla logic for selecting Titanium. As a ground based vehicle shielding metal it's very expensive for the cost. Steel is strong and low cost for structural purposes. However, as a add-on protection element needing to be retrofitted on a existing car, there was some key constraint needing the very low weight value.

 

The main material is aluminum which should be a better material for this purpose than steel, and given that the body is aluminum, I doubt they even considered the lower cost of steel. One benefit of titanium over aluminum and steel is elongation, it can bend more without braking. This should allow a much thiner plate of titanium that will not let sharp objections penatrate into the battery. Tesla likely threw every trick they knew at this to get rid of any perception of extra fire damage. I would not be suprised if the titanium is not included in next year's model.

 

Texas is one of the biggest states for Tesla.
People learn about the car, they find a way even if they have to jump through a few hoops.

 

Its not that bad, you simply have to buy it on-line or on the phone, and you need to either pay cash, arrange your own financing, or finance through a tesla store out of state (colorado for now). What it does is makes it hard for the show rooms. Its illegal for them to even tell you how much the thing costs. They can just show you the car and answer questions about the car, not how to buy it.

 

Go Tesla, above and beyond as usual.

 

Ahh, I wasn't having much luck finding out where the mines were late last night. South Africa and Australia, yeah, but not the Ukraine. Perhaps some are still conflating Russia with the old USSR in such matters.

My attempt of being a wise nice person went awry.

I wouldn't surprised if Tesla tested Kelvar and carbon fiber. In addition to whatever advantages titanium had over other tested solutions, it is likely quicker to get sheets of it to bolt to the front of the battery tray. The aluminum deflectors likely took more time to source.

 

Tesla not at fault. That oughtta shut them up. NHTSA says finds no 'defect trend' in Tesla Model S sedans| Reuters

 

Looks like even better than any off road 4x4 underbody shield.

 

Now there's a PR opportunity; take an S around a off road course - over rocks, water, mud etc. Anywhere where ground clearance is an issue.

 

They'll end up starting afire with the titanium sparks.

 

I'm sure they are looking at awd off road possibilities with the X do for volume production a year from now. I'm betting they are looking at an off road package with a aluminum, fabric, aluminum skid plate sandwitch.

 

I can just see the ad now: "The road catches fire before the Model S will!"

 

TiFi sparks lighting up dry grass at the roadside? Definite possibility.

 

That's what I'd be worrying about ... the one car with a titanium blast shield ... not the 500,000 smokers flicking their cig butts out the windows ... or catalytic converters that operate in the 100's of degrees. This just keeps getting better and better.
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Yes it does:

 

The SR-71 has a skin made of titanium. It operates at 800+ degrees at mach 2+. What keeps it from bursting into flames?

 

It appears that the solid metal is not a fire hazard. Only the powders and shavings and other tiny pieces are a hazard.

From a Material Safety Data Sheet for Titanium:

 

But doesn't that apply to lots of things, including stuff we eat?

 

Pilots have an incentive not to let it contact the ground at those speeds.

 

yea ... that's why F1 drivers wear fire suits ... because they're scared of 'sparks'

Some will see a couple trees & never notice there's a forest - called liquid explosive fuel.
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