Tesla gets a Tony Stark armor

[botsapper]

...not the gold alloy one but a new underbody 1/4" titanium shield, along with the triple layered shielding! Tesla deals with problems quickly & decisively - to prevent intrusion into the car batteries.

Tesla service will retrofit these new shields and give current & future Model S owners peace of mind.

http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/tesl...plates-model-s

https://d262ilb51hltx0.cloudfront.ne...kNDhi891zQ.gif

https://d262ilb51hltx0.cloudfront.ne...zw3IpSFS3w.gif

https://d262ilb51hltx0.cloudfront.ne...1d-CRPZcFg.gif
Just like the old Battlebots robots, the titanium armor holds but the fasteners give way.

[redpoint5]

Is that a plastic retainer clip holding the shield in place? You can see something fall in the third gif.

[hamsterpower]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Is that a plastic retainer clip holding the shield in place? You can see something fall in the third gif.

Yes but not holding the shield. The looks like a plastic retaining clip that holds the thin plastic belly pan behind the front bumper.

[botsapper]

It looks like a typical automotive retainer clip. They have an ABS cover.

[NachtRitter]

Now Tesla will get complaints that their cars are destroying the country's infrastructure because any debris their cars run over will destroy the pavement rather than the car...

[Xist]

I once heard that even during the Golden Age people must have complained about the yellow quality of the light.

[Giovanni LiCalsi]

Tesla could have used an Alulight all metal foam panel. Alulight is sound deadening, ballistic resistant and very light. Alulight with a Kevlar sheet under the batteries would be road battle ready.

[redpoint5]

How does the cost of Alulight compare with the sheet of titanium?

Titanium does have superior heat and corrosion resistance.

[Giovanni LiCalsi]

1/5th the cost of titanium, easier to form and fasten.
So lightweight that it floats on water and can now be made with equal sized cells.
Alulight can also have aluminum or stainless steel faceplates heat fusion bonded.

[botsapper]

Originally Posted by Giovanni LiCalsi

1/5th the cost of titanium, easier to form and fasten.
So lightweight that it floats on water and can now be made with equal sized cells.

The marketing cache of titanium pays more than its material cost. At its luxury level class, Tesla was brilliant for using the well-known 'indestructible' metal - priceless. We'll see more Teslas in doctors' charging/parking spaces.