Tesla's Scientific Endeavour in Transportation Assessment

Tesla Inc. is an American electric automobile company which demonstrates the correlation between electric vehicles and science as a human endeavour; most notably the evaluation of environmental and social impacts as well as a design of action for sustainability. The prospect of the company is to provide affordable vehicles to the average consumer in order to avert global warming. This article primarily focuses on the Tesla Model S, the middle-class vehicle in Tesla's limited product line.

The Model S is a fully electric car which has a propulsion system powered by grids of lithium ion cells. As a part of its vision to avert global warming, Tesla also produces photovoltaic systems and power storage, which can be used for charging the vehicle. Although more technologically advanced than gasoline vehicles, electric vehicles have more uncomplicated propulsion systems. As the current from the batteries passes through the stators in the motor, electromagnetic fields are created which rotate the motor, converting kinetic energy to electrical energy. A variable frequency drive controls the current supplied to the motor and changes the drive wheel speed.

In a combustion engine, the linear motion of the transmission pistons need to be converted into rotational motion, which reduces efficiency due to the kinetic energy being converted to other forms such as heat and sound. However, Tesla's induction motor is rotational and so, the vehicle is more efficient. An induction motor has a weight of 31.8kg and a power output of 270kWh,which can equates to a weight value of 8.5 compared to a mere 0.8 of a combustion engine. As the

power vehicle begins to accelerate, the vehicle must overcome the static friction applied on the car as according to Newton's first law :4 body in motion remains in motion and a body at rest remains at rest unless acted on by an external unbalanced force'. Therefore, as the electrical energy in the batteries gets converted to kinetic energy and applies an unbalanced force, the Model S can accelerate from 0-lOOkph in 3.ls. This is due to its lightweight aluminium reinforced body which reduces the force of static and dynamic friction acting on the car as the force of the car on the ground decreases. Furthermore, the use of a dual motor system increases the car1s capability to reach high speeds and accelerate faster as the magnitude of external unbalanced force is larger. In a similar way, Tesla's regenerative braking technology allows it to convert the unbalanced force applied on the brakes into electrical energy and store it in the battery. As the car brakes, the force applied on the tyres increases the dynamic friction and the car slows to a stationary position.One of the primary reasons Teslas are recognized as some of the safest cars in the world is due to its structural components. As the Model S is an electric car, it does not have an engine at the front. Instead, it is replaced by a storage compartment. According to Newton's law an object in motion stays in motion unless acted on by an external unbalanced force [Newton, Naturalis Principia]. Due to inertia, if a car crashes at 100kph, the occupants will also be travelling at 100kph and may experience collateral injuries. During a crash, the car's crumple zone in the front slows down the car, reducing the crash impact on passengers. According to the equation

I = F /J.T, the    impulse is inversely proportional to the time taken to exert a force. Therefore, asthe crumple zone is crashed, there is an alleviated impact for the passengers as the car absorbs the energy and even transfers some kinetic energy to heat and sound. The lack of a frontal engine helps like a cushion for the Model S in case of impact. Furthermore, the Model S1 placement of component on the base of the car gives it a low centre of gravity which greatly reduces the chance of rollover.

Tesla was founded using science as a human endeavour to prove the effectiveness of electric cars in reducing environmental and economic impacts and promoting sustainability. Elon Musk, the founder, dissatisfied by society's negligent outlook on saving the environment and 

promoting sustainability, was able to create solutions and discover ways to create efficient batteries. Musk's initial developments of Tesla were based on the induction motor, an invention by Nikolas Tesla; hence the name. Musk's understanding of science led him to believe that these motors are the most sustainable and efficient choice to make an automobile which established Tesla's electric vehicle prospects. This led to a group of engineers and scientists across the world collaboratively working on designing an efficient and safe EV which eventually resulted in the development of the Model S.

Tesla has had a major impact of society through its technological advancements. Tesla's introduction  of Autopilot, a semi-autonomous artificial intelligence  driving system, has reduced traffic collisions by 40o/o. Since 94o/o of collisions in Australia are caused by human error, this number  will greatly reduce as Tesla develops  the  autopilot system. The system has the hardware require for full autonomy and the car will update automatically when the software is available. The model S P100D is the fastest production car in the world, accelerating from 0- lOOkph in 2.28s. These statistics are proving that supercars can also be energy efficient degrading the position of supercars like Bugatti which require 42L/100km. Tesla's low maintenance cost of AU$0.48 compared to AU$1.20 of a gasoline family sedan also leads prospective customers to Tesla. These statistics and features of the  Tesla model Swill lead to a domination of electric cars on the road, reducing vehicular carbon emissions by SOo/o. Tesla has also introduced  regenerative  braking which converts the kinetic energy while braking into electrical energy which would otherwise be lost as heat and sound. This would increase all cars' efficiencies. Tesla's rise in the global automobile market would lead to the downfall of oil companies such as China Petroleum and Exxon Mobile leading to a rise in the price of oil and thus the possible extinction of petroleum vehicles. Thus, the focus on mining would turn to commodities such as iron and copper rather than petroleum. Competition in the electric vehicle market could also lead to the development of more efficient and cheaper electric vehicles which would help reduce carbon emissions.

Tesla's technologically and structurally advanced Model S can be recognized as an engineering marvel through the use of science as a human endeavour. Musk's conceptualization of a sustainable society which he is realizing through his automobiles has been accepted by the society who is reframing towards electric vehicles. The model S' autopilot system which already has the hardware required for full autonomy, could lead to a utopian traffic system without collisions. The Model S' structural safety would also help in reducing the amount of road deaths as it has various accident prevention measures such as seatbelt pretensioners, adaptive traction control and automatic crash avoidance software. On a larger scale, Tesla's influence on society is slowing but significantly reducing the effects of global warming. Conclusively, Tesla is revolutionising the world using science as a human endeavour in order to prove electric vehicles are sustainable.