Is Tesla a car or an iPad?
This is a question raised by engineers at IHS Automotive research when they dissect an electric vehicle company's expensive S-car.
They found that the design, components and manufacturing process of entering the car infotainment and meter system had more in common with tablets or smartphones than with traditional cars.
"It's like looking at the components of the latest mobile devices from Apple's iPad or Samsung Galaxy products," said Andrew Rassweiler, senior director of materials and cost benchmarks at IHS . ".
He said that the electronic structure of sports electric vehicles is very different from the methods of other automakers and their parts suppliers.
"Cost structure of electronic products, use of large display in cabin, touchscreen-
Mobile microchips based on control
Everything in this design makes Tesla's experience more like a media tablet or a high-end tablet.
Smarter than traditional cars . "
IHS is analyzing every subsystem of Tesla, including air-
Air conditioning control, safety system and power system. The tear-
The decline continues, but IHS says some findings distinguish Tesla from other companies in the automotive industry. The big 17-
The inch display and touch screen are much larger than the normal car information entertainment interface.
It uses NVIDIA. Tegra 3, 1. 4-gigahertz quad-
The core processor, with the same computing power as the latest smartphone and tablet designs.
Automakers often lag behind the technology of the mobile phone industry for years.
IHS said that the main module of the infotainment system or the "head unit" is the most complex design it sees on the car.
It contains more than 5,000 independent components
1,000 more than the highest.
IHS has previously performed an anatomy of the terminal information entertainment unit.
The review of the parts found that it is also the most expensive system of its kind, about twice the cost of the highest system
Terminal Information Entertainment Unit reviewed by IHS.
The display screen and touch screen are the two most expensive subsystems in the system.
The screen is also the most expensive part of the iPhone or iPad, Rassweiler said, adding that Tesla uses the expensive part because it wants to show a mobile device
Interface of the driver.
"The company really wants to do things in a different way and use virtual control --
Instead of physical knobs and buttons
"Take over the user experience," Rassweiler said . ".
"This approach requires significant investment in large displays and touch screens.
"For example, the Model S display is 10 inch larger than the typical screen size of other cars.
It is made by TPK holding company which also offers touch
Apple's screenThe tear-
The car's downline also showed analysts another unconventional approach Tesla has taken.
The company apparently does its own design and engineering work on most electronics.
Many printed circuit boards in the head unit and meter Group have Tesla Motors labels.
Rassweiler said that most automakers bought similar electronic parts from suppliers such as Alpine, Haman and Panasonic.
Tesla's approach, he said, provides more control over the cost and procurement of components.
Tesla designs the circuit board and may have an electronic parts contractor to build it.
This is the strategy adopted by sellers of smartphones or tablets.
For example, Rassweiler said Apple has been strictly controlling the design of the iPad and iPhone, while outsourcing the assembly work to EMS companies such as Foxconn. Palo Alto-
Tesla-based car companies continue to add features to the Model S, which starts at about $71,000, climbing to more than $100,000 depending on the options.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced last week that the car will be available soon. wheel-
Drive the system and some automated security features.
The company also plans to offer high
The performance version of the car will start at $120,000.
Tesla said that the total power of the two electric vehicles is 691 horsepower, the car will be from 0-to-60 mph in 3. 2 seconds.
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