Excellent point, Martin. The car came out in 1996 and the stuff in the car was probably a year, or more, older than that given time for R&D. Chances are there is something better already available that makes the EV1 controller obsolete. I have seen Toyota Pious' controllers for sale on eBay. I am subscribed to the Tesla Roadster mailing list. They are indeed heavily backed, and I hope that car makes it. I would love to have one. Speaking of batteries and storage, check out this link. What is amazing, if it really works, is how LITTLE they have invested in this project. SHHH!!! Don't tell GM! http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/09/07/electric.car.batteries.ap/index.html Greg - waiting for more conspiracies to debunk. _____ From: DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Martin Gutkowski Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 2:32 PM To: DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [DMCForum] RE: [DML] 50 Worst Cars-What Moron Wrote This? Crikey you two :-) NB electric motors and their controllers (not to mention batteries) have come an awfully long way since 1996 and in the realm of Robot Combat alone lurks some serious talent AND experience when it comes to high power DC motor controllers. The hard stuff has already been done. To run higher voltages and more current basically involves simply racking up more FETs in parallel. And I use the term DC in its correct form because I suspect the so-called AC motor controllers you refer to are actually brushless DC motors. FWIW our very own robot used prototype high energy NiMH cells made in France by Saft for a PSA (Peugeot/Citroen) hybrid car project which was also canned, though not through any conspiracies. I suspect they twigged fairly early on that they couldn't get the supposedly cleaner greener hybrid engine down to the kind of fuel economy (and certainly nowhere near the power) being gained by their very own diesels (which are among the best in the world - I drive one). Are you saying the Tesla is being stumped by the car boys? I suspect they may -just- meet their match given the kind of money behind it. Martin [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DMCForum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DMCForum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:DMCForum-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx mailto:DMCForum-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: DMCForum-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/