The Tesla Model S, the world’s most-wanted electric car, which has recorded a whopping 100,000 units sale as of December 2015, has been lauded by the critics for its impressive safety rating, range, and design. However, it is also worth considering that it is the incredible raw materials that go into the Tesla Model S that help to make all of these things possible.
The Tesla Model S body and chassis are built almost entirely from aluminium, which comes from bauxite ore. Aluminium is lightweight, which helps to maximize the range of the battery beyond that of other EVs. The total amount of aluminium used in the car is 410 lbs (190 kg).
The Tesla battery pack weighs 1,200 lbs (540 kg), which is equal to about 26% of the car’s total weight. This puts the car’s center of gravity a mere 44.5 centimeters off the ground, giving the car unprecedented stability.
The battery itself contains 7,104 lithium-ion battery cells. The Tesla Model S battery cathode uses an NCA formulation with the approximate ratio: 80 per cent nickel, 15 per cent cobalt, and 5 per cent aluminium. The anode uses natural or synthetic graphite to hold lithium ions. Aluminium foil is also used in the car battery.
The wheels of Tesla Model S are made from aluminium alloy, which presently, is the metal of choice for most carmakers of global repute.
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