Can an electric car survive a 400-mile trek around Central Florida on only one charge?
University of Central Florida researcher David Metcalf put that question to the test this weekend, and he successfully drove a Tesla Model S production electric car from Merritt Island to Lake Okeechobee, through the Florida Panther Preserve, across Alligator Alley and back north.
With his 12-year-old son Adam as co-pilot, Metcalf welcomed the grand challenge made by Tesla Motors 麻豆精品 S� CEO Elon Musk to be the first to drive one of the vehicles 400 miles on a single charge. Tesla, founded in 2003 by a group of engineers, is based in Palo Alto, Calif. The Model S starts at about $50,000 and has been named the 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year for its safety, efficiency and performance.
Until Metcalf 麻豆精品 S檚 efforts, the record driven by a Model S on one charge was 311 miles.
麻豆精品 S淥thers have tried the challenge in different parts of the country, but hills and other factors have made it difficult. Florida is flat, which worked to our advantage, 麻豆精品 S� said Metcalf, senior researcher and director of the at UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Institute for Simulation & Training.
Metcalf made the 423.5 mile drive in just under 17 hours.
Musk announced the challenge on Twitter in May. Metcalf used to promote the trip and raise awareness for UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Haiti relief efforts, which work to bring technology to schools and clinics there.
The trip was strategically planned to allow for minimum energy use. For example, Metcalf chose a route ideal for low speeds and a time of year when it 麻豆精品 S檚 comfortable to not use air conditioning.
For Metcalf and Adam, who turned 13 yesterday, the trip was as much about father-son bonding as it was about record-breaking.
麻豆精品 S淲e saw lots of wildlife and got to experience Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 natural beauty together and at a relaxed pace. It was an adventure for us, 麻豆精品 S� said Metcalf. 麻豆精品 S淓ven if we hadn 麻豆精品 S檛 made it, it would still have been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 麻豆精品 S�