By Igor Spajic - taken from Nexus Gold May-June 2005
www.nexusitalia.com
The city of Buffalo, in upstate New York in the U.S., was silent witness to an extraordinary event in the course of a week during the summer of 1931. Despite the economic downturn had affected the production and trade, the city nevertheless remained a hive of activity. One day, among the thousands of vehicles that traveled the streets, a luxury car stopped beside the curb at the traffic lights at an intersection. A passerby noticed as it was a Pierce-Arrow sedan last model, with headlights that blends gracefully into the fenders in the typical style of this brand. What characterizes the car in the cold summer day was the complete absence of emission of steam or smoke from the exhaust pipe. The passerby approached the driver through the open window and said the absence of fumes from the exhaust. The driver thanked the passerby for the compliments stressing that it was because the car "had no engine."
This statement is not extravagant or naughty as it sounds. There was some truth in it. In fact, the Pierce-Arrow had no internal combustion engine, but had an electric motor. If the driver was anxious to complete his explanation to the passer, he could tell him that the electric motor was powered by batteries - by any kind of "fuel". The driver was
Petar Savo, and although that car was driving was not responsible for its outstanding features. These were the work of the only passenger, a man who knew Petar Savo as an "uncle": none other than the genius Nikola Tesla Electricity (18 56-1943).
In the 90s of the 19 'century, Nikola Tesla had revolutionized the world with his inventions to harness electricity, giving us the electric induction motor, alternating current (AC), radio-telegraphy, the radio remote control, lamps fluorescence and other scientific marvels. In fact, it was Tesla's polyphase alternating current and direct current Thomas Edison to inaugurate the modern technological era.
Tesla was not to rest on their laurels but continued to make fundamental discoveries in the fields of energy and matter. He discovered the first decades of cosmic rays and Millikan was the first to develop X-rays, the cathode ray tube and other types of valves.
However, the discovery of potentially significant Nikola Tesla was that electricity can be propagated through the Earth and also around it in an atmospheric zone called the Schumann cavity. It extends from the surface of the planet up to the ionosphere, at about 80 km. Electromagnetic waves of extremely low frequency, around 8 Hz (resonance Schumann, or the pulse of the earth's magnetic field) traveling with virtually no losses to any point on the planet. The distribution system of Tesla and his dedication to the free energy meant that with the appropriate electrical device tuned properly on the transmission, anyone in the world could draw from her system.
The development of such a technology was a threat too great for the huge interest of those manufactures, distributes and sells electricity.
Tesla's discovery ended with the suspension for financial support to his research, ostracized by the mainstream science and the gradual removal of his name from books history. From the position of science superstar in 1895, Tesla in 1917 was virtually a "nobodies", forced to small scientific experiments alone. In his annual meetings with the press on the occasion of his birthday, a slim figure in the pre-war style coat open to journalists would announce the discoveries and developments of his ideas. It was a sad mixture of ego and genius frustrated.
In 1931, Nikola Tesla is 75 years. In a rare show of homage by the media, Time magazine put him on the cover and a biographical sketch. The senior engineer and scientist, though not suffering appeared emaciated, his hair still a glossy black and the same faraway look in his eyes dreamer.
Electric cars are left behind
beginning of the twentieth century, the prospects for electric cars were bright. Futurists like Jules Verne had anticipated electric vehicles powered by batteries which were mechanically simple, silent, odorless, easy to use and with less problems than any car with petrol engine.
in the car with petrol engine should adjust the throttle, the advance angle, the accelerator pump and run the engine with a crank. In an electric car was enough to just turn a key and press the accelerator. Releasing the accelerator the car slowed down immediately.
If necessary, a time when there were a few workshops for cars, an electrician could perform normal maintenance of simple DC motor. There was no oil to change, no radiator to fill or fuel or water pumps to be fixed, no problem of carburization, no muffler that rusted, no transmission or differential to control, and no pollution! The fat and oil were limited to a couple of ball bearings of the electric motor and some fittings on the frame.
for deliveries to the department stores employing electric trucks. The doctors began to come to visits to patients' homes with the "power", substituting your own horse and buggy with something just as easy to maintain. Women preferred to electric cars for the ease of driving. Because the electric vehicles were limited in speed and range of their batteries, they became popular as public transport.
Outside the city, the streets of America at that time were so primitive that they became reserved for vehicles with internal combustion engine, faster, with greater autonomy and rapid progress. Thus, in the U.S. there was a kind of golden age for electric vehicles after the rest of the world began to abandon them. Detroit Electric, Columbia, Baker, Rauch & Lang and Woods were among those leading companies that produce this type of electric vehicle; developed in their niche market with a number of formal bodies, often elegant.
The Achilles heel of electric vehicles, however, was always the energy density of its batteries, or its scarcity. The batteries were kind of lead, heavy and bulky, and took away much valuable space. The excessive weight reduced the handling and limited performance, even by the standards of those years. Electric vehicles could not exceed 70 to 80 km / h, because at these speeds, the battery could be destroyed in an instant. Exploring around 60 km / h could sustain for a very short time, and the typical speed range of courses was 25 to 35 mph. The batteries require recharging every night and hardly exceeded the maximum range of 160 kilometers. No vehicle manufacturer had ever installed a DC generator, which could give small amounts of energy to the batteries while the vehicle was in motion, thereby making them more autonomy. There were promises about future innovative powerful batteries since the days of Edison, but eventually he saw no trace.
not just the speed and reliability of the cars better gas, electric cars were abandoned and remained the favorite among retirees and the elderly ladies. The introduction of the electric starter in the car with gasoline put the final nail in the coffin of electric cars.
The appearance of Nikola Tesla
In the '60s an aeronautical engineer named Peter Savo Derek Alilers met and developed a long friendship with him. During their partnership lasted for ten years, Savo spoke of his famous "uncle" Nikola Tesla and his achievements in the '30s. (Savo was a young relative of Tesla but not a grandchild, but referred to him as "uncle".)
In 1930 Nikola Tesla asked his "nephew" Petar Savo to come to New York. Savo (born in Yugoslavia in 1899, then 43 years younger than Tesla) was in the Austrian army and was an experienced pilot, so fervently seized the opportunity to leave Yugoslavia (the birthplace of Nikola Tesla). He moved United States, settling in New York.
In 1967, a series of interviews, Savo described his part in the episode of the electric Tesla.
During the summer of 1931, Tesla Savo invited to Buffalo, New York, to show and test a new type of car that had developed from his own pocket. Coincidentally, Buffalo is close to Niagara Falls - where he had taken office in 1895 the hydroelectric station AC Tesla, who had raised the height of the estimate by the orthodox science. The Westinghouse Electric and Pierce-Arrow had prepared this experimental electric car by following the directions of Tesla. (George Westinghouse bought Tesla's patents on AC for $ 15 million in early 20 'century.)
The Pierce-Arrow was now owned and funded by the Studebaker Corporation, and used this solid financial backing to launch a series of innovations. Between 1928 and 1933 's car company introduced new models with engines 8 cylinder and 12 cylinder V, the futuristic prototypes Silver Arrows, new styles and techniques of engineering enhancements. The customers responded positively and Pierce-Arrow's sales increased market share in the company of luxury cars, although in 1930 it was down. In a situation as positive, projects "purely theoretical" as the Tesla electric car were within this conceptual sphere. In the traditional mixture of arrogance and naivete of the company, nothing seemed impossible.
Thus, the experiments had been selected for a Pierce-Arrow Eight of 1931, which came from the testing company in Buffalo, in upstate New York. Its internal combustion engine was removed, leaving intact the clutch, gearbox and transmission to the rear axle. The normal 12 volt battery stayed in place, but the transmission was coupled to an electric motor, 80 hp.
Traditionally, electric cars were equipped DC motors powered by batteries, since that is the only type of continuous current batteries can provide. You could use a converter DC / AC, but at that time these devices were too bulky to be fitted to a car.
The twilight of electric cars was already long gone, but the Pierce-Arrow was not equipped with a simple DC motor. It was an alternating current electric motor designed to reach 1,800 revolutions per minute. The engine was 102 cm long with a diameter of 76, and brushless air-cooled by a front fan, and had two power terminals routed under the dash but left without connection. Tesla did not say who built the motor, but it is believed that it was a division of Westinghouse. On the back of the car was fixed antenna of 1.83 meters.
The Deal "Ether-Arrow"
Petar Savo reached its famous relative, as the latter had requested, and in New York came together on a train heading for the north of the state of the same name. During the trip the inventor did not comment on the nature of the experiment.
Once in Buffalo, went from a small garage where they found the new Pierce-Arrow. Dr. Tesla raised his hood and made some adjustments on the alternating current electric motor placed inside. Later they went to their means of Tesla. In the room in a hotel close to the genius of electricity began to mount your device. In a suitcase-shaped box she had brought with him 12 vacuum tubes. Savo valves described "curious construction," though after at least three of them have been identified as 70L7-GT rectifier valve. They were placed in a device inside a box 61 cm long, 30.5 wide and 15 high. It was not larger than a shortwave radio receiver. The interior was designed around the electronic circuit including 12 valves, wiring and resistors. Two terminals 6 mm in diameter and 7.6 cm in length appeared to have connections to those of the motor.
Returning the car of the experiment, put the container in a position prepared under the dashboard on the passenger. Tesla inserted the two connections by checking a voltmeter.
"We now have the energy," he said, handing the ignition key to his nephew. On the dashboard there were more tool that displays the values \u200b\u200bthat Tesla did not explain.
At the request of his uncle, Savo set in motion. "The engine has started," said Tesla. Savo did not hear any noise. However, with the pioneer of electricity in the passenger seat, Savo selected a gear, pressed on the accelerator and took off the car.
that day Petar Savo drove this vehicle without fuel for a long time, about 80 km around Buffalo, back and forth in the campaign. With a calibrated speedometer at 190 miles per hour at full scale, the Pierce-Arrow was pushed up to 145 km / h, and always with the same level of noise of the engine. While traveling on the campaign
Tesla became more relaxed and confident about his invention, so he began to confide some of his secrets to his nephew. That device could supply the energy requirements of the vehicle forever, but even he could meet the energy needs of a household - and with energy to spare.
Although reluctant, initially, to explain the principles of operation, Tesla declared that his device was simply a receiver for a "mysterious radiation, that comes from the ether "which" was available in unlimited quantities. "
Reflecting, murmured that" mankind should be very grateful for his presence. "
Over the next eight days and Savo Tesla tried the Pierce- Arrow in urban and suburban routes, from the extremely slow speed to 150 kmh. The performance was similar to those of any powerful multi-cylinder car era, including the same Eight Pierce with a 6,000 cc engine and 125 horsepower .
Tesla Savo told that soon the receiver of energy would be used for propulsion of trains, boats, airplanes and automobiles.
At the end of the trial, the inventor and his driver handed over the car in a secret place, agreed earlier - the old barn of a farm about 30 miles from Buffalo. They left the car there, but Tesla took along his receiver device and the ignition key.
This novel aspect of the deal continued. Petar Savo collected some rumors that a secretary had spoken of secret evidence and was dismissed. This would explain an inaccurate report on the trials that appeared in several newspapers. Tesla
When asked where they came from the energy, given the obvious lack of batteries, he said reluctantly: "From all around us." Some suggested
that Tesla was mad and somehow connected to the occult and sinister forces. Tesla was incensed. Returned along with his mysterious box in his laboratory in New York. Thus ending the brief experience of Tesla in the automotive world. This incident
infringement in security may be apocryphal, as Tesla did not disdain to use advertising to promote his ideas and inventions, even when these devices endanger the status quo of industry he had every reason to be circumspect in your reports. The company
Pierce-Arrow had already reached the pinnacle of his success in 1930. In 1931 it was down. In 1932 the 'company lost $ 3 million. In 1933 There were also administrative problems holding Studebaker mother who wavered on the brink of liquidation. The interest came from innovation to mere survival, and here the Pierce-Arrow leaves our story.
A mystery inside an enigma
About a month after the publication of the episode, Petar Savo received a call from Lee DeForest, a friend of Tesla and a pioneer in the development of vacuum tubes. Savo He asked if they had satisfied the test. Savo responded with enthusiasm and Tesla DeForest praised as the greatest living scientist in the world.
Later, Savo asked his "uncle" on the receiver's energy developments in other applications. Tesla said it was Contact one of the leading shipyards to build a ship with a device similar to the experimental electric car. However, no one could ask for further details as he was hypersensitive about the security of your device - and you can not blame him. In the past, powerful interests had tried to ostracize Tesla, blocking every effort to promote and apply their technologies.
The writer is not aware of any public document that describes an experiment in water, or if that happened. It was not disclosed any information.
The New York Daily News on April 2, 1934 featured an article entitled "The dream of Tesla's wireless energy closer to reality," which described an "experiment planned to push a car using the wireless transmission of electricity. This happened after the incident and there was no mention of "free energy".
the time that the car should have been disclosed, the Westinghouse Corporation, under the chairmanship of the FA Merrick, paid for the accommodation of Tesla at the New Yorker, the newest and most luxurious hotel in New York. In it, the old scientist lived for free for the rest of his life. Tesla was also recruited by Westinghouse for unspecified research on wireless transmissions, and he interrupted his public statements on cosmic rays.
Perhaps the Westinghouse bought the reluctant Tesla's silence on his face free energy? Or was funded to continue the project secret so speculative as not to constitute a threat to the industrial complex in the near future? The curtain falls on a mystery inside an enigma. References
- Abram, Arthur, "The Forgotten Art of Electric-Powered Automobiles," The Cormorant, the Packard Club newsletter (date unknown)
- Interview by Derek Ahiers to Petar Savo, 16 September 1967 (from the archives of Ralph Bergstrasser )
- Childress, David H., The Fantastic Inventions of Nikola Tesla, Adventures Unlimited Press, Illinois, 1993, ISBN-l932813 19-4
- Childress, David H. (Ed.), The Tesla Papers, Adventures Unlimited Press, Illinois, 2000, ISBN 0-932813-86-0
- Decker, Jerry, "Tesla's Electric Car - The Moray Version" KeelyNet BBS,
posted January 31, 1993 - Extraordinary Technology, vol. 1, no. 2, April / May / June 2003
- Greene, AC, "The Electric Car That Almost Triumphed," Dallas Morning News, January 24, 1993
- Nieper, Hans A., Revolution in Technology, Medicine and Society, MIT Verlag, Oldenburg , 1985, ISBN 3-925188-07-X (first published in Germany as a Revolution in Technik, Medizin, Gesellschaft, 1981)
- Siefer, Marc I., Wizard. The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla, Birch Lane Press / Carol Publishing Group, NJ, 1996, ISBN 1-55972-329-7
- Seife, C., "Running on Empty", New Scientist, April 25, 1998
- Southward Car Museum Trust Inc., The Illustrated Motor Vehicle Collection, Paraparaumu, New Zealand, ISBN 0-47305583-X
- TFC Books FAQ, http:/ / www.tfcbooks.com / tesiafaq and Vassilatos, Gerry, "Tesla's Electric Car, KeelyNet BBS
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