If you loved the ‘Fast and the Furious’ you’re going to love this epic race between a Qantas 737 and a Tesla Model S Electric car on the tarmac at Avalon Airport.
The three kilometre runway at Avalon Airport – southwest of Melbourne was recently the setting for a unique test of innovation, skill and power in a duel that pitted two examples of engineering achievement against one another.
A Qantas Boeing 737-800 aircraft vs a Tesla Model S P90D electric car.
The Jet: With its two jet engines, the 737 can generate more than 50,000 pounds of thrust and fly through the sky at a cruising speed of 850 km/h. Flat out in the air, it can approach the speed of sound.
The Car: The battery powered Tesla five seater Model S can remarkably go from 0 to 100 kilometres an hour in three seconds.
A commercial jet racing a battery powered car? Someone’s having a laugh right?
Absolutely not.
In the end the race was a neck and neck tie, with the 737 winning out in that it can actually fly.
So what’s the point?
Winning this race wasn’t about winning the heart of a woman, nor a suitcase full of cash.
In this instance Qantas and Tesla, the California based and world’s leading maker of premium electric cars, are collaborating to drive innovation for their customers and sustainability in the transport industry.
During the coming months Qantas and Tesla will introduce exclusive events for Qantas frequent flyers, enabling them to experience new Tesla vehicles and technology as well as Qantas Club membership for Tesla Model S owners and Tesla High Power Wall Connectors at Qantas Valet facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide allowing Model S owners to charge whilst they travel.
Pretty cool stuff.
Additionally Qantas will become Tesla’s airline of choice in Australia and offset all the car maker’s domestic corporate travel emissions as part of Qantas’ Future Planet Program.
Anyone need a lift?
“Both our companies are passionate about continuing to push the boundaries of customer service, innovation and sustainability in the transport industry. We’re huge admirers of the way Tesla has transformed the electric car sector as a premium brand and we look forward to sharing our understanding and advance the work we started in 2012 on biofuels as an alternative to jet fuel. What better way to celebrate working together than having a unique race – car versus plane.”
Qantas’ Head of Environment and Fuel, Alan Milne
It’s worth noting too that all carbon emissions from this race were also offset, under Qantas’ Future Planet Program.
