"By contrast, a modern Tesla Model S supercar has a battery pack which powers a single water-melon sized motor linked directly to its wheels. Engineering wise, its brilliant. Mechanical Engineering wise, its a huge loss of accumulated knowledge and craftsmanship."
Electric cars are not just a motor and wheels. Other than the engine and drive train, they have all of the same mechanical systems a conventional car has: suspension, steering, brakes, air conditioning, air bags, crumple zones, aerodynamically designed exteriors, etc.
As a mechanical engineer, I've always clung to the notion that I need to be multi-disciplinary. The days of being able to get by in Mech without knowing how to write code or work with some basic circuitry ended in the 90s, if not earlier.
"By contrast, a modern Tesla Model S supercar has a battery pack which powers a single water-melon sized motor linked directly to its wheels. Engineering wise, its brilliant. Mechanical Engineering wise, its a huge loss of accumulated knowledge and craftsmanship."
Electric cars are not just a motor and wheels. Other than the engine and drive train, they have all of the same mechanical systems a conventional car has: suspension, steering, brakes, air conditioning, air bags, crumple zones, aerodynamically designed exteriors, etc.