Written by Kris Land
The electric car is a very big deal today. Many people believe that this technology could help us move away from fossil fuels for good. Although the electric car seems like a new concept, there are those who believe it was conceived long before now. Is it possible that the famous Serbian inventor Nikola Tesla had actually begun work on the first electric car over 70 years ago?
Peter Savo and Tesla's Concept
On September 16th, 1967, it is believed that Peter Savo (an alleged nephew of Nikola Tesla) had a conversation with Derek 
Ahers regarding one of his uncle's inventions. Savo claimed that in 1931 he traveled to Buffalo, New York with Tesla. While there, he was shown a modified Pierce-Arrow that Tesla had been working on.
The vehicle was described as having the stock engine removed and replaced with a brushless AC electric motor. It belonged to an acquaintance of Tesla, who asked the inventor to help him design a suitable power source for the vehicle. After a trip to a local supply store, Tesla returned with a variety of parts to build a box that had control rods protruding from its top. After installing the box, Tesla was claimed to have said that the vehicle now had the power it needed to run.
A description of the box was given. It was stated as being roughly 25 inches in length by 10 inches wide and 6 inches high. There were a dozen radio vacuum tubes and a six foot antenna. The claim goes on to state that the vehicle did in fact work and was even driven a total of fifty miles during the following eight days, reaching speeds of as much as 90 miles per hour. Unfortunately, no physical evidence currently exists of Tesla's alleged invention. After newspapers laughed at Tesla's claims, the inventor removed the box he designed and it was never seen again.
The Electric Car of Today
Sadly, Tesla's invention (if it did in fact exist as the story claims), was never fully implemented or explored. Today, the electric 
car has been reintroduced as a possible solution to fuel crisis issues. More people are turning back to Tesla inventions, including one specific project involving the fish processing vessel called the Seabird. The ship will take Tesla turbine concepts and create a clean running sea going vessel that will help clean up after mankind's messes in the environment.
The ship is an aging, former military vessel that also starred in the popular film Mister Roberts (1955). Refitting the Seabird could be a vital achievement for green technology by proving that even an old, fuel consuming military ship can be converted using Tesla's innovation and modern materials.
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An easy one. Turn off your lights when you are not using them. The benefits are obvious.
1944: Camano Class Light Cargo Ship was laid down for the US Army as FS-289 at Wheeler Shipbuilding in Whitestone, NY.
1945: Delivered to US Army.
1950: Acquired by the US Navy on July 1, 1950 and placed in service as USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1954: The movie, Mister Roberts, was made on the USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1955 - 1963: Used as a cargo supply ship for the Texas Towers, a network of advanced radar stations located off the Eastern Seaboard. In 1957, Capt. Sixto Mangual was commander of the AKL-17 and in 1961 it was rechristened the USNS New Bedford. The New Bedford, sailing out of State Pier, was keeping vigil when Texas Tower No. 4 callapsed off the New Jersey coast during a January 1961 nor'easter.
1963: Reclassified as Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX-308).
1971: The New Bedford (IX-308) served as a Torpedo Test Firing Vessel in the Puget Sound area.
1994: Ceremony in New Bedford.
1995: The ship was struck from the Naval Register on April 4.
2004: The Sea Bird's current disposition is a tuna long liner (fishing boat) out of San Diego, CA.
2006: Design of the Tesla Turbine began on June 11, 2006. The Sea Bird was sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for commercial service.
2007: The Sea Bird was drydocked for renovations.
2008: The Sea Bird setting sail to Sea-Tac in Seattle, WA.
2009 - 2010: The Sea Bird is currently docked at Seattle Sea-Tac.
