All around the world right now, an immeasurable amount of hospitals are overwhelmed – especially in hard-hit regions. And one thing they are in dire need of is: ventilators. These devices are meant to help those who are badly affected by the virus and have difficulty breathing.
But big-time car manufacturers such as Ford and GM, who have recently had to stunt their car production, have joined forces to build ventilators instead.
They also plan to produce more protective gear for hospital staff, who are caring for the wellbeing of their patients. Tesla is looking for a way to contribute by building functional ventilators using car parts.
The Tesla Ventilator
The company didn’t go into great detail about which components they are using. However, there are a few easy guesses, such as the suspension reservoir tanks used to pump enough air for patients who have difficulties breathing on their own. It’s also believed that various valves and sensors from car production are coming in handy right now.
Model 3’s Infotainment Display
Tesla has built together with the ventilator the Model 3’s infotainment display associated with a computer and control units.
This device was created in order to help doctors see how the patient is doing, what are their breathing patterns, etc. This could help the medical staff immensely in order to follow their patient’s progress.
Is It Going To Be Available Soon?
The Tesla engineers mentioned that the model isn’t finished, and they are not sure when the company might start delivering these devices – but they know the need is urgent. Many automakers are joining forces and trying to find all the tools they may have to build ventilators and help medical device companies expand production.
Automobile Industry Facing Criticism
Automakers have been criticized for not having these devices ready on time to deploy as many deliveries as possible during a period when hospitals need it the most. Tesla is typically building their designs from scratch. But using existing components could speed up the production. For now, it’s unknown how long will it take for automakers to complete these models. Only time will tell.