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Tesla Roadster (first generation)

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Tesla Roadster
Tesla Roadster
Overview
ManufacturerTesla Motors
Production2007-present
DesignerTesla Motors, with help from Lotus Engineering and others
Body and chassis
Body style2 seat convertible
PlatformUnique; Lotus technology
Powertrain
Engine3-phase AC induction
Dimensions
Length3946 mm
Width1873 mm (incl. mirrors)
Height1127 mm
Curb weight~1140 kg

The Tesla Roadster is the first fully electric automobile to be produced by electric car firm Tesla Motors. Tesla claims prototypes have been able to accelerate from 0-60 mph (100 km/h) in about 4 seconds, and reach a top speed of 130 mph (210 km/h). Additionally, the car will be able to travel 250 miles (400 km) on a single charge of its lithium ion batteries.

While the Roadster does not actually use gasoline, an equivalent fuel efficiency of 135 mpg (57 km/l, or 1.75 l/100 km) can be calculated using energy equivalency.

The car was officially unveiled on July 19, 2006 in Santa Monica, California. Its "Signature One Hundred" first set of fully equipped cars sold out by late August, and the second hundred sold out by October. Each cost US$100,000 and will be delivered in 2007.

The Roadster was developed in collaboration with Lotus and AC Propulsion. Roadster propulsion technology is principally matured from that seen in the tzero, Venturi Fetish, and Wrightspeed X1. Lotus supplied the basic chassis technology from its Lotus Elise. Tesla engineers designed a new chassis with this technology, lengthening it, lowering the door sills, and adjusting its strength to match the weight of the Tesla Roadster. Besides the chassis, the Roadster appears to share a number of key components with the Elise, such as the windshield, surround, and suspension components. The styling was penned by Barney Hatt at Lotus' design studio with significant input from Tesla. The car will be assembled at the Lotus factory in Hethel, England, with all drivetrain components and body components supplied to the factory by Tesla.

Moniker

File:Tesla roadster real.jpg

The Tesla Roadster is named after Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer and scientist. The principal visionary and inventor of alternating current, Tesla's designs and ideas changed the world, providing a stable means of delivering electricity over enormous distances. His fight with Edison over this issue went on for years with Tesla and Westinghouse ultimately triumphing. He was also arguably the principal mind behind the invention of the wireless radio although Marconi received most of the credit. It is basically a Tesla three-phase electric motor in the Tesla Roadster.

Pricing

Final pricing for the base model Tesla Roadster has not been announced, although Tesla Motors CEO Martin Eberhard has speculated that it would "cost between US$85,000 and 120,000." Eberhard recently revealed that the price would be in the range of a Porsche 911 Carrera S, which has an suggested retail price of approximately US$80,000. In an August 2, 2006 blog post, Tesla Motors Chairman Elon Musk alluded to the "$89k price point of the Tesla Roadster". The second run of 100 cars that "come fully loaded (as opposed to our base model) with all Tesla Roadster optional equipment" cost "$100,000 (excluding taxes, title, etc.)". As of October 2006, over two hundred cars have been sold and Tesla Motors is still accepting orders.

Specifications

Motor

  • Type: 3-phase, vhbvbcvbcvbcvbic motor
  • Max net power: 185 kW (248 hp)
  • Max rpm: 13,500
  • Efficiency: 90% average, 80% at peak power

Transmission

Performance

  • 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h): approximately 4.0 s
  • Top speed: 130 mph (210 km/h)
  • Range: 250 miles (400 km) on the EPA highway cycle
  • carbon dioxide emission equivalent: 89 - 178 g/km
  • Fuel efficiency: 200 watt-hours per mile - the electrical equivalent of about 135 miles per gallon

Battery

  • 6,831 Lithium ion battery cells
  • About 450 kg
  • Full-charge time of three and a half hours
  • ~50 kWh capacity

Fuel efficiency

While the Roadster does not actually use gasoline, equivalent fuel efficiency can be calculated based on Tesla Motor's reported motive efficiency of 110/km and charging efficiency of 86%. Using the DOE's published energy content for a U.S. gallon of gasoline of 33705 /gal yields an equivalent fuel efficiency of:

33705 W h g a l 110 W h k m × 1.6 k m m i × 86 % = 164 m i g a l ( 1.43 l 100 k m ) {\displaystyle {\frac {33705{\begin{matrix}{\frac {Wh}{gal}}\end{matrix}}}{110{\begin{matrix}{\frac {Wh}{km}}\end{matrix}}\times {\begin{matrix}{\frac {1.6km}{mi}}\end{matrix}}}}\times 86\%=\color {red}164\color {black}{\begin{matrix}{\frac {mi}{gal}}\end{matrix}}\;(\color {red}1.43\color {black}{\begin{matrix}{\frac {l}{100km}}\end{matrix}})}

For CAFE regulatory purposes, the DOE's full petroleum-equivalency equation uses a factor of 82,049 /gal and yields a regulatory fuel efficiency of:

82409 W h g a l 110 W h k m × 1.6 k m m i × 86 % = 400 m i g a l ( 0.59 l 100 k m ) {\displaystyle {\frac {82409{\begin{matrix}{\frac {Wh}{gal}}\end{matrix}}}{110{\begin{matrix}{\frac {Wh}{km}}\end{matrix}}\times {\begin{matrix}{\frac {1.6km}{mi}}\end{matrix}}}}\times 86\%=\color {red}400\color {black}{\begin{matrix}{\frac {mi}{gal}}\end{matrix}}\;(\color {red}0.59\color {black}{\begin{matrix}{\frac {l}{100km}}\end{matrix}})}


For comparison, an internal combustion engine produces 7000 to 9000 Wh of output energy for each gallon of gasoline input. The state of tune and seasonal variations in gasoline formulation account for the output range.

See also

References

  1. Neil, Dan (Thursday, July 20, 2006). "A roadster that's electric". Marketplace Public Radio. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accesdate= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. Martin Eberhard, Marc Tarpenning (2000-09-18). "The 21st Century Electric Car" (PDF). Tesla Motors. Retrieved 2006-09-22. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. "Federal Register Vol. 64 No. 113" (PDF). United States Department of Energy. 2000-07-12. Retrieved 2006-09-22. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

External links

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