The
Tesla Roadster is an all-electric powered sports car from California
based automaker Tesla.
The attractive little roadster is reminiscent of the Lotus Elise,
and so it should be since the body design of the Tesla Roadster
was formed by a collaborative effort between Tesla and Barney
Hatt, Principal Designer at the Lotus Design Studio in England.
However it's underneath the Tesla Roadster's bodywork that the
real interest lies. Powered by a 3-phase, 4-pole AC induction
motor controlled by a network of microprocessors regulating
charge balance and temperature among the batteries, connected
to a two speed manual turning the rear wheels, the Tesla Roadster
gets to 60 mph in just four seconds, going on to a 130 mph top
speed.
To keep the 6,831 lithium-ion cells topped up the Tesla Roadster
uses regenerative braking - using the vehicles deceleration to create electricity
- while on the move, and an Electric Vehicle Service Equipment
(EVSE) home charging station. On a full charge, which takes
around 3.5 hours, the car can travel up to 250 miles.
Similar and related vehicles:
- AC Propulsion TZero
- Venturi Fetish
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External review by Chris Bent
The Tesla Roadster's motor produces 185kW (249hp) and has a
curb weight of ~2690lb.
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