Tesla Roadster 2016 | Performance, Specs, News - Tesla Roadster is a battery electric vehicle produced by electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors in California. This car is the first electric car may be driven on the freeway in the United States. Since it was first launched in 2008, Tesla has managed to sell 2,024 units Roadster (until Septermber 2011) in 30 countries. Tesla began selling versions of the steering wheel right at the beginning of 2010 for the UK market, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Tesla Roadster stop bookings in August 2011.
Its Tesla Roadster
In the Americas and Europe who does not know the big name Tesla Motors, Inc. automotive companies from the United States (US) as a developer and manufacturer of electric sports car (sports car with battery power) is headquartered in San Carlos, California, USA. In our country the name of Tesla Motors are less audible even her own car, we rarely see on the streets of the capital, whereas the role of the car is very good because it has no exhaust.
Tesla Motors was founded in July 2003, by 2-automotive engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. Little about Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning.
Ebenhard, grew up in Kensington, California, and take studynya at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ebenhard obtain a bachelor's degree (1982) in computer engineering and a master's degree (1984) in electrical engineering. and then held various positions, including electrical engineer at Wyse Technology, vice president of electronics in Belfort Memory International, and chief engineer at Network Computing Devices, which in dirikannya.
While Tarpenning raised in Sacramento, California, and earned a bachelor's degree (1985) in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley. then started his career working for a conglomerate Textron in Saudi Arabia. Tarpenning also develops software and firmware products for several companies, including Seagate Technology and Bechtel, and later served as vice president of engineering at Packet Design.
elon-musk-the-hyperloop-design-is-coming-August-12
And the next person is behind Tesla Motors Elon Musk, the founder and also president of the Tesla Motors has spent $ 7.5 million dollars, in April 2004 it was the one that made him sit as a Director. A little history about the Musk in 1992, after studying for two years at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Musk moved to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and earned a degree in economics S1 and S1 both in the field of physics. He moved to California to pursue a Ph.D. in the field of applied physics at Stanford but dropped out after two days in the pursuit of its wish to entrepreneurial venture in the Internet sector, renewable energy, and space.
Tesla name itself is taken from the name of the inventor, physicist, mechanical engineer and electrical engineer Nikola Tesla United States is in appreciation of penemuanya. Nikola Tesla was born Smiljan, Croatia, July 10, 1856, then in 1891 became a US citizen while working in the country and tart menajadi assistant to Thomas Edison. Tesla's patents are the foundation of electric power alternating current Alternating Current or AC that often we know.READ ALSO: Basic Formulas to Calculate Header
Nikola TeslaThanks to the discovery was the 19th century and early 20th century electric cars are very popular because of electricity at that time still as the prime mover and the level of comfort and pengoprasianya convenient than gasoline-powered cars at the time.Tesla Roadster
The first series cars Tesla Motors is Roadstes launched in July 2006 with batrai sports car can reach 221 miles (356 km) on a single charge. Tesla Roadster can cover 0-60 mph (0-100 km / h) time of less than 4 seconds, a maximum of 125 miles per hour (201 km / h).Roadster_Goodwood
Restrictions speed on 201 km / h for a sports car is not standard, the sports car Average - Average has kecepantan 301 km / h. With this technology to a privileged Telsa Roadster has not owned a car - another sports car, the Roadster is more environmentally friendly and virtually no noise issued compared to the car - another sports car.
800px-Roadster_interior
On the Dashboard Telsa Roadter, not only displays the speed and RPM but also shows when the car is to be in charge and the indicator when the car is already fully charged and ready for use.
On May 2, 2008, more than 600 units have been sold and 400 other units followed marketed. February 2008 and mass production began on March 17, 2008.
Ebenhard, grew up in Kensington, California, and take studynya at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ebenhard obtain a bachelor's degree (1982) in computer engineering and a master's degree (1984) in electrical engineering. and then held various positions, including electrical engineer at Wyse Technology, vice president of electronics in Belfort Memory International, and chief engineer at Network Computing Devices, which in dirikannya.
While Tarpenning raised in Sacramento, California, and earned a bachelor's degree (1985) in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley. then started his career working for a conglomerate Textron in Saudi Arabia. Tarpenning also develops software and firmware products for several companies, including Seagate Technology and Bechtel, and later served as vice president of engineering at Packet Design.
elon-musk-the-hyperloop-design-is-coming-August-12
And the next person is behind Tesla Motors Elon Musk, the founder and also president of the Tesla Motors has spent $ 7.5 million dollars, in April 2004 it was the one that made him sit as a Director. A little history about the Musk in 1992, after studying for two years at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Musk moved to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and earned a degree in economics S1 and S1 both in the field of physics. He moved to California to pursue a Ph.D. in the field of applied physics at Stanford but dropped out after two days in the pursuit of its wish to entrepreneurial venture in the Internet sector, renewable energy, and space.
Tesla name itself is taken from the name of the inventor, physicist, mechanical engineer and electrical engineer Nikola Tesla United States is in appreciation of penemuanya. Nikola Tesla was born Smiljan, Croatia, July 10, 1856, then in 1891 became a US citizen while working in the country and tart menajadi assistant to Thomas Edison. Tesla's patents are the foundation of electric power alternating current Alternating Current or AC that often we know.READ ALSO: Basic Formulas to Calculate Header
Nikola TeslaThanks to the discovery was the 19th century and early 20th century electric cars are very popular because of electricity at that time still as the prime mover and the level of comfort and pengoprasianya convenient than gasoline-powered cars at the time.Tesla Roadster
The first series cars Tesla Motors is Roadstes launched in July 2006 with batrai sports car can reach 221 miles (356 km) on a single charge. Tesla Roadster can cover 0-60 mph (0-100 km / h) time of less than 4 seconds, a maximum of 125 miles per hour (201 km / h).Roadster_Goodwood
Restrictions speed on 201 km / h for a sports car is not standard, the sports car Average - Average has kecepantan 301 km / h. With this technology to a privileged Telsa Roadster has not owned a car - another sports car, the Roadster is more environmentally friendly and virtually no noise issued compared to the car - another sports car.
800px-Roadster_interior
On the Dashboard Telsa Roadter, not only displays the speed and RPM but also shows when the car is to be in charge and the indicator when the car is already fully charged and ready for use.
On May 2, 2008, more than 600 units have been sold and 400 other units followed marketed. February 2008 and mass production began on March 17, 2008.
Tesla Model S
Not only sports car produced by Tesla Motors, but a sedan type car was introduced to the design of the Model S to the general public on March 26, 2009. Kabinnnya contain system dashboard with touch-screen (touch-screen) and other features that are very intriguing, this car can a distance of 0-60 miles (0-100 km) per hour denagn 5.5 seconds.
800px-Model_S_drivingThis car can travel 300 km on a single charge and electric battery can be charged at the outlet (electric charging stations, while this is not yet available in Indonesia) with voltages of 120, 240, or 480 volts. In addition, the battery can also be charged at home with a special charger that has been provided.Tesla Model X
Tesla Model X is the third product launched Tesla. Was first introduced to the public at the Tesla design studio located in California on February 9, 2012.
Tesla Company has received the booking reservation since 2013, unit shipments will be made from 2014 Tesla Model X has a 4-wheel drive or so-called AWD (All Wheel Drive) with 85 kWh battery powered. And this car can accelerate from 0-60 mph ditempung with less than 5 seconds.
Specifications
Motor
Tesla Roadster with hood and trunk open
The Roadster is powered by a 3-phase, 4-pole, induction electric motor with a maximum output power of 248 hp (185 kW).[109] Its maximum torque of 200 lb·ft (270 N·m) is immediately available and remains constant from 0 to 6,000 rpm;[110] nearly instantaneous torque is a common design feature of electric motors and offers one of the biggest performance differences from internal combustion engines. The motor is air-cooled and does not need a liquid cooling system.The Sport Model introduced during the 2009 Detroit Auto Show includes a motor with a higher density, hand-wound stator that produces a maximum of 288 hp (215 kW).[111] Both motors are designed for rotational speeds of up to 14,000 rpm, and the regular motor delivers a typical efficiency of 88%[20] or 90%; 80% at peak power. It weighs less than 70 pounds (32 kg).
Transmission
Starting in September 2008 Tesla Motors selected BorgWarner to manufacture gearboxes and began equipping all Roadsters with a single speed, fixed gear gearbox (8.2752:1) with an electrically actuated parking pawl mechanism and a mechanical lubrication pump.
The company previously worked with several companies, including XTrac and Magna International, to find the right automatic transmission, but a two-gear solution proved to be too challenging. This led to substantial delays in production. At the "Town Hall Meeting" with owners in December 2007, Tesla announced plans to ship the initial 2008 Roadsters with their interim Magna two-speed direct shift manual transmissions locked into second gear, limiting the performance of the car to less than what was originally stated (0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) in 5.7 seconds instead of the announced 4.0 seconds). Tesla also announced it would upgrade those transmissions under warranty when the final transmission became available.[70][72][113] At the "Town Hall Meeting" with owners on January 30, 2008, Tesla Motors described the planned transmission upgrade as a single-speed gearbox with a drive ratio of 8.27:1 combined with improved electronics and motor cooling that retain the acceleration from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) in under 4 seconds and an improved motor limit of 14,000 rpm to retain the 125 mph (201 km/h) top speed.[114] The upgraded system also improved the maximum torque from 200 to 280 lb·ft (270 to 380 N·m) and improves the Roadster's quarter mile times.[citation needed]
Gear selector
In the interior the gear selector is similar to a push-button automatic with buttons labeled P, R, N and D while some earlier models have a gear lever similar to that in cars with manual transmission.
Performance
The Roadster's 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) acceleration time is 3.9 seconds for the Standard Model and 3.7 seconds for the 2010 V2.5 Sport Model. MotorTrend, which performed the first independent instrumented testing of the Roadster Sport, confirmed the company's reported 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) time of 3.7 seconds. MotorTrend recorded 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) of 3.70 seconds; it recorded a 1⁄4-mile (0.40 km) test at 12.6 sec giving 102.6 mph (165.1 km/h).[115] The top speed is electronically limited to 125 mph (201 km/h). The Roadster covers the 1⁄4-mile (0.40 km) dragstrip in 12.757 seconds at 104.74 mph (168.56 km/h).[116] It weighs 2,877 lb (1,305 kg) and is rear wheel drive; most of the car's weight is centered in front of the rear axle. Its body style results in a drag coefficient of Cd=0.35–0.36. It has a rolling resistance of Crr=0.011.
Tesla began delivering the higher performance Sport version of the Roadster in July 2009. The Roadster Sport has adjustable dampers and a new hand-wound motor, capable of 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) in 3.7 seconds.[118] Scotty Pollacheck, a high-performance driver for Killacycle, drove a 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport at the Wayland Invitational Drag Race in Portland, Oregon, in July 2009. He did a quarter-mile (~400 m) in dry conditions in 12.643 seconds, setting a new record in the National Electric Drag Racing Association among the SP/A3 class of vehicles.[119] The EPA combined range (specifying distance traveled between charges) measured in February 2008 for early production Roadsters was 231 mi (372 km) city, 224 mi (360 km) highway, and 227 mi (365 km) combined (city/highway).[120] In August 2008, additional testing with the newer Powertrain 1.5 resulted in an EPA combined range of 244 mi (393 km).[19] The vehicle set a new distance record when it completed the 241-mile (388 km) Rallye Monte Carlo d'Energies Alternatives with 36 miles (58 km) left on the charge.
Simon Hackett and Emilis Prelgauskas broke the distance record for an electric vehicle, driving 501 km (311 mi) from Alice Springs to Marla, South Australia, in Simon's Tesla Roadster. The car had about 4.8 km (3.0 mi) of range left when the drive was completed.
Battery system
An electrical plug of the Tesla Roadster Sport
The rear side of a Tesla Roadster battery pack
The charging screen of a Tesla Roadster Sport
Tesla Motors refers to the Roadster's battery pack as the Energy Storage System or ESS. The ESS contains 6,831 lithium ion cells arranged into 11 "sheets" connected in series; each sheet contains 9 "bricks" connected in series; each "brick" contains 69 cells connected in parallel (11S 9S 69P). The cells are of the 18650 form-factor commonly found in laptop batteries. Sources disagree on the exact type of Li-Ion cells—GreenCar says lithium cobalt oxide (LiCo),[123] while researchers at DTU/INESC Porto state lithium manganese oxide (LMO).[124] LiCo has higher reaction energy during thermal runaway than LMO.
The pack is designed to prevent catastrophic cell failures from propagating to adjacent cells (thermal runaway), even when the cooling system is off.[126] Coolant is pumped continuously through the ESS both when the car is running and when the car is turned off if the pack retains more than a 90% charge. The coolant pump draws 146 watts.
A full recharge of the battery system requires 3½ hours using the High Power Connector which supplies 70 amp, 240 volt electricity; in practice, recharge cycles usually start from a partially charged state and require less time. A fully charged ESS stores approximately 53 kWh of electrical energy at a nominal 375 volts and weighs 992 lb (450 kg).
Tesla Motors stated in February 2009 that the current replacement cost of the ESS is slightly under US$36,000, with an expected life span of 7 years/100,000 mi (160,000 km), and began offering owners an option to pre-purchase a battery replacement for US$12,000 today with the replacement to be delivered after seven years. The ESS is expected to retain 70% capacity after 5 years and 50,000 miles (80,000 km) of driving (10,000 miles (16,000 km) driven each year). However, a July 2013 study found that even after 100,000 miles, Roadster batteries still have 80%–85% capacity and the only significant factor is mileage (not temperature)[132] Tesla Motors provides a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty on the Roadster with an optional 4 year/50,000 mile extended warranty available at an "additional cost" (2008 Roadster buyers received the 4/50 extension at no cost while later purchasers need to pay). A non-ESS warranty extension is available for US$5,000 and adds another 3/36 to the coverage of components, excluding the ESS, for a total of 6 years for 72,000 mi (116,000 km).
Tesla Motors announced plans to sell the battery system to TH!NK and possibly others through its Tesla Energy Group division. The TH!NK plans were put on hold by interim CEO Michael Marks in September 2007.
TH!NK now obtains their Lithium-Ion batteries from Enerdel.
If the battery is allowed to become completely discharged it will be irretrievably damaged and the only option is to replace it at a cost of $40,000. Neither insurance nor warranty will cover this cost; it has to be met out of the owner's own pocket.[138] (see also Brick (electronics)) The likelihood of this occurring is extremely rare however as the vehicle also has onboard telemetry and a live GSM connection to Tesla so that the owner can be alerted well in advance of any damage occurring (There has only been 1 recorded example of this). The roadster can also be set up with systems such as Open Vehicle Monitoring System (OVMS) that also allows the owner to remotely access the vehicle telemetry and activate battery charging via android or iPhone devices.
If the battery is allowed to become completely discharged it will be irretrievably damaged and the only option is to replace it at a cost of $40,000. Neither insurance nor warranty will cover this cost; it has to be met out of the owner's own pocket.[138] (see also Brick (electronics)) The likelihood of this occurring is extremely rare however as the vehicle also has onboard telemetry and a live GSM connection to Tesla so that the owner can be alerted well in advance of any damage occurring (There has only been 1 recorded example of this). The roadster can also be set up with systems such as Open Vehicle Monitoring System (OVMS) that also allows the owner to remotely access the vehicle telemetry and activate battery charging via android or iPhone devices.
Tesla charging unit
Recharging
The Tesla Roadster uses a proprietary charging connector, although Tesla sells a mobile adapter that enables recharging with an SAE J1772-2009 connector.
The vehicle can be recharged using:[139]
A wall-mounted 208–240 V, 70 A maximum current Home Connector. This appears to be an OEM version of the TS-70 charging station from ClipperCreek.[140]
A portable 120–240 V, 40 A maximum current Universal Mobile Connector cable that can plug into a NEMA 14–50 receptacle and other 240V receptacles using adapters.
A portable 120 V, 15 A maximum current Spare Mobile Connector cable that plugs into a standard North American domestic socket.
Charging times vary depending on the ESS's state-of-charge, the available voltage, and the available circuit breaker amp rating (current). In a best case scenario using a 240 V charger on a 90 A circuit breaker, Tesla documents a recharging rate of 56 miles (90 km)-of-range for each hour charging; a complete recharge from empty would require just under 4 hours. The slowest charging rate using a 120V outlet on a 15 A circuit breaker would add 5 miles (8.0 km)-of-range for each hour charging; a complete recharge from empty would require 48 hours.
A wall-mounted 208–240 V, 70 A maximum current Home Connector. This appears to be an OEM version of the TS-70 charging station from ClipperCreek.[140]
A portable 120–240 V, 40 A maximum current Universal Mobile Connector cable that can plug into a NEMA 14–50 receptacle and other 240V receptacles using adapters.
A portable 120 V, 15 A maximum current Spare Mobile Connector cable that plugs into a standard North American domestic socket.
Charging times vary depending on the ESS's state-of-charge, the available voltage, and the available circuit breaker amp rating (current). In a best case scenario using a 240 V charger on a 90 A circuit breaker, Tesla documents a recharging rate of 56 miles (90 km)-of-range for each hour charging; a complete recharge from empty would require just under 4 hours. The slowest charging rate using a 120V outlet on a 15 A circuit breaker would add 5 miles (8.0 km)-of-range for each hour charging; a complete recharge from empty would require 48 hours.
Energy efficiency
In June 2006, Tesla Motors reported the Roadster's battery-to-wheel efficiency as 110 W·h/km (17.7 kW·h/100 mi) on an unspecified driving cycle—either a constant 60 mph (97 km/h)) or SAE J1634 test—and stated a charging efficiency of 86% for an overall plug-to-wheel efficiency of 128 W·h/km (20.5 kW·h/100 mi).[53][142][143]
Evolution of the Roadster's plug-to-wheel efficiency (smaller values indicate better efficiency)
In March 2007, Tesla Motors reported the Roadster's efficiency on the EPA highway cycle as "135 mpg [U.S.] equivalent, per the conversion rate used by the EPA" or 133 W·h/km (21.5 kW·h/100 mi) battery-to-wheel and 155 W·h/km (24.9 kW·h/100 mi) plug-to-wheel.[144][145][146][147] The official U.S. window sticker of the 2009 Tesla Roadster showed an EPA rated energy consumption of 32 kW-hrs/100 mi in city and 33 kW-hrs/100 mi on the highway, equivalent to 105 mpg city and 102 mpg highway.[148][149] The EPA rating for on board energy efficiency for electric vehicles before 2010 was expressed as kilowatt-hour per 100 miles (kW-hrs/100 mi).[150][151] Since November 2010, with the introduction of the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt, EPA began using a new metric, miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe). The Roadster was never officially rated by the EPA in MPGe.
In August 2007, Tesla Motors' dynamometer testing of a Validation Prototype on the EPA combined cycle yielded a range of 221 mi (356 km) using 149 W·h/km (23.9 kW·h/100 mi) battery-to-wheel and 209 Wh/km (33.6 kW·h/100 mi) plug-to-wheel.[70][154]
In February 2008, Tesla Motors reported improved plug-to-wheel efficiency after testing a Validation Prototype car at an EPA-certified location. Those tests yielded a range of 220 mi (350 km) and a plug-to-wheel efficiency of 256 mpgge, or 199 W·h/km (32.1 kW·h/100 mi).[155][156]
In August 2008, Tesla Motors reported on testing with the new, single-speed gearbox and upgraded electronics of Powertrain 1.5 which yielded an EPA range of 244 mi (393 km) and an EPA combined cycle, plug-to-wheel efficiency of 174 W·h/km, 630 kJ/km (28 kW·h/100 mi).[157]
Roadster being tested through a driving cycle at Argonne National Laboratory's two-wheel dynamometer. These tests helped researchers develop test procedures to evaluate fuel efficiency in electric vehicles in 2010.
In 2007, the Roadster's battery-to-wheel motor efficiency was reported as 88%[20] to 90% on average and 80% at peak power.[158] For comparison, internal combustion engines have a tank-to-wheel efficiency of about 15%.[159] Taking a more complete picture including the cost of energy drawn from its source, Tesla reports that their technology, assuming electricity generated from natural gas-burning power plants, has a high well-to-wheel efficiency of 1.14 kilometers per megajoule, compared to 0.202 km/MJ for gasoline-powered sports cars, 0.478 km/MJ for gasoline-powered commuter cars, 0.556 km/MJ for hybrid cars, and 0.348 km/MJ for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Petroleum-equivalent efficiency
See also: electric car § Comparison with internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs)
The Roadster does not actually use gasoline; therefore, petroleum efficiency (MPG, L/100 km) cannot be measured directly but instead is calculated using one of several equivalent methods:
A number comparable to the typical Monroney sticker's "pump-to-wheel" fuel efficiency can be calculated based on regulations from the DOE and its energy content for a U.S. gallon of gasoline of 33,705 Wh⁄gal (also called the Lower Heating Value (LHV) of gasoline):
For CAFE regulatory purposes, the DOE's full petroleum-equivalency equation combines the primary energy efficiencies of the USA electric grid and the well-to-pump path with a "fuel content factor" that quantifies the value of conservation, scarcity of fuels, and energy security in the USA.[161] This combination yields a factor of 82,049 Wh⁄gal in the above equation and a regulatory fuel efficiency of 293 mpggeCAFE.
See also: electric car § Comparison with internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs)
The Roadster does not actually use gasoline; therefore, petroleum efficiency (MPG, L/100 km) cannot be measured directly but instead is calculated using one of several equivalent methods:
A number comparable to the typical Monroney sticker's "pump-to-wheel" fuel efficiency can be calculated based on regulations from the DOE and its energy content for a U.S. gallon of gasoline of 33,705 Wh⁄gal (also called the Lower Heating Value (LHV) of gasoline):
For CAFE regulatory purposes, the DOE's full petroleum-equivalency equation combines the primary energy efficiencies of the USA electric grid and the well-to-pump path with a "fuel content factor" that quantifies the value of conservation, scarcity of fuels, and energy security in the USA.[161] This combination yields a factor of 82,049 Wh⁄gal in the above equation and a regulatory fuel efficiency of 293 mpggeCAFE.
Tesla Roadster 2.5 charging from a conventional outlet
Recharging with electricity from the average USA grid, the factor changes to 12,307 Wh⁄galUS[161] to remove the "fuel content factor" = 1⁄0.15 and the above equation yields a full-cycle energy-equivalency of 44.0 mpgge full-cycle. For full-cycle comparisons, the sticker or "pump-to-wheel" value from a gasoline-fueled vehicle must be multiplied by the fuel's "well-to-pump" efficiency; the DOE regulation specifies a "well-to-pump" efficiency of 83% for gasoline.[161] The Prius' sticker[163] 46 miles per US gallon (5.1 L/100 km; 55 mpg-imp), for example, converts to a full-cycle energy-equivalent of 38.2 mpgfull-cycle.
Recharging with electricity generated by newer, 58% efficiency CCGT power plants,[164] changes the factor to 21,763 Wh⁄gal[161] in the above equation and yields a fuel efficiency of 77.7 mpgge.
Recharging with non-fossil fuel electricity sources such as hydroelectric, solar power, wind or nuclear, the petroleum equivalent efficiency can be even higher as fossil fuel is not directly used in refueling.
Monetary cost offers another way to find an equivalent fuel efficiency. Tesla Motors reports an energy cost of approximately US 1.4¢ per mile[155] when using PG&E's E-9A rate plan (off-peak night-time incentive charging) cost of 5.294¢ per kWh[166] which is available in the two U.S. states covered by PG&E.[167] Comparison with a gasoline price of US$4.00/ U.S. gallon, for instance, results in an equivalent of 270 mpgge using the E-9 rate or 123 mpgge using the USA average residential electricity price of 11.6¢ per kWh.[168] Including the battery replacement cost at its warranty limit, the cost per mile increases and the equivalent miles per gallon are reduced. The time value of money, improving battery technology, and a 6–8% annual reduction in battery cost all lower the net present costs of battery replacement. These factors allow Tesla Motors to sell customers a replacement battery pack for US$12,000, to be installed after the 7-year/70,000 miles (110,000 km) lifespan of the original pack, resulting in a net battery cost of 17.1¢/mile.[169][170] Adding this to the electricity costs of 1.4¢/mile[155] above results in an overall cost equivalence of $4/gal ÷ 18.5¢/mile = 21.5 mpgge,[171] which can be compared to conventional car ratings after transmission, engine, and other drivetrain replacement costs are factored into the mpg ratings for those cars.
Reviews
Tesla Roadster reviews can be grouped in two main categories: older reviews of "validation prototypes" (2006–2008), before Tesla began serial production and customer deliveries, and reviews on cars in serial production (2008–2010).
The global online auto review site Autoguide.com tested Tesla's fourth-generation car in October 2010. Autoguide editor Derek Kreindler said "The Tesla Roadster 2.5 S is a massively impressive vehicle, more spacecraft than sports car. Theories like global warming, peak oil and rising oil prices should no longer bring heart palpitations to car fans. The Tesla shows just how good zero-emissions "green" technology can be. Quite frankly, getting into a normal car at the end of the test drive was a major letdown. The whirr of the engine, the shove in the backside and the little roadster that seems to pivot around you is replaced by a grunting, belching, feedback-free driving experience". He continues on that "but for a $100,000 car, it could use some work" complaining of purposefully cheap work.
In the March 2010 print edition of British enthusiast magazine EVO (p. 120), editor Richard Meaden was the first to review the all-new right-hand-drive version of the Roadster. He said the car had "serious, instantaneous muscle". "With so much torque from literally no revs the acceleration punch is wholly alien. Away from traffic lights you'd murder anything, be it a 911 Turbo, GT-R or 599, simply because while they have to mess about with balancing revs and clutch, or fiddle with launch controls and invalid warranties, all you have to do is floor the throttle and wave goodbye".
In December 2009, Wall Street Journal editor Joseph White conducted an extended test-drive and determined that "you can have enormous fun within the legal speed limit as you whoosh around unsuspecting Camry drivers, zapping from 40 to 60 miles per hour in two seconds while the startled victims eat your electric dust". White, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, praised the car's environmental efficiency but said consumer demand reflected not the environmental attributes of the car but its performance. "The Tesla turns the frugal environmentalist aesthetic on its head. Sure, it doesn't burn petroleum, and if plugged into a wind turbine or a nuclear plant, it would be a very low-carbon machine. But anyone who buys one will get the most satisfaction from smoking someone's doors off. The Tesla's message is that "green" technology can appeal to the id, not just the superego".
In December 2009, MotorTrend was the first to independently confirm the Roadster Sport's reported 0 to 60 mph time of 3.7 seconds. (MotorTrend recorded 0 to 60 mph of 3.70 seconds; it recorded a quarter-mile test at 12.6 sec @ 102.6 mph.) Engineering Editor Kim Reynolds called the acceleration "breathtaking" and said the car confirms "Tesla as an actual car company. ...Tesla is the first maker to crack the EV legitimacy barrier in a century".
In November 2009, Automobile Magazine West Coast editor Jason Cammisa spent a week driving a production Tesla Roadster. Cammisa was immediately impressed with the acceleration, saying the car "explodes off the line, pulling like a small jet plane. ... It's like driving a Lamborghini with a big V-12 revved over 6000 rpm at all times, waiting to pounce—without the noise, vibration, or misdemeanor arrest for disturbing the peace". He also took the car to Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, and praised the car for its robustness, saying the Roadster:
"wins the Coolest Car I've Ever Driven award. Why? Despite the flat-out sprints, the drag racing, the donuts, the top-speed runs, and dicing through traffic like there's a jet pack strapped to the trunk, Pacific Gas and Electric—which generated power for the Tesla—released into the atmosphere the same amount of carbon dioxide as would a gasoline-powered car getting 99 mpg. And the Roadster didn't break. It didn't smoke, lock up, freeze, or experience flux-capacitor failure. Over the past ten decades, no company has been able to reinvent the car—not General Motors with the EV1, not Toyota with the Prius. And now, a bunch of dudes from Silicon Valley have created an electric car that really works—as both an environmental fix and a speed fix".
In 2009 the Tesla Roadster was one of the Scandinavian Sports Car of the Year participants. In a comparison made by Nordic car magazines Tekniikan Maailma (Finland), Teknikens Värld (Sweden) and Bil Magasinet (Denmark), critics praised the torque of the car and a track car structure, but also highlighted more negative aspects such as a short battery life; they were unable to drive a full track lap in dry track conditions.
In May 2009, Car and Driver technical editor Aaron Robinson wrote a review based on the first extended test-drive of a production Tesla Roadster. Robinson had the car for nearly a week at his home. He complained of "design anomalies, daily annoyances, absurd ergonomics, and ridiculous economics " and stated he never got to see if the car could go 240 miles on a single charge because the torturous seating forced him to stop driving the car. He also complained of Tesla increasing the car prices on those who had already made deposits and charging extra for previously free necessary components.
In February 2009, automotive critic Dan Neil of the Los Angeles Times called the production Tesla Roadster "a superb piece of machinery: stiff, well sorted, highly focused, dead-sexy and eerily quick". Neil said he had the car for 24 hours but "caned it like the Taliban caned Gillette salesmen and it never even blinked".
In February 2009, Road and Track tested another production vehicle and conducted the first independently verified metered testing of the Roadster. Engineering editor Dennis Simanitis said the testing confirmed what he called "extravagant claims", that the Roadster had a 4.0 s 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) acceleration and a 200-mile (320 km) range. They said the Roadster felt like "an over-ballasted Lotus Elise", but the weight was well-distributed, so the car remained responsive. "Fit and finish of our Tesla were exemplary", which Road and Track thought fit the target market. Overall, they considered it a "delight" to drive. Testing a pre-production car in early 2008, Road and Track said "The Tesla feels composed and competent at speed with great turn-in and transitioning response", though they recommended against it as a "primary grocery-getter".
Tesla Roadster reviews can be grouped in two main categories: older reviews of "validation prototypes" (2006–2008), before Tesla began serial production and customer deliveries, and reviews on cars in serial production (2008–2010).
The global online auto review site Autoguide.com tested Tesla's fourth-generation car in October 2010. Autoguide editor Derek Kreindler said "The Tesla Roadster 2.5 S is a massively impressive vehicle, more spacecraft than sports car. Theories like global warming, peak oil and rising oil prices should no longer bring heart palpitations to car fans. The Tesla shows just how good zero-emissions "green" technology can be. Quite frankly, getting into a normal car at the end of the test drive was a major letdown. The whirr of the engine, the shove in the backside and the little roadster that seems to pivot around you is replaced by a grunting, belching, feedback-free driving experience". He continues on that "but for a $100,000 car, it could use some work" complaining of purposefully cheap work.
In the March 2010 print edition of British enthusiast magazine EVO (p. 120), editor Richard Meaden was the first to review the all-new right-hand-drive version of the Roadster. He said the car had "serious, instantaneous muscle". "With so much torque from literally no revs the acceleration punch is wholly alien. Away from traffic lights you'd murder anything, be it a 911 Turbo, GT-R or 599, simply because while they have to mess about with balancing revs and clutch, or fiddle with launch controls and invalid warranties, all you have to do is floor the throttle and wave goodbye".
In December 2009, Wall Street Journal editor Joseph White conducted an extended test-drive and determined that "you can have enormous fun within the legal speed limit as you whoosh around unsuspecting Camry drivers, zapping from 40 to 60 miles per hour in two seconds while the startled victims eat your electric dust". White, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, praised the car's environmental efficiency but said consumer demand reflected not the environmental attributes of the car but its performance. "The Tesla turns the frugal environmentalist aesthetic on its head. Sure, it doesn't burn petroleum, and if plugged into a wind turbine or a nuclear plant, it would be a very low-carbon machine. But anyone who buys one will get the most satisfaction from smoking someone's doors off. The Tesla's message is that "green" technology can appeal to the id, not just the superego".
In December 2009, MotorTrend was the first to independently confirm the Roadster Sport's reported 0 to 60 mph time of 3.7 seconds. (MotorTrend recorded 0 to 60 mph of 3.70 seconds; it recorded a quarter-mile test at 12.6 sec @ 102.6 mph.) Engineering Editor Kim Reynolds called the acceleration "breathtaking" and said the car confirms "Tesla as an actual car company. ...Tesla is the first maker to crack the EV legitimacy barrier in a century".
In November 2009, Automobile Magazine West Coast editor Jason Cammisa spent a week driving a production Tesla Roadster. Cammisa was immediately impressed with the acceleration, saying the car "explodes off the line, pulling like a small jet plane. ... It's like driving a Lamborghini with a big V-12 revved over 6000 rpm at all times, waiting to pounce—without the noise, vibration, or misdemeanor arrest for disturbing the peace". He also took the car to Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, and praised the car for its robustness, saying the Roadster:
"wins the Coolest Car I've Ever Driven award. Why? Despite the flat-out sprints, the drag racing, the donuts, the top-speed runs, and dicing through traffic like there's a jet pack strapped to the trunk, Pacific Gas and Electric—which generated power for the Tesla—released into the atmosphere the same amount of carbon dioxide as would a gasoline-powered car getting 99 mpg. And the Roadster didn't break. It didn't smoke, lock up, freeze, or experience flux-capacitor failure. Over the past ten decades, no company has been able to reinvent the car—not General Motors with the EV1, not Toyota with the Prius. And now, a bunch of dudes from Silicon Valley have created an electric car that really works—as both an environmental fix and a speed fix".
In 2009 the Tesla Roadster was one of the Scandinavian Sports Car of the Year participants. In a comparison made by Nordic car magazines Tekniikan Maailma (Finland), Teknikens Värld (Sweden) and Bil Magasinet (Denmark), critics praised the torque of the car and a track car structure, but also highlighted more negative aspects such as a short battery life; they were unable to drive a full track lap in dry track conditions.
In May 2009, Car and Driver technical editor Aaron Robinson wrote a review based on the first extended test-drive of a production Tesla Roadster. Robinson had the car for nearly a week at his home. He complained of "design anomalies, daily annoyances, absurd ergonomics, and ridiculous economics " and stated he never got to see if the car could go 240 miles on a single charge because the torturous seating forced him to stop driving the car. He also complained of Tesla increasing the car prices on those who had already made deposits and charging extra for previously free necessary components.
In February 2009, automotive critic Dan Neil of the Los Angeles Times called the production Tesla Roadster "a superb piece of machinery: stiff, well sorted, highly focused, dead-sexy and eerily quick". Neil said he had the car for 24 hours but "caned it like the Taliban caned Gillette salesmen and it never even blinked".
In February 2009, Road and Track tested another production vehicle and conducted the first independently verified metered testing of the Roadster. Engineering editor Dennis Simanitis said the testing confirmed what he called "extravagant claims", that the Roadster had a 4.0 s 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) acceleration and a 200-mile (320 km) range. They said the Roadster felt like "an over-ballasted Lotus Elise", but the weight was well-distributed, so the car remained responsive. "Fit and finish of our Tesla were exemplary", which Road and Track thought fit the target market. Overall, they considered it a "delight" to drive. Testing a pre-production car in early 2008, Road and Track said "The Tesla feels composed and competent at speed with great turn-in and transitioning response", though they recommended against it as a "primary grocery-getter".
In January 2009, automotive critic Warren Brown of the Washington Post called the production Roadster "a head-turner, jaw-dropper. It is sexy as all get-out". He described the feeling behind the wheel as, "Wheeeeeee! Drive a Tesla, even if you have to fly to Tesla's Menlo Park, Calif., headquarters, to get your hands on one for a day. ... If this is the future of the automobile, I want it".
In a review of a Roadster prototype before the cars were in serial production, Motor Trend gave a generally favorable review in March 2008, stating that, it was "undeniably, unbelievably efficient" and would be "profoundly humbling to just about any rumbling Ferrari or Porsche that makes the mistake of pulling up next to a silent, 105 mpg Tesla Roadster at a stoplight".; however, they detected a "nasty drive-train buck" during the test drive of an early Roadster with the older, two-speed transmission.
In a July 8, 2007, review of a prototype Roadster, Jay Leno wrote, "If you like sports cars and you want to be green, this is the only way to go. The Tesla is a car that you can live with, drive and enjoy as a sports car. I had a brief drive in the car and it was quite impressive. This is an electric car that is fun to drive".
In a November 27, 2006, review of a prototype Roadster in Slate, Paul Boutin wrote, "A week ago, I went for a spin in the fastest, most fun car I've ever ridden in—and that includes the Aston Martin I tried to buy once. I was so excited, in fact, that I decided to take a few days to calm down before writing about it. Well, my waiting period is over, I'm thinking rationally, and I'm still unbelievably stoked about the Tesla".
Top Gear controversy
In the autumn of 2008, Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson reviewed two production Roadsters with the v1.5 transmission and described the driving experience with the exclamations "God Almighty! Wave goodbye to the world of dial-up, and say hello to the world of broadband motoring!" and "This car is biblically quick!" when comparing the acceleration versus a Lotus Elise. Clarkson also noted, however, that the handling of the car was not as sharp as that of the Lotus Elise: "through the corners things are less rosy". The Stig recorded a time of 1:27.2 on a moist track, faster than a Nissan 370Z on a dry track but slower than a Porsche 911 C2S also on a damp track, and also slower than the Lotus Exige, Exige S and Evora.The segment also claimed that the car's batteries would run flat after 55 miles (89 km) of heavy use on a track and showed the car being pushed off the track.
In the autumn of 2008, Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson reviewed two production Roadsters with the v1.5 transmission and described the driving experience with the exclamations "God Almighty! Wave goodbye to the world of dial-up, and say hello to the world of broadband motoring!" and "This car is biblically quick!" when comparing the acceleration versus a Lotus Elise. Clarkson also noted, however, that the handling of the car was not as sharp as that of the Lotus Elise: "through the corners things are less rosy". The Stig recorded a time of 1:27.2 on a moist track, faster than a Nissan 370Z on a dry track but slower than a Porsche 911 C2S also on a damp track, and also slower than the Lotus Exige, Exige S and Evora.The segment also claimed that the car's batteries would run flat after 55 miles (89 km) of heavy use on a track and showed the car being pushed off the track.
Tesla Motors' spokesperson responded with statements in blogs and to mainstream news organizations that the cars provided to Top Gear never had less than 20% charge and never experienced brake failure.[189] In addition, neither car provided to Top Gear needed to be pushed off the track at any point.[190] Finally, although Clarkson showed a limp windmill and complained that it would take countless hours to refuel the car using such a source of electricity, the car can be charged from a 240 V 70A outlet in as little as 3.5 hours.[191][192] After numerous blogs and several large news organizations began following the controversy,[193] the BBC issued a statement saying "the tested Tesla was filmed being pushed into the shed in order to show what would happen if the Roadster had run out of charge. Top Gear stands by the findings in this film and is content that it offers a fair representation of the Tesla's performance on the day it was tested", without addressing the other alleged misrepresentations that Tesla highlighted to the media.
After several weeks of increasing pressure and inquiries from the BBC, Clarkson wrote a blog entry for The Times, acknowledging that "Inevitably, the film we had shot was a bit of a mess. There was a handful of shots of a silver car. Some of a grey car". "But as a device for moving you and your things around, it is about as much use as a bag of muddy spinach".[185] In the months that followed Clarkson's acknowledgment, the original episode—including the misstatements—reran on BBC America and elsewhere without any editing, though the BBC is still looking into Top Gear's journalism standards, according to British media reports.
On March 29, 2011, Tesla sued the programme over libel and malicious falsehood, while simultaneously launching the website TeslaVsTopGear.com. The current position of Tesla is found on their web page.[196] In a blogpost, producer Andy Wilman has referred to Tesla's allegations as a "crusade" and argued the truth value of Tesla's statements. On October 19, 2011, the High Court in London rejected Tesla's libel claim.[198] Tesla appealed High Court's decision to the Court of Appeals, where a 3-judge panel of Lords Justice upheld the lower court's decision, and ordered Tesla to pay the BBC's legal costs of £100,000.
