The new Tesla Roadster has astonished audiences with its ability to jump and drive upside down, and the technology behind this feature is based on cold-gas thruster technology from SpaceX and 250 kilos of compressed air to lift off.
The Roadster weighs around 3700 pounds and is rear-wheel drive only, with two electric motors in the rear that produce up to 1500 horsepower. It features a steer-by-wire yoke, brake, and throttle, as well as a Roadster-specific 4680 Tesla battery cell that’s claimed to be the fastest-charging version the company has ever produced.
Thrust from SpaceX
The Rocket Roadster that performed the stunt used two carbon overlay pressure vessels with a 600-liter capacity that held a total of 250 kilos of air. These tanks eliminate the passenger seat. Liftoff was accomplished by running highly pressurized air through a system of 10 nozzles that mimic a rocket’s thrusters.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced during the unveiling that the Rocket Roadster employs an ‘advanced ultra-high pressure air tank’ requiring no specialized fuel. According to Tesla’s website, the Rocket variant will only be accessible through an invitation system and is explicitly ‘not approved for public road use.’
Suction System
The Roadster’s new dual-mode fan and ground-sealing technology creates enough suction to keep the car stable even when inverted on a surface. The fans extract air from beneath the vehicle, while on conventional roads, they work alongside active wings to enhance grip and cornering performance across all driving conditions.
At the Roadster’s presentation, Lars Moravy, Tesla’s vice president of vehicle engineering, explained that the fan system operates in two distinct modes. At slower speeds, it pulls the car downward to boost traction, while at higher speeds, both front and rear sections of the suction system expand to increase airflow underneath the vehicle.
The four rear fans are upgraded versions of the high-voltage compressor motor used in the Roadster’s heat pump system, scaled up from 12 kW to 20 kW. The rear wing also features an adjustable angle to automatically produce the necessary downforce for track performance.
Performance Capabilities
The limited Thrust trim with this suction system is claimed to be able to go from zero to 60 mph in under one second. The new technologies introduced with the Roadster represent a lot of clever engineering that fully understands the laws of physics and finds new room for automotive exploration within them.
The Roadster’s range is claimed to be over 300 miles, making it a significant player in the electric sports car market. With its advanced technology and impressive performance capabilities, the new Tesla Roadster is sure to turn heads in the automotive world.
