In 2017, Tesla unveiled the second generation of its Roadster sports car, claiming an astonishing 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) acceleration in just 1.9 seconds and a top speed of 250 mph (400 km/h). However, the release and delivery of this car have been postponed indefinitely. Just when everyone thought the project might be abandoned, Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently sparked discussions about the Roadster online and made a stunning announcement: the Roadster will achieve a sub-1-second 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) acceleration.
Currently, the fastest accelerating production car is the Rimac Nevera, which achieves 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in just 1.74 seconds. The fact that the Roadster aims to reduce this time to below 1 second sounds incredible! If Musk’s revelation is true, how was this achieved?
Sub-1-second acceleration already achieved
In 2023, AMZ (Academic Motorsports Club Zurich) created an electric race car equipped with four in-wheel motors. Although it only has 326 horsepower, its weight is a mere 140 kg. Based on power-to-weight ratio calculations, this car achieves a level of 2.3 horsepower per kilogram.
During actual testing, this electric race car set a world record by accelerating from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 0.956 seconds, covering a distance of only 12.3 meters, with a peak acceleration of 3.81g.
If the Roadster aims to achieve a sub-1-second 0-100 km/h acceleration, it would need a power-to-weight ratio similar to that of the AMZ race car. Currently, the estimated weight of the Roadster is 2100 kg. Based on a power-to-weight ratio of 2.3 horsepower per kilogram, the Roadster would require 4830 horsepower.
What does this mean? Currently, the fastest production car, the Rimac Nevera, weighs 2300 kg and has a total power output of only 1914 horsepower. Without revolutionary changes in electric motor technology, it seems unlikely that the Roadster’s horsepower could surpass that of the Rimac Nevera.
Since it’s not feasible to achieve thousands of horsepower with electric motors alone, how will the Roadster achieve a sub-1-second 0-100 km/h acceleration?
As we all know, Elon Musk’s space exploration company, SpaceX, develops rockets. Musk has utilized SpaceX technology to offer an optional package of ten small rocket thrusters for the Roadster. With the assistance of these rocket thrusters, achieving a sub-1-second 0-100 km/h acceleration in the Roadster becomes possible. However, the Roadster equipped with the SpaceX rocket package raises new questions about its legal road usage.
Furthermore, the extreme acceleration poses a challenge and strain on the vehicle’s tires. Not only does the vehicle need to be equipped with incredibly wide tires, but the tire construction also needs to be highly reinforced because the tires must withstand extremely high acceleration forces without any wheel spin.
Based on this information, it becomes clear that achieving a sub-1-second 0-100 km/h acceleration in the Roadster is not solely reliant on electric motors and wheel drive. Musk primarily uses it to enhance the Roadster’s appeal and extend the American straight-line acceleration culture to the realm of electric vehicles.