What Is The Range on A Full Charge?
The Tesla Roadster has an EPA Range of 244 miles per charge.
That means if you were to drive conservatively between about 45-55 mph combined city and highway (no- that doesn't mean hitting the 0-60 in under 4 seconds type driving), you could travel at least 244 miles on a full charge. That is about the equivalent of 3/4 of a gas tank for those of you still comparing the Roadster to gasoline guzzlers.
The Roadster makes a great daily commuter and weekend get-away car. 244 miles is quite a distance given that the average American drives less than 30 miles per day.
That means if you were to drive conservatively between about 45-55 mph combined city and highway (no- that doesn't mean hitting the 0-60 in under 4 seconds type driving), you could travel at least 244 miles on a full charge. That is about the equivalent of 3/4 of a gas tank for those of you still comparing the Roadster to gasoline guzzlers.
The Roadster makes a great daily commuter and weekend get-away car. 244 miles is quite a distance given that the average American drives less than 30 miles per day.
What is it like to drive the Tesla Roadster?
Exhilarating!
The smooth, quiet and powerful 3.9 second acceleration of the Tesla Roadster (or 3.7 seconds for the Roadster Sport) makes the driving experience very similar to that of flying a jet. The immense linear power and responsive handling, coupled with the control and efficiency of the Regenerative Braking will make the Tesla Roadster your favorite car to own and drive.
Read the reviews:
- "At about 20 mph I nail the go pedal, and the power electronics module summons a ferocious torrent of amps...Instantly -- I mean right now, like, what the heck hit me? -- the motor's 276 pound-feet of torque is converted to dumbfounding acceleration. Total number of moving parts: one." - Dan Neil, Pulitzer Prize winning auto critic
- "For the Tesla is not just a sports car with incredible performance but also a car that redefines driveability. Simply, it has the best throttle control of any car I have ever driven." Julian Edgar
- "I’m a Car Fanatic (yes, that’s an official title), so I’m not easy to impress. I’ve got plenty of great cars to include in my dream garage – BMWs, Lotuses, and Ferraris. But I’m not too proud to say I LOVE my Tesla. First, it looks damn good. Heads turn, even though there’s no obnoxious engine noise to alert passers-by that I’m approaching. Then, of course, there’s the fact that I need absolutely no gasoline to power it. So far I’ve gotten the thumbs up from five Prius drivers. No lie – they actually roll the window down and give me a double-fisted thumbs up!" - Scott Painter
What is Regenerative Braking?
Regenerative Braking quite simply is a switch in the Roadster's Power Electronics Module, that while decelerating the motor is acts as a generator, converting the kinetic energy of the car moving forward into potential energy in the form of electricity stored in the battery pack.
This means that when you take your foot off the accelerator, the car slows down without even touching the brake pedal, the brake lights come on, and you are recharging while you drive! The Regenerative Braking feature is very intuitive, and extremely helpful for single peddle driving in stop-and-go traffic, neighborhood driving, and controlling the Roadster's speed through canyon roads.
This means that when you take your foot off the accelerator, the car slows down without even touching the brake pedal, the brake lights come on, and you are recharging while you drive! The Regenerative Braking feature is very intuitive, and extremely helpful for single peddle driving in stop-and-go traffic, neighborhood driving, and controlling the Roadster's speed through canyon roads.
Charging Your Roadster
Everyone always asks: How Long Does The Roadster Take To Charge?
My favorite answer: About 30 seconds. . . . 15 seconds to plug it in at night
and 15 seconds to unplug it in the morning!
Think of charging your Roadster much like you do your cell phone- for most people that happens overnight from your home, and you always wake up to a full charge to kick off your day! (Imagine how convenient that would be to always wake up to a car with a full gas tank!)
Its difficult to give a hard answer on charge time, because recharge time depends on how many Volts and Amps are available-- the more you have, the quicker the car will charge. Think of it like filling a pool with water, you will fill the pool faster with a fire hose than a gardening hose.
Until now, many electric cars have needed traditional wall chargers or charging stations, which really limits where you can travel. With the Roadster, the charger is on-board the car. This means you can plug the car in most anywhere, even into a regular 110v wall socket. Just remember, filling a pool with a gardening hose takes a long, long time- just like a 110v outlet. But a 220v outlet (like your washer dryer) will recharge your battery in just a few hours.
Here is the breakdown of charging options for your Roadster. For more detailed information- please read more on TeslaMotors.com. You will want to consult with your electrician to determine the voltage and amperage capabilities for your garage, and then your electrician can install your plug of choice!
240 Volt- HOME CONNECTOR
The fastest way to charge your Tesla vehicle is with the High Power Connector, a wall mounted unit that is hard wired to a single phase breaker panel. The unit can supply up to 70 Amps at 240 volts to charge your Roadster in as few as 3.5 hours.
This connector is ideal for those who like to have an integrated home charging unit, and who have more than 50 amps available for Roadster charging.
240 Volt- Universal Mobile Connector
The Universal Mobile Connector is the most versatile charging option. I recommend it to be used for road trips or as an alternative to the Home Connector.
You can fully recharge your car in 6 hours or less using this 240V / 50amp connector. This unit includes a NEMA 14-50 adaptor, with the option to purchase 8 other adaptors for different plug sizes.
The included NEMA 14-50 size outlet is a very common industrial standard used in all RV Parks across the country. You can also find these outlets at some hotels, fairgrounds, music venues, or anyplace large trucks or RV type vehicles plug in. If you will be traveling with the Roadster and require 240V charging along the way, call an RV Park to be sure they have open spots or ahead to your hotel and ask to speak to someone in Maintenance or Electrical Services- generally the front desk concierge won't know what a NEMA 14-50 is, but the service department will!
Read Here about the Tesla Roadster Roadtrip from Los Angeles to Detroit!
You can fully recharge your car in 6 hours or less using this 240V / 50amp connector. This unit includes a NEMA 14-50 adaptor, with the option to purchase 8 other adaptors for different plug sizes.
The included NEMA 14-50 size outlet is a very common industrial standard used in all RV Parks across the country. You can also find these outlets at some hotels, fairgrounds, music venues, or anyplace large trucks or RV type vehicles plug in. If you will be traveling with the Roadster and require 240V charging along the way, call an RV Park to be sure they have open spots or ahead to your hotel and ask to speak to someone in Maintenance or Electrical Services- generally the front desk concierge won't know what a NEMA 14-50 is, but the service department will!
Read Here about the Tesla Roadster Roadtrip from Los Angeles to Detroit!
120 Volt- Spare Connector
Useful for topping off your Tesla vehicle after a morning or evening commute, the 120V Spare Connector is a portable 15' cord-set with a 3 prong 110V connector.
When plugged into a NEMA 5-20 receptacle you can charge at 16 Amps, which is about 5 miles for every hour it is connected. At this charge rate, the car will go from 0% state of charge to 100% state of charge in about 37 hours.
Many owners who use the Roadster as a 2nd car or for very short 30 mile/day commutes, can get away with using the 120V Mobile Connector as their primary charging method. However, Tesla recommends 220V charging to keep the battery pack "happy." (Just think how you would feel if you had to drink from a small cocktail straw every time you were thirsty! )
Ultimately, spare yourself the frustration of waiting for your car to charge with this plug, and get yourself a 220V charging option.
When plugged into a NEMA 5-20 receptacle you can charge at 16 Amps, which is about 5 miles for every hour it is connected. At this charge rate, the car will go from 0% state of charge to 100% state of charge in about 37 hours.
Many owners who use the Roadster as a 2nd car or for very short 30 mile/day commutes, can get away with using the 120V Mobile Connector as their primary charging method. However, Tesla recommends 220V charging to keep the battery pack "happy." (Just think how you would feel if you had to drink from a small cocktail straw every time you were thirsty! )
Ultimately, spare yourself the frustration of waiting for your car to charge with this plug, and get yourself a 220V charging option.
Operating Costs
One of the greatest benefits to driving an electric vehicle is the low operating costs.
On average, the Roadster costs pennies per mile and between $4-10 to charge.
The measurement rule for figuring out exactly how much it will cost to charge your car is your per Kilowatt Hour costs as billed from your electric company. The battery pack, measured in Kilowatt Hours (kWh), is 53 kWh for a full (range mode) charge.
For simple math purposes (and as a common per kWh cost), lets assume that you are billed $0.10 per kWh. That means a range charge of 240+ miles costs about $5.20. Compare that to your gasoline car at 18-20 miles per gallon at $3.00 per gallon- that would cost you roughly $32.00
You can also input your per kWh costs into the Roadster, so you can see exactly how much you have been billed for the last charge cycle.
On average, the Roadster costs pennies per mile and between $4-10 to charge.
The measurement rule for figuring out exactly how much it will cost to charge your car is your per Kilowatt Hour costs as billed from your electric company. The battery pack, measured in Kilowatt Hours (kWh), is 53 kWh for a full (range mode) charge.
For simple math purposes (and as a common per kWh cost), lets assume that you are billed $0.10 per kWh. That means a range charge of 240+ miles costs about $5.20. Compare that to your gasoline car at 18-20 miles per gallon at $3.00 per gallon- that would cost you roughly $32.00
You can also input your per kWh costs into the Roadster, so you can see exactly how much you have been billed for the last charge cycle.
Servicing the Tesla Roadster
No more traditional oil changes for you!
The recommended service for the Roadster is only once per year or every 12,000 miles.
During the annual service, your Tesla technician will give your Roadster a full vehicle inspection that includes examining the heating and cooling systems (these items are pretty unique to the Roadster because they are dual purpose for the battery pack and the cabin) brakes, suspension, tires, and updating your Roadster's computer system with new firmware.
The recommended service for the Roadster is only once per year or every 12,000 miles.
During the annual service, your Tesla technician will give your Roadster a full vehicle inspection that includes examining the heating and cooling systems (these items are pretty unique to the Roadster because they are dual purpose for the battery pack and the cabin) brakes, suspension, tires, and updating your Roadster's computer system with new firmware.
Don't Have a Tesla Service Center Near You? Don't Worry!!
Tesla Motors Mobile Service Rangers have you covered! For just $1 per mile, from your car to the nearest Tesla service center, Tesla Motors' Rangers will travel to you to service your vehicle on location or pick up your vehicle to be serviced at our store!
Tesla Owners can transfer their vehicle's computer system data to the service technicians wirelessly or through a USB stick, which allows the Rangers to remotely diagnose a problem without physically seeing the car.
Tesla Roadsters have been delivered in nearly every state in the US and nearly every country in the EU, so there is no need to wait for a Tesla Service Center to open up near you! An appointment with your Tesla Rangers is just a phone call away.
You can have detailing, alignment, brakes, tire repair or replacement, windshield repair or minor body repair serviced at your local reputable shop, and Tesla will help you make arrangements for your annual Tesla service.
Tesla Owners can transfer their vehicle's computer system data to the service technicians wirelessly or through a USB stick, which allows the Rangers to remotely diagnose a problem without physically seeing the car.
Tesla Roadsters have been delivered in nearly every state in the US and nearly every country in the EU, so there is no need to wait for a Tesla Service Center to open up near you! An appointment with your Tesla Rangers is just a phone call away.
You can have detailing, alignment, brakes, tire repair or replacement, windshield repair or minor body repair serviced at your local reputable shop, and Tesla will help you make arrangements for your annual Tesla service.
Battery Technology
The Roadster battery pack is comprised of 6,831 Lithium Ion cells. These 18650 size Lithium Ion cells, look a lot like AA batteries and are most similar to the cells in your laptop computer. Tesla chose these cells for a number of reasons, but one of the greatest aspects is that Lithium Ion suppliers always make this standardized cell size, so that you can always upgrade the battery pack with the latest and greatest cell density.
For easier servicing, the cells are arranged in vertical sheets and within the vertical sheets, there are bricks of cells. These cells are arranged connected in series and in parallel within the anti-freeze liquid-cooled pack. Each individual cell is self contained so if one cell happens to malfunction, it does not spread across the pack.
The temperature of the battery pack is liquid controlled with antifreeze to help enhance performance and enhance battery life. Extreme temperatures can be the enemy in terms of battery life, so this antifreeze is continuously circulating around the battery pack, even when the car is not running to help the pack reach an optimal temperature of 70' F. For this reason, the Tesla Roadster's is suitable for extreme hot or cold weather climates.
Our engineers and experts say that Lithium Ion technology is developing at a rate of 8-10% each year. So it is most likely that the next battery pack that you install into your Roadster is going to increase the Range! While the replacement costs require a further conversation with your local Tesla representative, there is a Battery Replacement program in place for $12,000. Please read the Support Development section to learn more.
For easier servicing, the cells are arranged in vertical sheets and within the vertical sheets, there are bricks of cells. These cells are arranged connected in series and in parallel within the anti-freeze liquid-cooled pack. Each individual cell is self contained so if one cell happens to malfunction, it does not spread across the pack.
The temperature of the battery pack is liquid controlled with antifreeze to help enhance performance and enhance battery life. Extreme temperatures can be the enemy in terms of battery life, so this antifreeze is continuously circulating around the battery pack, even when the car is not running to help the pack reach an optimal temperature of 70' F. For this reason, the Tesla Roadster's is suitable for extreme hot or cold weather climates.
Our engineers and experts say that Lithium Ion technology is developing at a rate of 8-10% each year. So it is most likely that the next battery pack that you install into your Roadster is going to increase the Range! While the replacement costs require a further conversation with your local Tesla representative, there is a Battery Replacement program in place for $12,000. Please read the Support Development section to learn more.
The views and opinions expressed on MyTeslaRoadster.com are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Tesla Motors Inc. I am not an official spokesperson of Tesla Motors, only a happy employee seeking to share my passion for the Tesla Roadster. For Media Relations please contact Tesla Motors here.
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