In the realm of aberrant figures, we have the 0 to 100 km/h in less than a second, now promised by Elon Musk for his future Tesla Roadster. To achieve this, a “Space X” option will rely on ten small cold gas thrusters, the same ones that rockets use to adjust their trajectory. Elon Musk’s other promise is the availability of this roadster for 2025, although it was initially announced for 2020.
Elon Musk’s Tweet in 2018:
Elon Musk’s tweet on February 28:
When questioned, Mate Rimac, to whom we owe the Rimac Nevera electric hypercar, declared on his Facebook page that this was possible. He also specified that the propulsion system was not only complex, but also heavy, which would penalize the maneuverability and general design of the car. He wonders about the power supply of the micropropellers (which do not run on electricity), the ground hold (the car risks taking off very quickly) and the final price of the machine, which also risks ‘to be above ground. This opinion was written following a simulation carried out by his team, which was therefore able to verify that what the Tesla boss announced was plausible.
Mate Rimac is no stranger to setting records in electric vehicles. His Rimac Nevera literally shattered the Nürburgring North Loop lap record last year in the production electric car category, completing it in 7 minutes and 5 seconds.
But what’s the point?
Let’s be clear: such an acceleration amounts to experiencing 2.5 G, which is enormous. For comparison, a Formula 1 car goes 0-100 km/h in 2 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 5 seconds. These are machines piloted in specific conditions, designed by teams of engineers using cutting-edge equipment that can adapt settings in real time.
Such a feat would certainly allow Tesla to add a piece to its trophy room, but it would be absurd to put such a machine in the hands of the first person who could afford it. As a reminder, former Top Gear UK presenter Richard Hammond almost killed himself at the wheel of Rimac’s first electric hypercar, after an unexplained off-road trip. Richard Hammond, however, has solid piloting experience.
If Tesla has built its reputation on its audacity, the emphasis placed in its communication on the Roadster leaves one wondering. Certainly, the technological prowess is impressive, but it will be a less important novelty than the Model 2 and Model Y Juniper for ordinary mortals. As a reminder, the first is still expected as the Messiah, while the second should not be released in 2024, according to Tesla.