Tesla Roadster; Elon Musk makes a rocket thruster for a car

After 9 years of waiting, Tesla showed the new roadster with space thrusters; A car that is still far from production.

According to Khodro reporter Safir Arjan, a car moves on an upside-down surface, jumps over several cars, changes position in the air and sits on the ground again. If we see these images without explanation, they probably look more like a science fiction movie than the unveiling of an automotive product; But this time Tesla and Elon Musk are involved. The second-generation Roadster, a car that was supposed to hit the streets years ago, was finally unveiled at an event in Texas; With a big difference compared to the initial promises: this time, Tesla is not only talking about acceleration and speed, but has shown thrusters that are supposed to take the car off the ground for a moment. This show was spectacular, but to understand the true value of the roadster, you have to step away from the excitement of the pictures and see what's going on under the body of this car.

Not an ordinary Tesla, not yet a ready-to-sell car

Roadster is not a new project for Tesla. This car was introduced in 2017 and from the beginning it was supposed to be a showcase of the company's technical capabilities; A product that shows that an electric car is not necessarily a quiet and low-consumption vehicle for daily commuting and can enter the realm of supercars. What happened in the following years, however, was more of a delay than a car delivery. Now Tesla says Roadster production will begin in 2028; That is, nearly 11 years after the initial introduction of the second generation. This history is enough to follow the new promises with some caution.

In the new demo, the Roadster performed maneuvers we wouldn't expect from a conventional road car with the help of SpaceX-related technology. Assisted propulsion, hovering and a suction system to keep the car on an inverted surface were parts of the show. But there is still a difference between a sample that is prepared for an engineering show and a car that is going to be produced and delivered to the customer. The final specifications, independent tests, legal approvals and the repeatability of these maneuvers in different conditions are not things that can be clarified in a few minutes on stage.

acceleration under one second; The number that pulls the tires in the middle

For the new version of the Roadster, Tesla has announced that it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than one second. This speed is approximately equivalent to 97 km/h. A number that seems strange even in the world of performance electric cars. In the reports related to the unveiling, a figure of 0.81 seconds has also been mentioned for the displayed example; However, until the measurement method and independent test results are published, it is better to see these figures in the place of a manufacturer's claim, rather than a record that the terms of its registration are fully clarified.

The reason for the importance of this difference should be found in the physics of the car. The electric motor can provide the driver with a lot of torque from low revs, but that doesn't mean that every amount of power can be transferred to the asphalt without restriction. At the start of movement, the tires must apply the necessary force to the road surface; If the driving force exceeds the available grip, the wheels spin and the traction control system has to limit the power. Car weight, mass distribution, tire composition, surface temperature and even asphalt condition play a role in the final result.

If Tesla used auxiliary thrusters to achieve such a number, it should be clarified which system exactly the stated number describes: the acceleration from the wheel motors, the thrusters' auxiliary force, or a combination of the two? This question is not an unimportant technical detail. A car that achieves extraordinary acceleration under controlled conditions with the help of a special system is not necessarily comparable in a standard test to a car that transfers all its power from the tires to the road.

Tesla has also proposed a final speed of more than 370 km/h for the Roadster. In this range, it's not just about engine power anymore; Aerodynamic stability, tire resistance, brakes, heat management and body control are vitally important. The vehicle must be able to remain stable at high speed and stop after acceleration with a controllable distance and temperature. A large number in the acceleration or speed section gains technical value when the vehicle assembly can provide it safely and repeatably.

What exactly do SpaceX thrusters do?

The different part of the new roadster is the collaboration with SpaceX and the use of cold gas thrusters. The principle of this technology is well-known in the space industry: compressed gas exits the nozzle and creates a reaction force. In this system, unlike the conventional combustion rocket engine, there is no need to burn fuel and oxidizer to generate thrust. However, high pressure gas storage, precise valve control, pressure tolerance, temperature management and safe tank design are not simple issues; Especially when the equipment is to be installed in a car that moves at high speed and may be involved in an accident.

One point should be made clear: the Roadster is still an electric car, not a little rocket designed for daily commuting. Thrusters are an auxiliary system and are supposed to create a force beyond the force produced at the point of contact between the tire and the road in certain maneuvers. The display of inverted motion is also attributed to the suction system; That is, the car sticks to the surface by creating a holding force. This feature is different from the usual grip of tires and it should not be assumed that any car with a more powerful engine can do such a thing.

The main issue is the daily use of this equipment. How much weight do the thrusters add to the car? What volume does gas storage occupy? After several uses, when should the tank be refilled? How will the system function in heat, cold and emergency situations? If one of the components fails, how will the car behave? In the published information from the ceremony, there is still no complete and evaluable answer to all these questions.

Even if the system technically works, using the flying or drifting capability on a public road is another matter. Current vehicle regulations aren't designed for such maneuvers, and published reports from the unveiling suggest that these capabilities are not approved for use on public roads. So, the roadster's buzz segment is more of a technology show for now than a possibility for a buyer to use on their way home to work.

vehicle range; Where the excitement of speed meets the reality of energy consumption

For the roadster, a travel of about 300 miles, equivalent to approximately 480 kilometers, has been proposed; A number that is significant at first glance for an electric supercar. However, the actual range of such a car is highly dependent on driving style. At high speeds, air resistance increases greatly and more power must be consumed to maintain speed. Smooth driving with a few hard accelerations are two completely different experiences in terms of energy consumption.

In a car with this level of performance, the battery only needs to store enough energy; He must be able to deliver that energy at the right moment. Strong acceleration requires a high current from the battery and power equipment, and the heat generated must be managed. The cooling system, battery design, electric motors and inverters determine how well the vehicle can consistently repeat its stated performance. If the roadster suffers a noticeable loss of power after a few accelerations, the initial acceleration number alone does not give a complete picture of its capability.

On the other hand, full details about the battery capacity, charging power and thermal performance of the final version have not been released yet. For this reason, it is not possible to judge its superiority over other electric supercars just by relying on the declared mileage. This car should be tested in tests that determine both the range in normal driving and the loss of travel in high-pressure use.

price and delivery date; The less exciting part of the story

Tesla has not yet fully clarified the final price of all versions of the Roadster. In the reservation information, different initial amounts are proposed for different versions; including $50,000 for the version equipped with a propulsion system and $250,000 for the version with more special features. These amounts should not be confused with the fixed price of all models; The specifications of each version, standard equipment, cost of custom options and delivery terms should be officially announced.

The Roadster was introduced years ago and the promise of its production has been delayed many times. Now the start of production is announced for 2028, but previous experience makes us consider this date as the announced schedule, not a definite guarantee of delivery. The addition of auxiliary propulsion systems can also complicate the vehicle's development, testing and approval process. Building a sample that performs impressively at a show is very different from producing a product that must have consistent quality, decent durability, and after-sales service.

The Roadster is not going to be a top-selling car on the scale of Tesla's family models. Its value is more in the role of a flagship product; A car that attracts public attention and creates an image of the engineering power of the company. Elon Musk himself has described the financial importance of Roadster as limited compared to other Tesla activities. Therefore, the success of this project should be measured more than the number of sales, by the fulfillment of promises, product quality and the ability to transfer technology from demonstration to production.

Roadster can show the future; But it still has to pass the road test

Roadster is one of those cars that is discussed even before it reaches the market. The combination of electric powertrains with propulsion related to space technology separates the project from a typical supercar and shows that Tesla wants to challenge the known boundaries of the automobile. But the most interesting part of the show is the part that raises the most questions: will these features remain in the production version and can they be used within the framework of safety standards and car laws?

We do not have a definitive answer at the moment. Acceleration of less than one second, top speed of 370 km/h and a range of about 480 km are all figures that need to be verified in the final version. According to the announced plan, production will not start until 2028. Until then, the most important news about the Roadster will not be its next maneuver in the air, but the release of final specifications, independent test results, and the clarification of the task of auxiliary propulsion capabilities.

Tesla has attracted attention with this car; The hard part starts from here. It should show that the Roadster is not just a spectacle and can become a car that fulfills its promises in the real world.