Tesla Roadster runs a quarter mile in 12.76 @ 104.7 mph

Posted on November 11th, 2008 by Robert Adams | Posted under: Electric cars, Tesla

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Tesla engineers have been keenly focused for some time on the new 1.5 powertrain, which has been tested extensively both on roads and at closed facilities.

Tesla’s engineer Iain Morrison took the all-electric Roadster to a Infineon Raceway in Sonoma California, which features a Compulink timing system to see how fast the car is on the drag strip.

One the first run Iain got a respectable time of 12.76 seconds, topping out at 104.7mph. The previous day the car clocked 12.82 secs and 103.3mph, running slightly uphill.

According to the rules at Infineon Raceway any convertible that runs less than 14 seconds needs to have a roll bar, and at first glance the Roadster does not appear to have one. In fact it has a roll bar, which is integrated into the design of the car but is not immediately visible as it lurks under carbon fiber roll hoop cover. As it turns out Folks at Infineon did not believe it, so Iain says that next time he takes CAD drawing as evidence of the integral roll bar.

Tesla Roadster max power is at 248 hp (185 kW) @ 4500-8500 rpm. Max rpm is an amazing 14,000. Curb weight is 2723 lbs / 1238 kg.

Source: Tesla