Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, has stirred the automotive world with a bold claim regarding the Tesla Roadster 2’s performance. Musk suggested that the forthcoming Roadster 2 could possibly achieve an acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in less than a second—a statement that garnered skepticism as well as excitement among car enthusiasts and industry experts alike.
Responding to Musk’s assertion, Rimac Automobili’s founder and CEO, Mate Rimac, has cast doubt on the feasibility of the claim. In his commentary, Rimac noted that while attaining such rapid acceleration is not outside the realm of possibility, doing so would necessitate an astronomical 30,000 Nm of torque to be delivered at the wheels. He also mentioned that additional devices to enhance traction or downforce, such as fans or thrusters, would be required to reach this level of performance.
Rimac discussed, through a social media comment, the practical challenges of integrating such propulsion assistance technologies. He pointed out that thrusters could solve the traction issue, but they would only operate for a brief period before becoming dead weight for the rest of the vehicle’s journey. This scenario signifies a design dilemma, where the added mass from tanks, compressors, and other components counteracts benefits and usability.
Despite Musk’s new claims, the official Tesla Roadster product page still indicates a 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of 1.9 seconds. The page also boasts a range of 620 miles on a single charge, which raises additional concerns about the likelihood of achieving sub-second acceleration, especially considering the substantial weight of the batteries needed just to hit a 300-mile range in Tesla’s other electric vehicle (EV) models.
As things currently stand, the electric vehicle holding the record for the fastest acceleration is the AMZ Racing Mythen, a small go-kart-like vehicle that achieved 0 to 100 km/h in just 0.956 seconds. For production cars, the record is held by the Rimac Nevera, capable of completing the sprint in an impressive 1.85 seconds, with video footage of both these high-speed performances available for viewing pleasure.
Those interested in Tesla’s developments and Elon Musk’s approach to managing the car company can find more information and insights in books and related products available for purchase online.
