The Tesla Roadster Electric Car (Roadster): The Complete Electric Car Buying Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

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The Tesla Roadster Electric Car

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Tesla Inc. (formerly Tesla Motors Inc.) was founded by American engineers, Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in 2003. They named the Palo Alto based company, Tesla, as a tribute to the engineer Nikola Tesla.  In fact, Elon Musk (Co-Founder, Tesla) become involved with the company post the founding of Tesla Motors. He was the lead  investor in the 2004  Series A investment round.

Tesla has the following battery-electric vehicle (BEV) models either in production or in development. In 2020, the EV company surpassed a production volume of 1 million plug-in electric cars.

• All-electric Tesla Model S (BEV)
• All-electric Tesla Model 3 (BEV)
• All-electric Tesla Model X  (BEV)
• All-electric Tesla Model Y (BEV)
• All-electric Tesla Roadster (BEV)
• All-electric Tesla Cybertruck (BEV)

The Tesla Roadster EV was unveiled by Elon Musk in November 2017, but this is not the first Roadster developed by the famed electric vehicle manufacturer. The original Roadster was built between 2008 to 2012. The high-performance electric sports car was based on the Lotus Elise chassis.

The company sold nearly 2,500 electric Roadsters across 30 countries. Among many milestones achieved by the pure electric car, it also holds the distinction of being the only car to be launched into orbit on a test flight in February 2018.

The California based electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer claims the new electric Roadster supercar will be the “quickest car in the world, with record-setting acceleration, range and performance.” Yes, the production-series Roadster electric car is set to break a number of records, to include the fastest production car ever built.

Tesla claims that the zero-tailpipe emission electric coupé can achieve 0-100 km/h in a staggering 1.9 seconds, with a top speed of 400 km/h. The EV can accelerate 0-160 km/h in 4.2 seconds. The all-wheel drive (AWD) has three independent electric motors powering the front and rear wheels. Tesla claims up to 10,000 Nm torque for the EV.

But if that alone is not impressive enough, the Tesla Roadster electric sports car has a claimed pure electric range up to 1,000 km on a full EV battery charge. The EV will be available in only one EV battery size (200 kWh) and like other Tesla electric cars be capable of DC rapid charging using the Tesla Supercharger network. In fact, Tesla owns and operates the largest fast charging network globally (35,000+ globally). Tesla claims that Superchargers can add up to 277 km of electric range in just 15 minutes. The Superchargers offers a maximum DC charging rate up to 250 kW.

The EV also incorporates a light weight and removable glass roof, so that the electric car can be converted into a convertible without much effort. The Roadster has four seats, however, don’t expect the rear seats to be hugely practical!

Production of the EV is expected to commence in 2023. Production has been delayed due to supply chain issues. The EV will be first delivered to US customers. The pure electric supercar will be manufactured in California.

Though the deliveries dates are yet unknown, one thing is for certain. The pure electric Tesla Roadster is set to be a game changer for electric driving!

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The All-Electric New Tesla Roadster (credit: Tesla)

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
EV Battery Capacity:	200 kWh
0-100 km/h:	1.9 seconds
0-160 km/h:	4.2 seconds
Engine:	Electric
Top Speed:	400 km/h
Wheel Torque (Nm):	10,000
Range:	1,000 km
Drive:	All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Seats:	4
Available In India:	No

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Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):	6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):	3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+):	0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW):	0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)

• Note 1: SoC: state of charge

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What Is A Heat Pump In Electric Cars?

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EV Heat Pump: The Basics
What is a heat pump in electric cars?	In conventional internal combustion engine (ICE), petrol and diesel vehicles, the energy (waste heat) generated from the engine (powertrain), is captured to re-use for heating the interior cabin of the vehicle. However, in pure electric cars, the heat generated (waste heat) from the electric drive (electric motor, inverter, on-board AC charger) and the onboard high-voltage EV battery is not as much, as the heat generated in conventional cars, and cannot be re-used on its own to provide sufficient cabin heating (electric cars are more efficient than petrol/ diesel cars). Therefore in EVs, the sources for capturing heat, also includes the outside air i.e. it is a multi-source heat pump system. This captured heat is re-used for the onboard EV battery management and also for heating the cabin interior, increasing the electric car efficiency and reducing the need to draw energy from the onboard EV battery. In general, a lithium-ion EV battery is less energy efficient during colder months (similar to the laptop or smartphone battery).
How does a heat pump increase electric range in colder winter months?	Electric cars that do not incorporate an onboard heat pump, rely on the energy of the onboard EV battery for heating the interior cabin of the electric car, further impacting the available e-range. In contrast, EVs with a heat pump, do not rely on the onboard EV battery to heat the cabin. Instead, the heat pump sources heat from multiple sources and releases energy-efficient heating into the cabin. Put another way, an electric car with a heat pump does not place any demand on the onboard EV battery for heating the interior cabin. There is ample real-world evidence to prove that electric cars with a heat pump offer longer electric range in winter months, compared to electric cars that do not incorporate a heat pump. The average improvement in range is between 10% to 20%.
How does a heat pump work in an electric car?	Step 1: naturally heated antifreeze is channelled into the heat pump evaporator, where the heat is transferred to the coolant circulating in the unit. The evaporator converts the coolant into gas (evaporation). Step 2: the gas is sucked into a compressor to increase the pressure of the gas. When air is compressed it increases its temperature. The gas temperature is increased to 80° C. Step 3: the compressed gas is transferred to a condenser, where the heat is transferred to water in the condenser. Step 4: the heat is then circulated to the interior cabin, while the gas is converted into liquid form, and is transferred back to the heat pump evaporator via an expansion valve. The cycle is then repeated.
Is a heat pump used only for heating?	No. A heat pump can also be used for cooling. As an example, the Audi Q7 EV uses the onboard heat pump for heating and cooling.
Does a heat pump come as standard in EVs?	Though some manufacturers offer the heat pump as standard, most offer it as an optional extra. We recommend purchasing the option.
Can a heat pump be installed in an electric car post delivery?	Usually it is not possible, given the complexity of installing a heat pump. So always order it at the time of purchase.
Are all heat pumps in electric cars the same?	No. There is a difference in technology, approach and efficiency achieved for different manufacturers. As an example, Hyundai and Kia claim to have one of the most efficient heat pumps, given the ability of their technology to dynamically choose the most appropriate heat source at a given moment. Hyundai claims the heat pump incorporated in the all-electric Hyundai Kona can improve the winter electric range up to 18%, significantly higher than the average improvement (10%).
Are there any other advantages offered by a heat pump in colder months?	Yes, you can pre-heat the electric vehicle (EV) via your mobile app before you commence your journey. This way you can have a toasty warm interior cabin on a cold winter day!

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