Tesla says it has a patent for new aerodynamics that could help the next Roadster reach 0-60 mph in less than one second. The company aims to set a record for production car acceleration.
When Tesla showed the Roadster in 2017, the target for 0-60 mph was 1.9 seconds. Since then, the company’s cheaper Model S Plaid hit a similar time of 1.99 seconds. In early 2024, Elon Musk raised the bar. He said the new goal is to go from 0 to 60 mph in less than one second.
This speed would rival drag cars and high-end racing machines. Tesla wants the Roadster to keep street-legal status.
How the patent works
The patent is about “adaptive vehicle aerodynamics for downforce.” Tesla describes a setup with several fans and adjustable skirts under the car. The fans can pull air out from a space sealed by these skirts. This makes a low-pressure area below the car so that the car sticks to the ground better, especially when starting from a stop.
Tesla explains: “Fans positioned in airflow pathways that extend to these bounded regions generate low pressure within these areas by extracting air, creating downforce that enhances vehicle grip and stability by creating a vacuum, or partial vacuum in the bounded regions.”
This system has two main modes:
- Full skirt mode: Seals off a space under the car. All fans pull air out. This is best for smooth surfaces and helps most at low speeds.
- Partial skirt mode: Uses only some skirts, mostly on the sides, so the car can handle bumps and uneven pavement while still getting benefit from the fans.
Traditional wings and spoilers only matter at high speeds. This fan setup works even from a standstill. That means the tires can grip better when launching hard.
Inspiration from racing
Tesla’s approach is similar to 1970s Formula 1 cars like the Brabham “fan car” and the Chaparral 2J. Those used fans to pull the car to the track. They were banned in racing because of unfair advantage. Here, Tesla is using the idea for road use.
The benefit is steady downforce at all speeds, not just at high speed like with a spoiler.
Physics of ultra-fast launches
To go from 0 to 60 mph in under a second, you need about 2.75 g of acceleration. Tesla’s quickest car now, the Model S Plaid, can do this in about 1.99 seconds, or about 1.4 g. To get below a second, the traction must be much higher.
One way to do this, as with the McMurtry Spéirling, is to use fans to create huge downforce. The Spéirling does 0-60 mph in about 1.4 seconds and generates over 4,000 pounds of downforce with its fans, even when stopped.
There are questions. The fan system has moving parts that could wear out and needs to seal well against the ground. Road debris could be a problem. Seals and skirts need to handle real roads, not just racetracks.
If cars can make this much downforce on the street, safety regulators may step in. There could be new rules for such powerful systems.
Cost and market plans
The Roadster should cost between $200,000 and $250,000. Tesla sees it as a rare high-end sports car. Analysts expect collectors and car fans to want it. It could set new trends for EVs at the top of the market.
Tesla says Roadster production is set for 2025. Elon Musk promises a public test this year. Buyers have waited since 2017.
Tesla also hinted at possible use of rocket thrusters on the Roadster. Musk said the acceleration might not even be its main feature. That leaves room for more new ideas in the final car.
The Roadster, if it delivers, may top any electric car so far in acceleration.
Tesla’s patent:
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