The Roadster is intended to be Tesla’s fastest-charging vehicle. Special cells will help it achieve this.
The new Roadster features a battery designed for high performance and fast charging. Tesla has modified the 4680 cells, their casings, and cooling methods for it.
Special Cells for the Sports Tesla
The new Roadster has drawn attention primarily due to its thrusters and acrobatic maneuvers. However, significant changes have also taken place in its battery. Tesla’s vehicle development chief, Lars Moravy, provided details in interviews with Hagerty and other automotive media.
The foundation is the cylindrical 4680 cells, whose chemical composition has been adjusted by Tesla for high performance. According to Moravy, they still use nickel-based lithium-ion technology, with an emphasis on their ability to quickly absorb and release energy.
The battery powers a pair of electric motors that drive only the rear wheels. According to Hagerty, all three versions are expected to deliver over 1 MW of power and 1,400 Nm of torque. Such a high-performance drive system places heavy demands on the battery cells and their cooling systems.
Aluminum casings and dual-side cooling
The battery cells use aluminum casings instead of steel ones. According to Moravy, aluminum is lighter and better at dissipating heat. Each cell also features dual-side cooling to help keep temperatures under control under heavy loads.
The upper part of the battery pack is protected by a titanium plate. Moravy explains its use as a combination of low weight, reduced thickness, and thermal insulation. The lower cover remains aluminum and is designed to protect the battery from moisture and impacts.
This solution should also benefit charging speed. According to Moravy, it will be Tesla’s fastest-charging battery. Improved heat dissipation is important even during charging, when the cells must handle high electrical power.
Ten-minute charging and range over 480 km
Moravy states that a charge from 15% to 85% takes approximately ten minutes. Such a result would place the Roadster among very fast-charging electric vehicles. This is currently a claimed figure that awaits verification in the production model.
Tesla has not yet disclosed the exact battery capacity. The automaker promises a range of over 300 miles, or roughly 480 kilometers. This is significantly less than the originally announced goal of over a thousand kilometers in 2017.
Some other parameters remain unspecified as well. For example, the voltage ranges from 800 to 1,000 V, and the charging power spans a wide range from 500 kW to 1 MW. Tesla plans to start production in 2028, so the final specifications may still change.
Sources:
Original text / Elektrickevozy.cz
Hagerty / YouTube
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