Because the second-generation Tesla Roadster stays on the drafting board, a Texas-based firm has sketched out a brand new life for unique Roadsters, whereas bettering their dealing with.
Re/Cell, which makes a speciality of remanufacturing EV battery packs, not too long ago unveiled a alternative Roadster battery pack that is 400 kilos lighter than the unique and takes up 3.7 cubic ft much less area—making it about half the amount of the unique pack.
With 47 kwh of complete capability, Re/Cell expects the alternative pack to return 220-240 miles of vary, which is in step with the manufacturing facility pack. However as a substitute of simply matching the manufacturing facility specs, the load and quantity reductions of the brand new pack are claimed to assist make the Roadster a greater automobile.
Re/Cell alternative battery pack for the Tesla Roadster
“Alternative packs for the Roadster are costly and overburdened, with an pointless give attention to straight-line efficiency and vary,” Re/Cell president Chad Maglaque mentioned in a press release. “The main focus ought to as a substitute be on dealing with and velocity, to match the racing pedigree of its world-class efficiency chassis.”
The Roadster was primarily based on the Lotus Elise, and Lotus founder Colin Chapman, with the maxim “simplify, then add lightness,” would possible agree with this emphasis on dealing with over straight-line acceleration.
Re/Cell claims its pack additionally helps decrease the Roadster’s middle of gravity and permits extra mass to be moved towards the middle of the chassis—additional bettering dealing with—whereas additionally making room for DC fast-charging {hardware} and liquid cooling programs for the motor and energy electronics module (these options are elective, nonetheless).
2010 Tesla Roadster Sport (photograph by way of Hagerty)
The battery itself will get an upgraded cooling system consisting of a molded core with connected ribbons, permitting for a 50-times-greater contact space for warmth switch in comparison with the manufacturing facility cooling system, together with constant temperature management, Re/Cell claims. The corporate caught with the unique 18650 cell format, although after all the chemistry has developed considerably.
Re/Cell has priced the pack at $27,895 for the model providing most efficiency, after a $11,500 core credit score for his or her current pack. It makes use of these early Roadster cells for remanufactured battery packs and use with photo voltaic programs or as backup energy. Out of greater than a half one million cells Re/Cell processed this previous yr, it disposed of or recycled simply 150, the agency mentioned to Inexperienced Automobile Experiences.
The final Tesla Roadster was in-built December 2011, simply earlier than the Mannequin S was launched. This was the automobile that launched Tesla, however Elon Musk did not have a lot to do with it, nor did he begin Tesla. He grew to become CEO in late 2008, after the Roadster had already gone into restricted manufacturing.
Tesla has not been constant through the years about offering manufacturing facility assist for unique Roadsters. However because the sports activities automobile was launched, EV battery prices have plunged, creating extra of a gap for aftermarket corporations like Re/Cell to offer different options.
