Tesla Roadster

Also known as Roadster, Darkstar, Tesla Roadster 1

first generation of electric convertible sports car produced 2008–2012

Key facts

Manufacturer: Tesla Motors
Also called: DarkStar ( code name )
Production: 2008–2012
Assembly: England: Hethel ( Lotus : chassis) United States: Menlo Park, California (final assembly)
Class: Two-seater / sports car ( S )
Body style: 2-door roadster
Layout: Rear mid-motor, rear-wheel drive
Related: Lotus Elise Opel Speedster
Electric motor: 3-phase 4-pole AC induction motor , 1.5 : 248 hp (185 kW), 200 lb⋅ft (270 N⋅m) 2.0, 2.5 : 288 hp (215 kW), 280 lb⋅ft (380 N⋅m) 2.5 Sport : 288 hp (215 kW), 295 lb⋅ft (400 N⋅m)
Transmission: 1-speed BorgWarner (8.27:1 ratio)
Battery: 53 kWh lithium-ion
Electric range: 244 mi (393 km) ( EPA )
Plug in charging: 16.8 kW 110–240 V onboard charger for 1Φ 70 A using proprietary connector
Wheelbase: 92.6 in (2,352 mm)
Length: 155.4 in (3,946 mm)
Width: 73.7 in (1,873 mm)
Height: 44.4 in (1,127 mm)
Curb weight: 2,877 lb (1,305 kg)

via Wikipedia infobox

~40 min read

Encyclopedic overview

The first generation Tesla Roadster is a battery electric sports car based on the Lotus Elise chassis, and was produced by Tesla Motors (now Tesla, Inc.) from 2008 to 2012. The Roadster was the first highway legal, serial production, all-electric car to use lithium-ion battery cells, and the first production all-electric car with a range of more than 200 miles (320 km) per charge.

Tesla sold about 2,450 Roadsters in over 30 countries, and most of the last Roadsters were sold in Europe and Asia during the fourth quarter of 2012. Tesla produced right-hand-drive Roadsters from early 2010. The Roadster qualified for government incentives in several nations.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Tesla Roadster” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.