Sure, Tesla Motors' sleek, all-electric Roadster sports car may not be very practical for fleet applications, but the automaker has announced some interesting news about the electric vehicle (EV).
In a blog post, Tesla says it has updated the Roadster, claiming that the new package allows the EV to drive over 400 miles on a single charge. That's an up-to-50% increase in the car's driving range compared to the original model.
According to the blog, Roadster 3.0's improved efficiency is the result of upgrades such as better aerodynamics and tires that offer reduced rolling resistance. However, the biggest boost comes from advances in battery technology made since Tesla first rolled out the Roadster in 2008.
“We have identified a new cell that has 31 percent more energy than the original Roadster cell,” the company writes. “Using this new cell, we have created a battery pack that delivers roughly 70 kWh in the same package as the Roadster's original battery.”
The company says it will be performing a demonstration of the Roadster 3.0 and its new driving range sometime in early 2015. Tesla plans to drive the vehicle from San Francisco to Los Angeles without stopping.
“Appointments for upgrading Roadsters will be taken this spring once the new battery pack finishes safety validation,” the company notes.
