5 ms·

The roadster is supposed to clock at 8.9s quarter mile and 250+ MPH at a minimum. We'll see if they actually deliver. As for top speed - I think the main issue

The roadster is supposed to clock at 8.9s quarter mile and 250+ MPH at a minimum. We'll see if they actually deliver. As for top speed - I think the main issue with earlier gen tesla model S issues was that the speed was capped in software at 155MPH, even for the "P" models. There wasn't really any reason other than liability/testing that they couldn't go faster (700+ horsepower and ridiculous drag coefficients would imply that the real peak would be higher).

elihu 6y ago
At some point you'd hit the maximum safe RPM limit of the motor. Tesla tends to use motors that can run at very high RPMs, but eventually centrifugal force would damage or destroy it. Also the bearings might wear out. I don't know if the software limit is set to match the RPM limit of the motor, but it makes sense that they would. Also, AC motors tend to lose power and efficiency if they're pushed beyond their optimal range. If Teslas are already at the RPM limit, they could get a higher top speed by changing the gear ratios, but then you'd have less power at low speed. Since hardly anyone actually drives at 155MPH, it's sensible to optimize for the way the cars will actually be used almost all of the time.