Tesla Roadster receives new upgrades

Applying what they learned in the Model S, Tesla is ready to roll out an upgrade package for the roadster. Named the Roadster 3.0 package, three major areas have been improved - batteries, aerodynamics and rolling resistance.

With cell technology improving constantly, Tesla realised there are newer batteries out there that are more efficient than the one found the original Roadster since 2008. A new battery pack that delivers roughly 70kWh is said to be able to store 31 percent more energy the old one.

With reagrds to the aerodynamics of the car, Tesla used modern computational methods to achieve a 15 percent improvement, dropping the total drag coefficient (Cd) down to 0.31 with a retrofit aero kit.

Lastly, the original Roadster tyres have a rolling resistance coefficient (Crr) of 11.0kg/ton. New tyres that Tesla will use on the Roadster 3.0 have a Crr of roughly 8.9kg/ton, about a 20 percent improvement. It's also making improvements in the wheel bearings and residual brake drag that further reduce overall rolling resistance of the car.

In total, all the improvements made will allow a predicted 40 to 50 percent improvement on range between the original Roadster and Roadster 3.0. This means that the Roadster has a theoretical range of 640km. To proof that, the company will be demonstrating a non-stop drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles in the early weeks of 2015.