Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk recently revealed that he is considering equipping the new Tesla Roadster with SpaceX technology that would make the sports car capable of flight.
In an recent interview on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Musk revealed his extravagant plans to equip the second generation Roadster with a rocket thruster package that would not only increase the sports car’s already-ludicrous speed, but also allow it to hover above ground. “I want it to hover, and I was trying to figure out how to make this thing hover without, you know, killing people,” he said.
The technology that would allow the Roadster to hover would most likely include cold air thrusters — a promise Musk made previously that would be included in the SpaceX package. “I thought maybe we could make it hover but not too high. You make it hover like a meter above the ground or something like that. Something where if you plummet, you blow the suspension, but you are not going to die. Maybe 6 feet. You probably just put a height limit on it.” Musk explained.
Tesla, with a market cap of nearly $800 billion, announced plans for the second-generation Roadster back in 2017. At the time, the EV manufacturer proclaimed a number of notable specs, including a speed of 0-60mph in under 2 seconds, as well as a claimed battery range of 620 miles. (However, according to Edmunds, we have learned that none of Tesla’s vehicles that were tested actually achieved their EPA range estimates— but I digress.)
Musk continued to provide insight into the potential capabilities of the Roadster, even claiming that the sports car would be able to hover while moving. “You’d go pretty fast, but you are going to be time-limited. It’s going to use a super high-pressure air bottle. The standard version will have a back row with two small seats, like child seats in a Porsche or something, or if you get the SpaceX option package then in that place where those two seats is a high-pressure carbon overwrapped pressure vessel, something at around 10,000 psi, and a bunch of thrusters.”
Tesla expects to finish engineering the Roadster this year, with plans to begin shipping sometime in 2022. However, given that Tesla’s cars that are actually succumbed to the road already have amounted a hefty pile of consumer safety complaints, perhaps Musk should worry about perfecting Tesla’s existing models before setting his sights on the skies.
Information for this briefing was found via The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Tesla, and Edmunds. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
