The Tesla Roadster promises some seriously crazy technology, but its most unusual and bizarre feature could come with an inconvenient drawback: long refill times.
Tesla engineering vice president Lars Moravy says the Roadster’s cold-gas thruster system currently needs around two to six hours to refill after use. The company is hoping to reduce that to less than 30 minutes, but that isn’t the reality yet.
The system uses compressed nitrogen stored in a huge 200-litre tank pressurised to as much as 10,000 psi. When activated, the cold-gas thrusters release the nitrogen in a powerful burst, helping the Tesla Roadster launch itself.
The problem is that filling such a tank isn’t something a normal compressor can handle. Even many high-pressure nitrogen systems top out around 6,000 psi, meaning a dedicated booster would likely be required to reach the Roadster’s maximum pressure. Tesla also hasn’t explained how owners without suitable equipment will refill the tank.
