Under the Skin

The highly purposeful design of the Tesla Roadster shows up in its many multi-use components. There's a battery box that's both functional and structural, air ducts that double as energy-absorbing zones, and a high-performance AC motor that can run forwards and backwards. The PEM (Power Electronics Module) performs several critical functions, including motor torque control, regenerative braking control, and charging. Of course the most notable thing inside the car is the battery itself: our ESS (Energy Storage System) is safe, lightweight, and able to take you more than 200 miles between charges.