What was the original Tesla Roadster’s claimed 0–60 mph acceleration time?

The original Tesla Roadster’s claimed 0–60 mph acceleration time was 3.9 seconds. That figure helped make the car a landmark because it showed that an electric vehicle could compete with high-performance sports cars.

The Roadster was based on the Lotus Elise but replaced its gasoline engine and related systems with an electric powertrain. Electric motors provide maximum torque from very low speeds, giving the Roadster strong initial acceleration. Its lithium-ion battery pack also supplied enough energy for a sports car with a substantially longer range than earlier production EVs.

Tesla quoted the 3.9-second figure for the standard Roadster. The later Roadster Sport improved the claimed time to 3.7 seconds, so the two versions should not be treated as identical.

Acceleration figures can vary with testing method, surface, battery condition, and model specification. The 3.9-second number is the standard published claim associated with the original production Roadster.