TMC is an independent, primarily volunteer organization that relies on ad revenue to cover its operating costs. Please consider whitelisting TMC on your ad blocker and becoming a Supporting Member. For more info: Support TMC
  1. TMC is currently READ ONLY.
    Click here for more info.

Blog Musk Says He Wants the Roadster to Hover

Discussion in 'Roadster 2022' started by TMC Staff, Feb 12, 2021.

  1. TMC Staff

    Joined:
    May 19, 2017
    Messages:
    1,182
    Elon Musk wants the upcoming Tesla Roadster to hover. The Tesla CEO shared new details on the supercar, as well as the possibility of a van with a solar roof during an interview on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. Musk said Tesla should finalize engineering this year and could start delivering the car next year. Musk...
    READ FULL ARTICLE
     
  2. DaveG_NJ

    DaveG_NJ Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2020
    Messages:
    201
    Location:
    NJ
    The Roadster will no doubt hover with a well-timed fart noise.

    I'm hoping to live long enough to see FSD released beyond Beta. I couldn't possibly be interested in another fantasy feature.
     
    • Like x 7
    • Funny x 2
    • Disagree x 1
  3. 78Lion

    78Lion Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2012
    Messages:
    126
    Location:
    Maryland
    Just spend some time and money to fix your awful customer service.
     
    • Like x 8
    • Disagree x 4
    • Love x 1
  4. Ciaopec

    Ciaopec Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2016
    Messages:
    747
    Location:
    Close to where SpaceXploration begins: 32952
    Wonder how long rocket motors capable of getting this thing to hover will delay the Roadster? Worrying about hovering is putting the cart before the horse and so far they don't have a horse.
     
    • Like x 2
  5. Uncle Paul

    Uncle Paul Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2013
    Messages:
    6,105
    Location:
    Canyon Lake,CA
    Hover should not delay the New Roadster. The cold air thrusters are part of an optional SpaceX package that can come along later.
     
    • Like x 2
    • Disagree x 1
  6. Dolemite

    Dolemite is my name

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2019
    Messages:
    1,083
    Location:
    ol' Virginny
    Why is it that all these guys completely start losing their *sugar* as they approach 50?
     
    • Like x 2
    • Funny x 1
  7. designrs

    designrs Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2020
    Messages:
    101
    Location:
    Jacksonville, FL
    Let’s put this in perspective, a single motor of a Learjet delivers 4,600 pounds of thrust.

    The new Tesla Roadster prototype battery is about 1,900 pounds, plus the car and the occupants. (Original Tesla roadsters are about 2,700 pounds total weight.) Then the lifting thruster equipment needs to be added. That’s a lot of weight to lift! A light two-seater airplane is 1,300 fully loaded. A Cessna 172 four-seater aircraft is about 2,500 pounds, fully loaded, including fuel, occupants and luggage.

    On an airplane, thrust provides the forward motion. The wings are what provide lift.

    Helicopter rotors are huge. A Harrier jet and the F-35 use vertical thrust in special situations using complicated systems. True hovercraft are extremely light.

    Lifting the car with a hot rocket or hot thrust engine would destroy the pavement. So it would have to be be some type of cool air pressure, perhaps multiple electric driven turbines. Flying debris is a major liability issue.

    A six-foot hover is technically flying. As a pilot, I can call attention to the concept of ground effect. It’s easier to lift an object closer to the ground (about two or three feet) because the ground is there to push upon. When you get up to about six feet, significantly more force is needed to create lift independent of the ground.

    One foot of lift would be noticeable. Two feet would feel like a large SUV. Three feet is a lifted truck!

    ... and where is it going to go? The vehicle will not move until the wheels are firmly planted on the ground!

    I’m all for the hover feature. It would be very cool at red lights! Two-feet would be more than adequate. I think Elon has flying cars (hovercraft) in mind for the long term... and his usual media bluster for the short-term!
     
    • Informative x 2
    • Like x 1
  8. Radish11

    Radish11 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2021
    Messages:
    14
    Location:
    Usa
    Elon why?
     
    • Like x 3
  9. HankLloydRight

    HankLloydRight No Roads

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2014
    Messages:
    12,795
    Location:
    Connecticut
    Because he never grew up and wants a flying car.
     
    • Like x 3
    • Funny x 1
  10. jboy210

    jboy210 Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2016
    Messages:
    4,603
    Location:
    Northern California
    Elroy or Elon?
     
    • Funny x 6
  11. Merrill

    Merrill Merrill

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2013
    Messages:
    3,615
    Location:
    Sonoma, California
    Yes let’s spend time and energy on something stupid and not fix the current software issues.
     
    • Like x 3
    • Disagree x 1
    • Love x 1
  12. designrs

    designrs Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2020
    Messages:
    101
    Location:
    Jacksonville, FL
    Hover while parked in front of a restaurant or nightclub would be so cool! Maybe hover can be turned on with climate pre-conditioning... with colored lights beneath the vehicle.

    A nice low hover would make it easier to get in the low-slung Roadster. Then, when it shifts into “D” the car lowers before you drive off. I am game!
     
  13. jboy210

    jboy210 Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2016
    Messages:
    4,603
    Location:
    Northern California
    Hovering at 6 feet would help during the commute. At least until you got stuck behind a 7-foot panel truck.
     
    • Funny x 2
  14. Ron97062

    Ron97062 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2019
    Messages:
    69
    Location:
    Portland
    Take my money. When can I order one?
     
    • Like x 1
  15. Silicon Desert

    Silicon Desert Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2018
    Messages:
    3,028
    Location:
    Sparks Nevada / GF 1
    yea, a hovering Tesla ! Has Elon been smoking that devil weed again?
    I'm waiting for the submersible version :rolleyes:
     
    • Like x 1
  16. Silicon Desert

    Silicon Desert Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2018
    Messages:
    3,028
    Location:
    Sparks Nevada / GF 1
    ha ha ha. good one. Some of these young whipper snappers are not going to understand that one.
    Elon was watching back to the Future 3 movie and got an idea.
     
    • Like x 1
  17. YoungRoadster

    YoungRoadster New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2021
    Messages:
    2
    Location:
    los angeles
    Two questions:

    1. Does anyone know for sure if the roadster has a frunk?

    2. Curious to know how they are going to justify dishing out more than $60k extra to buy the roadster instead of the plaid+
     
  18. MaxPowers

    MaxPowers Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2018
    Messages:
    127
    Location:
    NW Pacific
    If I could get the roadster a year sooner I would forgo the hovering. I would rather have the roadster sooner. :-(
     
    • Like x 1
  19. HankLloydRight

    HankLloydRight No Roads

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2014
    Messages:
    12,795
    Location:
    Connecticut
    I don't think it's actually going to ever hover in production, except for maybe a proof of concept at the Tesla design center during the big reveal party.
     
    • Like x 2
  20. whitex

    whitex Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Messages:
    6,361
    Location:
    Seattle area, WA
    Neh! You are too conventional, you gotta think like Elon - no need for hot or cold thrusters, just some superconducting levitation.


    Elon never said it will hover aby time and anywhere, right? Roadster 202x will be "hover capable", like my P85D is capable of 691hp, and 2016+ cars are Full Self Driving capable to drive kids to school and summon across the USA. The fine print for Roadster 202x of "hover capable over a special track but limited by the car's battery power and cooling capacity to keep the superconductors cold enough" is coming when the next Roadster rolls out of the factory (or when Tesla loses a lawsuit).
     

Share This Page

  • About Us

    Formed in 2006, Tesla Motors Club (TMC) was the first independent online Tesla community. Today it remains the largest and most dynamic community of Tesla enthusiasts. Learn more.
  • Do you value your experience at TMC? Consider becoming a Supporting Member of Tesla Motors Club. As a thank you for your contribution, you'll get nearly no ads in the Community and Groups sections. Additional perks are available depending on the level of contribution. Please visit the Account Upgrades page for more details.


    SUPPORT TMC