Here’s the red Tesla Roadster prototype that I rode in this afternoon thanks to Rob Coish and the crew at Tesla Motors with pilot Ernest Villanueva at the wheel. The car’s Ferrari-beating 0-to-60 in 4 seconds acceleration is not only real, but you can punch it at any speed and get the same boost. Amazing car, especially considering the rotor – the engine’s only moving part – weighs all of 70 pounds.

There was lots of stuff we were asked not to photograph – including the motor and transmission assemblies – but those parts are well-described on the Tesla web site.

Tesla’s ESS – Energy Storage System – manages several thousand Li-Ion batteries that give the car its 200(+) mile-range and equivalent of 135 MPG as well as the amazing torque. The ESS integrates with the VMS – Vehicle Management System – to produce the driving experience. The car’s PEM – Power Electronics Module – is tightly integrated with the motor, producing up to 185 kW of motor output. We had a lot of fun… stay tuned for podcast… top photo by George Dalke…

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