- Texas-based Re/Cell offers replacement Tesla Roadster battery packs that cut weight and increase power.
- These replacement packs offer slightly less overall capacity, but the range is still estimated at over 210 miles.
- The cost of a new battery from Re/Cell is less than what Tesla will charge you for one.
All original Tesla Roadsters are over a decade old now, and some may require new battery packs. Rather than attempting to get the aging battery pack in your Roadster repaired, a company is offering to recycle it and replace it with a new and improved battery, which it promises will improve the car's performance through a significant weight reduction and power gain.
Re/Cell is a Texas-based company that specializes in replacement battery packs for Tesla vehicles. They tout their replacement’s ability to deliver more power to improve acceleration while shedding hundreds of pounds of weight in the process.
The larger of the two Roadster batteries offered by Re/Cell has a capacity of 47 kilowatt-hours, which is less than the original pack’s 53 kWh. However, even with less capacity, Re/Cell says you should still come very close to matching the original 244 miles of range—it estimates a range of over 210 miles on one charge.
By installing the pack, the Roadster also gets a performance upgrade. Power goes up from the standard 288 horsepower (215 kW) to 382 hp (285 kW), and with the estimated weight savings of 275 pounds (125 kg), the vehicle should feel a lot quicker. The standard car could hit sixty from a standstill in 3.7 seconds, so the time should drop close to the 3-second mark with the new battery.
Re/Cell offers a smaller battery that sheds 400 pounds (180 kg) of weight, but it has a lower capacity of 38 kWh and an estimated range of over 180 miles. It offers a lower power boost to 322 hp (240 kW).
Like with any EV, replacing the battery pack is expensive but trading in your Roadster’s old battery pack will help you secure a credit of up to $11,500, which cuts the price of the replacement batteries to $24,895 and $27,895, respectively. The company makes it clear on its website that the credit won’t be granted if the battery pack is defective and its cells can’t be reused. Having Tesla replace an original Roadster battery costs over $40,000, so the Re/Cell solution is considerably cheaper.
According to Chad Maglaque, Founder and President of Re/Cell, “Replacement packs for the Roadster are expensive and overburdened, with an unnecessary focus on straight-line performance and range. The focus should instead be on handling and speed, to match the racing pedigree of its world-class performance chassis. In short, it should be planted and nimble.” Thanks to its Lotus Elise bonded aluminum chassis, the Roadster already handled great in factory spec, so cutting this much weight and adding power should really transform the way it drives around a twisty road or a track.
