Tesla Roadster's Air Tank Refills Itself, Company Confirms
Tesla says the new Roadster's compressed-air tank can refill itself without special propellant, but hasn't disclosed refill time or the number of consecutive uses.
Tesla has stated that the compressed-air tank in the new Roadster can refill itself without a special propellant. The company did not disclose how long a refill takes, the compressor's output, or how many takeoffs are possible before the tank needs refilling.
The Roadster is offered in three versions: Performance, Thrust and Rocket. All three have a suction fan that presses the body to the road surface. Thrusters are included only in the higher models; the base Performance version has no thrusters.
The limited Thrust version adds rear-facing booster thrusters for acceleration assist. The Rocket version, offered by invitation only, carries all ten thrusters needed for takeoff and in-air attitude control, and is a single-seater.
At a demonstration event, Tesla said the flight configuration includes two pressure vessels totalling 600 liters and about 250 kg of compressed air. Elon Musk said the Roadster can refill its tank itself without special propellant. The thrusters expel compressed gas rather than burning fuel, pushing the car forward or lifting and controlling its attitude in the air.
The suction fan operates independently from the thruster air tank and runs on battery power. According to InsideEVs, the Roadster replenishes its tank by collecting and compressing surrounding air and storing it again, as reported on 16 October 2026.
Quick answers
What versions of the Tesla Roadster are available?
Performance, Thrust and Rocket.
Does the base Performance version have thrusters?
No. Thrusters are only included in the higher models; the base Performance version has no thrusters.
How much compressed air does the flight configuration carry?
Tesla said the flight configuration includes two pressure vessels totalling 600 liters and about 250 kg of compressed air.