Roadster 18650 · Generation 2

Roadster 3.0 (R80)

R80[1]

A hand-built 80 kWh retrofit that lifted the original Roadster to about 340 miles of range.

Undisclosed18650 cylindrical2016 – end not documentedDocumented

Gross capacity: 80 kWh
Usable capacity: Unknown
Cells: Unknown
Pack mass: Unknown

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Pack · top view

Module layout unverified

Cell supplier: Undisclosed
Cell: Roadster 18650 cell
Vehicles: Roadster
Built at: Not documented

Tesla announced the Roadster 3.0 upgrade in late 2014 and began fitting it in 2016. The retrofit replaced the original pack with one Tesla described as roughly 80 kWh, more than 40% above the original. Owners nicknamed it R80.

Tesla's early announcement targeted about 70 kWh using 'a new cell that has 31% more energy than the original Roadster cell'. The pack that shipped came in at around 80 kWh.

Specifications

Pack data, value by value

Manufacturer-confirmed
Documented
Community-reported
Estimated

Every value shows its evidence level and sources. “Unknown” means no source we trust has published it. We never fill gaps with assumptions.

Gross capacityTotal energy incl. bottom buffer: 80 kWhDocumented[1][2]
Described as roughly 80 kWh.
Usable capacityEnergy available 100% → 0%: Unknown
Chemistry: Unknown
Cell format: Unknown
Tesla said the new pack fits the original package; the cell format was not stated in the sources reviewed.
Cell supplier: Unknown
Tesla described 'a new cell' with 31% more energy than the original but did not name the supplier.
Cell count: Unknown
ConfigurationSeries × parallel: Unknown
Modules: Unknown
Nominal voltage: Unknown
Architecture: Unknown
Pack mass: Unknown
Energy densityPack level: Unknown
Requires both pack mass and capacity.
Structural pack: NoEstimated
Drop-in replacement for the original pack.
Peak DC charging: Unknown

The cell

Roadster 18650 cell

A commodity 18650 cell of the kind used in laptops, chosen because it was readily available and affordable in 2008. Tesla described modifying the cells for automotive use.

Cell data

Dimensions: Ø18 × 65 mmConfirmed[]
18650 = 18 mm diameter, 65 mm length.
Capacity: Disputed
Sources report different values. None is marked as correct:
2.2 Ah[]
Nominal voltage: Unknown
Energy per cell: Unknown
Chemistry: Unknown
Commercially available laptop-class lithium-ion cells; the cathode chemistry was not published.

Capacity in context

Gross capacity of every documented pack. Hatched bars are disputed ranges; packs with unknown capacity are omitted.

Applications

Where this pack is installed

Each row is a documented link between this pack and a vehicle variant, with its factory, period and evidence. A variant may also appear with other packs.

Roadster (2008)Open in finder

Variant	Period	Factory	Market	Code	Evidence
RoadsterRoadsterRetrofit	2008 – 2012	Not documented	Not market-specific	—	Documented[1][2] Retrofit upgrade offered from 2016 for cars built 2008–2012. Not fitted at the factory.

Performance

Charging, advantages and tradeoffs

Peak DC charging

Unknown

No verified charging curve for this pack is in the database yet. Curves vary with temperature, state of charge and software, so we only publish curves backed by repeatable measurements.

Advantages

About 340 miles of range in a car originally rated far lower, with no change to the car's structure. [2]

Tradeoffs

Low-volume, hand-built production keeps the upgrade expensive. Reported prices rose from US$29,000 to US$40,000. [1]

Identification

How to tell if your car has it

This is a retrofit, not a factory option. Only Tesla service records can confirm whether a given Roadster received it.
The part number on the high-voltage battery label and Tesla service records are definitive. A VIN alone does not encode the cell supplier or pack code.

History

Lineage in the Roadster 18650 family

The original Roadster's energy storage system wired 6,831 commodity 18650 cells into eleven sheets. A hand-built upgrade pack followed in 2016.

Jul 2016Documented[1][2]
Roadster 3.0 upgrade arrives
A hand-built pack of roughly 80 kWh lifts the original Roadster to about 340 miles of range.

Related packs

Roadster ESS vs

Sources

2 references

[1]
Tesla Roadster 3.0 battery upgrade (R80)
ElectrekpressPublished 8 Jul 2016Consulted 28 Oct 2026Pending direct review
[2]
Tesla Roadster 3.0 Update Finally Arrives With 340-Mile Range
AutoGuidepressPublished Jul 2016Consulted 28 Oct 2026Pending direct review