Ferdinand Porsche has been quoted as saying once that no vehicle should ever be permitted to travel faster than its limits. By that measure, the Tesla Model S Plaid would be a disaster for the famous engineer.
In a new video from Engineering Explained, Jason Fenske points out that in Motor Trend testing, the Tesla Model S Plaid is listed as accelerating from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in just 2.28 seconds on an unprepared surface, whereas it goes from 60-0 mph in 2.38 seconds. The Model S Plaid accelerates at that speed in less than 98 feet (30 metres), and stops in 104ft (32m).
This is the same quality that has led some to suggest that the Model S Plaid doesn’t have good enough brakes for the enormous speeds it can create. Making 1,020 hp (1,034 PS/761 kW) and weighing in 4,816 lbs (2,185 kg), the super sedan has been running quarter-miles in around nine seconds, but its sports 15-inch cast iron brakes.
Read Also: Latest Tesla Model S Plaid Review Says It Has Brakes And Steering Issues When Pushed Hard
As Fenske points out, the Model S Plaid’s brakes and their performance from 60 mph are perfectly adequate for speeds that are legal on the road, and not that different from the Taycan Turbo S. They are by no means exceptional, though, unlike the acceleration performance.
In fact, as a video from automotive YouTube’s other Jason (Cammisa) argues, big brakes made of exotic materials usually aren’t designed to enhance the braking performance over one stop. They’re normally designed to keep brakes from overheating when they’re used again and again on a track. Indeed, as some have pointed out, the Tesla’s Nurburgring lap time appears to show the driver lifting and coasting at the end of some straights, which is a technique used to help cool brakes.
The very fact that the Model S Plaid is able to use more of its tires’ grip when accelerating than decelerating, though, is pretty impressive, regardless of material. Fenske argues that one important factor allowing this is an electric motor’s ability to apply torque faster than a byzantine internal combustion engine. When an EV reaches its limit of grip it is able to more rapidly adjust in order to reach the threshold. It can even do this faster than ABS systems, which is surprising.
Although there are other factors involved, it should go to show that the Model S Plaid’s brakes are adequate for (legal) road use, but they may not be up to scratch on a ciruit. This is a topic that may not be exclusive to Teslas, though, as EVs progress – but, on the other hand, how many Model S Plaid buyers will actually take their cars to the track?
