Meet the Man Taking a First-Gen Tesla Roadster Around the World for the Second Time

The first-generation Roadster was manufactured between 2008 and 2012. Around 2,450 units were made. That vehicle had an EPA-estimated range of 244 mi (393 km) thanks to a 53-kWh battery pack. It could reach 60 mph from a standstill in nearly four seconds.

The second-generation Tesla Roadster is supposed to come with 620 miles (998 km) of range on a full charge. The small vehicle is rumored to have a 200-kWh battery pack. We know today that it should weigh at least one metric ton or 2,205 lb. The Hummer EV Pickup has a 212.7 kWh energy storage unit that tips the scales at 2,923 lb.

For a vehicle that's supposed to go from zero to 60 mph in under two seconds, that seems like too big of a load to carry. Maybe we're not seeing the successor yet because Tesla's waiting for Toyota's solid-state batteries, which promise more densely-stored energy.

We don't know when the American EV maker will put it into production or if it will ever join the driveways of those entitled to one. Early Tesla customers earned a Roadster or more through referrals, while others have put down the $50,000 required for a reservation. But five years have passed since then, and the two-door four-seater is nowhere to be found. Maybe it'll come next year after the Cybertruck production is fully sorted out.

No backing out now

It's also possible that Elon Musk has tasked engineers to work out the SpaceX Pack before the official launch, which could make the Roadster hover. That would be a great way to say "thanks" to those people who basically lend Tesla an interest-free loan. We're not imagining things; the executive said that two years ago.

However, it would be wise to wait for the pickup truck that can "cross calm seas" first.

But let's get back to the courageous explorer who took a Roadster on an around-the-world trip and is now getting ready to do it again, but at a larger scale this time.

Tesla has a first-gen Roadster out in space, 72,832,000 miles away from Earth. It's traveling at a speed of around 9,600 mph (15,460 kph) toward Mars.

But Rafael de Mestre has a Roadster 2.5 registered in Romania that went around the world once in 2012. It was the first production EV to do so. The man started from his home country of Spain and drove through France, Switzerland, Germany, the US, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Austria, and back to Spain.

Now, 11 years later, he is on track to become the owner of the Roadster that did the global run twice. He's embarking on another globetrotter adventure with the same unit. This time, however, he plans to drive 24,855 miles (40,000 kilometers) – nearly double the distance covered the first time. It's going to be a tough one!

A simple reason for a believer

This person is convinced that battery-electric vehicles are what we all need in our lives. He claims Tesla's vehicles are a "solution to a lot of problems" and suspects that not many people know about them, even though the EV maker is the world's most valuable car company at the time of writing. Through his bold action de Mestre wants to convince people that switching to an all-electric is much easier than they might imagine.

But what's incredibly impressive is that his non-Sport Roadster doesn't have DC fast-charging capability. He relies on slow AC charging. However, his vehicle boasts around 400 mi (644 km) of range – the same as a Lucid Air Pure. That's because of a forced battery upgrade.

The car sat in a museum for six years, requiring a new energy storage unit afterward. It got the 3.0 battery pack with a 72-kWh usable (75-kWh gross) capacity, known by Tesla aficionados as the R80. The museum didn't pay for it, but the insurance covered half of the cost of the original energy storage unit, not the R80.

The car can also connect to a 32-amp three-phase charger, which enables the EV to suck electrons through a plug commonly found at tire shops at a rate of 22 kW per hour. After roughly three and a half hours, the battery charge level should theoretically be at 100%.

But the first-gen Roadster can only replenish its energy storage unit at a rate of 14 or 15 kW an hour. That means it needs at least five hours for a complete charge.

Spreading the word

Speaking to Out of Spec Reviews, de Mestre said a car like the Roadster was his dream, but he didn't know it would be a Tesla. He wanted zero-tailpipe emission vehicles since he was a little boy because the cars he saw on the road "were stinking."

The man underlined that there isn't much difference between gas-powered and battery-electric vehicles. Anyone can run out of gas while adventuring, according to him. Rafael de Mestre claims nobody should fear making the switch because Teslas are a solution to a global problem.

De Mestre intends to drive 311 miles (500 km) every day on his new adventure worldwide. He will be crossing 35 borders and aiming to obtain a Guinness World Record. Other EV enthusiasts will join the man, some planning to take their families on this lengthy journey.

The around-the-world stunt is expected to begin in 2024, and de Mestre is looking for supporters or sponsors for his attempt at making the Tesla Roadster even more well-known than it is.

His convertible EV currently has 86,992 mi (140,000 km) on the odometer. When he finishes the new around-the-world journey, the vehicle will display nearly 111,000 mi (178,637 km) on its dashboard. But that's not as impressive as one might think for Rafael de Mestre – his Tesla Model S has 371,000 miles (597,067 kilometers) on the odo.

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