Tesla Model S Plaid Can't Reach 200 MPH

Tesla's 1020-hp Model S Plaid boasts a top speed of 200 mph, according to the company. Since an electric vehicle, this is a rarefied speed, as the maximum rotational speed of the electric motors tends to restrict EVs. Particularly for electric vehicles like Teslas, which employ a single-speed reduction ratio.

But the business has a solution: carbon-sleeved rotors that allow the motors to spin at rates of up to 20,000 rpm, or approximately 25% faster than they were previously capable of. When the Plaid was put to the test, it didn't even go close to 200 mph. Instead, it reached a controlled peak speed of 162 mph. Even if it could, you wouldn't want to reach 200 mph with the Plaid because it's so unpleasant to pilot at that speed. Watch the video below to find out more.