HKS Selling Tesla Roadster Spark Plugs?
I follow a lot of performance exhaust companies – including HKS – because I like to try to know about new products ASAP…figure that’s part of my job as the dude behind ExhaustVideos.com. As a result, I noticed that the HKS website now lists “Tesla” as an auto manufacturer that they support…which brings me to two points:
- HKS is selling spark plugs for Tesla Roadsters…obviously a mistake (see below)
- What performance parts will be available for electric cars?
First, Here’s the Dirt on the HKS Mistake
If you go to the HKS website and look for 2008 Tesla Roadster parts, you’ll find there’s only one part listed – M-Series Super Fire Racing Spark Plugs. The irony here is pretty hilarious – spark plugs for an electric car? Kind of like offering a glass of water to someone who is drowning.
New from HKS: Tesla Spark Plugs!
The reason this happened? I’m no expert on the HKS website, but as an Internet marketing consultant my experience leads me to believe that someone updated the HKS website with a bogus data feed…one that was probably supplied by the folks at M-Series. These things happen, especially when the people managing a website and/or data feed don’t know that Tesla doesn’t sell cars that need spark plugs.
All jokes aside, the bigger question is:
What Performance Parts Will Be Available on Electric Cars?
1. Steering, brakes, and suspension parts – Despite the all-electric powertrain, the brakes, suspension, and steering components are basically the same (regenerative braking is the only major difference). We’ll see roll bars and tower strut bars and powerslot rotors and all that good stuff just like we do today.
If we ever see a hybrid truck or SUV, we’ll see lift kits too.
2. High power electric motors and quick discharging batteries. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out KillaCycle – the world’s fastest electric bike. What makes this baby tick is a healthy electric motor paired with some high-end nano-phosphate batteries that can discharge all of their power really, really fast.
It might seem hard to imagine today, but in 10 years, we might see high school kids buying old Priuses, swapping out motors and battery packs, and going really, really fast at the local dragstrip.
3. Computer upgrades. The biggest obstacle to performance on many existing hybrids and soon-to-arrive plug-in electrics is the manufacturer’s computer. If the programming can be changed and/or adjusted to emphasize speed instead of fuel economy, that will be a big difference maker.
What do you think – what performance products will we see for hybrid and electric cars?
