A newly granted Tesla patent outlines an electric fan system designed to draw air from beneath a vehicle, potentially generating downforce independently of road speed. The concept could suit the Roadster, although the patent describes an electric vehicle more generally and does not confirm production plans.

How the fan system works

Granted on September 29, the “Electric fan car” patent describes an underbody diffuser with an inlet beneath the vehicle and a larger outlet toward the rear. Electric ducted fans would pull air through the passage, while vertical strakes positioned between neighboring fans would help manage the airflow at the outlet.

Unlike fixed aerodynamic devices such as wings, dive planes, and canards, a fan-based system would not need the vehicle to be moving quickly before producing an aerodynamic effect. The patent concept could therefore provide additional grip during low-speed cornering and in braking zones, as well as at higher speeds.

Fan-generated downforce may also avoid the substantial drag associated with large external spoilers. That combination of low-speed effectiveness and potentially lower drag has made similar systems attractive for specialized performance vehicles, although the Tesla design would still need to meet practical requirements involving packaging, energy use, noise, and durability.

Earlier fan-car applications

Tesla would not be the first automaker or racing constructor to investigate suction-assisted downforce. The Chaparral 2J used two rear fans powered by a separate engine during the 1970 Can-Am season, with skirts helping seal the underside and allow the system to generate downforce without depending on vehicle speed.

Gordon Murray Automotive’s T.50 uses a different arrangement. Its 15.7-inch, or 400-millimeter, rear fan works alongside active spoilers and interactive diffusers. GMA claims the system can deliver a 50 percent increase in downforce in High Downforce mode.

McMurtry’s Spéirling represents another approach, producing downforce even while stationary. The company has demonstrated the car driving upside down, highlighting the potential of fan-assisted aerodynamic grip.

Potential applications beyond the Roadster

The Roadster appears to be a natural candidate for such an ambitious system, but the patent’s claims are not limited to that model. Notably, the illustrations show a Model S rather than a Roadster, so the drawings do not establish which vehicle, if any, Tesla might use for the technology.

The system could theoretically benefit Tesla’s Plaid and Performance models by helping their available power translate into acceleration, braking, and cornering performance. However, the patent does not confirm that the fan system will reach production. Its eventual viability would depend on factors including installation space, electrical demand, acoustic output, and long-term durability.

For now, the patent presents an alternative route to improving performance beyond simply increasing power. Whether Tesla develops the concept for a halo car or another model remains unconfirmed.