Tesla patents electric fan system to increase vehicle downforce

Tesla has patented a new system utilizing electric fans to increase downforce and reduce aerodynamic drag. The design features four electric fans positioned in the vehicle’s rear diffuser.

Rather than providing propulsion, the fans are designed to manage airflow beneath the car to create a low-pressure zone, effectively pulling the vehicle closer to the ground. The system connects to the car’s high-voltage battery and control systems. While similar fan-based aerodynamic approaches have been used in performance vehicles like the GMA T.50 and McMurtry Spéirling, Tesla’s patent describes it as a “channeled fan system configured to increase downforce and reduce drag.”

It remains unclear which specific model will utilize this technology. Although the patent drawings resemble a Model S body style rather than the upcoming Roadster, the timing of the patent coincides with the anticipated presentation of the new Tesla Roadster.