An accelerator was a mechanism found within starships, speeders, and speeder bikes that provided the ability to increase speed. These devices were present in vehicles like TIE/ln space superiority starfighters and the YT-1300 light freighter known as the Millennium Falcon, both of which were operated separately by the pilot Han Solo at different times. Furthermore, they played a role in repair work at Jarek Yeager's Repair Station situated on the supertanker fuel depot called Colossus.
Accelerators were integral to the function of starships, speeders, and speeder bikes, enabling them to gain velocity. TIE/ln space superiority starfighters were equipped with accelerators, as was the famous YT-1300 light freighter known as the Millennium Falcon.
During 13 BBY, Imperial pilot cadet Han Solo engaged his TIE/ln space superiority starfighter's accelerator during a training session to avert a crash, assuming it would produce a similar effect to using one in a speeder. Despite his efforts proving ultimately ineffective, fellow cadet Kanina Nico intervened to save him. Solo would later utilize accelerators again in 0 ABY during the Dragon Void Run competition. After a brief capture by the Galactic Empire, Solo and the other pilots were freed and resumed the race. Although he briefly contemplated abandoning the race to fulfill his mission of rescuing undercover Alliance to Restore the Republic spies, Solo ultimately chose to continue racing and instructed his partner, Chewbacca, to prepare the Millennium Falcon's accelerators.
In 34 ABY, mechanics Tamara Ryvora, Neeku Vozo, and Kazuda Xiono performed repairs on a speeder bike equipped with an accelerator at Jarek Yeager's Repair Station on the supertanker fuel depot Colossus, which was located on the planet Castilon. Vozo declared that the accelerator's installation finalized their work, while also mentioning the possibility of their efforts being undone if the accelerator were to explode.
The first mention of accelerators occurred in the third issue of the 2016 Star Wars: Han Solo comic book miniseries, which was released on August 31, 2016. In the real world, an accelerator, also referred to as a gas pedal or throttle, serves as a mechanism for regulating a vehicle's power output, thereby controlling its acceleration.