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Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

tesla.com

71–80 of 521 posts

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#71
This is good. It's Tesla focusing on making better cars. More range is good. Faster charging is good. Those are real things. Yesterday's claims about Tesla operating a million self-driving taxis by 2020 were, well, not taken too seriously.

The new stuff is all at the high end, though. The $35,000 Model 3 is still absent from the product line.

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#72
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Came here to post this exact excerpt. That’s a heck of a customer loyalty bonus, even if the margin on that particular SKU is itself quite ludicrous!

Alternative view: they’re desperate to get more high margin model S and X sales because owners are keeping their existing models too long.

Not surprised. They can't expect people to replace their car every two years as if it were an iPhone.

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#73
post #69

So it sounds like the range increase is for new cars? (Other comments made it sound like a software update to existing cars) I still wish there was more focus on range over acceleration, obviously electric motors don't suffer from general efficiency impact as ICEs do (an ICE with superior acceleration seems to take an efficiency hit at all speeds), but how much of that "faster acceleration" impacts efficiency over th…

basically none. I've read that many electric motors are most efficient at 80%+ load...

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#74
post #57

This "continuous deployment" for cars must be a logistical nightmare. To do repairs for a given vehicle, keeping track of what parts are backward compatible would be challenging. What if it's a compatibility breaking change? Then keeping inventory for older cars would become problematic. Unless they do design with maximum compatibility. Then it gets interesting as upgrades are possible. While B.EV cars maintenance is…

I'm guessing they have software that contains a full bill of materials for each vehicle. Boeing does this for every individual plane, and a plane is significantly more complex than a Tesla. I'm sure they are very aware of how many of each parts are out there on the road. I wouldn't be surprised if the vehicles themselves periodically phone home with use information so they can predict wear and tear.

AFAIK that's pretty standard for most manufacturers. I can look up my SUV's VIN online and get its full configuration.

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#75
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, it runs only on hydrogen (to EV direct drive). https://m.hyundaiusa.com/nexo/ . Zero emissions, refuels in five minutes at one of California's 40 stations. Soon all hydrogen production will be renewable from solar and wind electrolysis. Exciting times.

It's the hydrogen that makes it a hybrid. The parent comment is correct. Being a hybrid does not require eg a gasoline motor. It's not strictly an electric vehicle, it requires hydrogen in the process. Their own diagram is very clear about this matter: motor + fuel cell + hydrogen + battery. https://m.hyundaiusa.com/images/vehicles/pages/vlp/2019/nexo...

That's not the common definition of hybrid. Here, electricity directly powers an electric motor and there are no emissions. Is a Tesla a hybrid because some of its electricity comes from regenerative breaking? How about if some comes from from ions in an electrolyte solution?

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are Tesla owners really this sensitive? I mean they do have prototypes out there, it's not like they're making up what the mileage is, they clearly have demoed that it works, it's just about producing the vehicles now.

> it's just about producing the vehicles now. That is the hardest part, and all that matters. Anyone can make one concept car. Not everyone can make hundreds of thousands of them per year.

Agreed that producing is tough, but what was said above about it being "vaporware" is complete nonsense though.

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#77
post #71

This is good. It's Tesla focusing on making better cars. More range is good. Faster charging is good. Those are real things. Yesterday's claims about Tesla operating a million self-driving taxis by 2020 were, well, not taken too seriously. The new stuff is all at the high end, though. The $35,000 Model 3 is still absent from the product line.

It’s not absent, it’s just hidden. You can order one if you call.

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought a 2013 Model S recently that had its wheels swapped with a 2016 Model S by a third party before sale (I didn't care for the 21" wheels that were on the 2013, and the buyer of the 2016 wanted them). Shortly after driving away from the dealer, the tire pressure sensor system reported faults. After bringing it in to Tesla they said the newer tires and older car were not compatible, but they could easily downgra…

I'd bet that the TPMS (tire pressure monitor/sensor) in the wheels is an off the shelf component purchased from a top-10 supplier in the automotive industry, and the problem was as simple as not having the TPMS programmed for the car. This is the same problem you can encounter if you replace all four TPMS in most any medium to high end car manufactured after about 2006, and the tire shop forgets to use their handheld…

Your local Walmart auto care center will reset/relearn the TPMS system for free, and the tool they use does support Tesla.

Re: Changes to Models S and X allow them to travel longer without larger batteries

#79
What is super cool about Tesla is their laser sharp focus on creating a good electric vehicle. From the autonomy announcement and then this one, they are creating tools purpose built for cars, like new chips for self driving, battery tech etc. They have done so much in so little time, we have come to expect more from them. There is only so much a car company can innovate, Tesla has gone beyond it.

Edit: I am a Tesla fanboy but I don't condone their false advertising around FSD.

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