New Tesla battery, entry model and extended range Model S
Tesla shows off larger batteries and an extended range Model S
When Elon Musk walked onto the stage in front of a car park full of Teslas, he received car-horn applause. Tesla fans around the world were waiting for something big on the brand's Battery Day and they were not left disappointed. Here's everything the Californian electric car maker announced.
Cheaper, larger, lighter batteries
Tesla has announced its new battery, the 4680 (so named because of its diameter and height measurements in millimetres), which does the following:
- Packs in five times the energy!
- Boasts six times more power
- Increases range by 16%
- Is simpler to manufacture
- Will be built in-house by Tesla
- Has fewer parts
- Uses raw silicon, a plentiful element that is cheap
- Shortens the distance electrons have to travel
- Costs less to produce
- Is 56% cheaper per kWh
- Reduces the manufacturing footprint ten times over
- Produces no wastewater
- Forms part of the car's structure, cutting weight by 10%, using more than 350 fewer parts, allows for tighter packaging and potential range gains of 14%.
These cells aren't some pie in the sky future development; it was confirmed that the batteries are already entering production.
When will these new Tesla batteries launch?
Elon Musk predicted it would take about three years to integrate them.
New entry-level Tesla
Musk also announced that Tesla was working on a US$25,000 entry-grade model, though it won't arrive for another three years potentially.
Model S Plaid
The "one last thing" of the event was the Model S "Plaid". It promises a sub-two second 0-100km/h, a startling top speed of 320km/h and 820kW. Altogether, Tesla says it'll do a quarter-mile drag strip rip in less than nine seconds. That means it's the fastest accelerating production car outright.
The Model S Plaid is gunning for the fastest production vehicle lap time record at the Laguna Seca track in California.
It has AWD, three motors and is available for pre-order right now. The drive-away price is $238,976. Tesla expects deliveries will commence late 2021.
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Picture: Supplied
