Tesla Model S gets 647km range

All North American Tesla Model S Long Range Plus vehicles now have an official EPA-rated range of 647km (402 miles).

That’s a nearly 20% increase compared to a 2019 Model S 100D with the same battery pack design and well ahead of the 2012 Model S with 426km (265 mile) range.

It achieves what Tesla chief executive Elon Musk touted as the “400-mile electric car”,

Tesla says all Model S Long Range Plus vehicles will receive the new rating.

The increased range has been achieved through reducing vehicle weight, including lighter materials used in the battery pack and drive units; new 8.5-inch ‘Tempest’ aero tyres and wheels reducing rolling resistance, increased drive unit efficiency, maximised regenerative braking and more.

The Model S Long Range Plus has also recently received a price reduction of US$5000.

Tesla adds that its supercharger network now encompasses more than 17,000 worldwide.

V3 supercharging is on three continents, enabling up to a 50% decrease in charging times compared to V2 technology.

Meanwhile, Tesla has approval to use a cobalt-less lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery in its China-made Model 3.

New estimates of the battery’s cost show it may cut the vehicle’s price by 15%-20%, still delivering a profit margin on the vehicle of 40%.

Tesla is also close to achieving, with CATL, a battery pack that lasts a ‘million-miles’ (2 million kilometres) or 16 years.

Media are head scratching how Tesla’s market capitalisation at more than US$185 billion made it the world’s most valuable car company – worth more than Toyota and with greater market value than Ford, GM and Fiat Chrysler combined.