Tesla News: Top Speed 200mph for Model S, 4680 Battery Updates, and More
Tesla enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the latest updates from the company and their latest offerings. This time around, we’re looking at the Model S plaid, the 4680 battery updates, and Tesla’s charging infrastructure. Let’s dive in!
Tesla Model S Plaid Finally Reaches Top Speed of 200mph
It’s been a long time coming, but it looks like Tesla’s Model S plaid will finally start achieving the top speed of 200 miles per hour that was promised when the car was first announced. The vehicle’s previous top speed was 163 miles per hour, but last year, Tesla released a track mode that increased the speed to 175 miles per hour. The only thing holding the Plaid back from reaching 200mph was its brakes.
According to reports, Tesla is now offering a carbon ceramic brake upgrade kit for $20,000 in their shop, which should help the Model S plaid achieve its top speed. So far, the only car we’ve seen with this upgrade installed is MKBHD’s personal plaid Model S. However, a race car driver who has collaborated with Tesla in the past recently released a video showing a Plaid Model S with the ceramic brake upgrade and no speed limiter at Circuit Dubris. He was able to hit top speeds of 217 mph, which is more than impressive and is finally in line with Tesla’s original promises.
Tesla’s Model X Plaid Proves its Worth in Drag Race Against Ferrari and Lamborghini
Tesla’s electric vehicles continue to shine when it comes to speed and performance. In a recent video posted by CarWow, the Tesla Model X plaid, priced at $109,990, went head-to-head with the Ferrari sf90 and Lamborghini svj in a drag race. The Ferrari and Lambo both cost around half a million dollars each, but the Model X plaid held its own with 1020 horsepower and an electric engine. The Model X plaid won one of the three races, while the Ferrari won one as well, and the third race was too close to call. It’s impressive to see a family-friendly SUV keep up with Italian sports cars with ease.
Tesla’s Struggles with 4680 Battery Production May Delay Cybertruck Release
Tesla’s 4680 batteries were first announced at the company’s Battery Day in September 2020, with Elon Musk promising a 50% reduction in cell cost through a series of innovations. The 4680 cells would allow for a larger cell size and a new dry electrode coating process, which could reduce the size and cost of a battery factory while increasing cell performance. However, the company has been slow to release this technology, reportedly due to issues with the dry coating process for the cathode.
According to Reuters, Tesla has been struggling with battery-related performance and production issues that have delayed the launch of the Cybertruck. The company has reportedly signed a deal with Korea’s lnfco and electronic materials company to supply high nickel cathodes that could increase the energy density of the 4680 cells. While Tesla may be able to increase 4680 output 5-fold by the end of the year, it’s unclear whether this will be enough to meet demand for the Cybertruck. However, Elon Musk did mention during the Q3 2022 earnings call that the Cybertruck would not be dependent on 4680 cells initially and could launch with the 2170 cells currently being used.
Tesla’s Charging Infrastructure Continues to Expand across the Country
Tesla’s charging infrastructure is one of their biggest strengths, and the company continues to expand it across the country. The company has been able to reduce the cost of installing Superchargers to about one-fifth of their competition, which translates to about $100,000 per station. Tesla’s charging network is open to other automakers via the CCS magic dock, complying with federal funding requirements.
Tesla has been working on a massive supercharger installation in California, aiming to install 420 new supercharging points at four different locations. The largest installation includes 164 stalls, making it the world’s largest charging station. However, Tesla has recently decided to walk away from state funding for these projects due to the unnecessarily cumbersome payment infrastructure requirements set by the California Clean Energy Commission (CEC). Since the company prefers to accept payments through the Tesla app, they’ve decided to forego the 50% requirement for CCS connectors on the stations.
Final Thoughts
Tesla continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible with their electric vehicles, speed, and charging infrastructure. While they’ve experienced some delays in delivering on their promises with regards to the 4680 battery updates, it’s clear that the company is doing everything it can to stay on track. This dedication should be commended, as electric vehicles are becoming more popular, and it’s clear that Tesla intends to be a leading player in this space.