Tesla Unveils Electric-Car Battery With a 315-Mile Range
http://www.wsj.com/articles/tesla-unveils-battery-with-a-315-mile-range-1471981062Aug. 23, 2016
Tesla Motors Inc. said it is offering its electric vehicles with a battery capable of going up to 315 miles on a charge, the first time a major auto maker has provided that much electric range in a vehicle.
The company unveiled new versions of its Model S sedan and Model X sport-utility vehicle with 100 kilowatt-hour batteries; previously the largest battery size was 90 kwh. The upgrade—which Tesla executives said was made possible by increasing the energy density of its battery packs—will allow the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company to sell a P100 version of those two vehicles with Tesla’s well-known “Ludicrous Mode.”
The 315-mile range sets a new benchmark for automotive engineers looking to lessen fears about so-called range anxiety, which drivers encounter when traveling longer distances in an electric car. Because electric cars must be plugged into charging ports that aren’t as readily available as gas stations, nor as fast, many car buyers have refused to even consider one.
Tesla’s Model S sedan will get the 315-mile range. The heavier SUV won’t be able to travel as far on a charge.
The P100D sedan will cost $134,500 and the SUV will cost $135,500. The current Tesla line starts at about $66,000 and can go roughly 200 miles on a single charge....
