Tesla’s updated Model S just broke an incredible barrier for EVs

By Miles Branman Published December 11, 2017

tesla-model-s-updates — 2016 Tesla Model S Image used with permission by copyright holder

As if Tesla isn’t in the news enough, the Environmental Protection Agency has just given EV fans another reason to celebrate: The face-lifted 2016 Model S 90D has scored a 303.2-mile, exceeding that coveted 300-mile marker for the first time ever, as stated by the EPA’s 2016 Green Vehicle Guide.

No doubt a result of the new grill-less design, the 90D (not to be confused with the more potent P90D) increases its range by 9 miles per charge over the previous design. As for the “Ludicrous” P90D, its range actually gets a bigger bump, from 253 miles to 270.

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The other factor in the 90D’s new benchmark is the fact that the EPA actually tested the car with a 90kWh battery. Until now, EPA estimates were based on an 85kWh battery, plus percentage increase approximations. Sounds a bit lazy on the EPA’s part, but to be fair, it feels like Tesla updates its hardware or software every few weeks, so it gets a little tough to keep up.

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Read More: Tesla Gives Its Model S Its First Facelift

Beyond a longer range, the refreshed Model S sedan hastens its charge time a bit with a new 48A system (as opposed to the previous 40A unit). For folks across the pond, the good news continues as Tesla has added 150 “Destination Chargers” to its Euro recharging network.

It was a given that the whole debate over range anxiety would fade as battery and charging technology improved, but with the rate of Tesla’s innovation, critics may have to look for new arguments against using an EV as the main form of transportation. Though the Model S certainly isn’t in everyone’s budget, and Tesla’s more affordable option, the Model 3 is still a ways from production (we can probably count on some delays), other automakers who are diving into pure EVs will likely hit that 300-mile threshold soon.

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Miles Branman doesn't need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn't strong in his own family, Miles…

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Rivian R2 EV’s new LG battery boosts storage capacity sixfold

Rivian R2

The Rivian R2, the EV maker’s much-anticipated affordable electric SUV, will be powered by U.S.-made batteries promising to store six times as much energy as those currently used.

South Korea’s LG Energy Solutions announced it will be supplying LG’s 4695 cylindrical batteries to Rivian as part of a five-year agreement.

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Costco partners with Electric Era to bring back EV charging in the U.S.

costco ev charging us electricera fast station 1260x945

Costco, known for its discount gas stations, has left EV drivers in need of juicing up out in the cold for the past 12 years. But that seems about to change now that the big-box retailer is putting its brand name on a DC fast-charging station in Ridgefield, Washington.
After being one of the early pioneers of EV charging in the 1990s, Costco abandoned the offering in 2012 in the U.S.
While opening just one station may seem like a timid move, the speed at which the station was installed -- just seven weeks -- could indicate big plans going forward.
Besides lightening-speed installation, Electric Era, the Seattle-based company making and installing the charging station, promises to offer “hyper-reliable, battery-backed fast charging technology in grid-constrained locations.”
Its stalls can deliver up to 200 kilowatts and come with built-in battery storage, allowing for lower electricity rates and the ability to remain operational even when power grids go down.
If that sounds like it could very well rival Tesla’s SuperCharger network, it’s no coincidence: Quincy Lee, its CEO, is a former SpaceX engineer.
Costco also seems confident enough in the company to have put its brand name on the EV-charging station. Last year, the wholesaler did open a pilot station in Denver, this time partnering with Electrify America, the largest charging network in the U.S. However, Costco did not put its brand name on it.
In an interview with Green Car Reports, Electric Era said it was still in talks with Costco about the opening of new locations. Last year, Costco said it was planning to install fast chargers at 20 locations, without providing further details. It has maintained EV-charging operations in Canada, the UK, Spain, and South Korea.
Meanwhile, the wholesaler’s U.S. EV-charging plans might very well resemble those of rival Walmart, which last year announced it was building its own EV fast-charging network in addition to the arrangements it already had with Electrify America.

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Robotaxi aside, a $25,000 EV would be pointless, Tesla CEO says

Blue Tesla Model 3 Highland on the road

Enthusiasts expecting to one day put their hands on the steering wheel of a $25,000 Tesla EV may feel like they’ve been taken for a ride.
CEO Elon Musk has just put a serious damper on those expectations, saying that outside of the driverless Robotaxi recently unveiled by Tesla, a regular $25,000 model would be “pointless” and “silly.”
During a conference call with investors, Musk was asked to clarify whether such a model was in the works.
"Basically, having a regular $25K model is pointless,” Musk said. “It would be silly. It would be completely at odds with what we believe." Tesla, Musk continued, has “been very clear that the future is autonomous.”
On October 10, Tesla unveiled its much-awaited robotaxi, called the Cybercab, an autonomous-driving EV with no steering wheel or pedals. The company also unveiled the Robovan, a much larger autonomous vehicle expected to carry people or goods.
The automaker said the Cybercab is expected to be produced in 2026 and cost $30,000. Musk, meanwhile, said that it would be a $25,000 car without specifying if that price tag included federal tax credits.
Tesla’s ambiguity about an affordable entry-level model has been going on for years. In 2020, Musk signaled that a $25,000 Tesla would arrive within three years. It was later reported that Tesla had ditched the idea, instead favoring the development of a robotaxi.
Language within Tesla’s latest financial report still hints that new affordable Tesla models are on the way. But Musk’s latest comments are putting a floor on just how affordable these would be. So far, Tesla’s Model 3 Rear-Wheel-Drive remains the company’s cheapest model, with a base price of $38,990.
Some rival EV makers, meanwhile, are entering the affordable space more aggressively in the U.S.
General Motors has already put out its Chevy Equinox EV at a price of $27,500, including federal tax credits. Volkswagen America says it plans to release an under-$35,000 EV in the U.S. by 2027.