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Tesla, Outpaced by Lucid Motors, Claims It Chose Greater Quality by Not Releasing Electric Cars with 956 km of Range
On Twitter, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, made a post that caught the public’s attention regarding one of the determining factors in the electric car competition. He stated that a range of one thousand kilometers could make a car worse. For him, this negative impact comes from the weight of the batteries. The statement came after the profile Whole Mars Catalog tweeted that Lucid Motors manufactured the first EV with a 500-mile range, equivalent to about 904 km. Soon after, the profile added that Tesla would be the first brand to deliver a car with that power in mass, tagging Musk in the post.
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He then stated that, if he wanted to, he could have already produced a range like that but chose greater quality. “We could have made a 600-mile Model S 12 months ago, but that would make the product worse, as 99.9% of the time you’d be carrying unneeded battery mass, which worsens acceleration, handling, and efficiency. Even our car with over 400 miles of range is more than almost anyone will use,” said the Tesla owner, in a translation published by Jady Peroni in an article for the Estadão.
Range Versus Performance
Considering that lithium-ion batteries, standard in electric cars, can become heavy when combined in large quantities, Musk may be right. The use of many units of these batteries can affect the car’s weight, thus reducing power, acceleration, and performance.
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We must remember that Tesla is in the process of developing a more affordable and less toxic lithium-ion battery, which could significantly enhance the brand’s electric car models. This is the 4680 battery, which promises to occupy half the space while providing the same energy as the Model Y battery.
Tesla assures that, with the innovation, the cost per km decreases by 56%, while the range increases by about 16%. Another advantage is that the battery’s lifespan could reach 1 million km, and the structure allows for charging in 15 minutes, maintaining its capacity at 90% even after 4,000 charges.
Cancellation of the Tesla Model S Electric Car with Over 830 km of Range
In June 2021, Elon Musk ended the range of over 830 km for the Tesla Model S. According to him, the Plaid configuration was already sufficient, being the reason for the cancellation. However, another reason may be involved, such as the semiconductor crisis, which delayed the production of the new battery set.
The announcement of this cancellation was also made via Twitter, where the Tesla CEO stated: “Plaid+ is canceled. No need, as the Plaid is very good.” The Plaid+ was a top-of-the-line variant of the Model S, which also includes the Long Range and Plaid, more accessible versions. Until the announcement of the Lucid Air, it would have been the first in the market in terms of range, even though it has not been released.
Record Range with the Lucid Air
Last year, Tesla was dethroned from the position of car with the highest range by Lucid Motors. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Dream Edition Range version of the Lucid Air achieved 520 miles without battery recharges, about 836 km. The range of the Model S is up to 651 km, well below the new Lucid Air.
The new record was achieved due to a set of 900-Volt batteries. The sedan features a 300 kW charger, which charges these batteries in 20 minutes and provides a range of 480 km. In total, the Lucid Air has 22 battery modules that together create 110 kWh. In the Model S, there are 100 kWh. Additionally, Tesla’s rival has two motors that reach 933 hp of power.
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