We should recap all of the latest hints about this announcement that we've seen (word for word), from all the various sources. I haven't seen it updated recently. I'll start.
Please reply on this thread if you have any additional sources - I'll add it here to have in one place:
Elon, Twitter - Apr 2:
Today's Tesla announcement is actually the 2nd in a 5 part trilogy (love Douglas Adams)
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/319119973366784002
Elon v. Betty Liu, Bloomberg - Apr 2:
And then there's a 3rd announcement that I won't quite talk about, but I think is pretty cool - except to say that if you're driving a Model S, it's right under your nose.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS2BCL6SWYI - 8:49 min
Elon, Twitter - May 9:
elonmusk: There is a way for the Tesla Model S to be recharged throughout the country faster than you could fill a gas tank.
realbhuwan: @elonmusk yeah, we're waiting for superchargers
pjhornak: @realbhuwan @elonmusk hint that's not a supercharger
realbhuwan: @PJHORNAK doubt it is anything else.
elonmusk: @realbhuwan Don't forget the mystery announcement. Part 5 of the trilogy.
pratik_shah: @elonmusk only in US or across the globe?
elonmusk: @pratik_shah worldwide
<---- this has since been deleted
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/332516435488280577
Tweet capture with "worldwide" from:
http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/show...-upcoming-under-your-nose-announcement/page34
SEC 10-Q - May 10th
Other factors that may influence the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles, and specifically electric vehicles, include:
* our capability to rapidly swap out the Model S battery pack and the development of specialized public facilities to perform such swapping, which do not currently exist but which we plan to introduce in the near future;
http://ir.teslamotors.com/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1193125-13-212354&CIK=1318605 - Page 39
Javier Verdura, Core77 - May 28:
Charging technology is only going to improve with time. Charging times will decrease significantly and range will increase accordingly. In the very near future, the argument that internal combustion automobiles are more convenient than electric vehicles will be a moot point. You will be able to arrive at a charging station with an empty battery and drive off with a full charge faster than you can fill up a gas tank.
http://www.core77.com/blog/announce...with_javier_verdura_of_tesla_motors_24947.asp
(The tie in is the "faster than you can fill up a gas tank" - wording that Elon used on May 9th).
Elon, Jim Cramer interview, May 31:
@retrowallstt: Given the downtime (20+min) at recharging stations, is there any plan to create a "customer experience" during that time?
Elon: Well, we're aiming to keep improving the charge speed, and then we get some other ideas for minimizing people's time at charge stations. But...
(???? What is the exact wording here? My speakers are too weak to decipher). But I think... we'll come up with some better entertaining things over time.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100779662 - 13:40 min
Weakly related information:
Tesla Patent Filing, Feb 16:
A method of optimizing the operation of the power source of an electric vehicle is provided, where the power source is comprised of a first battery pack (e.g., a non-metal-air battery pack) and a second battery pack (e.g., a metal-air battery pack). The power source is optimized to minimize use of the least efficient battery pack (e.g., the second battery pack) while ensuring that the electric vehicle has sufficient power to traverse the expected travel distance before the next battery charging cycle.
http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20120041625
Tesla Patent Filing, Feb 16:
A power source comprised of a first battery pack (e.g., a non-metal-air battery pack) and a second battery pack (e.g., a metal-air battery pack) is provided, wherein the second battery pack is only used as required by the state-of-charge (SOC) of the first battery pack or as a result of the user selecting an extended range mode of operation. Minimizing use of the second battery pack prevents it from undergoing unnecessary, and potentially lifetime limiting, charge cycles. The second battery pack may be used to charge the first battery pack or used in combination with the first battery pack to supply operational power to the electric vehicle.
http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20120041624
Tesla Patent Filing, Feb 16:
A system and method for charging a metal-air battery pack at the maximum possible rate while maintaining an ambient oxygen concentration below a preset concentration is provided, thereby minimizing the risks associated with generating oxygen during the charging cycle.
http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20120041623