Okay, so you've generated savings through advances in battery packs... do you:
1. Keep price and profit margin the same, but increase the mileage (while understanding that most owners, with exception of occasional road trips, don't *need* more mileage)?
2. Keep mileage and profit margin the same, but reduce the price of the vehicle, so that more people can purchase it?
3. Keep mileage and price the same, but reduce the cost, so that you meet your profit margin requirements?
You get one of these three. Given that most drivers simply don't have range anxiety already for their daily use, I don't understand why they'd go to #1, until it becomes a primary decision-making point for the drivers. To Tesla, right now, #3 looks the best as they need to continue generating cash to fund development of Models X and 3. #2 really isn't that great of an option, because opening up a bigger chunk on the lower end can push away customers on the upper end - you can already make a Model S the same price as a $40-50k car in terms of TCO during its life.
It's not just about max mileage... The difference between 3 and 5 hours to me is worthless - my kids have to stop every 3 hours anyway. For others, 4 hours or 5 hours may be the limit, but then you have to ask how often you do that? I take 4-5 long road trips a year, meaning 5 hours would save me about 10 hours a year bypassing a charger - MAXIMUM. To that, I say "meh". I recognize there are some customers it would really help, those who drive between two homes on a near-weekly or bi-weekly basis; but how many of them are there?
I suspect Tesla knows from their data collection and can make the best decision between 1/2/3 for their business needs.
1. Keep price and profit margin the same, but increase the mileage (while understanding that most owners, with exception of occasional road trips, don't *need* more mileage)?
2. Keep mileage and profit margin the same, but reduce the price of the vehicle, so that more people can purchase it?
3. Keep mileage and price the same, but reduce the cost, so that you meet your profit margin requirements?
You get one of these three. Given that most drivers simply don't have range anxiety already for their daily use, I don't understand why they'd go to #1, until it becomes a primary decision-making point for the drivers. To Tesla, right now, #3 looks the best as they need to continue generating cash to fund development of Models X and 3. #2 really isn't that great of an option, because opening up a bigger chunk on the lower end can push away customers on the upper end - you can already make a Model S the same price as a $40-50k car in terms of TCO during its life.
It's not just about max mileage... The difference between 3 and 5 hours to me is worthless - my kids have to stop every 3 hours anyway. For others, 4 hours or 5 hours may be the limit, but then you have to ask how often you do that? I take 4-5 long road trips a year, meaning 5 hours would save me about 10 hours a year bypassing a charger - MAXIMUM. To that, I say "meh". I recognize there are some customers it would really help, those who drive between two homes on a near-weekly or bi-weekly basis; but how many of them are there?
I suspect Tesla knows from their data collection and can make the best decision between 1/2/3 for their business needs.