Tesla Model S Efficiency and Range

[Norbert]

And long-trip (SuperCharger) announcement coming "July-ish", "pretty cool".

 

[AnOutsider]

In the conference call, Elon just said the 85kWh battery is EPA 2-cycle at 320 miles of range and 5-cycle at 265 miles.

So, bigger vehicle and besting the roadster by 20 miles (granted the Roadster is on 2-cycle so really besting it by 75 miles).

 

[brianman]

Looks like the 0.22 Cd was lost at some point in the design iterations...

with a Cd of approximately 0.24

Model S Efficiency and Range | Blog | Tesla Motors

 

[tommolog]

So what would the EPA rating be for the window sticker? 320, 265 or a combination thereof? Or do they do a completely different test for that?

 

[tommolog]

OK I just found the answer. The EPA uses the EPA 5 cycle test for the official range rating on the window sticker. So the 85kWh pack will be rated at 265 miles per charge.

 

[AnOutsider]

So what would the EPA rating be for the window sticker? 320, 265 or a combination thereof? Or do they do a completely different test for that?

I believe 265, since the 320 was on the old test and the EPA requires the new test.

Looks like the 0.22 Cd was lost at some point in the design iterations...

Model S Efficiency and Range | Blog | Tesla Motors

Also noticed that, but didn't know enough about all that stuff to know how much worse that is. I assume anything in that range is good already, no?

 

[efusco]

This lets me reach at least 5 major metropolitan areas on a single charge from where I live in BFE! Realistically a brief top-up charge enroute will be necessary if I want to carry my whole family, cargo, use the AC (which my wife will insist upon), and the roads around here have a lot of steep hills and it's often windy. But, saying all that, a brief top up enroute will allow me to drive very comfortably to those cities and not have to resort to a gasser.

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

0.24 Cd

Also noticed that, but didn't know enough about all that stuff to know how much worse that is. I assume anything in that range is good already, no?

Just updated the wiki page
Automobile drag coefficient - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's still the third-best Cd for a production car ever! The current Prius and the original Insight are right behind at 0.25.

 

[dsm363]

Elon just tweeted the prize is for LA to SF (300 miles). Guess I'm out for the contest.

Impressive Cd though on a car that doesn't look like they were trying to hard to make it aerodynamic.

 

[AnOutsider]

Just updated the wiki page
Automobile drag coefficient - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's still the third-best Cd for a production car ever! The current Prius and the original Insight are right behind at 0.25.

Thanks for that GG. I'm surprised the GT-R is #11 with that behemoth front end!

 

[brianman]

Just updated the wiki page
Automobile drag coefficient - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's still the third-best Cd for a production car ever! The current Prius and the original Insight are right behind at 0.25.

Or, the best in this century...

"Century's best coefficient of drag for a production automobile" has a nice ring to it.

 

[Todd Burch]

It's #1 for cars without wheel pants.

(And #1 for non-ugly cars...just my opinion).

 

[Majerus]

This is pretty cool on engadget now. Nice video as well

Tesla publishes Model S efficiency and range stats, expects 350 highway miles per charge -- Engadget

 

[Kipernicus]

We need to get the famous hypermilers Helen & John Taylor into a Model S. They recently drove 1,626 miles on one tank in a Passat TDI.

 

[Mookuh]

Thanks for that GG. I'm surprised the GT-R is #11 with that behemoth front end!

The Cd only describes how aerodynamic the shape of an area is. The surface area is multiplied by the Cd. So, as was pointed out elsewhere on the forums, the Model S likely still loses more power to the wind than the Roadster does simply because ith as a larger area of attack.
Unless of course you mean the shape with "behemoth", then I apologize for misunderstanding

 

[Yggdrasill]

Does anyone know if the range graph is with the aerodynamic tires?

(I would ask the question on the blog, but for some reason I can't post to the Tesla site. I just get the maintenance page.)

 

[tdelta1000]

I think this is great news for all reservation holders, followers of the Model S and EV enthusiasts a like. Tesla Motors has managed to over deliver while under promising at the same time.

TM could see a jump in web traffic, store traffic and automotive press behind the news that the S can go farther than prevouisly stated.

Great work Tesla Motors!!!

 

[VolkerP]

It's not all good news, though. Using the 5 cycle EPA test procedure instead of 2 cycle resulted in a 265 miles range for the 85kWh. That's 12% short of 300 miles. I know Tesla stated 300 at constant 55mph. I know they warned to expect a drop of up to 30% from the new EPA 5 cycle test in earlier statements. Nevertheless, some media will report a "Tesla missed the mark by wide and clear" headline. We all know that, as well as what to think of these media. Some might run with the headline but give the full story in the body. Some will not.

I had the crazy thought of Tesla adding some 12% pack capacity but that would look like they were caught in a blunder and making up for that. Won't happen. :frown:

 

[Robert.Boston]

@VolkerP: My reaction was just the opposite. I was braced for hearing a 5-cycle figure of 210 miles (=300 * 0.7), which is the default adjustment. I feel as though we just gained 55 miles, instead of losing 25.

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

VolkerP is right though.

Exhibit A: EPA rates range of 300 mile Tesla Model S at 265 miles | The Car Tech blog - CNET Reviews

the company revealed that the 85 kilowatt-hour Model S only achieved a range of 265 miles.