The progression to higher and higher battery capacities are evolutionary to the point of inevitability for electric cars that fully rely on their on-board lithium-ion cells for movement. As previously suspected, now it seems that Tesla, despite being rather quiet on the subject, is lining up the rollout of a larger 100kWh option for its cars the Model S sedan and Model X SUV.
Presumably it could be specified for the more affordable Model 3 that will be starting deliveries in early 2018.
The indications that Tesla is readying the 100kWh option comes from the Netherlands, where local blog Kenteken.tv states that RDW - the dutch regulating body that certifies Tesla vehicles for sale within the European Union - had released approval logs for some new variants from the EV maker, including entries for a “100D” and “100X”.
Reportedly, the new entries in the RDW database cites a vehicle range of 613km (based on NEDC estimates), a significant bump from the Model S’ current maximum NEDC-estimated range of 509km.
Currently, both the Model S and Model X have 90kWh as their maximum specifiable battery capacity. In the Model S’ case, that figure was reached after a nominal jump from 85kWh after the larger pack was introduced during the debut of the Model X.
Perhaps Tesla had not been trying to keep the update much of a secret either as these claims have been swirling in the earlier months of 2016. They have even, via Facebook in April, posted a picture of an Model S underneath a large painted mural of the “100” emoji - taken in Australia (Melbourne) no less. This, of course, led to people interpret it in no uncertain terms that an 100kWh version was imminent.
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