Tesla Cancels 40 KWh Battery Pack Option in Model S
Tesla has announced that due to apparent lack of demand, it will not offer a 40 kWh battery in the Model S sedan.
Originally, there was three options that customers could choose from, either a 40, 60 or 85 kWh. Now, Tesla says that the 40 kWh won’t enter production, as only four percent of pre-ordered Model S’s were purchased with the small battery pack.
The Model S got a price bump for 2013, which put a base Model S at $59,900 before federal tax credits. Now that the small battery has been foregone, a base Model S will sell for $69,900, assuming pricing stays the same.
SEE ALSO: Tesla Model S Gets $2,500 Price Increase
Those customers that did opt for the 40 kWh battery will be delivered cars with a 60 kWh battery pack that is electronically limited to a range of 160 miles, the same as what would have been delivered by the smaller battery. Those customers will benefit from improved torque and top speed, and can pay to have the range brought back up to the 230 mile range of the 60 kWh battery.
SEE ALSO: Tesla Supercharger Network Launched for Fast Charging
The announcement came as part of a sales announcement, in which Tesla said that vehicle deliveries exceeded 4,750 units last year. The company also said that all 60 kWh equipped cars will now come with built in supercharger hardware.
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Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>
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Maybe it's just me, but could Tesla Not 'STILL' offer the 40 kWh 'Limited' option on the 60 kWh Pack design, to extend sales down to the less heeled, now that production is up, and awareness is greatly increased? A year ago, there were a lot less people that heard about the Tesla, and most still ask - 'Who Makes the Tesla?' in my conversations! Giving the Tesla a Lower Price Option today could still benefit many of my Co-workers with long distance drives in their commute, and even at just 160 Miles range - this could cover their needs, where no other car in the EV World today could, and also get them into the 'Tesla Family'! They could also get the price then under the new CARB Limits of $60,000 for Rebates {"California could put $60,000 MRSP limit on EV tax rebates http://aol.it/RgyIWq"} Another Odd Thing they could do - is a mid-price Split - on an 85 kWh Battery Pack Version of the car - limited to the range of the 60 kWh Pack, but with the otherwise 85 kWh Performance and built-in Super Charging Feature, with a 'upgrade' to the full 85 kWh option, for a simple over the phone credit card payment! I would hazard a Guess - but They could even offer an even smaller battery pack - with a Super Charger Availability, if they chose the A123 cells in the 18650 format for such a pack. Since the current cells in use are generally 3100 mAh x 3.6 Volt, versus the A123 cells at just 1100 mAh x 3.3 Volt, at best they could make with this change would be about a 27.5 kWh Pack, with about a 100 - 110 Mile Range (Still better than a LEAF, or any other Current All Electric, however - with Super Charging included, it could still work to bring people into the Tesla Family!)