Why is Tesla still ahead in terms of autonomy?

“Hello, even though new electric models are coming, I want to know why, Tesla Is still ahead in termsAutonomy Its batteries. What is his secret? “
– Charles

Hello Charles,

True, despite the arrival of new players in the electrical world Ford Mustang Mac-E, The Polstar 2, And, soon, Nissan Area and Volkswagen ID.4, Tesla still dominate in terms of battery life.

For reference, a Tesla Model Y Long Range, The entry-level variant of the 75-kilowatt-hour battery-powered model can travel up to 525 kilometers at full charge, according to the EPA. The Ford Mustang Mac-E, which has all-wheel drive and a 98 kilowatt-hour battery (88 usable kilowatt-hours), is, at the same time, limited to 435 kilometers. And for the Polestar 2 and its 78 kilowatt-hour battery, the range is 375 kilometers. How can Tesla achieve such a huge lead?

From the outset it is important to emphasize that Tesla is still one of the only car manufacturers to have designed the entire car, i.e. its electric motor, its systems and batteries. . This do-it-all approach allows Tesla to learn more about technology and develop specifically for dedicated models. For example, the switched reluctance for the Tesla Model 3 created its own version of the synchronous motor.

Another reason is that, unlike many manufacturers that limit maximum battery power for reliability, Tesla gives customers the full capacity of their batteries. For example, in the Tesla Model S Long Range Plus, the battery uses up to 100 kilowatts at its full capacity. In contrast, the battery of the Audi e-tron has a capacity of 95.3 kilowatt-hours, while only 86.5 kilowatt-hours of that power are available.

However, it should be noted that this practice can have detrimental effects on its degradation if the battery is not used properly. For example, flushing with power limits (close to 0 or 100% charge) can make it worse. In other words, the future of the battery will be in the hands of the owner for better or worse.

Although Tesla is serving its customers 8 year warranty, 160,000 / 192,000 / 240,000 kilometers (depending on the model) on the battery, with a minimum retention of 70% of its capacity, some owners of Tesla vehicles, especially the Model 3, are witnessing rapid deterioration over time, especially if the car is frequently plugged into a 250 kilowatt charging station in the supercharger network.

Tesla is therefore ahead of the competition because it optimizes battery performance without compromising its longevity. However, the California manufacturer is working very closely with battery manufacturers such as LG Chem, Panasonic and more recently CATL in China to create a battery that can work to its full potential without affecting its longevity.

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