Tesla Model S Sales Exceed Target - Q1 guidance of full profitability

It's nice to know about the supercharger feature inclusion for all...

 

Nice, the biggest news is the production problems from last quarter seem to be gone. Now I wish I had pre-ordered a 40kwh model.

 

Interesting that only 4% of orders were for the 40 kWh model.

Making the 60 kWh standard, with the 40 to 60 kWh change via software upgrade is a great idea. Tesla didn't cancel the 40 kWh orders for those that didn't need, or couldn't yet afford, the 60 kWh model. It keeps resale value up as well, as the 4% with the 40 kWh variant at the lower end of the model range would have had their resale value killed without the 60 kWh option for the second buyer.

Fantastic idea! Maybe there is a marketing lessons in this for Toyota and the PIP.

 

The 40 kWh model will probably last a lot longer.

 

I'm thinking if you have battery degradation, tesla simply turns on the software, and you have extra battery. It won't last longer, but it has lower risk of losing range.

 

without another VIN in the mix, i am guessing not. If you are in WA, the upgrade would still be tax free as it the exemption does apply to batteries for EVs

 

Just a guess, but I think their software simply limits how far the 40 kWh model will charge and discharge. If you're going to put a 60 kWh battery in there, you might as well just use all the cells while increasing pack life by limiting charge/discharge capacity, just as the Prius Plug-in does. That is why I think the 40 kWh model will last longer.

 

what a rip job. anyone know what the supposed range of the Tesla 40 is supposed to be? 160? oh but that was Tesla's slightly inflated value so maybe its more like 150? wish i knew but the Tesla 60 is 208 (3.46 miles/kwh) verses 230 and the Tesla 85 is 265 (3.11 miles/kwh) verses 300 which means the Tesla 40 that "could" have gotten maybe 150 miles (assuming about 3.75 miles/kwh??) but will only get 138 miles (assuming the 60 Kwh rate of 3.46 miles/kwh) because of the extra 20 kwh of battery they are carrying around.

sounds like Tesla figured out a way to chisel some more bucks from unsuspecting owners...

 

I was happy to see a Tesla charging unit at the local shopping center here in Woodland. This spot is the only real charging station we have around here. They had 1 Tesla unit, 1 old style legacy unit and 2 32A Clipper Creek CS40 units. The Tesla unit had a huge friggin cord! LOL

 

60 Kwh/208 mile range, is ~ 3 hours of driving at 70 mph.

 

ooops. cant get that far if you drive 70...

 

You're right! forgot for just a minute, like gasoline, the faster you go, burn more for the same distance.

 

Your Questions Answered | Tesla Motors
You can use this calculator and check out the range, but it only goes up to 65 mph. You can try the bigger wheels, night, temperature. the 60kwh is 191 @65mph @50 degrees. The 40kwh is 132 under those conditions. I'm sure someone here has a conversion between 65 mph and 70 mph, its on the website somewhere.

 

So let me see here.... Customer pays for a 40kWh battery, gets a software limited 60 kWh battery so they get the same range.
In addition they get the improved performance of a 60kWh pack, the ability to later upgrade to a 60kWh pack with a phone call, and the ability to access supercharging if they want to upgrade.

Edit: oh, and lets not forget they also get a pack that will very likely last much longer than the 40kWh pack would have.

That sounds as much a rip off to me as the 'Hummer better for the environment than a Prius' argument was valid.

 

Wonder if the Lease as an option from Wells Fargo and US Bank will make sales explode?

 

Sales have been production constrained so far. The lease option/buy back guarante may help sales be able to stay at the 5000/quarter that production can do.

 

I have seen a flurry of Tesla's with paper plates in my hood.

People just love them. I think they are replacing the 7 series, Panamera and Maserati drivers. Typical corporate VP types with deep pockets.