Three hundred ten.
That’s the electrical assortment of a $44,000 version of Tesla’s Model 3, unveiled in its final form Friday night. It’s a jaw-dropping new benchmark for cheap range in an electric vehicle, and it’s only one of many surprises Tesla had in store as it handed over the keys to its own first 30 clients.
Tesla has obtained in over 500,000 deposits at $1,000 a piece, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk told reporters ahead of the event. This has created a daunting backlog that could take over a year to fulfill—and that was before Musk took the stage before thousands of workers, owners, and reservation-holders to lift the curtain on the business’s most monumental accomplishment yet.
“We finally have a great, affordable car—#x 2019 & that;s exactly what this day means,” Musk said. “I’m confident this will be the best car in this price range, hands down. Judge for yourself. ”
Here’s some of exactly what Tesla revealed at its plant in Fremont, California:
Two Battery Versions
Tesla has simplified the manufacturing process “” Musk said. In precisely the identical factory space where Tesla can build 50,000 Model S or Model X cars, it will soon have the ability to produce 200,000 Model 3s. Part of that is a result of a simplified package of choices.
The car comes in two battery types: standard and extended range. Here’s how they break down:
Standard Battery:
Price: $35,000
Range: 220 miles (EPA estimated)
Supercharging rate: 130 miles in 30 minutes
Zero to 60 mph time: 5.6 minutes
Long Range Battery:
Price: $44,000
Range: 310 miles
Supercharging rate: 170 miles in 30 minutes (Same as Tesla’s Model S)
Zero to 60 mph time: 5.1 minutes
These 18-inch Aero wheels come standard and improve aerodynamic performance, but Tesla wouldn’t say by how much. A slippery 19-inch Sport wheel upgrade costs $1,500.
Source: U.S. Patent Office
Just one additional electrical car on earth has broken the 300-mile range barrier: the most expensive versions of Tesla’s Model S, an ultra-luxury car that costs $97,500 or more. The new Model 3 has cheaper range accessibility than the current record holder, the $37,500 Chevy Bolt, which is outclassed in every way from the Model 3.
The battle for range gets a little bit more ferocious each year.
The standard Model 3 version won’t be available until Fall. The version is available now for the thousands of Tesla workers who placed reservations last year. A premium alternatives bundle includes open-pore wood decoration an all-glass roof, premium sound, heated seats, and premium seat materials.
Unlike previous cars, Tesla wouldn’t disclose the size of both battery packs. All cars will be indistinguishable from the outside, with no badging indicating superior choices or battery size. The program is for the Model S and X to do the same.
We Drove the Model 3
The Model 3 is tasteful indoors and outside, and in ways that are difficult to appreciate from the photos. I was allowed to drive one. It’s not as fast as the more expensive Model S—the fastest production car in the world—but the steering is tight and it seems more nimble due to a smaller footprint and lighter battery. The glass-roofed interior feels like a mini-atrium, and the 15-inch touch screen is bright and intuitively laid out. The dashboard is totally devoid of knobs, dials, and gauges. I didn’t miss the traditional instrument panel at the least.
A few surprises that are technological were there. The ventilation system is a marvel, stretching. The touch screen allows both the driver and the passenger to instantly direct a broad stream of air wherever they need it. The scrolling dials on the steering wheel move in all four directions and allow you to adjust everything from the side windows to the music playlist.
These novelties come courtesy of some Tesla veterans. Executives responsible for the Model 3 have been there from the start, leading the business from tiny upstart to icon of automotive want. Chief Technology Officer JB Straubel was the battery architect behind the first Tesla Roadster. Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen designed the company’s three most vaunted accomplishments: the Model S, Model X, and Model 3.
“The inside is nothing like any other car out there,” stated von Holzhausen. “When you get in the car, how does it feel? When you see the car, how does it make you feel? When you push the car, what does it inspire in you? ”
‘Burrito Around a Coat Hanger’
Tesla also aspires to be the world’s safest automaker, and the Model 3 is no exception. While the last security scores by ratings agencies aren’t out however, some of the tests have been conducted. The movie below compares the side-impact test of the Model 3 against the Volvo S60, which is considered to be one of the safest cars on the street.
“In the Model 3, #x 201D & #x 2019; re fine, & you; Musk said. Meanwhile, “the Volvo is wrapped like a burrito around a coat hanger. #x 2019 & it;s not great. ”
Curse of the S Curve
Despite all of these achievements in range, technology, and security, Musk sounded grave about the road ahead. “The biggest challenge that we face here is ‘S Curve’ manufacturing,” he said, describing a ramp up of production that starts slow, then increases dramatically before tapering off. “That ‘S’ part is us going through hell. ”
“Welcome to hell,” Musk told his workers, warning of the tough six months ahead of time.
Tesla
The Model 3 is an all-new automobile platform for Tesla, with novel motor technology and unique battery architecture. The vehicle is designed for ease of manufacturing, and almost everything is controlled with the touchscreen, which takes the two control knobs on the steering wheel as well as inputs from voice commands.
Musk reiterated his projections of a rather slow start in the upcoming few months and then increasing by 50,000 a month, and the end of the year to a rate of 20,000 a month by the end of 2018. It’s an aggressive program that will more than double Tesla’s total production rate in six months, and then quintuple it.
“I have high confidence that we’ll get to the end of the ‘S Curve,’ but it’s impossible to predict the shape of it,” Musk said.
The Challenge Ahead
The key challenge, of course, is making all of these cars quickly enough and without the problems that plagued the launch of its more complicated Model X. Tesla plans to make 500,000 cars annually and is counting on its own battery factory under construction near Reno, Nevada, to push down battery costs. Both the Gigafactory as well as the Fremont factory and some workers have showers and sleeping bags, in expectation of the long nights 24, respectively.
Tesla’s “Master Plan”—a blog article laid out by Musk in August 2006—was to enter the automobile industry at high-end prices, then push down-market as fast as possible with progressively higher volumes. The Model 3 is the Palo Alto, California-based firm’s fourth car, following the Roadster sports car, the Model S sedan, and the Model X sport utility vehicle.
If the Model 3 is successful, it might indicate the completion of the Master Plan and a new age of electrification. “This is a great day for Tesla,” Musk said. “It’s something that we’ve been working for since the company’s start. ”
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