Musk: The new standard for electric vehicle range should reach at least 480 kilometers

Original image of Tencent Auto

According to \"Forbes\" reports, Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently announced that it will stop producing the standard mileage version of Model Y and switch to a long-range version. This is undoubtedly sending a message that Tesla intends to use this as a new standard for electric vehicle battery life.

As early as 2013, typical electric vehicles produced by traditional automakers had a range of less than 100 miles. For example, the Nissan Leaf was about 73 miles, while the Chevrolet Spark EV and BMW i3 exceeded 80 miles. But for the few consumers who can afford a Model S, a Model S with a power of 85 kWh and an EPA-approved battery life of up to 265 miles can be purchased for $80,000.

By 2020, 265 miles has become an average. Any model below this standard, such as the Audi E-Tron, which has an EPA-approved battery life of only 218 miles, is difficult to be accepted by the market, especially when the suggested retail price is close to US$80,000.

Now, at least for Tesla, the new standard for electric car battery life has been upgraded to 300 miles (approximately 482 kilometers).

Elon Musk explained in the second quarter earnings conference call last Wednesday on why Tesla no longer provides standard mileage Model Y:

\"As far as passenger cars are concerned, I think the new standard for cruising range will be around 300 miles as stipulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consumers will really expect close to 300 miles of range.\"

Musk further stated that this new standard is necessary because the battery life will vary according to many factors such as ambient temperature, car load, and topography. 300 miles is the minimum standard, because car owners also need to reserve a suitable mileage to deal with emergencies such as when the battery is running out but there are no fast charging stations around.

This is very reasonable. The actual battery life of electric vehicles is usually difficult to reach the rated or EPA estimated mileage, so it is necessary to reserve a margin. Just like the early Chevrolet Spark EV, although the rated battery life exceeds 80 miles, the actual battery life is rarely close to this standard. Range anxiety was once the biggest obstacle to the popularity of early electric vehicles.

Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency currently requires a driving range of 238 miles, variable factors such as weather, terrain, load, and driving speed will severely affect the driving range of electric vehicles. The same is true for the standard mileage version of the Model 3, which starts at $37,990. The EPA estimates it has a range of 250 miles.

Therefore, for consumers who are considering buying electric vehicles, they may wish to use Tesla's new standards for electric vehicle battery life as a reference.