Elon Musk’s Tesla is resurrecting “Standard Range” variants of the Model S and Model X, which will be priced lower but have significantly reduced ranges as a trade-off. These updated Model S and Model X models will hit showrooms later in 2023
These new versions are more accessible to consumers due to lower prices and shorter driving ranges, but this convenience comes at the cost of reduced battery capacity.
Many of the many Model S and Model X models that Tesla has sold in the past were differentiated from one another by their battery pack capacities, which varied from 40 kWh to 100 kWh. The company has even introduced new variants by reducing the battery pack’s capacity via software. This occurred at a few different times in the company’s history.
Since the mid-2021 refresh of the Model S and Model X, Tesla has only sold two versions of its luxury car and SUV: the “Long Range” and the “Plaid.” By bringing back the “Standard Range” models, Tesla is changing tactics, maybe to appeal to a broader audience by making its products more affordable.
The newly launched “Standard Range” Model S begins at $78,490, a reduction of $10,000 over the previous model. However, it can only go 320 miles on a single charge, much less than the “Long Range” version’s 405-mile range.
Similarly, the Model X “Standard Range” has been reduced in price by $10,000 from its prior iteration. The “Standard Range” Model X can go 269 miles, 79 miles less than the “Long Range” model.
It has been unclear if Tesla can implement these trims by limiting the Long Range battery pack’s capacity through software or by manufacturing whole separate battery packs for each variant. Both possibilities, though, are probably being used. When deliveries begin, which is likely to happen in the next month in the United States, the company promised that further details will be made available.
Suppose Tesla’s new “Standard Range” models feature software-locked battery packs. In that case, owners may be able to access the higher capacity with a software update in the future, albeit doing so might incur extra costs.
