Elon Musk already confirmed that the Tesla Model 3 will not have the same battery pack as the Model S and X. Now, a report revealed that the vehicle is undergoing testing with a different battery option lower than 100 kWh.
Tesla is carrying out test mules for the car, dubbed as "Model 3 70D," with a 70 kWh battery pack and dual motors, Electrek reported from sources. With that battery, the high-end, all-wheel-drive vehicle is expected to reach around 300 miles on a full charge.
The car's dual motor configuration is better than the rear-wheel-drive model. Having dual motors allows the vehicle to fine-tune the torque between the two axles. The car having a 0.21 drag coefficient and being 20 percent smaller than the Model S also means it can travel up to ~230 Wh per mile on average. With that, a single charge of the car can attain around 304 miles.
The Tesla Model 3's deviation from a 100 kWh battery was because its wheelbase can't fit the huge battery, Musk said on Twitter. However, the car having a 70 kWh battery pack isn't a guarantee when the test mule program ends. It's possible that the company will change it in the final product, but they can also keep it.
@jovanik21 @Veidit No, will be lower. Wheelbase can't fit 100.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 7, 2017
Model S models come with a 60, 75, 90 or a 100 kWh battery, and it's highly likely that the company's upcoming vehicle will also have those options. Musk also confirmed on Twitter that the Model S, Model X and Model 3 will not have batteries bigger than 100 kWh.
The Tesla Model 3's base version, meanwhile, will probably run for approximately 240 miles on a single charge using a 50 or 55 kWh battery. That vehicle, which will likely cost $35,000, is expected to attract plenty of buyers. Of course, that price will be higher for the high-end model of the car with a 70 kWh battery pack.
The Tesla Model 3 is expected to enter production before this year ends, though some consumers are expecting the car to start production in the first half of 2018. In a Green Car Reports poll on Twitter, 32 percent of voters think that the vehicle will cost less than $55,000. That remains to be seen when the car finally enters the market.
What do you think of the Tesla Model 3 so far? Do you believe that its price will be cheaper than $55,000? Sound off in the comments section below!
