The recent introduction of Tesla Motors' Model S electric
vehicle raises an important question: How is Tesla able to get a
300-mile range when other EVs are lingering around 100? The
answer is only partially obvious. The Model S's well-known and
oft-repeated 300-mile range applies only to the versions with a
85kWh battery. Even in the world of electric cars, that's a
massive battery. Consider that the series hybrid Chevy Volt uses
a 16kWh battery and the all-electric Nissan Leaf, a 24kWh
battery. As we mentioned a few months ago, 85kWh is big, even
when compared to the Rolls Royce 102EX experimental electric
(1,400 lb and 71kWh) and BYD e6 (72kWh). Still, Tesla is doing
more than just dropping a huge battery into its Model S cars.
The company is squeezing every bit of available juice out of its
vehicles. While the 85kWh unit hits a 300-mile range (according
to EPA measurement methodology), the smaller batteries do well,
too. The Model S's 60kWh battery gets 230 miles of range, while
the 40kWh version hits 160