New Tesla Model S may be the Quickest Production Car in the World
On Tuesday Elon Musk announced an upgraded Model S that may be the fastest accelerating production car for sale anywhere in the world. According to Tesla, the car may be capable of a 0-60 mph time of 2.5 seconds. The new Model S will use a 100 kWh battery, an upgrade over the 90 kWh currently in use. The larger battery will allow for improved range or greater use of the improved acceleration.
The 3/10s of a second improvement in acceleration of the new model, according to Musk, is due to improved cell chemistry in the battery's anode, the component responsible for discharging electrons. The new anodes are shifting from using synthetic graphite to partially using silicon. Tesla hopes to shift towards higher amounts of silicon in its anodes to improve performance in the long term. However, silicon is a much more difficult material to use in this role. Because of the increased manufacturing risk, Tesla needs to avoid releasing a new technology that isn't reliable or it could face costly delays or performance issues that may cause investors to lose faith in the young company.
The LaFerrari and Porsche 918 Spyder were production vehicles with faster acceleration and million dollar price tags but neither is currently available for sale. The new Tesla will cost approximately $135,000.
Why this news is important
Tesla is struggling with cash flow as it transitions from a niche automotive company into a large scale manufacturer of batteries, home based energy production, and affordable vehicles. Having the ability to claim the world's quickest production car should create positive investor sentiment and some sales, helping Musk to continue raising the funding necessary to build out Tesla's manufacturing capacity.
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