Simple Software Update Increases Tesla Model S Range By Up To 56 Miles Per Week

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

 
Modern electronics usually use a little bit of electricity while they are switched “off,” often for the sake of convenience so that you don’t have to set the time or retain settings or wait awhile for something to start up. However, the settings bit is unnecessary, as they can be (and often are) stored using EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

Normally, the Tesla Model S does not completely switch off when you turn it off, but the company is making some improvements in that area.

White Tesla Model S

Unfortunately, for every day that a Tesla Model S is parked, it loses up to 8 miles of driving range while it is not even in use. That is a whopping 56 miles per week, or a staggering 240 miles per month.

Tesla Motors said that soon an update will be available to solve that problem by powering the vehicle electronics off.

Chip in a few dollars a month to help support independent cleantech coverage that helps to accelerate the cleantech revolution!

Here are some notes from the press release regarding the new “Vehicle Sleep” feature:

“With this release, Model S will power off the display and vehicle electronics each time you exit, transitioning to a ‘sleep’ state. When you return to Model S, you’ll note a modest increase in the time it takes the touchscreen and instrument panel to wake from this energy-saving state.

“Model S will initiate the startup process the moment the key is recognized nearby. You can only begin driving once both displays are ready.”

The driving range of the Tesla Model S depends on the chosen configuration. It can be 160 miles with a 40 kWh battery, 230 miles with a 60 kWh, or 300 miles with an 85 kWh pack (all at a speed of 55 mph*).

If you have the 40 kWh version, and tend to leave it for weeks without driving or charging it, you will want this update.

Source: Autoblog Green

*The faster you drive, the shorter range will be because efficiency decreases as speed increases due to increased drag. This unfortunate rule applies to all types of vehicles.


Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.

Latest CleanTechnica TV Video


Advertisement
 
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.

Nicholas Brown

Has a keen interest in physics-intensive topics such as electricity generation, refrigeration and air conditioning technology, energy storage, and geography. His website is: Kompulsa.com.

Nicholas Brown has 594 posts and counting. See all posts by Nicholas Brown