Tesla's Model Y receives a nearly perfect score in IIHS crash results
Tesla's Model Y has been recognized as one of the safest cars of 2023 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), receiving the agency's Top Safety Pick+ rating for the third year. Despite the IIHS' updated, more stringent criteria this year, the Model Y's top-rated safety features and performance earned it a place among the 48 vehicles that qualified for the 2023 awards, with 28 earning a Top Safety Pick+ rating and 20 achieving a Top Safety Pick rating.
IIHS Using More Rigid Standards
IIHS President David Harkey stated that the smaller number of winners this year reflects the IIHS' goal of encouraging automakers to continue improving vehicle safety. "These models are true standouts in both crashworthiness and crash prevention," he said.
The IIHS' updated criteria include an updated side crash test involving 82% more energy than the original, a new nighttime vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention test, and stricter headlight requirements. The agency added the nighttime vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention test to its metrics to address the rising number of pedestrian crashes. Harkey explained, "Safer vehicles can be an important part of the solution, even though reversing the trend will also take a concerted effort from policymakers and other stakeholders."
The IIHS also announced that it would no longer include three of its previous safety evaluations in its award criteria: roof strength, head restraint, and vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention tests. The agency explained that the retirement of these tests reflects industry progress, making them less relevant in their current form.
Model Y Safety Superiority is not a Surprise
The latest safety accolades should not come as a surprise. The Model Y has shown real-world evidence that it is the safest vehicle on the road. For example, in late December a Model Y protected its four occupants when it went off a 250-foot cliff landing on a rocky beach. Firefighters called it a miracle that the two children and two adults only suffered minor injuries.
Tesla leaders have repeatedly stated that the company is always looking for ways to make their vehicles safer. An incredible statement given that collision statistics show that Teslas are already 2.5 times safer than non-Teslas.
Other Automakers Catching Up
Interestingly, the Tesla Model Y achieved the Top Safety Pick+ rating, making it one of the three all-electric vehicles to receive such marks this year. Other all-electric vehicles that received the Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS include the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Rivian R1T. The IIHS' website shows that the Model Y received a "Good" rating on the agency's updated side-impact test and passed the IIHS' nighttime vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention test with flying colors.
The IIHS' updated standards continue to push automakers to improve vehicle safety. The Tesla Model Y's continued recognition as one of the safest vehicles on the market is a testament to the automaker's commitment to safety.
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Tesla recently showed off Giga Small Haus, an interesting new display project hosted at Giga Berlin. The small new house is located just outside the main entrance of Tesla’s Giga Berlin factory, with a Quicksilver Model Y parked inside.
Giga Small Haus is powered only by solar and Powerwall 3 - disconnected from the local grid and from Giga Berlin itself. It serves as a live demonstration of Tesla Solar and Tesla’s Powerwall battery backup.
Giga Small Haus
The centerpiece of the display is a Model Y in Quicksilver - a beautiful pick for a beautifully lit house. However, that’s not the real focus here - it's the Powerwall and Gateway on the wall.
The Powerwall is the focus of Giga Small Haus, and there’s a display with some additional information on the wall. Part of the display also includes a screen that displays the current output of the Powerwall itself versus the consumption of Giga Small Haus, as well as the input from solar.
The interior exhibit of Giga Small Haus
Not a Tesla App
The text on the exhibit is divided into several sections. Here’s a translated and edited version of what we can see from Tesla’s images. Some additional text is obscured. If someone visits Giga Small Haus, let us know.
Powerwall
Powerwall is a home battery system that stores energy from solar panels, the electrical grid, or during off-peak hours and powers your home during the day or during a power outage.
With Powerwall, you can use self-generated solar energy during the day and night, thus avoiding high electricity costs. You can also store excess energy produced during sunny periods for use during times of low production or power outages.
Key Features
Energy Storage: Powerwall stores excess energy from solar panels or the grid for later use or during power outages.
Backup Power: In the event of a power outage, Powerwall automatically switches to battery power to ensure continuous power supply.
Integration: Powerwall can be seamlessly integrated with existing solar systems and other power sources.
Scalability: Multiple Powerwalls can be installed to meet higher energy storage needs.
Smart Energy Management: Powerwall works with Tesla's software to optimize energy consumption and reduce costs.
How Powerwall Works
Storage: During the day, when solar panels produce more energy than needed, the excess is stored in Powerwall.
Usage: At night or during times of low solar production, the stored energy is used to power the home, reducing reliance on the grid.
Backup: During a power outage, Powerwall automatically provides power to critical circuits, ensuring continuous operation of essential appliances.
Benefits
Cost Savings: By storing and using solar energy, you can reduce your electricity bills.
Reliability: Provides backup power during outages, ensuring your home remains powered.
Sustainability: Promotes the use of renewable energy by storing excess solar production for later use.
Overall, Giga Small Haus is an interesting real-life demo of what Powerwall and Solar can accomplish. It would be neat if Tesla built more of these displays - perhaps near major Delivery and Service Centers and at Giga Texas, Fremont, Giga Shanghai, and other facilities. Many Tesla owners have yet to learn about and experience some of Tesla’s Energy products.
Tesla has added the Acceleration Boost option to the Tesla store for owners of the 2024 Model 3 Long Range - specifically owners in Australia and China. Acceleration Boost is an upgrade that provides a significant performance boost, drastically narrowing the performance gap between the Long Range and Performance versions of the same model.
This upgrade will likely become available in Europe, Canada, and the United States in the next few days as Tesla updates its shops globally.
Acceleration Boost
This new Acceleration Boost is retailing for $3,000 AUD, or approximately $2,000 USD. That’s the same price for current owners of older Model 3 or Model Y Long Range vehicles, which all have the option to purchase Acceleration Boost through the shop.
The boost provides improved 0-100km/h (0-60mph) performance, bumping the 2024 Model 3 LR from 4.4s to 3.8s. The 2024 Performance version comes in at a blazing fast 2.9 seconds, so while it isn’t equivalent to just buying a performance variant in the first place, it is still a noticeable and significant upgrade.
Performance variants also come with a different front fascia vent for cooling, performance drive units, sport seats, adaptive suspension, 20-inch wheels, and Track Mode V3. That’s a significant number of additional features in the $10,000 USD price difference between the Long Range and Performance versions.
Should You Buy It?
If you’ve purchased a Long Range model and are itching to go just that little bit faster at every red light, this is the upgrade for you. It previously came with the cost of slightly reducing vehicle range, but the Tesla store doesn’t make a note of reduced range this time around. The 2023 Model 3 and Model Y Long Range models had an efficiency loss of about 5% due to the additional always-available acceleration and cooling.
You could drive in Chill mode to mostly negate that efficiency loss, but what’s the fun in driving in Chill when you just got Acceleration Boost? Anyhow, the shop listing for the 2024 variant doesn’t include this detail, so it's possible Tesla may have worked some more engineering magic.
Overall, if you’ve got the $3,000 AUD burning a hole in your pocket, some Tesla referral credits sitting around, or just want to go faster, it's definitely an upgrade many users find valuable.
