Tesla Unveils Plans for Compact Car, Vans, and Bus in Master Plan Part 3

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla's future fleet is expected to include more affordable vehicles, vans and buses
Tesla's future fleet is expected to include more affordable vehicles, vans and buses
Tesla

Tesla has published its Master Plan Part 3, providing insight into the company's vision for a sustainable future with a diversified fleet of electric vehicles. As we know, a smaller, more affordable car is in the works, but now we have more details and hints about the cars in the company's future. These new offerings will help accelerate the transition to clean energy in the transportation sector.

The Tesla Compact Car: A More Accessible Option

Tesla's upcoming compact car, commonly referred to as the Model 2 or Model Q, is expected to have a 53 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack according to Tesla 41-page doucment. This affordable compact EV, rumored to have a starting price of around $25,000, is set to rival other competitors in the market, such as the Volkswagen ID.2. As we reported in a recent rumor, Tesla aims to produce 4 million units annually, contributing significantly to replacing internal combustion engine cars and reducing overall emissions.

Tesla reveals the expected battery sizes for their future vehicles
Tesla reveals the expected battery sizes for their future vehicles
Tesla

A Diverse Lineup for Various Transportation Needs

In Master Plan Part 3, Tesla shared its intention to develop commercial and passenger vans and a bus, all powered by sustainable battery technology. In addition, the company outlined specific battery pack sizes for these upcoming vehicles: commercial/passenger vans with a 100 kWh high nickel pack and the Tesla bus with a 300 kWh LFP pack. This marks the first time Tesla has openly discussed plans for vans and a bus in its future lineup.

Battery Innovations for a Sustainable Future

Tesla's Master Plan Part 3 highlights the importance of battery innovation in achieving a sustainable future. The company estimates that 112 TWh of batteries will be required to replace the global fleet of ICE vehicles with electric alternatives. As a result, Tesla's focus on developing high energy density chemistries, such as high nickel and LFP batteries, will play a crucial role in powering various vehicle segments in its expanding lineup.

A Vision for an All-Electric Future

Elon Musk emphasized at the 2023 Shareholders Meeting that as battery technology continues to improve, nearly all forms of transportation can eventually become fully electric. With the release of Master Plan Part 3, Tesla reiterates its commitment to a sustainable future and the crucial role electric vehicles play in achieving that goal. In addition, introducing compact cars, vans, and buses will further solidify Tesla's position as a leader in the clean energy transition.

Giga Small Haus - A Demo Home Powered by Solar and Powerwall 3

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

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
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 Adds Acceleration Boost Option for 2024 Model 3

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

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.

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