The Tesla Model 2 aims to make electric vehicle ownership more affordable. Tesla probably won't use the name "Model 2" because it implies a smaller version of the Model 3 when it will really be a more economic version. Tesla's target is a $25k car, but the Model 3 was also supposed to be $35k but ended up being more expensive. The Model 3 currently sits at just under $47k in the US.
When Tesla created the Model 3, they essentially built a scaled-down, more efficient version of the Model S by removing features that were more expensive or hard to manufacture. Many of the switches, vents, and features were either simplified or completely removed, including the instrument cluster.
This includes replacing physical controls with on screen controls, like the handle for the glove box, mirror adjustment buttons, windshield wiper controls and many others.
Other controls were simplified to reduce complexity and therefore cost. Some examples include the simplified vent system and steering wheel buttons. The interior and exterior door handles were also redesigned to reduce the amount of moving parts.
Back in 2016 when the Model 3 was unveiled it wasn’t entirely clear which features were cost-cutting measures and which were feature iterations and would become standard in all future Teslas.
When Tesla debuted the new Model S in 2021 it became clearer which features may have been cost-cutting measures. We saw a lot of Model 3 features carry over to the redesigned Model S, such as a horizontal center screen, one continuous vent with on screen controls, but not every feature made it over.
These were seen as the compromises Tesla made to create a vehicle that is cheaper to manufacture when compared to the Model S.
The Model 3 doesn't have an air suspension, cooled seats, a rear screen, or an instrument cluster. It also has a slightly smaller center screen. So what more can Tesla remove or simplify from a Model 3 to create a more affordable, scaled-down vehicle?
Tesla would likely keep all software-only features since they don’t add much to the cost of the vehicle. Some possibilities may include fewer speakers, removing heated seats in the rear, removal of wireless chargers, and removal of the glass roof. Removing any cameras or the FSD computer is unlikely since the FSD package is profitable for Tesla and there are also safety features that depend on that hardware.
It’s possible that Tesla's Model 2 has transformed into the supposed Robotaxi mentioned at the Giga Rodeo Event. Elon has previously talked about creating a car without steering wheels or pedals, which would be fitting for a fully autonomous vehicle.
At Battery Day, Tesla said that standard range vehicles and future models will use lithium iron phosphate batteries. LFP batteries are cheaper to produce and have some advantages and disadvantages when compared to nickel batteries. Tesla would likely use the 4680 LFP battery for the Model 2. This would make the vehicle smaller and lighter, but may also offer less range.
Tesla's 4680 battery
Tesla’s 4680 cell is named after its dimension, 46mm x 80mm. They are much cheaper to manufacture, producing 5x more energy, 16% more range, and 6x more power, making them far more economic than traditional batteries. Using 4680 batteries, the Model 2 is expected to have a travel range of 250 to 300 miles.
Tesla will use a structural 4680 cell pack in a single body cast to manufacture the Model 2 as efficiently as possible. This along with advanced robotics will help Tesla achieve economies of scale and mass-manufacture their most affordable car yet.
In May 2022, during the Financial Times 'Future of the Car' interview (video), Elon stated that there is some probability that Tesla would make a car smaller than the Model 3, leaving the possibility open for both, a smaller Model 3 and a Tesla Robotaxi.
Don't expect the “Model 2” anytime soon, Elon has talked about Tesla finishing the CyberTruck this year and starting production in 2023. Tesla also has the Roadster and Semi to produce, which are very likely to be ahead of the Model 2.
By that time, we may see drastic improvements in FSD that could warrant a fully autonomous Robotaxi. I wouldn't expect the Model 2 before 2024 at very best, but we could see prototypes before then.
Tesla’s vehicles all have a built in Service Mode, where you can find working diagrams of anything from the HVAC system, low or high voltage systems, your power steering, or infotainment. All of this is included on-vehicle, and doesn’t require a third-party tool or subscription.
Of course, if you need more information, Tesla does offer Toolbox3, a fairly inexpensive subscription package that can be downloaded onto any laptop and connected to any Tesla - without the hassle of needing a special manufacturer-specific OBD tool.
Thanks to John Kelly for finding this. Let’s dig into it.
48V LVCS Connector Reference
Cybertruck runs on a 48V architecture, called LVCS, or Low-Voltage Connector Standard. They recently launched this standard to the rest of the automotive industry, in hopes of promoting standardization and progress.
48V and LVCS offer Tesla the unprecedented ability to optimize the wiring inside Cybertruck and future vehicles, massively reducing the complexity and cost - and also ensuring that everything within the vehicle is networked. That networking means that you can also debug the Cybertruck’s wiring from within the vehicle - without needing to disassemble the entire thing.
The wiring diagram, set to the front cabin view.
John Kelly on X
The Wiring Service Diagram offers the ability to search for particular connectors, and also see where the wiring runs originate and terminate. And that’s not all - you’re also able to pull up the pinouts, wire colors, and harness connections to see everywhere that specific connector brings data, power, or anything else to.
The pinout view for a particular connector.
John Kelly on X
This is an fantastic update, and enables anyone, including a DIY home mechanic, to be able to figure out exactly what might be wrong with a particular system, as well as how to potentially correct it. In addition, all of this data is freely available within the vehicle, and nothing else is required to be able to access it other than sitting down and entering Service Mode Plus.
How to Access It
For this particular interface, you’ll need to access Tesla’s Service Mode Plus, which means you’ll need a subscription to Toolbox 3, Tesla’s Service Software. We won’t walk you through that procedure here, as we recommend you review Tesla’s Service Manuals before jumping in.
Assuming you know what you’re doing, once TB3 is setup and connected to the vehicle, you can enter Service Mode Plus from the TB3 primary menu, and then navigate your way to the Low Voltage section. The Connector Reference Tool is its own sub-heading, and the search tool to look for particular connectors is in the top right.
Tesla has recently committed new code to its Light Show Github repository that reveals several additional Lightshow features and shares specifications for others.
Tesla hosts the software for building Lightshows on GitHub, an open-source code repository. The new code was added five days ago, but given that this is a change to the actual software and not an on-vehicle change, we’re not sure whether the features below will be available for immediate use or will be available in a future software update.
Up to Four-Hour Long Light Shows
The feature update is pretty extensive and, for the most part, is focused on the Cybertruck and Model 3 Highland, but also features changes for other Tesla models.
There’s one general change, which now lets you create Light Shows that are up to four hours in length — yes, that’s really long. In the Holiday update, Tesla mentioned that Light Shows can now be longer, but this recent commit makes it seem like Tesla is essentially removing the limit of how long a Light Show can be.
Front & Rear Light Bars
On the outside of the Cybertruck, you’ll now be able to control the front light bar, but what’s even better is that you can control each of the 60 LEDs individually. The rear light bar is seeing similar improvements, letting you control each of the 52 LEDs individually.
This feature alone is going to create some amazing Light Shows, anything from which has 60 individually configurable LEDs each. The rear light bar has 52 individually controllable LEDs as well.
This alone is going to inspire some really creative designs, such as a Knight Rider-like animation as seen on Rivian.
These are, of course, locked to just white for the front light bar and red for the rear, but Lightshow designers will be able to configure how bright each individual LED is and feather them up and down in brightness.
As we saw in the absolutely epic Tesla octa-truck Lightshow, the off-road lightbar is also controllable on vehicles that have it equipped. For now, that’ll just be Foundation-Series Cybertrucks, but the lightbar has been confirmed to be compatible with the non-Foundation-Series vehicles once it arrives in the Tesla shop later this year.
The off-road lightbar has six segments - two side-facing ditch lights and four forward-facing lights. Although you won’t be able to address individual LEDs here, you’ll be able to control each segment (six total) and brightness.
This feature was added as part of the Holiday update, so it should be available for all vehicles on 2024.44.25 and higher.
Center Display Color
Over on the interior side, designers will get full RGB control for the center display. Even when viewing the light show from the exterior of the vehicle, the center display will light up the interior in any color of your choice, letting you add festive colors to your Light Shows.
The interior display is also available on the Holiday update and is available for all vehicles, including legacy Model S and Model X vehicles that support Light Shows.
Ambient Lighting
This one has been a long time coming, but you’ll finally be able to control the vehicle’s ambient lighting feature on the Cybertruck and new Model 3. The accent lights are split into five segments and are all controllable RGB, so you can set each section to a different color if you want. The sections include center front, left and right front, and left and right rear.
These are some massive additions to Tesla’s Light Show feature, and they’re arguably some of the best. The individually controllable LEDs in the light bars and the ability to choose colors for the first time will undoubtedly create some of the best Light Shows we’ve ever seen.
Unfortunately, Christmas is behind us now, but we’re sure developers will find other holidays that take advantage of colors, such as Independence Day.
Light Shows bring the Tesla community together, and they’re one of the most distinctive Tesla features. Enjoy the awesome Christmas Light Show compilation below. Thanks to Rhys Samson for sharing these Light Show changes with us.
