American electric carmaker Tesla Motors has just launched last month its Tesla Model 3 sedan, which at $35,000 is certainly far less expensive than its Model S hatchback and its upcoming Model X SUV.
As usual, the biggest lure to buyers when selling electric cars is how much range do these vehicles have before they re-charge. For its competitive price, the Tesla Model 3 can actually cover a distance of over 215 miles on a single charge.
The impressive range of the electric sedan was confirmed no less by Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk. However, the Tesla CEO did not confirm the energy capacity of the battery pack that the Model 3 will be using.
Critics believe that it would really be impressive if Tesla can achieve a range of over 215 miles for the Model 3 on a less than 60 kWh battery pack.
Debunking comparative analysis of battery pack cost
Tesla does not like to talk about its battery costs because it complicates an already complex supply chain with several suppliers, including long-time partner Panasonic, and new ones like LG and Samsung, notes Electrek.
However, the American electric carmaker needed to say its piece of mind when Jon Bereisa, CEO of Auto Lectrification and former chief engineer of the Chevy Volt program, said that the Model 3 estimate cost breakdown adds up to the vehicle being unprofitable for Tesla.
He explained that the factory variable cost (FVC) of the Tesla Model 3 is $1,510 above its $35,000 base price while the Chevy Volt’s FVC is actually $4,980 below its $37,500 retail price, eventually making the Volt cheaper than the Model 3.
Bereisa went on to explain that the 60 kWh battery of the Chevy Volt will have a cost of $190 per kWh while the Model 3 of Tesla will have $260 per kWh.
Jeff Evanson, vice president of investor relations of Tesla Motors, debunked the comparison made by Bereisa, by saying that Tesla’s cost on its less than 60 kWh battery pack for its Model 3 is way below $190 per kWh. He even cited that the actual figure is 26% less than that of Bereisa’s estimate.
Evanson also explained that the Model 3 will be partially made of aluminum. While the sedan’s chassis would end up heavier on volume than the all-aluminum Model S, the Model 3 is about 20% smaller than its older brother, thus compensating for such and allowing it to achieve a range of over 215 miles on a less than 60 kWh battery pack in a single charge.
A complete game-changer
The Tesla Model 3 will be officially released to the dealers late next year and if all goes according to the plan of the American electric carmaker, it will be a complete game-changer, confidently states Elon Musk.
The Tesla Model 3 offers features and performance that are at par with similar models from premium car brands, but it molds them into an all-electric vehicle that can go to a range of over 215 miles on a single charge.
Although the Model 3 has yet to officially make it to the market, Elon Musk was already talking about Tesla’s next-generation vehicle, which some are saying will be called as Model 4.
Musk said that the next-generation Tesla model will be even more affordable than the upcoming Model 3. He made the statement during the Future Transport Solutions conference held in Oslo, Norway last week.
The Tesla CEO also discussed during the conference how Tesla’s master plan has always been to make affordable electric vehicles, noting that the pricey Roadster, Model S, and Model X, were essentially meant to fund more affordable electric vehicles, details BGR.
The Model 3 is apparently the next step in Tesla’s master plan but the company’s fourth vehicle will further push things a bit. Musk said that he is actually super-excited about being able to produce a car that most people can afford. He assured conference delegates that there will be future cars that are even more affordable down the road.
Meanwhile, motoring critics note that a well-built Tesla Model 3 could kickstart BEVs in the US in a way that no vehicle has done to date.