What is Tesla's upcoming 'under your nose' announcement?

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Problem's the hardware, Larry. Folks who've had their cars taken apart and turned into the Huns and such haven't found any.

Since Elon likes the multimedia capability of the car so much - the "any song any time" bit was mentioned in the Q1 letter to shareholders - I think video's coming to the big screen!

 

[Larry Chanin]

Problem's the hardware, Larry. Folks who've had their cars taken apart and turned into the Huns and such haven't found any.

Since Elon likes the multimedia capability of the car so much - the "any song any time" bit was mentioned in the Q1 letter to shareholders - I think video's coming to the big screen!

To be clear, it is not my contention that all the software hooks in the firmware will support all the new features, such as adaptive cruise control, or collision avoidance, etc., without additional hardware. My suggestion is that some software-based functionality, that does not require additional hardware, may be implemented to current owners for free, and other functions, particularly those that require addtional hardware, may be offered to current owner for a fee.

Larry

 

[spatterso911]

... other functions, particularly those that require addtional hardware, may be offered to current owner for a fee.

Larry

I wonder if this is a potential profit center for the service centers, since they are probably operating at a loss right now.

 

[brianman]

my bet is on AWD option for existing MODEL S owners.

What odds you offering? I'd bet against it.

 

[Kaivball]

my bet is on AWD option for existing MODEL S owners.

Nope. There is no motor in the front.

 

[shady]

So its your opinion that none of the hidden features built into the Model S firmware will ever be available to current owners, either for free or at an additional fee?

Larry

My opinion is that Tesla built a common diagnosis system that could be used across all of their existing and future cars. I believe they will use the same system in the Model X, the Model S V2 the Gen 3 .... If I was building a Schema for this diagnosis tool, I'd bung everything I could think of in there even though there may not be any plans to include these things ever!. I just really wished they'd added a field for "Ejector seat - Enabled/Disabled" Now that would get people talking

 

[Curt Renz]

At 11:24 am EDT today Elon tweeted: "There is a way for the Tesla Model S to be recharged throughout the country faster than you could fill a gas tank."

Two minutes later in response to a questioner in that tweet set Elon added: "Don't forget the mystery announcement. Part 5 of the trilogy."

 

[Banahogg]

Twitter / elonmusk: There is a way for the Tesla ...

Elon: There is a way for the Tesla Model S to be recharged throughout the country faster than you could fill a gas tank.
bhuwan: yeah, we're waiting for superchargers
Elon: Don't forget the mystery announcement. Part 5 of the trilogy.

Hmm. Battery swap stations? There were some hints of that in the last 10-K (Battery Swapping/Rental for the Model S - Page 6) and would certainly be something that could lead to a cool public demonstration.

 

[ccorda]

Same thread on twitter "@elonmusk only in US or across the globe?"

Elon replies: "@pratik_shah worldwide"

Battery swap infrastructure would be difficult globally, wouldn't it?

 

[bhuwan]

At 11:24 am EDT today Elon tweeted: "There is a way for the Tesla Model S to be recharged throughout the country faster than you could fill a gas tank."

Two minutes later in response to a questioner in that tweet set Elon added: "Don't forget the mystery announcement. Part 5 of the trilogy."

That was me

 

[AnOutsider]

in the above, battery swapping does make sense -- otherwise, why wouldn't it be coupled with the SC announcement? We know the ability was baked into the car, so that would constitute right under your nose. How practical is it though?

 

[ckessel]

I can't imagine what it could be other than battery swap. If they could dump orders of magnitude more power via the SC then they'd have done that already.

 

[gregincal]

We've speculated on them partnering with another company on superchargers, what about battery swap? Swap your Tesla or Toyota battery at any Toyota dealership (or perhaps Mercedes)? He didn't say it was going to happen tomorrow.

 

[Bipo]

I was thinking about battery rental intended to allow battery swapping, and that tweet makes me think about that.

 

[raymond]

Battery swapping is not a cool demo. Lightning charging is! :smile: It's hypercharging; to be announced in combination with the hyperloop of course.

Elon does use the word recharged. Does battery swapping count as recharging? Hmmm.

85kWh in 5 minutes (20C) is possible for some Li+ cells. Plugging in a 1MW charge cable, that might be a nice demo!

 

[hans]

I can't imagine what it could be other than battery swap. If they could dump orders of magnitude more power via the SC then they'd have done that already.

If they are adding batteries (or perhaps super-capacitors) at the supercharger stations then couldn't they spool up energy from the grid and then dump it into the car even faster?

 

[DriverOne]

Induction as you drive would recharge faster than anything you have to actually stop for.

 

[ckessel]

If they are adding batteries (or perhaps super-capacitors) at the supercharger stations then couldn't they spool up energy from the grid and then dump it into the car even faster?

I don't think so. The limit is what the cells can accept without over heating.

 

[zax123]

Is my math way off when I calculate that to charge 85kW of power in 2 minutes would take 4250 amps at 400 volts? The batteries couldn't possibly handle that could they?

 

[brianstorms]

Is my math way off when I calculate that to charge 85kW of power in 2 minutes would take 4250 amps at 400 volts? The batteries couldn't possibly handle that could they?

But how long does it typically take to fill a 20-gallon gas tank? 5 minutes? 7?

What does your math say if you charged 85kW of power in 5 minutes not 2?