Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk announced today that the all-electric Model S sedan now comes with “Ludicrous Mode,” which will send the four-door sedan from 0 to 60 mph in a shockingly quick 2.8 seconds. That’s supercar territory, and it makes “Insane Mode,” introduced last fall and good for a 0 to 60 time of 3.2 seconds, seem utterly lame.
“Ludicrous mode” comes as part of a new version of the Model S, the P90D. The name represents an upgraded battery pack, form 85 to 90 kWh, which Tesla says is good for an extra 15 miles of range—putting the grand total at 300 miles, if you stick to 65 mph.
The boost in acceleration doesn’t actually come from the extra battery power, it’s the upside of what Musk calls “fairly advanced and exotic electronics.” To date, the car’s acceleration has been capped by how much current can be safely drawn from the battery, about 1,300 amps. Go much higher than that, and the fuse can melt. Tesla’s developed a new fuse that uses electronics and its own tiny lithium ion battery to detect when it will melt, and cut power if necessary. That lets you build in less of a margin of error, and push the amps higher.
Along with a switch from steel to superalloy inconel for the main pack contractor, that lets the battery fire out 1,500 amps of power. More power, more speed.
“Ludicrous mode” comes as part of a new version of the Model S, the P90D. The name represents an upgraded battery pack, form 85 to 90 kWh, which Tesla says is good for an extra 15 miles of range—putting the grand total at 300 miles, if you stick to 65 mph.
The boost in acceleration doesn’t actually come from the extra battery power, it’s the upside of what Musk calls “fairly advanced and exotic electronics.” To date, the car’s acceleration has been capped by how much current can be safely drawn from the battery, about 1,300 amps. Go much higher than that, and the fuse can melt. Tesla’s developed a new fuse that uses electronics and its own tiny lithium ion battery to detect when it will melt, and cut power if necessary. That lets you build in less of a margin of error, and push the amps higher.
Along with a switch from steel to superalloy inconel for the main pack contractor, that lets the battery fire out 1,500 amps of power. More power, more speed.
