Tesla software locks about 80 miles worth of battery on all Tesla models. This is not some kind of a way that ‘protects’ the battery. Tesla limits the battery for one single reason – to charge more money from customers for something that they already paid for.
While Elon Musk tries to impose a picture of himself as someone who is a philanthropist and someone who works for the higher good of the world, news emerges stating quite the contrary. And the world cannot help but ask, why would someone do this? Tesla doesn’t have any extra cost to sell the battery as it is. This is a pure case of abuse.
The Truth Behind Musk’s Philanthropy – Is It Fake? – He Holds 80 Miles Worth Of Battery ‘Locked’ For A $4500 Surcharge
Tesla is selling its Model S vehicles with 40kWh battery packs while actually, they have 60kWh batteries that are software locked at 40kWh. This is a ‘smart’ move in order to make more money out of nothing. This way, Musk can offer his Tesla models with different range options while not complicating the production plant with different production lines.
For the truth of the matter, now Tesla is phasing down this routine. They offered this kind of battery mostly in past models. However, since the batteries on those old models need replacement every few years, Tesla still uses these software-locked batteries when replacing them.
A group of ‘hackers’ offer their service for free to help Tesla customers get what they pay for.
A user that has a Tesla 60 went to these hackers’ unofficial Tesla service and was offered to brake this 60kWh limitation for free. He got it, and his car functioned perfectly. Furthermore, the ‘upgrade’ added an additional 80-mile run to the car.
However, after this, eventually, he needed to make his regular service in an official Tesla workshop. They reverted his battery back to 60kWh. This automatically locked about 80 miles of the range he used to have with an unlocked battery.
When he noticed what happened, he called Tesla to revert this once again. And to this he received an answer that he needs to pay an additional $4500 to unlock the capability.
We don’t know if Tesla still uses this kind of ‘technique’ to offer different battery ‘sizes’. However, this will remain one big stain on Tesla’s name. A way of extraditing more money from customers for non-existent services or upgrades.
Tesla made more than $2 billion last quarter. There is no need to go the distance and squeeze these additional $4500 from someone who is promoting your brand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfR0TrV5Mh0
