Tesla Model S facelift disappoints with reduced range

Tesla has updated the single-charge driving range of its 2022 Model S Long Range mere two days after shipments started, admitting that the actual figures fell short of estimations.

The entry-level Long Range spec comes with the same battery as the range-topping Plaid, but benefits from greater autonomy thanks to only having two motors instead of three and needing less power.

When the pre-orders started, the range was quoted as 412 miles, or 663 kilometers. When handing the first cars over to their buyers at a ceremony, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that they could as well do around 420 miles on a charge.

However, two days later the company silently posted an official EPA range assessment on its website: 405 miles, or 652 kilometers. It should probably be noted that EPA is one of the harshest range measurement standards worldwide, so actual numbers might be better than that, after all.

The Long Range had not been envisioned as the farthest-going Tesla Model S from the beginning, because the company wanted to develop a flagship Plaid+ spec with triple motors and 520 miles (837 km) worth of battery charge. This version was canceled not long ago, allegedly because the regular Plaid was ‘good enough’.