The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put the Tesla Model S Long Range Plus through a second series of tests and found it to be more efficient than before. The car has around 20% more range than the 100D from the year before, despite identical battery.
The new Model S therefore officially packs 402 miles (646 kilometers) of mixed-cycle range, making it the world’s first electric vehicle with 400+-mile EPA rating.
Elon Musk had previously claimed that the Agency experts followed the testing protocol loosely, leaving the car overnight with its doors unlocked and the key fob lying inside. This led to the Model S forcibly remaining in Standby Mode and spending at least 2% of its battery charge overnight.
Ever since the Model S emerged in 2013, Tesla has been continuously improving it for greater battery capacity, engine thrust, regenerative brake efficiency, curb weight and aerodynamics.