Faster Than Filling Up with Gas in America

Measuring 4,978mm long, 1,964mm wide, and 1,435mm high, the Tesla Model S is a luxury electric sedan boasting a minimum battery capacity of 60kWh. The top-tier 85kWh model offers a remarkable range of approximately 426km. Tesla claims there's a way to fully charge this substantial electric vehicle in a mere 90 seconds. How?



Tesla's secret lies in swapping out the entire battery pack. Here's a summary of what Tesla CEO Elon Musk explains in the video at the top of the page:



"When we designed the Model S, we wanted to offer an option for those who might hesitate to buy an electric car due to charging times.



One option is the 'Supercharger,' a rapid charging system that can charge the battery to about 50% in 20 minutes, free of charge. The other is 'Battery Pack Swap,' where the entire battery pack is replaced. The latter allows for a full charge of the Model S faster than refueling a gasoline car.



Customers visit a Tesla station and choose between—speed or a free charge."



"The battery exchanger precisely locates the screws, removes the battery, and installs a new one perfectly.

The gas station shown in the video is the fastest one we found in all of Los Angeles. It can dispense 10 gallons (about 38 liters) per minute. Even so, we can complete charging two Model S vehicles in the time it takes to refuel one gasoline car.

We wanted to dispel the lingering prejudice against electric cars. As you can see, electric vehicles can be more convenient than gasoline cars. For those gathered here, this may be obvious, but electric cars are the future of automobiles!"

This service is scheduled to launch in California, followed by Boston (North America) within the year. The cost for the battery pack swap is reportedly around $60 to $80, comparable to refueling with 15 gallons (about 57 liters) of gasoline.

Incidentally, Model S owners can retrieve their original battery pack (now fully charged) from the station later for the same fee. Tesla is also considering a service to deliver the battery pack to the owner's home free of charge.

Furthermore, if the newly installed battery pack is newer than the one removed, owners can opt to keep it by paying Tesla the difference in value.