Tesla transitioned from the new Model S and Model X to a 12-volt lithium-ion car battery – getting rid of the lead-acid battery.
New Tesla Model S and Model X
Last week, Tesla finally unveiled the long-awaited new Model S and Model X.
The automaker posted a lot of information on its website, but did not fully reveal the new vehicles as it usually does.
We obtained more information about the documentation that Tesla sent to employees, but we are still learning more about the updated vehicles, which feature new batteries, electric motors, refined exterior design and brand new interior.
12 volt Li-ion battery
Now, Elon Musk has released another hitherto unknown detail about the new Model S and Model X: Tesla is switching to a 12-volt lithium-ion battery.
As with most cars, the 12-volt battery system in Tesla vehicles powers the lights, the media unit, the windows, and more.
For a time, Tesla had a recurring problem with its 12-volt batteries, especially on the Model S and Model X.
They tend to die very quickly – or seemingly faster than other vehicles.
Speed depends on many factors, including the weather and how often you drive the vehicle, since driving more often can help with longevity.
Last year, Tesla tried to fix the problem of the 12v battery that died quickly with a software update.
Now, Musk has confirmed that Tesla has switched to a new 12v lithium-ion battery for the new Model S and Model X:
The CEO said in an interview with Sandy Munro:
“With the new S / X, we are also finally transitioning to a 12-volt lithium-ion battery. It has much more capacity and the life cycle corresponds to that of the main battery. We should have done this before, but it’s great that we do it now. “
This is something that owners have already added to the aftermarket, but now it looks like Tesla is making it the standard.
Tesla is not the first company to adopt a 12V lithium battery subsystem. Hyundai’s Ioniq PHEV 2017 started using a lithium battery that could be charged with a button on the main package panel.
In addition, Musk has been talking about moving to a 48-volt architecture for low-voltage car needs, and he added that it is still in the plans – without a clear timetable for making the change. A 48 V subsystem would allow thinner wires to be used throughout the car, making them cheaper and lighter.
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