Tesla Tops the 300-Mile Barrier

2016 Tesla Model S (Credit: Tesla Motors)

For most automakers looking to dive into the electric-vehicle world, 200 miles is the mark to hit, unless you’re Ford, of course. Tesla, who’s been doing the EV thing on a full-time basis longer than anyone, has had 200 miles in its rearview and 300 miles on the horizon for some time. Now, a new report from Teslarati indicates that the Model S just passed the 300-mile threshold in EPA testing.

What the site dug up was the EPA’s raw test data that shows the Model S’ ratings in its various range tests. On this sheet, the EPA lists the Model S’ highway range at 303.2 miles, easily breaking the elusive 300-mile barrier. This is up 6 percent from the 2016 Model S 90D’s rating of 285.3 miles on a charge. This large increase in range is likely twofold, as the new Model S has a slipperier body that helps boost range and the previous 90D model’s tests were actually conducted using the old 85 kWh battery’s data.

While breaking the 300-mile barrier is great, Tesla is reportedly working on a battery pack that’ll blow the lid off the EV segment. These claims state the EV manufacturer is crafting a 100 kWh battery that will allow the Model S to travel between 350 and 400 miles on a single charge. That sort of range would make the Model S a feasible option for any commuter—not taking into account pricing, of course.

Stay tuned for more updates on the ever-changing Model S.