This may be the wrong forum for this. Where can I put this with all the other guesses about the next generation?
I was playing around (with a spreadsheet I have here) and I think I found an ideal spread of 3 configurations close to the current. I think I heard rumors of battery size options a while back, that's what got me thinking about this.
S (or S battery level 1)
$28k, 28kwh, 100miles (125hp)..."100 miles*, same price as before, more power!"
*for real this time
SV (or S battery level 2)
$34k, 36kwh, 125miles (162hp)
SL (or S battery level 3)
$40k, 44kwh, 150miles (200hp)..."150 miles! 200 horsepower!"
I think this is a perfect spread. There's the marketing angle of 100 to 150miles and 125 to 200hp. There's the chassis angle: 28kwh is only 36% smaller than 44kwh, so wasted space in the battery bay isn't too bad. There's charging: Chademo goes up to 49kw, which is close to the max power a 44kwh battery can pull, typically based on the max charging rates (charging power over energy) of most packs used today.
Notice also that this would be a 150 mile car. Although it would be a high price point, it would be in (wishfully) 2015, at least a year before Model E, and the smallest range option would be at the current price point. While being slightly higher range. Slightly higher, but at the milestone 100 mile number*.
*for real this time
I was playing around (with a spreadsheet I have here) and I think I found an ideal spread of 3 configurations close to the current. I think I heard rumors of battery size options a while back, that's what got me thinking about this.
S (or S battery level 1)
$28k, 28kwh, 100miles (125hp)..."100 miles*, same price as before, more power!"
*for real this time
SV (or S battery level 2)
$34k, 36kwh, 125miles (162hp)
SL (or S battery level 3)
$40k, 44kwh, 150miles (200hp)..."150 miles! 200 horsepower!"
I think this is a perfect spread. There's the marketing angle of 100 to 150miles and 125 to 200hp. There's the chassis angle: 28kwh is only 36% smaller than 44kwh, so wasted space in the battery bay isn't too bad. There's charging: Chademo goes up to 49kw, which is close to the max power a 44kwh battery can pull, typically based on the max charging rates (charging power over energy) of most packs used today.
Notice also that this would be a 150 mile car. Although it would be a high price point, it would be in (wishfully) 2015, at least a year before Model E, and the smallest range option would be at the current price point. While being slightly higher range. Slightly higher, but at the milestone 100 mile number*.
*for real this time