Earlier this week, a Twitter account named @zeus7f1 tweeted to Tesla sleuth ‘green’ (@greentheonly) to say a Model 3 with an alleged 100 kWh battery pack was discovered, as per a screenshot of the vehicle in ‘Factory Mode’.
The discovery seemingly confirmed a test Tesla Model 3 with a larger battery pack than the current 75 kWh packs used in current fleets, bringing forth the potential of a Model 3 capable of range beyond 400 miles (643 km), a prospect which excited many Tesla followers.
But that pipe dream was quickly squashed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who chimed in on Twitter the next day to say, “no larger pack Model 3 is in development,” followed by “or Y”. Despite Musk saying it wasn’t true, some kept the dream alive, suspecting such a battery pack might have already been completed.
Now, in an update on Wednesday evening, ‘green’ said, “I am sad to report it turned out to be not real. It did come form Tesla and it has a sticker with a higher weight than usual. We rooted it and peeked inside and nope, it’s a regular 74kWh battery in the end which is a disappointment.”
So about that 100kWh model3 from the other day
I am sad to report it turned out to be not real. It did come form Tesla and it has a sticker with a higher weight than usual. We rooted it and peeked inside and nope, it's a regular 74kWh battery in the end which is a disappointment
— green (@greentheonly) June 18, 2020
According to the anonymous hacker based in the United States, ‘green’ says the problem was not being able to “look at things in person,” and relying on third parties.
“Need to be more careful with things I cannot touch myself and sorry to disappoint. (and if you were wondering, several cars turned out to be the same one via different sources too, sigh)”, said ‘green’.
‘Green’ told Tesla North the screenshot was indeed from a benched unit, but somebody “set the battery configuration parameter to 100 kWh”, which he says is a valid Model 3 parameter.
The Tesla sleuth further clarified the original screenshot “had no connection to the car I had in mind that I finally gained access to today to confirm it really was not 100kWh, despite various circumstantial evidence.”
The giveaways from the original Tesla Model 3 100 kWh screenshot it was not real? There’s no outside temperature shown or battery state of charge, ‘green’ explained to Tesla North, while also acknowledging others quickly picked up on these tells as well.
“Unfortunately, there’s always a risk when you rely on third parties,” said ‘green’, noting which is why he usually confirms things he only sees himself.
There you have it folks, a Tesla Model 3 with 100 kWh battery pack may not be real for now, but let’s wait and see what Tesla has in store when ‘battery day’ rolls around.
