The brand new Tesla Mannequin 3 (code title Highland) may deliver some attention-grabbing modifications associated to the primary traction battery.
In line with a latest unofficial report from China (native media 36kr by way of CnEVPost), the upcoming revamped Tesla Mannequin 3 RWD may have an upgraded battery. The article says that the entry-level model can be geared up with CATL’s M3P lithium-ion batteries (already rumored in August 2022). CATL has been Tesla’s provider for LFP batteries for some variations of the entry-level Mannequin 3/Mannequin Y for a couple of years now.
It is anticipated that the brand new pack will retailer about 66 kilowatt-hours (kWh), in comparison with 60 kWh LFP as we speak (and 55 kWh beforehand within the preliminary model). This extra 6 kWh (or 10 %) may enhance the CLTC driving vary from 346 miles (556 km) to some 380 miles (over 610 km).
By the best way, the brand new CATL M3P batteries may additionally be used within the revamped Tesla Mannequin Y (code title Juniper), rumored for 2024. The battery would retailer 72 kWh, in line with the report.
In the meantime, whereas there is no such thing as a official affirmation concerning the Tesla Mannequin 3 Highland, it is believed that it is simply across the nook and that it’d quickly enter manufacturing on the Tesla Giga Shanghai manufacturing unit. Reportedly, trials of the take a look at autos are underway.
Unofficially, manufacturing may begin in September 2023 so it will enter the market earlier than the top of this 12 months.
A doubtlessly new battery is, in fact, only one out of many different modifications utilized to the automotive. Different experiences point out that the automotive can be a bit longer, sportier and sleeker than beforehand.
The consensus is that Tesla is engaged on the brand new Mannequin 3 to extend its gross sales, or not less than stop weakening, because the mannequin was launched a number of years in the past (initially in 2017 in the USA and in 2020 in China).
We will not exclude that different new variations of the Tesla Mannequin 3 will embody structural battery packs with new 4680-type cylindrical battery cells (at the moment used within the Tesla Mannequin Y AWD). Nothing will be stated for positive as Tesla doesn’t touch upon the Highland/Juniper rumors.