Downgraded to a Category 2 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale, Hurricane Florence may have lost some of its original strength, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe. This system is still rumbling toward the East Coast of the United States and is powerful enough to cause catastrophic damage. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a severe flood warning, citing a “threat to human life.”
About 1.7 million people have been ordered to evacuate along the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. This is a massive exodus. This leads to congestion on highways that are not built for this level of traffic congestion. If you are stuck in this bottleneck, choosing Tesla may be a wise choice.
How Tesla increases range without changing hardware
Tesla decided to use an over-the-air software update system to help customers in these threat areas. The goal is simple. This temporarily increases the mileage of the vehicle. But how can you increase the range of a battery without changing its chemical capacity?
The answer lies in the “braking software” that Tesla often uses for its large batteries.
For years, Tesla has sold Model S and Model X vehicles with 75 kWh batteries. To keep the price down, the battery is locked via software to use only 60 kWh capacity. The equipment can accommodate much more. The software just wouldn’t let the car access it.
“We hope this gives you peace of mind to get to a safe location”
Tesla is now lifting this digital brick wall. By allowing this free option to affected owners, the company can fully unlocking the potential of 75 kWh. This adds 15 kWh of usable energy to the tank.
Impact on evacuation routes in the real world
15 kWh increases the operating range by 48-64 kilometers (about 30-40 miles). In a traffic jam where you’re suddenly idling and moving within three seconds, the extra buffer is more than just a number. This is within the margin of error. This can be the difference between getting to a charging station or a safe area before the battery dies.
In addition to unlocking the software, Tesla is offering these customers free access to the Supercharger network. The gesture is scheduled to end in mid-October. The planned update will return the range of these vehicles to the original 60 kWh limit.
This isn’t the first time Tesla has used software during a disaster. The company used the same tactic last year when Hurricane Irma hit Florida. It is a clever use existing technology to solve physical problems. The roads are clogged. It’s raining. Your car might even become smarter in the process.
