Tesla Launches Model 3 Standard Range Plus with LFP Battery Pack in North America

Image: Tesla

Tesla has launched the Model 3 Standard Range Plus with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) Battery Pack in North America. This comes against the backdrop of a statement by the company's CEO Elon Musk in February that all Tesla Standard Range vehicles will be produced with LFP batteries.

Tesla has contacted its North American customers awaiting delivery of the Model 3 Standard Range Plus. In the email, the company offered the opportunity to receive their vehicle delivery several months earlier than the expected delivery date. The manufacturer explained that now customers have the opportunity to get the same cars that are being delivered to Europe and Asia already in September. Thus, Tesla indicated that LFP batteries are installed in the cars. This battery has a range of 253 miles (estimated).

Full text of the email:

"We are contacting you about your Model 3 Standard Range Plus, currently estimated for delivery near the end of the year. We'd like to offer you the opportunity to receive your car even sooner. Due to limited supply and strong customer demand, we are introducing the
Model 3 Standard Range Plus battery pack, which we already released in Europe and Asia, to North America. This battery has a range of 253 miles (est.).

If you are interested in taking delivery as early as September, please visit our inventory page and search for Model 3 Standard Range Plus vehicles. If you choose to order, your original order fee can be applied to the purchase price of your vehicle upon delivery.

We will continue adding inventory on a rolling basis. Please check back regularly for a refreshed selection. Thank you for your continued support.

Best Regards,
The Tesla Team"

Nickel supply is a challenge for increasing the production of lithium-ion cells. Tesla has talked about ditching nickel cathode batteries in the past and is now making it a reality. In February 2021, Musk tweeted that all Tesla Standard Range vehicles will soon contain iron cathode batteries. He emphasized that they will have a lot of iron, and of course lithium, which the company plans to mine in the future.

The use of LFP batteries will allow Tesla to free up significant reserves of lithium-ion chemical cells using nickel cathodes for other vehicles produced by the company. Tesla is currently using LFP batteries in the Giga Shanghai-made Model 3, but has likely begun shipping them to the U.S., where they will power Fremont-made cars.

Musk also commented on an email sent to clients in North America via Twitter. He wrote that he personally would choose an iron cathode battery pack as it can be charged up to 100%, while nickel cathode batteries are preferable to charge up to only ~90%.

Our intent with this pack is that product experience is roughly equivalent between nickel & iron.

I’d personally slightly opt for iron pack, as it wants to be charged to 100%, whereas nickel prefers ~90%.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 26, 2021

© 2021, Eva Fox. All rights reserved.

_____________________________

We appreciate your readership! Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Article edited by @SmokeyShorts, you can follow him on Twitter

Follow @EvaFoxU