Tesla has transitioned the new Model S and Model X to a Li-ion 12-volt car battery – eliminating the lead-acid battery.
New Tesla Model S and Model X
Last week, Tesla finally unveiled the highly anticipated new Model S and Model X.
The automaker has released a ton of information on its website, but it has not fully disclosed the new vehicles as usual.
We have obtained more information for documentation that Tesla has sent to employees, but we are still learning more about the updated vehicles, which feature new battery packs, electric motors, a refined exterior design and a brand new interior.
12 volt Li-ion battery
Now Elon Musk has released another previously unknown detail about the new Model S and Model X: Tesla is switching to a Li-ion 12-volt battery.
As in most cars, the 12-volt battery system in Tesla vehicles powers the lights, media unit, windows, and more.
Tesla has had a recurring problem with its 12 volt batteries for a while, especially in Model S and Model X.
They tend to die pretty quickly – or seemingly faster than in other vehicles.
How fast depends on many factors, including the climate and how often you drive the vehicle, as more frequent driving can actually contribute to a long life.
Last year, Tesla tried to fix the rapidly dying 12v battery problem with a software update.
Now Musk has confirmed that Tesla has switched to a new 12v Li-ion battery for the new Model S and Model X:
The CEO said in an interview with Sandy Munro:
“With the new S / X we are finally also switching to a 12-volt Li-ion battery. It has much more capacity and the service life is similar to that of the main battery. We should have done that before, but it’s great that we are doing it now. “
That’s something owners have already added aftermarket, but now it sounds like Tesla is making it standard.
Tesla isn’t the first company to move to a lithium 12V battery subsystem. Hyundai’s Ioniq PHEV 2017 started with the use of a lithium battery that could be charged with a button on the main pack dashboard.
In addition, Musk has talked about moving to a 48-volt architecture for low-voltage automotive needs, adding that it’s still in the plans – without a clear timeline for making the move. A 48V subsystem would make it possible to use thinner wires throughout the car, making them cheaper and lighter.
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