Tesla announces cheaper Model 3 with smaller battery

Tesla has announced a cheaper version of its Model 3 car for Canada and the US. This variant has a smaller battery than the existing model. The range of the new model is therefore about 50 miles shorter, converted about 80 km.

The new version can be found on the Tesla site in the configuration tool. It can be seen that a mid-range battery option has been added, with a range of 260 miles, a top speed of 125 miles per hour, or 200 km/h, and acceleration from zero to 100 in 5, 6 seconds. This version is $9000 cheaper than the long-range variant with a range of 310 miles, a top speed of 145 miles per hour and acceleration of 4.5 seconds.

The price of the cheaper version is $45,000. Another difference is that the smaller battery is paired with rear-wheel drive, while the ‘long-range’ version has two motors and four-wheel drive. Tesla says in a response to Electrek that the smaller battery capacity is not the result of a setting in the software, but of the use of fewer cells.

A Model 3 base variant is expected with a price of $35,000, Tesla tells the site that delivery will take place in 4 to 6 months. With the introduction of this ‘intermediate model’, Tesla would like to meet the diverse wishes of customers.

The Tesla Model 3 is not yet available in the Benelux. It is not yet known which versions will be available here and what they will cost. Tesla reports that deliveries “in other countries” will start in 2019.