We are still uncovering gems from Tesla’s Investor Day, believe it or not. The event took place on March 1 and the four hours of presentations are still providing us with new information that we may have missed when we saw it the first time.
The lowly 12 Volt on board systems are a prime example. Since most automakers decided to abandon the usage of 6 Volt systems in the 1960s, the car industry has relied on 12 Volt systems. Tesla has now decided that an update is necessary since 12 Volt is simply insufficient.
The onboard electrics have been tampered with by Tesla before. Initially, a standard 12V lead-acid battery was installed in every Tesla vehicle. Regrettably, they break down far more frequently on electric automobiles than on older models. Tesla’s automobiles required a new battery about every 4 years.
The company decided it was time to fix the problem and swapped out the onboard 12V battery for a considerably more compact and lightweight lithium-ion cell. Early in 2021, that transition takes place, and it was initially introduced to Model S and Model X vehicles. During that year, the Model Y and Model 3 were released. Tesla’s 12V lithium-ion battery is no longer in need of replacement and is expected to outlive the vehicle.
Cost Reduction & Savings
That was a modest modification, but not one Tesla could handle. The company believes that the 12 Volt systems are insufficient because our automobiles are continually updated with new technology, which consumes a lot of current. This entails heavier, thicker wires as well as increased battery drain.
In contrast to what Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy might have you believe, the solution to the puzzle is 48, not 42. The current decreases four times when the voltage is increased from 12 to 48. In principle, this results in 4 times thinner cables. The wiring for a Model S is thought to weigh roughly 60 kg and cost up to $1,700. Saving more than $1,200 on wiring each car would result in an additional $20 billion in savings if Tesla actually wants to produce 20 million evs annually – eventually.
First Tesla to Use 48V Technology
Cybertruck is the first Tesla to use the 48 Volt technology in a production vehicle, the company said during Investor Day. Future Tesla models will all switch from the previous 12 Volt system to the 48 Volt system. Sure, 48 Volt is still regarded as safe, however sticking your fingers inside will cause much more discomfort.
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