Oliver Haslam on August 18, 2023, 5:12 pm

Tesla Confirms New Standard Range Model S And Model X Are Software Locked

Following the news that Tesla is now selling Standard Range Model S and Model X electric vehicles for the first time in a while, some had wondered whether the company was using the same batteries as the other vehicles and simply limiting the range in software. Now, it seems that was the case after all.

The confirmation comes via an Electrek report with Tesla Centers confirming the news.

After seeing that Tesla is listing the new versions as having the same weight as the Long Range for both Model S and Model X, we have reached out to Tesla Centers to ask, and Tesla advisors were able to confirm that the new Standard Range Model S and Model X are indeed software-locked Long Range vehicles.

However, there has so far been some confusion as to whether we can expect people to have the option to unlock the extra range via an extra purchase at a later date. Some believe that to be the case, while others are less certain about the prospect.

When asked if Tesla plans to offer to unlock the battery capacity through its app for a charge in the future, we got mixed answers. A Tesla advisor at a center categorically said no, and another didn’t know the answer for sure.

As for the price difference, choosing the Standard Range model saves $10,000 on the sticker price of a new Model S or Model X, so it will no doubt be a good way for more people to get into an EV — especially if they don’t need the extra 85 or so miles from those batteries.