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Tesla owner converts Model S 75D to P100DL on the cheap with Rich Rebuilds

Credit: YouTube | Rich Rebuilds

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Tesla owner and automotive enthusiast Rich Rebuilds is known for his crazy vehicle modifications and salvage electric car initiatives. For his most recent project, Rich opted to upgrade a Model S 75D to a P100DL for an owner who wanted a Tesla with more range, power, and speed without buying a whole new car altogether.

The Model S 75D in question belonged to a close friend who was interested in getting a vehicle with better specs and performance. At first, the owner attempted to trade-in his Model S 75D for a P100DL. However, Tesla’s trade-in offer was not up to the owner’s expectations, so he came to Rich for help with the upgrade.

The owner then obtained a P100DL that was involved in an accident for $30,000. Despite the vehicle being totaled, its electric motor and battery were usable. The upgrade process required Rich and the team at the Electrified Garage to remove the 75D’s rear drivetrain and battery, which packs 329 horsepower and an EPA-estimated 259 miles of range.

The first step of the project required the removal of the 75D’s drive unit. The swap was a straightforward step that required the removal of a few nuts and bolts, along with the disconnection of the drivetrain’s coolant tubes and power cables. Then, the removal of the 75 kWh battery pack was next, another relatively easy step.

75 kWh battery pack on the Tesla Model S. (Credit: YouTube | Rich Rebuilds)

The removal of the battery pack is not usually necessary for drivetrain replacements. However, for the Model S 75D to be upgraded adequately to a P100DL, the two vehicles’ battery packs needed a swap. The differences between the motors required a replacement of power cables from the motor to the front junction box as well, which sits near the front of the vehicle. According to the Tesla Model S Owners Manual, “The front junction box provides power to various components, such as the Battery heater, the air conditioning compressor and the cabin heater.”

The team ran into a small issue when replacing the rear junction box. The cables from the 75D’s junction box lock into the part, so the Electrified Garage team chose to swap out this junction box with a component from the P100D. Additionally, the Model S 75D’s drivetrain harness was too small to handle the P100D’s motor, so the team had to utilize the performance version’s harness, which required a complete swap out as well.

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Tesla Model S Front Junction Box (Credit: YouTube | Rich Rebuilds)

The cooling systems between the two vehicles were also slightly different and required attention. The 75D’s cooling system only utilized one line and is cooled by oil with a heat exchanger installed. The P100DL’s drive unit, on the other hand, has two coolant lines which connect directly to the motor itself. This step required a small modification from the Electrified Garage team so the vehicle would operate correctly.

After completing the project, the owner took the 75D’s motor and battery, along with the rest of the P100D, and sold them. The project set the owner back only $33,000 in total, including $9,000 in labor costs from the Electrified Garage.

The upgrade in drivetrain and battery pack for the Model S 75D gave ultimately resulted in a Model S P100DL for a vastly reduced price. In the case of Rich’s recent project, the owner was able to obtain more range, speed, and horsepower without spending about $100,000 for a new Model S P100DL.

Watch Rich Rebuilds’ video on the Tesla Model S 75D conversion to a P100D below.

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Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

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Tesla launches Full Self-Driving in a new region

Today, Tesla launched Full Self-Driving in Australia for purchase by car buyers for $10,100, according to Aussie automotive blog Man of Many, which tried out the suite earlier this week.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has launched its Full Self-Driving suite in a new region, marking a significant step in the company’s progress to expand its driver assistance suite on a global scale.

It is also the first time Tesla has launched FSD in a right-hand-drive market.

Today, Tesla launched Full Self-Driving in Australia for purchase by car buyers for $10,100, according to Aussie automotive blog Man of Many, which tried out the suite earlier this week.

Previously, Basic and Enhanced Autopilot suites were available, but the FSD capability now adds Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control, along with all the features of the previous two Autopilot suites.

It is the first time Tesla has launched the suite by name in a region outside of North America. In China, Tesla has “City Autopilot,” as it was not permitted to use the Full Self-Driving label for regulatory reasons.

However, Tesla still lists Full Self-Driving (Supervised) as available in the U.S., Canada, China, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

The company teased the launch of the suite in Australia earlier this week, and it appeared to have been released to select media members in the region earlier this week:

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Tesla FSD upcoming Australia release seemingly teased bv media

The rollout of Full Self-Driving in the Australian market will occur in stages, as Model 3 and Model Y vehicles with Hardware 4 will receive the first batch of FSD rollouts in the region.

TechAU also reported that “the initial deployment of FSDs in Australia will roll out to a select number of people outside the company, these people are being invited into Tesla’s Early Access Program.”

Additionally, the company reportedly said it is “very close” to unlocking FSD in customer cars:

Each new Tesla sold will also come with a 30-day free trial of the suite.

Australia is the sixth country to officially have Full Self-Driving available to them, following the United States, Canada, China, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

Here’s the first look at the suite operating in Australia:

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Tesla AI6 chips will start sample production at surprising Samsung site

AI6 is expected to be used in Tesla’s expanding lineup of high-volume products, such as the Cybercab and Optimus.

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Credit: Tesla/YouTube

It appears that the initial sample production of Tesla’s next-generation AI6 chip would not start in Samsung’s United States-based facilities. 

AI6 is expected to be used in Tesla’s expanding lineup of high-volume products, such as the Cybercab and Optimus.

Early AI6 production

As noted in a ZDNet Korea report, the production of initial samples of Tesla’s AI6 chip is expected to start at Samsung Electronics’ domestic foundry and packing facilities in South Korea. Mass production for AI6 chips will follow at the tech giant’s Texas-based foundry in Taylor, which is expected to start operations in 2025. Investment in mass production facilities for the Taylor plant are expected to start this year, the publication noted.

Samsung has reportedly finalized the process design kit for its second-generation 2nm technology. This node offers a 12% performance improvement, 25% lower power consumption, and an 8% reduction in chip area compared to its previous-generation counterparts. 

Tesla’s AI6 deal

As per previous reports, Tesla has signed a $16.5 billion contract with Samsung for the production of its AI6 chips. In a post on social media platform X, Musk clarified that $16.5 billion is actually just the bare minimum. Considering that the demand for AI6 chips will be substantial due to the ramp of products such as Optimus and the Cybercab, it would not be farfetched if the deal becomes notably larger in the future.

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Musk has shared his excitement for Samsung’s production of AI6 chips, with the CEO stating on X that he would “walk the line personally” in the facility to “accelerate the pace of progress.” In a follow-up comment, the Tesla CEO stated that Samsung is fully aware of what a real partnership with Tesla will be like. “I had a video call with the chairman and senior leadership of Samsung to go over what a real partnership would be like. Use the strengths of both companies to achieve a great outcome,” Musk wrote in his post. 

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Elon Musk’s Boring Company begins Tesla FSD testing in Las Vegas tunnels

The update was shared by Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) CEO Steve Hill.

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Credit: The Boring Company/X

The Boring Company has started testing Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system in its Las Vegas tunnels. 

The update was shared by Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) CEO Steve Hill in a comment to Fortune.

Controlled FSD testing

In his comments, Hill noted that Tesla’s FSD tests in the Boring Company’s underground tunnels in Las Vegas have been going on for months. However, the full-self driving Teslas have reportedly not been carrying passengers during the tests. Interestingly enough, Hill noted that the FSD-driven vehicles have not had any incidents in the Boring Company tunnels yet, though safety drivers have been required to intervene “periodically.”

Hill further noted that the self-driving Teslas have found some spots that seem quite difficult in the underground tunnels system. The LVCVA CEO added that the rock walls of the Boring Company tunnels and their colorful lighting have created some “interesting but odd lighting” for FSD. That being said, Hill noted that the FSD tests are ongoing, though the LVCVA will likely be a consultant before the self-driving vehicles’ safety drivers are removed. 

The executive, however, noted that it will only be a matter of time before the Teslas in Las Vegas’ Boring Company tunnels are operating without a driver. “Sooner or later, this is going to be autonomous,” Hill said.

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Vegas Loop updates

The Boring Company’s underground transit system has been operating beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center for about four years. While the network is slated for expansion across more of the city, it currently connects the convention grounds with a handful of nearby hotels. Updates from the Boring Company’s official social media account on X suggests that tunneling is underway across other stops in Las Vegas.

As per the Boring Company on its official website, the greater Vegas Loop, when completed, will have 104 stations across 68 miles of tunnels. This should allow the underground system to serve an estimated 90,000 passengers per hour. It will also be able to connect key locations across the city, such as Harry Reid International Airport, Allegiant Stadium, and downtown.

While the Vegas Loop is nowhere near complete, Hill noted that the system is already well appreciated by residents and visitors. As per the LVCVA CEO, the underground transport system is the “highest rated feature we have” at the Convention Center.  “People love it,” he said, adding that the only reason the tunnels are not coming faster is due to holdups with permits. “We’re holding them back. They’re not holding us back,” he stated.

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