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Tesla Model S, X to get bigger battery pack capacity in Plaid variant
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed plans for an increase in battery pack capacity for the future Plaid variant of the Model S and Model X. Boasting an EPA-rate range of 373 miles for the Model S and 328 miles for the Model X, the future version of Tesla’s flagship vehicles is expected to exceed a range of 400 miles per single charge.
It’s been long expected that Tesla would switch Model S and Model X battery packs from the 18650 form factor cells to the newer, and larger, 2170 cells with a higher energy density that’s Tesla is using in the Model 3. The long-range variants of the Model S and Model X SUV are outfitted with a 100 kWh battery pack. Although Musk has not discussed the specifics on the increase in battery capacity to come, one can presume it would fall within the range of 110 kWh to 120 kWh to support well north of 400 miles of range.
Higher capacity battery packs would not only improve range in everyday driving but also support higher power output from Tesla’s future Plaid Mode powertrain with three electric motors.
Yes
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2019
Plaid Mode gained traction after Tesla released footage of a Model S setting the single-lap record at the Laguna Seca Raceway in September. What followed was a series of sightings of a pair of widebody Model S, each with an aggressive front spoiler and massive rear diffuser. Tesla brought two different P100D+ Plaid Model S vehicles to the famed Nürburgring circuit in Western Germany, both with different aerodynamic packages, aimed at improving the handling of the car. When Tesla left the Nürburgring and packed up its vehicles for the year on November 4, they reportedly set a frighteningly quick 7:13 lap time on two separate occasions.
The car already has a sparkling reputation, as MotorTrend has recognized it as the best car ever created, and the Tesla CEO highlighted this during the Q3 earnings call. “The Model S literally won Motor Trend‘s best car ever in history by the way,” he said. Battery improvements will only increase the popularity of the car, and increase its overall performance as a vehicle that continues to set records at the most famous testing track for performance cars in the world.
While Musk stated the current long-running Model S design and Model X are still in production for “sentimental reasons”, he notes it is expensive to build and made in low volume. “They’re really of minor importance to the future,” noted Musk.
The Plaid Mode Model S will begin production in 2020 in Q4 according to Musk. It will utilize three motors and will feature a seven-seat interior. A price point for the vehicle has not yet been released by Tesla, but Musk has specified it “will cost more than our current offerings, but less than competitors.”
Tesla has launched a new Model Y configuration in the “Premium” trim, and it comes with three highly requested features that have launched in markets outside of the U.S. and in other trims.
Tesla announced on Monday night that it has officially launched the Model Y Premium in a seven-seat configuration, which also comes standard with a 16″ touchscreen and black headliner, both of which are featured in the Model Y Performance trim.
The seven-seat configuration is highly requested by consumers and helps fill out the more spacious SUV offering that the lineup has missed outside of the Model X, which prices out many consumers. This new upgrade only costs $2,500 extra for all three features, bringing the cash price to $48,990.
This also comes with the larger 16” touchscreen! pic.twitter.com/aiAxWUTKZa
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 13, 2026
The move to add the seven-seat configuration with the black headliner and additional screen size is a welcome addition, as many Tesla fans have asked the company to come out with an SUV with more seating capacity. Although it is not a full-size SUV, the additional seating will certainly attract some buyers with bigger families.
It appears the third row is slightly more spacious than the past iteration of the seven-seat Model Y, which was available in the previous design pre-Juniper:
Credit: Tesla
However, it definitely still appears to be pretty cramped in terms of legroom. It will definitely be a seating arrangement for smaller passengers, mostly reserved for children.
The other two upgrades are the black headliner, which was launched in other markets and in the Model Y Performance. Many owners have wanted this change, and Tesla listened, but is only offering it with the seven-seat configuration. It also has a larger 16″ touchscreen, also present in the Model Y Performance exclusively:
Credit: Tesla
It is a nice touch to add these highly requested features to the all-electric crossover, which was the best-selling vehicle in the world for the third consecutive year.
Tesla has expanded its branded ‘For Business’ Supercharger program that it launched last year, as yet another company is using the platform to attract EV owners to its business and utilize a unique advertising opportunity.
Francis Energy of Oklahoma is launching four Superchargers in Norman, where the University of Oklahoma is located. The Superchargers, which are fitted with branding for Francis Energy, will officially open tomorrow.
It will not be the final Supercharger location that Francis Energy plans to open, the company confirmed to EVWire.
Back in early September, Tesla launched the new “Supercharger for Business” program in an effort to give businesses the ability to offer EV charging at custom rates. It would give their businesses visibility and would also cater to employees or customers.
“Purchase and install Superchargers at your business,” Tesla wrote on a page on its website for the new program. “Superchargers are compatible with all electric vehicles, bringing EV drivers to your business by offering convenient, reliable charging.”
The first site opened in Land O’ Lakes, Florida, which is Northeast of Tampa, as a company called Suncoast launched the Superchargers for local EV owners.
Tesla launches its new branded Supercharger for Business with first active station
The program also does a great job at expanding infrastructure for EV owners, which is something that needs to be done to encourage more people to purchase Teslas and other electric cars.
Francis Energy operates at least 14 EV charging locations in Oklahoma, spanning from Durant to Oklahoma City and nearly everywhere in between. Filings from the company, listed by Supercharge.info, show the company’s plans to convert some of them to Tesla Superchargers, potentially utilizing the new Supercharger for Business program to advertise.
Moving forward, more companies will likely utilize Tesla’s Supercharger for Business program as it presents major advantages in a variety of ways, especially with advertising and creating a place for EV drivers to gain range in their cars.
Tesla Cybercab is perhaps the most highly-anticipated project that the company plans to roll out this year, and as it is undergoing its testing phase in pre-production currently, there are some things to work through with it.
Over the weekend, an image of the Cybercab being loaded onto a tow truck started circulating on the internet, and people began to speculate as to what the issue could be.
Hmmmmmm… https://t.co/L5hWcOXQkb pic.twitter.com/OJBDyHNTMj
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 11, 2026
The Cybercab can clearly be seen with a Police Officer and perhaps the tow truck driver by its side, being loaded onto, or even potentially unloaded from, the truck.
However, it seems unlikely it was being offloaded, as its operation would get it to this point for testing to begin with.
It appears, at first glance, that it needs assistance getting back to wherever it came from; likely Gigafactory Texas or potentially a Bay Area facility.
The Cybercab was also spotted in Buffalo, New York, last week, potentially undergoing cold-weather testing, but it doesn’t appear that’s where this incident took place.
It is important to remember that the Cybercab is currently undergoing some rigorous testing scenarios, which include range tests and routine public road operation. These things help Tesla assess any potential issue the vehicle could run into after it starts routine production and heads to customers, or for the Robotaxi platform operation.
This is not a one-off issue, either. Tesla had some instances with the Semi where it was seen broken down on the side of a highway three years ago. The all-electric Semi has gone on to be successful in its early pilot program, as companies like Frito-Lay and PepsiCo. have had very positive remarks.
The Cybercab’s future is bright, and it is important to note that no vehicle model has ever gone its full life without a breakdown. It happens, it’s a car.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that there has been no official word on what happened with this particular Cybercab unit, but it is crucial to remember that this is the pre-production testing phase, and these things are more constructive than anything.
Tesla Model Y gets fresh configuration with three highly requested features
Tesla expands its branded ‘For Business’ Superchargers
