Credit: Electrek
It has emerged that Tesla is limiting the number of lifetime uses of launch mode in at least some of its cars. One owner has been quoted, “... my car would pull around 1600 amps from the battery & 512 KW of power when fully charged, now the car will only pull around 1500 amps & 480 KW of power ...”
P90D cars are impacted, although P100Ds are not.1
Greencar Reports: “Tesla quietly limits lifetime full-speed launches via over-the-air update”
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1108187_tesla-quietly-limits-lifetime-full-speed-launches-via-over-the-air-update
Electrek: “Tesla confirms that it limits the power of performance vehicles after too many launches with ‘launch mode’”
https://electrek.co/2016/12/23/tesla-limiting-power-performance-launch-mode/
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1 Teslarati: “What makes the Tesla 100 kWh battery so different?”, https://www.teslarati.com/what-makes-tesla-100-kwh-battery-so-different/ / Tesla limits lifetime use launch mode Tesla 100 kWh battery so different launch control electronic aid assist drivers accelerating from standstill have a negative effect on vehicles used too often result premature wear components due high stress placed on them some performance car manufacturers limit power predetermined number of launches void the warranty after a certain limit Tesla introduced version of launch control Launch Mode performance versions vehicles first production electric car Tesla limiting launch mode in a similar way power output permanently limited reported earlier this year Tesla quietly increased total power output performance vehicles added over 50 hp power Model S P90D Tesla’s top performance model at the time Ludicrous mode increased the battery pack capacity to 1,600 amps Tesla owners Tesla Motors Club forum started thread rumor that Tesla limiting the power output unspecified number of launches using Launch Mode thread Ingineer root access to his Model S thread confirming the real usable capacity of Tesla’s battery packs revealed another hacker root access to his vehicle launch mode issue Tesla Model S P90D owner situation my car was limited just after the 8.0 update lots of testing emailed Tesla my findings limitation my car 1600 amps battery 512 KW power fully charged 1500 amps 480 KW of power loss of about 40 HP response Tesla representative using launch mode places increased stress entire powertrain accelerating aging fatigue various components computer systems automatically track launch mode usage continually estimate fatigue damage how launch mode is used computer may eventually limit available power during launch mode protect the powertrain common strategy employed in other high performance cars upgrading P100D ludicrous remove this limit will not be limited in the future P100D does not have this limit for launch mode limiting output Tesla spokesperson sent us the following statement like other automakers performance vehicles continually monitor condition various components may employ limiting strategies reduce fatigue on the powertrain launch control systems performance vehicles Tesla Model S P90D in Ludicrous mode accelerate has over 500 hp problem communication limitation owners using their vehicles as intended limited power output Tesla’s owner manual Launch Mode limitations number of launches temperature when using the feature Tesla CTO JB Straubel calculating its power output dual motor vehicles complaints from owners Tesla owners remain largely loyal to the company new survey released 91% of Tesla owners would buy again power limiting issue only affect P90D vehicles other dual motors could have a launch counter solution expensive upgrade 100 kWh battery pack Tesla’s latest top-of-the-line P100D model apparently not affected by the problem Tesla order page limiting controls /
