Do Tesla users / enthusiasts / supporters have versions number for these changes?
I mean other Car manufactures would have the same Model, but they do new tweaks every year so it is easier to know, like BMW M3 2018. But Tesla seems to be constantly innovating at a rapid pace, how do people tell which "Model S" they have?
I make an app called Nikola that's seen data from a few thousand Teslas. The short answer is there are some identifiers, but they're basically impossible for outsiders to track. Tesla is making modifications all the time.
From what I've seen in forums and user groups, etc, owners tend to just break things down by major feature. AP1 / AP2 / AP3, or I have X type of wheel, or I don't have the retractible roof, but there are obviously so many other changes that aren't easy to detect
The article mentions that Tesla stripped out some mass from the car which resulted in longer range, but would doing so change its stability to the point where its safety rating needs to be reassessed, or is there a margin of tolerance?
Depends how the weight reduction was achieved. You can often remove weight and make a structure stronger at the same time by changing the load paths or materials.
Furthermore, removal of material not in the crash structure would likely not impact impact performance. (e.g. drive train mass)
A brand new Y is a similar price, and has some features over the X. That said, the X is a tad bigger and has some premium features like heated wheel you can’t get on a Y.
Vehicles are tested at a top speed of 80 mph in order to calculate the highway mpg estimates.
EPA utilizes five test cycles to represent real-world driving conditions. While it’s true that the test cycle historically labeled as the “highway” test has a top speed of 60 mph, this test is currently meant to represent driving on lower speed highways as well as rural and suburban driving. EPA’s highway mpg estimates are primarily derived from a separate “high speed” test cycle, which has a top speed of 80 mph. The remaining three tests are designed to simulate stop-and-go city driving, high air conditioning use, and driving in cold temperatures. For more information on the five test cycles and how EPA calculates its mpg estimates, go to epa.gov/fueleconomy.
It's the typical EPA range figure that everyone has to use. It's already greater than more than a few mid-size SUVs, such as this BMW: https://www.cars.com/research/bmw-x6_m-2017/
no one expects to get the mpg rating of their combustion engine cars, I don't know why anyone would expect range to be the same. as long as they constantly benchmarking range against the same tests, range numbers are still usefull. I don't know anyone who would expect the listed range when they buy one, it's common sense that the tests are in optimal conditions doing everything possible to get that number as high as possible, just like traditional car numbers.
I mean other Car manufactures would have the same Model, but they do new tweaks every year so it is easier to know, like BMW M3 2018. But Tesla seems to be constantly innovating at a rapid pace, how do people tell which "Model S" they have?
And if anyone know what happened to Battery Day?