This business model is starting to remind me of printers that disable themselves if your ink subscription payments lapse, even when there is ink remaining in the device.

The fewer the skus the better.

Software eating the world means micro payments for features.

I got one from HP. They do this?

> HP has used its "Dynamic Security" firmware updates to "create a monopoly"

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/01/hp-sued-again-for-bl...

Only if you use the ink subscription service.

My hp printer with a subscription bricked itself. I’m about to drop it into the dumpster. I replaced with a brother.

This sounds like they're unlocking battery reserve capacity to be freely usable.

NMC batteries wear out quicker if they're fully discharged or kept fully charged, so automakers typically keep extra 3-5% of the battery hidden from the user to prolong the battery life (sort of like extra cells in SSDs).

If the unlock doesn't shorten the battery warranty, then it may be justified to charge for it.

Are they transparent that this what they will be doing? And that the money is for them to accept liability for the risk of a battery which is degrading faster?

>automakers typically keep extra 3-5% of the battery hidden from the user

Even 5% aren't 30 miles.

The optimal usage of the battery is actually 80%. I think it's very possible that they only charge to 90% originally

It sounds like this:

> When it cancelled the SR model, Tesla also stated that the batteries in those models were actually bigger than advertised, and that it planned to offer software unlocks that would add 40-60 miles of range, depending on your battery cells, for $1,500-$2,000, as soon as it had regulatory approval to do so.

> And now it looks like those upgrades are ready to go, as certain Model Y owners have started seeing an “Energy Boost” upgrade available in their Tesla app.

It only sucks that the folks without the unlock are merely carrying around the extra mass of the larger battery.

Not necessarily, economies of scale means ‘use as few skus as possible” if operational expenses approach raw materials costs.

Giving buyers extra battery volume at low marginal cost for future sales potential is definitely possible.

Range is such an important differentiator for EVs that I doubt they'd opt for a lower one if they could have a higher one for marginal cost, at no risk to reliability/longevity of the car.