Electric vehicles cannot yet meet the expectations of users due to reasons such as lack of range and charging stations. According to Reuters, Tesla is giving its customers misleading information about maximum range.
Tesla lies to its customers about maximum range
According to the leaked information, this started about ten years ago for advertising purposes and was managed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. It is claimed that Tesla has developed an algorithm that makes unrealistic range estimation when the vehicle battery is fully charged.
Another controversial issue is Tesla’s attempt to silence people who complain about the subject. It is unknown if Tesla is still using the algorithms, but third-party testers recently claimed that the cars failed to meet the advertised ranges.
Analysts speculate that the range issue is caused by not taking into account environmental conditions. Air temperature has a significant impact on electric vehicle batteries. However, other factors such as prolonged high-speed driving, steep slopes and headwinds are also among the factors that shorten the range.
Tesla has previously had problems with regulators in the US and South Korea on this issue. The range estimates that should be displayed on electric vehicles sold in the US are usually released directly by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Tesla opposes this situation and presents the test results it has carried out within the company.
The EPA has asked the company to revise its figures by about three percent since 2020. In January, the Korea Fair Trade Commission fined Tesla $2.2 million for failing to tell customers about the effects of low temperatures on the battery.
It is stated that the discrepancy between the advertised ranges and the ranges experienced by many drivers in real life has been the subject of complaints by thousands of customers. It is among the rumors that Tesla has set up a separate unit in its Las Vegas office to cover up battery and range complaints.
Edmunds’ 2021 report revealed that most Tesla models missed EPA range estimates, even when taking into account the so-called 15-mile “safety bumper.” It should be noted that the models of other manufacturers make estimates closer to the EPA estimates.
Despite the controversy, Tesla vehicles continue to benefit from strong sales. Recent price cuts and positive performance in China helped make the Model Y the first electric vehicle to top the world’s best-selling car list in the first quarter of this year.
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