Tesla Assists Hurricane Irma Evacuations by Extending The Range On Its Cars

Tesla lifts battery limits on two models in Florida

Tesla is doing its best to help its customers avoid Hurricane Irma, which has recently made landfall in the Florida Keys. In order to assist in the evacuation efforts, the company has remotely lifted the battery limitations on two models. We’re talking about Model S and Model X, which were previously limited to a battery capacity of 60kWh. Now, Florida owners can take full advantage of their cars’ 75kWh output, which means that they have a better chance to avoid the storm. The increased output translates to about 30 to 40 extra miles. Nothing to sneeze at, if you ask me.

What’s with the limitations?

As far as we know, Tesla owners can lift the limits on their batteries by paying several thousand dollars. Even though that sounds like a lot, some people would have paid the sum gladly just to avoid stopping at a Supercharger station in the middle of a massive storm. It’s good to know that Tesla can remove limitations at will in the case of an emergency, and it’s worth noting that this is a temporary fix. As soon as the threat passes, it’s likely that the company will return the cars to their original configurations. In the future, electric car makers will need to manage these limitations (and their removal) very carefully. These temporary solutions could help save lives in other, perhaps smaller events, not just meteorological emergencies.

All owners were notified that the batteries on their cars were electronically limited before purchase. They probably got a better price for it too. Still, how do you feel about Tesla having this much remote control over its cars’ performance?