Tesla Updates Vehicle Range and Features, Alters Software in Response to New EPA Tests

Tesla announced, last week, many revisions to the range ratings of a number of its vehicles, and we are now seeing some of the changes that are being made in terms of features and software.

Tesla's Range Tweaks Cause Many Changes To Automobiles

Teslarati reviewed the adjustments that affected the Model Y's Long Range and Performance options, as well as the Model S Plaid and Model X Plaid, Tesla's two quickest vehicles.

The changes in the range were driven by new EPA testing procedures that were intended to be implemented with 2024 model-year automobiles. The modifications are likely to effect all EVs, including Teslas.

According to source code discovered by a Tesla hacker, Tesla is making many adjustments, including eliminating certain functionality and aligning other alterations.

The first significant change is the elimination of the Creep and Roll stopping modes, which appear to leave simply Hold Mode. These will be eliminated from the Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla stated in an internal memo obtained by Drive Tesla.

Furthermore, Tesla is introducing an efficiency package with a planned hardware upgrade. The same vehicles that altered EPA range ratings last week will receive an "efficiency package" adjustment.

The adjustments are clearly intended to help the cars have more accurate range ratings and economy. However, the modifications being performed in the software update discovered by Green are currently unknown.

The range of an EV has been a strongly debated and divisive subject among EV owners: how much is sufficient? It actually depends on a person's wants and differs since each owner has a unique response. Tesla is doing all it can to provide accurate range ratings, so owners know exactly what to expect on their forthcoming drives.

Tesla Seeks To Abolish Bankruptcy As Rescuer For Former Whistleblowers

Tesla is attempting to eliminate the use of bankruptcy as a rescuer for an ex-employee who owes the business $425,000 in fines following a court dispute with CEO Elon Musk.

Martin Tripp, a former Tesla employee and whistleblower who alerted news outlets anonymously that the company was squandering raw materials at its Sparks, Nevada, Gigafactory, pays Tesla $425,000, the amount agreed upon to resolve a lawsuit accusing him of stealing sensitive data.

According to Bloomberg, Tesla urged a judge on Tuesday not to let Tripp use bankruptcy to avoid paying the company's $425,000 cost.

The lawsuit accusing him of stealing the data was settled for $400,000, with an extra $25,000 in fines imposed because he uploaded court records online in defiance of a judge's order during the trial.

Tripp had been paying Tesla to resolve the debt, but in September, he filed for bankruptcy. Tesla does not believe he should be bailed out by using it to avoid paying the fines agreed to in 2020 to resolve the lawsuit.

Tesla and Tripp have been embroiled in a high-profile court battle since 2018, when he accused the manufacturer of improper raw material management. He was dismissed for making the charges once Tesla discovered he had come forward, and the firm then sued him for stealing proprietary data.

Tesla has taken legal concerns seriously and has expanded its legal staff over the last few years. Musk stated that the business would form a "hardcore" legal staff a few years ago, which has helped Tesla avoid negative press and handle litigation aimed at righting wrongs committed by former workers.

Filing for bankruptcy can relieve a person of paying legal expenses or obligations. After filing for bankruptcy in September, Tripp was no longer obligated to pay Tesla since an automatic stay prevents debt collection as soon as the claim is filed.

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