Tesla Just Quietly Downgraded Range Estimates on Multiple Models Amid Complaints

Tesla updated the range estimates on several of its Model Y, S, and X variants on Thursday night by up to six percent, just weeks after issuing a massive recall of nearly every vehicle sold in the U.S. due to safety flaws with its self-driving system.

The move will likely bring the range estimates, which refers to the number of miles an electric vehicle can travel on a fully charged battery, closer to reality. The company has faced criticism in recent years that it unrealistically inflates the range on its vehicles.

On Tesla's website, the Model Y Long Range was quietly reduced from 330 to 310 miles; while the Model Y Performance was reduced from 303 miles to 285 miles. Though, the Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive, the most affordable model introduced to the U.S. in October, maintained a range estimate of 260 miles. Other than the range, there has been no change in pricing across any of the three models.

Additionally, an estimate for the Model X Plaid has dropped from 333 miles to 326, and the Model S Plaid configuration with 19-inch wheels has been updated to 359 miles from 396 miles, as The Verge notes.

According to the EV insider website Electrek, the revised estimates could have something to do with a change in the way Tesla is performing EPA testing. Though Tesla even concedes on its website that range estimates can vary depending on driving behaviors and environmental conditions—similar to miles per gallon in gas-powered vehicles. The company's cars tend to perform worse in real-world range tests when compared to other EV manufacturers.

Apparently, Tesla drivers can even see the discrepancy for themselves. If a fully charged vehicle has an estimated range of up to 300 miles, the driver will be routed through a Supercharger station even when programming the car to navigate to a destination that falls short of that limit.

It's unclear whether Tesla will be making changes to the range limits in other vehicle models, as the issue has hardly been unique to the handful of models that received updates. But it seems likely consumers can expect to see revised numbers across the board before long.