Electric Cars

Tesla’s Model S (pictured) and Model X rely heavily on touchscreen controls, making display failure an even bigger problem than with other vehicles.
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Nearly 159,000 Tesla Model S sedans and Model X crossover SUVs are the subject of an escalating federal safety probe. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is ramping up its examination of touchscreen failures on the electric vehicles. The investigation has been bumped up to an engineering analysis, a necessary step before the government agency can compel the automaker to recall its vehicles. The investigation, which centers on 2012-2018 Model S and 2016-2018 Model X EVs is an expansion of an initial probe that covered 63,000 units.According to NHTSA, touchscreen failures can trigger the loss of the rearview camera, as well as affect defogger functions and chimes for turn signals and Autopilot. Tesla models use their massive touchscreens as central control hubs for most vehicle functions, minimizing switchgear and build complexity but maximizing the potential for display issues to negatively affect a wide variety of vehicle systems.

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Tesla has garnered over 10,000 owner requests to change out their vehicles’ MCU — Main Computer Unit — the brain that powers the touchscreen. Users have reported everything from a complete failure of the touchscreen to longer boot-up times and increased latency of response. According to NHTSA, Tesla has reported 2,399 formal complaints regarding the issue and the Silicon Valley automaker has logged 7,777 warranty claims and 4,746 non-warranty claims related to replacements of this processor. 

According to the federal agency, “The data show failure rates over 30% in certain build months and accelerating failure trends after 3 to 4 years-in-service.” NHTSA also notes “Tesla has implemented certain Over-The-Air or OTA updates to subject vehicles to mitigate the effects of MCU failure,” but also notes that many complaints say Tesla has required owners to pay for a new MCU when the part is out of warranty.Tesla did not immediately respond to Roadshow’s inquiry related to this story. Tesla does not operate a public relations department to field request for comment. More

If you don’t have warm temps year round, winter tires are the best.
Tesla
All-season tires might make things nice and easy on vehicle owners, but trust me, there’s nothing like a set of proper winter tires when the S-word stars falling from the sky. If this doesn’t apply to you in your area, I am jealous.Anyway, for Tesla Model Y owners, the automaker a new option as it rolls out expanded winter wheel and tire packages for those that want to keep their 20-inch wheels on throughout the snowy and cold months. Smaller wheels will help with range issues, but for those that want to keep it simple, this is just the ticket. The 20-inch wheels follow the introduction of a 19-inch wheel package with winter tires as well. They’ll let you keep the same wheels, but provide the much-needed grip from winter tires when needed.

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However, as Electrek rightfully pointed out, you can also purchase the the winter tires that fit the 19-inch wheels by themselves and save a bit of cash — roughly $2,500. But if you want specific wheels for each season, Tesla’s package is the bundle deal for you. It costs $3,500 total. Winter tires to fit 20-inch wheels exist, but as mentioned, range may suffer. We recently covered the topic extensively, thanks to our favorite explainer-in-chief, Jason Fenske. If you do want to keep the 20-inch wheels and nab the winter package from Tesla, prepare to drop $4,000.

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It’s safe to say that range is king when it comes to marketing electric vehicles. I mean, there’s a reason manufacturers keep pushing pack sizes up to eke out every bit of range possible. Here’s the thing, though: bigger batteries are good for storing more energy, but they adversely affect the vehicle in other ways, namely in the weight department.So, knowing that weight is the enemy of performance and that bigger packs mean more weight, what if I told you there was a way to get a measurable boost in range from your electric vehicle without touching any of the drivetrain components? Would you believe me? Of course not. I’m not an engineer. Jason Fenske of YouTube’s Engineering Explained is, and he’s ready to drop some science on you.

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The secret is all in the wheel and tire package for a vehicle. Smaller wheels weigh less and therefore require less energy to get them rolling, making them more efficient. It seems like a no-brainer, right? Then why do companies keep fitting larger and larger wheels to their vehicles? Because people think they look cool. That’s it.Just how much of a difference is there in the range of a Model 3 Performance on 18-inch wheels versus 20-inch wheels? Well, according to Jason’s math (which is much better than mine), the 18s are good for an additional 39 miles of range. That’s a 15% difference, which is huge in EV terms. You also get the benefits of lower cost and increased comfort from using a tire with a taller sidewall.So, there’s the not-so-secret formula for more range on your EV: Slap the smallest wheels you can realistically fit on there, along with some low-rolling-resistance tires, and you’re good to go. Make the tires narrow too (at the expense of a little cornering grip) and laugh all the way past the charging station. More

The R1T in the dunes of Glamis, California.
Emme Hall/Roadshow
Listen up, EV nerds. The Rivian configurator goes live on Nov. 16 — for those who preordered one of the R1T trucks or R1S SUVs, anyway. The rest of you will have to wait until Nov. 23. But in the meantime, Rivian announced a number of new details on Wednesday, including pricing and equipment for various trim packages.Both vehicles will be offered with Adventure or Explore packages and come with Wi-Fi, over-the-air updates, vegan seats and a snazzy panoramic glass roof. Regardless of model, the Adventure package adds an onboard air compressor and sturdier underbody protection, as well as heated and cooled seats and what the company calls a Rivian Elevation 360 stereo system with a removable Bluetooth speaker. For the R1T truck, the Adventure package also adds a remote monitoring system and a power tonneau cover so your kit won’t get nicked while you’re out on a hike. Vehicles with the Adventure Package will be available in January 2022 and will have 300 miles of range. The R1T will be priced at $75,000 while the R1S will go for $77,500.
Here’s the Rivian R1T electric pickup truck in action off-road
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The Explore package is cool, but it doesn’t have as many features. The vegan seats are there but the cooling technology isn’t. There’s a surround-sound audio system but there isn’t a Bluetooth speaker. And with this package, the R1T will get a manual tonneau cover instead of a power one. However, the Explore package’s price is lower to account for this lack of kit. Explore-equipped Rivians will come online in January 2022 with 300 miles of range, with the R1T costing $67,500 and the R1S coming in at $70,000.If you want a Rivian right away, you’ll have to snag one of the limited Launch Edition models. The R1T Launch Edition will be ready in June 2021 with the R1S following a few months later in August. The Launch Edition includes the Adventure package and 300 miles of range, and drivers will be able to add upgraded wheels and tires for free. It comes painted in a unique color called launch green and will of course have special badging. The Launch Edition doesn’t cost any more than the R1T or R1S with the Adventure package, but quantities are limited.And what of the 400-mile battery pack that we’ve heard so much about? On the R1T it will be available in January 2022. The R1S will be available a little later, though Rivian hasn’t said exactly when that’ll be. Lower-priced, 250-mile R1T and R1S variants should be announced at the same time. The R1S will have a boxy, utilitarian look.
Rivian
As for tech, Rivian says the Driver Plus hands-free assistance system will be standard on every vehicle. This geofenced system uses 12 ultrasonic sensors, 10 exterior cameras, five radars and high-precision GPS, allowing the vehicles to steer, change lanes and keep up with traffic on their own. But be aware: This is not a self-driving feature. Owners will have to pay attention at all times and there is an interior camera to monitor driver alertness.For those worried about charging their Rivian, the company says it will soon launch the Rivian Adventure Network, with fast-charging stations throughout the US that can add 140 miles of range in just 20 minutes. However, no specific timeline is available for that rollout.As the only journalist to actually drive a Rivian R1T (so far), I greet this bit of news with a smile. Even the preproduction truck I drove had plenty of range and the off-road chops to charge up sand dunes and soak up whoops. Conventional, gas-powered trucks should be nervous. I can’t wait for the Rivians to launch.

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