Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor and Performance CARB filing shows interesting range results

Tesla has filed with CARB for the Model 3 Dual Motor and Dual Motor Performance ahead of the start of deliveries, which is expected in the coming weeks as we reported yesterday.

The range test results listed on the filing for the versions of the Model 3 have interesting implications.

In Tesla’s previous vehicles, the introduction of a dual motor powertrain actually resulted in a slight increase in range despite increasing the overall weight of a car by adding a whole second motor on the front axle.

The reason why is that Tesla was able to optimize the efficiency of each motor at different speeds and utilize them at those speeds when required in order to achieve a greater range.

For example, the Model S with a 75 kWh battery pack and a rear-wheel-drive motor was advertised with 249 miles of range and when Tesla introduced the dual motor version with the same battery pack, it was advertised with 259 miles of range on a single charge.

But when Tesla introduced the Model 3 Dual Motor and Dual Motor Performance, the automaker advertised the same 310 miles of range as the Model 3 with a rear-wheel-drive motor and the Long Range battery pack.

That figure comes from the EPA test cycle – though documents revealed that the rear-wheel drive version achieved an EPA-cycle range of 334 miles (537 km), but Tesla asked the EPA to lower the official range to 310 miles.

Now a new CARB filing that Tesla submitted for the new Model 3 Dual Motor and Dual Motor Performance shows another interesting result regarding the range:

To be clear, this is not an EPA cycle test but an “urban dynamometer driving schedule” test.

It’s not indicating of the overall real-world driving range, but the result can be compared to the same test for the rear-wheel-drive version of the car, which got 495.11 miles.

It leads us to believe that the dual motor Model 3 might really not have any range benefit over its rear-wheel-drive version.

Here’s the CARB filing in full:

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Electrek’s Take

It’s interesting because Tesla really seems to have done the right thing by lowering the EPA results for the advertised range since most Model 3 owners seem to be consistently getting the advertised range or slightly greater range, which is what automakers should be aiming for in my opinion.

Now it looks like Tesla is going to be advertising the same range for the dual motor versions of the car.

Will it actually get the same range? This first test result points to the dual motor actually affecting the range negatively.

It’s only one test out of many so I think we shouldn’t jump the gun, but it is still interesting that Tesla might not have been able to optimize efficiency like it did with its previous dual motor powertrain.

What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below.