The Startup That Just Got One Up On Tesla
A 752 mile-per-charge EV that has sent shockwaves through the industry.
What is the worst thing about electric vehicles? If you are one of the lucky people who can afford one, you’d probably say range. Even with the advent of 400 mile-per-charge Teslas, people are still driving with cold sweat and white knuckles, praying they will make it to the nearest available charge station. This is mainly because a little spirited driving or a chilly morning will drastically reduce their range, leaving the owner high and dry. But, a startup backed by Bill Gates and BMW called ONE (Our Next Energy) has developed an ingenious solution, and its recent real-world test has just embarrassed Tesla and the whole automotive industry.
Unlike Tesla, Lucid or Rivian, ONE isn’t a car company. It is a battery company. They took a Tesla Model S Long-range, ripped out the Panasonic battery pack and installed their experimental pack called “Gemini”. This swap was particularly easy as the Gemini pack is the exact same size as the old Panasonic pack. Then, on a cold December day in less than ideal conditions (cold temperatures reduces EV range), they took this Frankenstein car out for a drive and did 752 miles on a single charge!
