Tesla Model S has a mid year production update which means that if you took delivery before X date your unit has been superseded by something better. This can be expected with any leading edge technology but has the tendency to upset the early adopters. Remember ordering your first Pentium PC only to see the Pentium II intro mere months later rendering your box obsolete? Or smart phone, or tablet or…

First production vehicles are limited to a 90kW rate of charge. These cars have “A” batteries. Word gets out that updated “B” batteries, with the bragging rights of a 120kW hour charging rate have been incorporated into production. Somewhat unfairly, Tesla led folks to misunderstand that the higher charge rate would be enjoyed by everyone after a routine Firmware Upgrade which turned out not to be the case. Suddenly everyone is on their knees to look at the underbelly of their pride and joy to glimpse a factory VIN label proclaiming which batteries are installed with hopes that it will say “B”. Some are disappointed. Others find both letters mix and matched. Evidently there may have been a 4 month span when the new batter was ready but there were plenty of the “A” batteries still in inventory. Unfortunately those folks are also limited to the lower standard. Some people have newer car VINs with older style and some owners older VINs with the newer type leading to additional bewilderment.

This charge rate thing is meaningful. If you’ve spent luxury car money and your available time has considerable value, your wait at the charging station is measurable. The higher charge rate ability will get you back on the road perhaps 5-10 minutes before the Tesla owner with the lower limit. He might be left grumbling as you both pit stop and you are able to speed away first. This is a new world to understand. Those of us still consuming petrol don’t give a second thought to refueling. The Tesla owner when away from home base will strive to locate and use a Tesla SuperCharger location and by the way, Tesla’s deal is to provide a network of stations and make the energy available without cost to driver (as in FREE).

It becomes an interesting study in behavior as those first in line to buy the new car must have known that the original design, as wonderful as it is, was bound to be improved upon and enhanced over time.