Logll Tech News — In recent years, Tesla has been at the forefront of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, garnering praise for its innovative technology and pushing the boundaries of what electric cars can achieve.
- However, the company now finds itself embroiled in controversy, with accusations of exaggerating EV driving range in the past. But that’s not all – Tesla is now facing even more serious allegations of attempting to minimize complaints about its vehicle performance through a secretive “Diversion Team.”
The Secretive “Diversion Team” in Las Vegas 🕵️♂️
According to sources from Reuters, Tesla had a hidden “Diversion Team” operating in the Las Vegas area. The primary goal of this team was to avoid dealing with range-related service appointments made by dissatisfied customers. Whenever a customer complained that the actual driving range fell short of the marketing claims, the advisors from this team would respond by downplaying the concerns.
Dismissing Range Complaints ❌
The advisors allegedly informed the car owners that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) range figures were merely predictions and not accurate representations of real-world performance. They further attributed the discrepancy to the natural degradation of batteries over time, which would inevitably lead to reduced range. Initially, the “Diversion Team” relied on remote diagnostics and customer calls to handle these complaints. However, over time, they stopped addressing non-range issues altogether, effectively avoiding any meaningful resolution.
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Cost-Cutting Measures and Appointments Queues 💰
The motivations behind this secretive team’s actions were twofold. Firstly, Tesla sought to save money, as each service appointment could cost the company approximately $1,000. Secondly, the service centers were already overwhelmed with long appointment queues, and this tactic was intended to reduce the strain on those facilities.
App Changes to Handle Complaints 📱
To further streamline the process of managing range-related complaints, Tesla updated its mobile app. The new app version removed the option for users to book appointments directly regarding range issues. Instead, customers were given the choice to request a company representative to contact them.
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Manipulating Range Estimates 📊
The core of the controversy revolves around Tesla’s alleged manipulation of range estimates. According to insiders, the company began tweaking range figures around a decade ago. The purpose was to exaggerate the range displayed when an EV was fully charged. The accurate range numbers would only be shown once the battery charge dropped below 50 percent. Moreover, Tesla reportedly incorporated a 15-mile range buffer when the estimate reached zero, similar to how traditional gasoline cars still have some fuel left when the gauge reads “empty.”
Current Status and Tesla’s Response 📢
At present, it remains uncertain whether Tesla is still employing such code manipulations to exaggerate range figures. The company’s public relations team has been disbanded, leaving no immediate means of communication for clarification. However, Tesla has not been without its fair share of criticism and legal challenges regarding range concerns.
The EPA, for instance, had requested Tesla to slightly reduce its range estimates from the 2020 model year onward. Additionally, South Korea imposed a hefty fine of $2.2 million on Tesla in January for allegedly failing to disclose that range could drop significantly in cold weather conditions.
Industry-Wide Range Embellishment 📉
While Tesla may be in the spotlight for its range exaggeration allegations, it is not the only automaker to have faced scrutiny in this regard. A study conducted by the standards body SAE International shed light on the fact that EVs, in general, tend to fall approximately 12.5 percent short of their official range in highway driving. Astonishingly, the co-authors of the study revealed that Tesla’s shortfall was a much higher 26 percent, which raises further concerns about the company’s practices.
A Closer Look at Competing Brands 🔍
In contrast to Tesla’s approach, other automakers like Ford, Mercedes, and Porsche have opted for more conservative estimates by employing the EPA formula and conducting extra tests. This approach may result in a more accurate representation of the vehicle’s actual range, providing potential buyers with a more realistic expectation.
Is Tesla Cheating or Leveraging Loopholes? 🤔
While these allegations may paint Tesla in a negative light, industry experts offer a different perspective. Gregory Pannone, one of the co-authors behind the SAE International study, suggests that Tesla might not necessarily be cheating. Instead, the company might be leveraging EPA range procedures more aggressively compared to its competitors. However, if these allegations hold true, it could be problematic for customers who might never achieve the range they were promised.
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🚗💥 Unraveling Tesla’s Range Controversy: Exaggerations and Deceptions Revealed! 💥🚗
In a stunning turn of events, Tesla, the trailblazing electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has been thrust into the spotlight due to a series of controversial accusations. From allegations of exaggerating EV driving range to the existence of a clandestine “Diversion Team,” Tesla’s reputation is now under intense scrutiny.
🕵️♂️ The Secretive “Diversion Team”: Reports have emerged of a covert “Diversion Team” operating in Las Vegas, with a mission to evade handling range-related service appointments from disgruntled customers. Instead of addressing genuine concerns, advisors allegedly downplayed range complaints, attributing discrepancies to battery degradation and EPA range figures being mere predictions.
💰 Cost-Cutting Measures and Appointments Queues: Tesla’s motive behind the covert team’s actions appears to be twofold. Seeking to save money, each service appointment could cost the company around $1,000. Additionally, the already overloaded service centers faced long appointment queues, prompting the need for alternative approaches.
📱 App Changes to Manage Complaints: To streamline range-related complaints, Tesla revamped its mobile app. Users were no longer able to book direct service appointments for range issues. Instead, they were offered the option to request a company representative to contact them, adding a layer of ambiguity to the resolution process.
📊 Manipulating Range Estimates: The heart of the controversy centers on alleged manipulations of range estimates by Tesla. Supposedly implemented over a decade ago, the company sought to exaggerate range figures at full charge, revealing accurate numbers only when the battery fell below 50 percent. Moreover, a 15-mile range buffer was reportedly used when the estimate reached zero, akin to traditional gasoline cars’ “empty” fuel gauges.
🏁 Current Status and Tesla’s Response: Presently, the company’s use of code manipulations remains uncertain, as Tesla’s public relations team has been disbanded, leaving queries unanswered. Nevertheless, Tesla has faced criticism and legal consequences over range concerns, with the EPA requesting range estimate reductions and South Korea levying a hefty fine.
📉 Industry-Wide Range Embellishment: While Tesla’s practices have been put under the microscope, it’s essential to recognize that it is not alone in facing range-related scrutiny. A recent study by SAE International revealed that EVs, on average, fall 12.5 percent short of their official range during highway driving. Tesla’s alleged shortfall of 26 percent has raised eyebrows, prompting broader industry comparisons.
🤔 Is Tesla Cheating or Leveraging Loopholes? Experts offer diverse perspectives on Tesla’s actions, with some suggesting that the company may be more aggressively leveraging EPA range procedures rather than outright cheating. Nevertheless, if the allegations are true, it could spell trouble for customers who find themselves far from the promised range.
Tesla’s range controversy is a cautionary tale for the EV industry, emphasizing the importance of trust, transparency, and accountability. As the automotive landscape continues to evolve, only time will reveal the true impact of these revelations on Tesla’s reputation and the broader electric vehicle revolution.
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FAQs About Tesla’s Range Controversy ❓
The “Diversion Team” in Tesla was a secretive group operating in the Las Vegas area with the aim of avoiding range-related service appointments by dissatisfied customers.
When customers complained about range discrepancies, the advisors from the team would downplay the issue, stating that EPA range figures were mere predictions and that battery degradation was responsible for the reduced range.
Tesla sought to save money on service appointments and reduce the strain on already overwhelmed service centers facing long appointment queues.
Tesla updated its mobile app to remove the direct option for users to book range-related service appointments. Instead, customers could request a company representative to contact them.
According to insiders, Tesla began tweaking range figures approximately a decade ago to exaggerate the displayed range when an EV was fully charged.
Tesla’s manipulation aimed to present more impressive range figures at a full charge, while accurate range numbers would only be displayed once the battery dropped below 50 percent.
The EPA requested Tesla to slightly reduce its range estimates from the 2020 model year onward. Additionally, South Korea fined Tesla $2.2 million for allegedly failing to disclose that range can drop significantly in cold weather.