Technology | Tesla Tesla Hits a 'Profound Milestone' 100kWh battery extends range, amps up acceleration By Kate Seamons Posted Aug 24, 2016 12:15 AM CDT Copied In this Sept. 29, 2015, file photo, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors Inc., speaks during a news conference at the company's headquarters in Fremont, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) Tesla on Tuesday introduced a car battery that's being hailed for two reasons: its ability to power an electric vehicle 315 miles on one charge, and the fact that it makes a four-door sedan the fastest accelerating production car (with an *; more on that below). The Wall Street Journal reports the 100 kilowatt-hour battery gives the carmaker a range unmatched by major car companies; it's the first to push past the 300-mile mark. The battery will be available in the Model S sedan and Model X SUV (the latter's range is 289 miles). More: Tesla CEO Elon Musk had big words in a conference call with the media, reports the BBC. "These are very profound milestones and I think will help convince people around the world that electric is the future." It's a profound milestone with a price: The Verge reports the Model S P100D with Ludicrous mode kicks off at $134,500, up $9,500 compared to the P90D. For the SUV, tack on an extra thousand. But hey, buying one is kind of charitable: Tesla again emphasized that the revenue is what facilitates the production of the much more affordable Tesla Model 3 that's in development. As for the *, Tesla itself explains the Model S P100D with Ludicrous mode now actually becomes the third fastest accelerating production car (as opposed to concept car) ever, able to go from 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds. But those ahead of it kind of don't count: The LaFerrari and the Porsche 918 Spyder were tiny two-seaters and "were limited run, million dollar vehicles and cannot be bought new." Slate notes fastest-accelerating isn't the same as fastest. The sedan's top speed is 155mph. Slate has a good rundown of how this battery differs from the 90 kilowatt-hour one that came before it. What doesn't differ at all: the size and shape. Read These Next Gavin Newsom has filed a massive lawsuit against Fox News. Trumps ends trade talks with Canada. White House rolls with Trump's 'daddy' nickname. New York Times ranks the best movies of the 21st century. Report an error