Drivers looking for a reliable long range, high performing electric vehicle will no longer have to compromise or opt for a hybrid alternative.

Today, the latest Tesla Model S Long Range Plus has officially become the first fully electric vehicle with a range comparable to a traditional petroleum-fuelled car, a milestone that the American automaker continuously strived for since its founding.

“Since the introduction of our 265-mile Model S in 2012, we’ve continued to revisit every aspect of the design to deliver the longest-range and highest-performance electric vehicles on the road,” the company said in a press release.

The latest Model S will officially boast an EPA-rated range of 402 miles (647 kilometres), which represents a 20 per cent increase in range when compared to a 2019 Model S with the same battery pack design.

This achievement is testament to Tesla’s affinity for energy efficiency, which has been significantly improved thanks to advancements in hardware and systems by the firm's engineering, design, and production teams.

With that being said, it seems that most Model S vehicles manufactured since the beginning of this year are already equipped with a similar range. “All Model S cars made since late Jan have [a] 402 mile range,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk clarified in a tweet. “This is just making it official.”

The Model S Long Range Plus has also recently had its price reduced by nearly US$5,000. More details surrounding the Model S Long Range Plus and the rest of the Tesla lineup can be found on the marque’s official website. 

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