Elon Musk promises Tesla software update 'to end Model S range anxiety'

A software update claimed to "end range anxiety" will be sent out over the internet to all Tesla Model S electric cars.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted on 15 March to say his company will be holding a press conference four days later to announce an over-the-air software update which he claims is "about to end range anxiety...[and] affects entire Model S fleet".

Software updates are regularly sent to Tesla cars using their integrated 3G internet connection. A recent update saw the 0-60 miles per hour acceleration time of the range-topping Model S P85 D drop from 3.2 to 3.1 seconds. Another update included an Easter egg which claimed to turn the Model S into James Bond's Lotus Esprit submarine.

Musk did not share any more information on the update - such as how such a simple process will stop Model S owners worrying about range - but a tweak to make the car's electric motors more efficient is expected. Changes to how the car harvests energy through regenerative braking are also tipped to be included in the update.

Although offering a range of around 200 miles between recharging - double that of most electric cars - the Model S still can't match the range of a conventional petrol or diesel car of the same size and performance. Added to a network of Superchargers far smaller than the petrol station infrastructure, this causes the so-called range anxiety among owners.

The press conference will take place at 9am on 19 March, and although a location isn't known, we expect it to be close to Tesla's Palo Alto headquarters in California.

Tesla has sold over 50,000 Model S cars since delivery its first all-electric saloon in June 2012. Around 3,500 of these have been sold in the UK.