"What's the Real-World Range of the Tesla Model S?"

What is wrong with this question ? Simple - there isn't one "real-world range". There are a range of possible answers depending on speed, temperature, terrain & driving style.

That is why some automag claiming "60 miles of real world range for Leaf" is no more real than various numbers I get in my daily driving.

A better question would be under what conditions do we expect to hit EPA rated range (and what conditions would we get more/less).

The Tesla Roadster was rated as having a range of 244 miles by the old EPA testing scheme. I've found that driving between 55 and 60 mph on level freeway, in moderate weather, with no climate control, I get that range in our Roadster.

From what little we know so far, I suspect the 85 kWh Model S will go 300 miles in the same conditions.

If I drive a steady 70 mph, the Roadster's range drops to about 175 miles. The same thing happens in a gas car, your gas mileage goes down significantly as your speed increases.

When I really care about range because I'm going on a long road trip and want to get all of it, I drive in the right lane and keep it under 60 mph, or better yet, get off the freeway and drive state highways which often have lower speed limits, less traffic, and better scenery.

Most of the time, the Roadster's range greatly exceeds my daily driving needs, so I generally get to drive however I want. I enjoy never buying gas so much that I'm willing to drive a little slower on the rare occasions when I need all the range I can get.

How did they recharged the car in vegas, was it at the hotel with 110 volts for 20 hours or by 220-240 volts for 5 to 6 hours. If the charger was far from the hotel then did they choose another hotel nearer, how much it costed ?

Im shopping for a green car here in this website and i don't appreciate small articles not giving all the needed datas that we need to make a contious decision about what car to buy or wait many more years before a real bargain superior green car appear somewhere to buy.

@EVNow
“A better question would be under what conditions do we expect to hit EPA rated range”
The EPA has strict, fairly repeatable tests that are used to get the label range (or MPG for non-electric vehicles). These tests (actually the correction calculations) were modified in 2008 in an attempt to make the label close to what an median driver will get (i.e. half of the drivers should get better than the label). Prior to this, there were complaints that it was too hard to get the advertised FE. Obviously, driving styles vary greatly and are influenced by the type of car. I suspect that xEV drivers are more conscious of their driving then, say, a driver of a Corvette and will probably have a better chance of beating the label. From what I have read in blogs, most Leaf owners (for example) regularly beat the 73 mile range.

One data point, is not a good test, however, if reports of Model S range continue to come in below the label, this is a sign to me that something is wrong with the way Tesla ran their test. By the way, these numbers do not come from the EPA but are self certified by the manufacturer.

That's all very nice, but we still don't have a real world range example. A/C off? No, thanks. 65 mph? You would be the slowest car on the road, and passed left and right.

This reminds me of the unrealistic ranges reported by Leaf drivers. Now Leaf owners are selling their cars. What is it about "real world" EV people don't understand?

Try 75 mph, A/C on, set to 70 degrees, and then report back. Anything else is just hyperbole.

I guess a "real-world" test would be the 65-70mph with a/c on med/low with 2 kids or junk in the trunk. But my Leaf exceeds the EPA estimate. I travel 70miles RT (charge to 80% then timer turns the car to charge to 100% prior to my departure from home) and have no issues with the whole commute mixed driving with little heat and using the bum warmers as i pre-heat the car from the plug before i start the drive. I get home still with around 12-20miles on the GOM. and 2-3bars left. The larger battery (if ever available) will definately make a larger buffer on range and possibility to cut travel time and increase speed. However the car does what its supposed to do. around $40 in electricity over a month and saved over 58gals of gas @ $3.79 = massive savings. Driving electric does cut down the nonsense driving afterwork.

On the Tesla (which i hope to obtain at the end of my lease) 238 instead of 265 EPA miles per charge. Helluva lot better then my 75-98mile range, I wouldnt know what to do with the extra distance..... I think its pretty realistic.