Tesla's new batteries add even more miles to the Model S and Model X

Following rumors Tesla was readying a bigger, more powerful battery pack for its Model S and Model X vehicles, Elon Musk surprised no one when he revealed a 100-kilowatt-hour battery pack Tuesday afternoon.

The larger battery will allow for both more range as well as faster acceleration. In fact, the new Model S P100D with Ludicrous mode is good for 315 miles of range on a single charge.

What's more, that very same car is now the third-fastest accelerating production car of all time. Tesla says that, at full throttle, it can do a 0 to 60 mph run in 2.5 seconds. Notably, only other cars faster than the Model S P100D Ludicrous are no longer on sale and cost over $1 million.

As for the Model X, the Model X P100D with Ludicrous mode is now good for a 289-mile range and a 0 to 60 mph time of 2.9 seconds. This, as you might well expect, makes it yet again the fastest-accelerating SUV.

Smartly, Tesla isn't leaving currently P90D owners — or those who are awaiting delivery on a P90D — in the lurch. Those awaiting a preexisting P90D order can have the battery upgraded for a not-so-paltry $10,000. And current owners with P90D Tesla vehicles can have their pack swapped for $20,000 at a Tesla service center.

Certainly, these are large chunks of change. Since these cars cost well in excess of $109,000 to begin with, an extra $10,000 or $20,000 isn't too much to make it even more special.

Tesla also re-emphasized at the unveiling of the new battery packs that these high-end vehicles that will help the company fund the production of its forthcoming mass-market Model 3. So, really, the earth-friendly super-rich are just helping us eco-minded plebs get into the Tesla of our dreams. How thoughtful.