Charging to get home

[y_p_w]

In which case, power consumption at idle is very low. The software is dynamic and will adjust based on traffic patterns, and will reroute you to a closer charger if you will not make it to the next charger. It will also provide guidance on how to adjust your driving habits to ensure that you will make it to the next charging stop.

If I had a 100 mile daily commute (and yes I've done that before) with an 80% state of charge leaving home, that's likely about a 215 mile estimated range on a new Model 3 RWD. I think that's reasonable even with the possibility of being stuck in worse than average traffic due to accidents. I wouldn't anticipate that there would ever be less than 100 mile estimated range left, and in a place like the Bay Area I wouldn't be more than 10 miles from a Tesla Supercharger.

However, some employees have access to free charging at work. I know if I had that I'd be topping off my charge whenever possible.

Certainly on a road trip with more variables, there are different considerations. I would personally charge to 100% before leaving.

The only criticism I have of the Model 3 is that big piece of glass on top. Even with the heavy tinting, it brings in a lot of heat. About the only thing I've seen with that effect was that long sloping front windshield on early 90s GM minivans. Even on an overcast day I've tried driving with it fans on and A/C off, but after a while it gets warm and I need to turn on A/C again. However, that doesn't use anywhere near as much charge as driving. Even stuck in traffic for an hour, I don't believe it amounts to much. If you've left at least 100 miles range as wiggle room, it should be possible to find a place to charge for a little bit in case there's a really bad traffic jam.

There have been people taking their Teslas to Burning Man. Granted it's pretty nasty getting all that dust (and this year mud) all over, but it takes a bit of planning. I was reading about one guy who had a generator, fully charged in Reno, arrived with 47%, then used the generator to get about 10% overnight. Not the most efficient way to do it, but I suppose it works. This year might have been a bit more interesting with the delays in getting out along with what I'm sure was more energy needed to traverse the uneven dirt - even when dry. I would hope anyone doing something like that would think about a backup plan. Maybe extra fuel for the generator or mapping out non-Tesla chargers in the area. Tesla's closest charger is about 100 miles away.

 

[loneryder]

More like devolution, Ev's failed once and I am quite sure for reasons that cannot be posted here will fail again. The novelty will wear off quick.

https://cleantechnica.com/2018/02/25/38-percent-american-cars-electric-1900/

Question in my mind is what are the automakers going to do when they find out that they can't sell their EVs bcause people can't afford them or don't want them. The automakers seem to have gone all in on EVs. Is the govt. making them go all in?

 

[wpod]

35 min remaining is a non starter when one could fill a gas tank in less than 5 and have full range in a HEV.

48 miles in 10 mins for $5 isn’t anything to write home about either. When we supercharged a rental, it was more per mile than driving our odyssey. That mileage and cost isn’t much better. 48 miles is less than one gallon of gas in my accord hybrid for $3.Xs whatever the price of gas is here today.

So I’m not seeing the point relative to economy of time or operation…

JH, You are missing the great feeling of thinking you are saving the planet ,,, Worth it.

 

[y_p_w]

It runs on Google Maps. If there's a happening situation, you'll know about it. Just as if you were using Android Auto in your vehicle.

Without Premium Connectivity there might be estimated travel time but not satellite view nor traffic visualization. However, most people these days have mobile phones and can bring up a mapping app from Google or Apple where they don't charge for that.

That's the thing I was noticing when going on a road trip with my parents. We were wondering why we couldn't get a satellite view on their Model 3 but could in the loaner. Then I realized that those features only come with Premium Connectivity.

However, the dire situations presented here aren't likely to happen with the average commuter. Just make sure it's charged up to 80-90% and with a reasonable commute it shouldn't be too bad. I also would worry too much about the OP's situation where the San Francisco Bay Area has lots of Tesla charging stations and J1772 chargers. In fact, that's what he did. Also - EVs don't use a lot of energy when they're not moving and I'm sure that a couple hours of A/C isn't going to result in more than the equivalent of 10 miles of charge being used.

The worries I would have would be cold weather range, especially since heat isn't "free". I suppose it may be somewhat with newer EVs where battery waste heat is directed towards interior heat. But then again, I live in the San Francisco Bay Area where we don't generally have discernible weather - or at least not freezing winter.

 

[y_p_w]

Question in my mind is what are the automakers going to do when they find out that they can't sell their EVs bcause people can't afford them or don't want them. The automakers seem to have gone all in on EVs. Is the govt. making them go all in?

I'm thinking they don't want to be like Kodak was holding on to its film business, even though they invented the digital camera and shelved it worrying that it would kill their film business. In the meantime, their competitors went heavily into digital imaging like Agfa and FujiFilm.

 

[demarpaint]

Unforeseen traffic jams happen all the time. It’s not only a possible scenario, it’s a very likely one.

Leave my house, heading to Richmond, Google says 96 minutes to destination. Hit the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel just after an accident, Google, updating just after I’ve experienced the slowdown, says 126 minutes due to a 30 minute slow down.

I’ve seen pop-up traffic delay for an hour or more. The in car route planning software cannot predict the future any better than anyone else, and there are no chargers on a bridge or in a tunnel.

You cut it close with an EV, in those circumstances, and you had better turn off the air conditioning, or you will not make it. Frankly, I can’t think of anything worse than sitting in 95° heat with 90+ percent humidity, stuck in the Hampton roads Bridge Tunnel, having to shut off the AC because you don’t have the juice.

“Charging just enough to get home” is foolish in many locations. Including mine.

Great point, and another strike against an EV for me. We deal with traffic all the time, along with accidents which pop up quite often. My wife worked about 20 or so miles from the house, a good drive to work was 45 minutes, the average an hour. Factor in an accident and all bets are off. I can pull into a gas station and get full range in under 5 minutes. Plan a trip where you have to cross the GWB Bridge which is about 22 or so miles from here according to WAZE and it can take anywhere from 35 minutes to three hours. Been there done that on our way to a house we owned in PA. Turning off the AC on a day like today 90+ and humid to save juice, no thanks.

 

[demarpaint]

My puny brain would need to drop something else important in order to remember all these goals.

Before you make fun of me, remember Steve Jobs wore the same clothing every day - so he didn't have to invest any brain power in choosing what to wear.

I pull in to the most convenient gas station, swipe my card, and fill. End of thinking.

Exactly, too much thinking and planning for me.

 

[Torrid]

Without Premium Connectivity there might be estimated travel time but not satellite view nor traffic visualization. However, most people these days have mobile phones and can bring up a mapping app from Google or Apple where they don't charge for that.

That's the thing I was noticing when going on a road trip with my parents. We were wondering why we couldn't get a satellite view on their Model 3 but could in the loaner. Then I realized that those features only come with Premium Connectivity.

However, the dire situations presented here aren't likely to happen with the average commuter. Just make sure it's charged up to 80-90% and with a reasonable commute it shouldn't be too bad. I also would worry too much about the OP's situation where the San Francisco Bay Area has lots of Tesla charging stations and J1772 chargers. In fact, that's what he did. Also - EVs don't use a lot of energy when they're not moving and I'm sure that a couple hours of A/C isn't going to result in more than the equivalent of 10 miles of charge being used.

The worries I would have would be cold weather range, especially since heat isn't "free". I suppose it may be somewhat with newer EVs where battery waste heat is directed towards interior heat. But then again, I live in the San Francisco Bay Area where we don't generally have discernible weather - or at least not freezing winter.

I think it would defeat the purpose to not have premium connectivity in a Tesla. That said where I live it would take a very extreme example for this to be an issue. I live in a small town mostly surrounded by rural areas. Not too much traffic wise happening here.

 

[JeffKeryk]

My puny brain would need to drop something else important in order to remember all these goals.

Before you make fun of me, remember Steve Jobs wore the same clothing every day - so he didn't have to invest any brain power in choosing what to wear.

I pull in to the most convenient gas station, swipe my card, and fill. End of thinking.

Gassing up is a hassle. Especially if you have to drive a distance at early hours to get a price break, like I do. Unlike the Model 3 where I just plug in when I get home and start out each day with a full tank.
How far do you drive each day, if I may ask? How often do you gas up?

 

[PimTac]

Being stuck in a 50 miles plus traffic jam at thirty degrees is not the place to test out the range of a battery.

 

[Torrid]

Gassing up is a hassle. Especially if you have to drive a distance at early hours to get a price break, like I do. Unlike the Model 3 where I just plug in when I get home and start out each day with a full tank.
How far do you drive each day, if I may ask? How often do you gas up?

This. I drive stupid miles and unless it's cold out and I'm hitting my main outlying point 150 miles away it's not likely to be a concern. Although that still says something because my daily isn't an EV, though I have no problem taking this trip in the EV.

 

[gman2304]

Of course it was….

Not sure what you mean. Are you calling me a liar?
My thread was simply my experience, no more no less.

No Jeff….I’m saying you love stirring the EV pot!

 

[JeffKeryk]

Being stuck in a 50 miles plus traffic jam at thirty degrees is not the place to test out the range of a battery.

Nor an ICE car on E. I had friends that lived in the Mid West for awhile. They explained to me that you don't get stuck somewhere in the winter because you may die.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

At home you plug in; the charger is in the car.

If you're home for 12-20+ hours. I recently rented a Tesla and was at the supercharger everyday at least once.

 

[JeffKeryk]

No Jeff….I’m saying you love stirring the EV pot!

This is the EV section. We talk about EVs here, right? And no, I do not stir any pot. Look at my car list.
How many '60s big V8 cars do you have?

Look, I meant this as a purely informational post, nothing more. This is a tough crowd; the haters gonna hate. If they don't like EVs, why do they waste their time here? BITOG is a great place to learn; I sure do. Perhaps someone might glean some value from my experience? IMO, there are a lot of misconceptions around EVs. I try and keep an open mind and treat people with respect.

FYI I would imagine I work on more old American cars and trucks than most of the people on this forum.
Here's one of my favorites:

 

[JeffKeryk]

If you're home for 12-20+ hours. I recently rented a Tesla and was at the supercharger everyday at least once.

Aren't most people home for half the day? I charge at home at 30-32 mph. I rarely drive over 100 miles in one day; once a week at most.
I just plug it in and it is ready to go in the morning. Hard to beat. Where I used to work, there was subsidized charging; some people never charged at home. Of course that's the extreme case...

 

[y_p_w]

I think it would defeat the purpose to not have premium connectivity in a Tesla. That said where I live it would take a very extreme example for this to be an issue. I live in a small town mostly surrounded by rural areas. Not too much traffic wise happening here.

It's my parents car. They've always been frugal like that where they sweat the small, inexpensive things even if the big things are more expensive. I remember my mom yelling at me for spending $5 on a case for a new $600 phone like it was a waste of money. Part of their rationale for getting a Tesla is the less expensive cost to drive, but then there's the huge upfront cost.

 

[y_p_w]

Aren't most people home for half the day? I charge at home at 30-32 mph. I rarely drive over 100 miles in one day; once a week at most.
I just plug it in and it is ready to go in the morning. Hard to beat. Where I used to work, there was subsidized charging; some people never charged at home. Of course that's the extreme case...

Sure. And at Level 2 charge rates it generally won't be limited until it gets really close to 100%. I remember being at a Supercharger and watching it charge up to 100%, and the last 5% must have taken 20 minutes.

 

[Wrenchturner44]

My thread was not to make a point of any kind; just informative. But here's some numbers:
My Tundra would go about 15 miles on $5. My GS350 might go 22.
I was traveling from our home in Los Gatos (Silicon Valley) to our other house in Petaluma (wine country); 90 miles each way. I could have charged to 95% at home (solar) and not have stopped. I had about 90 miles remaining with about 80 miles to get home. I decided to stop for a quick charge and get a coffee. Well, I plugged in, checked email (and BOB) and about 7 minutes went by with plenty to get home. So I gave it another minute and stopped charging. No coffee, just back on the freeway flying home at 80+ much of the way...

The Tundra would cost about $60 for the trip. The GS would cost easily over $40. They are both great in their own ways. The Model 3 is great in its own way. My car is a Mid Range; if I had purchased the Long Range just charging to 80% at night at home would be more than enough for the round trip.

Given my use case, I doubt I will ever buy another ICE car. Teslas are such a kick to drive and if you can charge at home like I do, the time and $$ saving has to be experienced. It's great. I am still learning how to use this car; to get over range anxiety. A lifetime of driving gasoline vehicles with stations everywhere is a hard norm to think past. These cars are different; certainly not for everyone.

Hey Jeff, I am just curious, what we be your cost estimate to drive the Corvette that same route given it's MPG?

 

[Wrenchturner44]

Question in my mind is what are the automakers going to do when they find out that they can't sell their EVs bcause people can't afford them or don't want them. The automakers seem to have gone all in on EVs. Is the govt. making them go all in?

I wonder how many steam cars there were during that same time?