My experience with the Tesla Model 3

Caper11 · Jun 5, 2019

How much has your power bill gone up at home since you bought the car??? Im assuming your using the 240v charger, and your garage was prewired for 240v????

On the road charging probably costs more than at home as well???

jhurkot · Jun 5, 2019

I'm using 240v. Garage had no 240volt but it was easy to get it there because it was already close.

It's hard to say how much the power bill has gone up because the year isn't finished yet. The total for 2018 was 13,900 kWh with one electric car for most of the year and then a second one added in September. 2019 totals will have 3 electric cars (model 3, S, chevy volt) which is 190 kWh of battery in total.

Hypothetically if you are driving a model 3 for 100km per day, all 30 days of the month you would use 450 kWh @ $0.20/kWh for a total of $90.

I haven't had to pay for on road charging yet but I think it's closer to that $0.30/kWh or maybe per minute. Can charge from 100km range to 400km in roughly 30 minutes. Lots of new chargers are popping up on www.plugshare.com and some people even offer their home chargers for public use.

jhurkot · Jun 6, 2019

Tesla recently bought a company called Maxwell technologies. They have dry cell technology that will allow them a lot higher energy density and some manufacturing improvements as well. Here is a good video that explains it in further detail.

https://youtu.be/XMOFuEH0BZI

Bikeswithtrax · Jun 6, 2019

jhurkot said:
Oh so your dislike for EV just stems from your deep concern about the environment?

It must interest you a little bit, you're in here all the time

On a side note, has anyone following this thread tried an EV (full electric or plug in hybrid) yet?

I have, several actually, and definitely see one in my future. I would have a gas vehicle for serious work, and long trips, but something like a Bolt would be great for general running around.
Tesla released information on its pickup.
Cheaper than expected, and some great claims, but sadly i doubt in real world use it will get even close to the 500 mile predicted.
And the box looks so small its rather useless.
But still interesting!

S.W.A.T. · Jun 6, 2019

jhurkot said:
Ideally you want 240v charging. If you absolutely have to use 120V you would have no problems in the summer but the winter would not work well. In the summer time I'm using about 12-14 kWh per day. The 120V charging will charge at 1.4 KW. So I would actually be able to drive 100km per day.
In the winter you are going to see higher energy use. The problem with 120V charging in -25 is that it takes a certain amount of energy to heat the battery to get it ready to accept the charge.

My set up right now is just a manual transfer switch off the dryer plug (30amp 240v) which is right next to the garage. I am planning on pulling a new cable to the garage at some point but the basement is finished and it's quite a long run. Doable but not very fun.
With this set up I am charging at 6 KW (6 times faster than 120V plug) or 40km of range per hour.

If you already have the electrical panel in your garage or a welding plug you are set. If you have any questions about charging and don't want to post here, PM me.

Same plug that a oven would take?

jhurkot · Jun 6, 2019

Bikeswithtrax said:
I have, several actually, and definitely see one in my future. I would have a gas vehicle for serious work, and long trips, but something like a Bolt would be great for general running around.
Tesla released information on its pickup.
Cheaper than expected, and some great claims, but sadly i doubt in real world use it will get even close to the 500 mile predicted.
And the box looks so small its rather useless.
But still interesting!

The Tesla truck stuff that has been released so far are just photoshops or renderings. I actually like the design of the Rivian truck more right now.

Did you test drive the Bolt? I think it's a really solid EV. For a run around town car I would actually say the Volt is better. Will get 100km of range doing city driving in the summer.

jhurkot · Jun 6, 2019

S.W.A.T. said:
Same plug that a oven would take?

Mine is a dryer plug (nema 14-30r) but you could also use a nema 14-50r (range plug). The Tesla mobile connector maxes out at 32 Amps so even on a 50amp plug in you would be capped at 32 amps of your possible 40 amps. The mobile connector can be used with about 7 or 8 different plug ins as the end is interchangeable.

If you want to go above 32 amps charging at home you can use the HPWC (high power wall charger). This would need to be installed by a qualified electrician and can deliver 80amps and also have up to 4 on one circuit load sharing between 4 cars. For 98% of people I would say the mobile charger will be more than enough.

For example with a 30amp plug you would charge at a rate of 24amps (Remember 80% rule). This would be good for 22mph charge rate on model 3 and 17mph charge rate on model S. So For most people plugging in at night for 10 hours would add 220miles of daily range.

The tesla charger can be used with other EV but need a tesla to j-1772 adapter. Model S is capable of accepting 72amps but the Volt only is capable of accepting 16amps (which is fine because the battery is pretty small anyways, 4 hours from 0 to full).

acesup800 · Jun 6, 2019

jhurkot said:
Mine is a dryer plug (nema 14-30r) but you could also use a nema 14-50r (range plug). The Tesla mobile connector maxes out at 32 Amps so even on a 50amp plug in you would be capped at 32 amps of your possible 40 amps. The mobile connector can be used with about 7 or 8 different plug ins as the end is interchangeable.

If you want to go above 32 amps charging at home you can use the HPWC (high power wall charger). This would need to be installed by a qualified electrician and can deliver 80amps and also have up to 4 on one circuit load sharing between 4 cars. For 98% of people I would say the mobile charger will be more than enough.

For example with a 30amp plug you would charge at a rate of 24amps (Remember 80% rule). This would be good for 22mph charge rate on model 3 and 17mph charge rate on model S. So For most people plugging in at night for 10 hours would add 220miles of daily range.

The tesla charger can be used with other EV but need a tesla to j-1772 adapter. Model S is capable of accepting 72amps but the Volt only is capable of accepting 16amps (which is fine because the battery is pretty small anyways, 4 hours from 0 to full).

Until they get to wireless charging, not gonna work for a long while for the majority of people until they have sidewalk plug-ins everywhere. That is gonna take some time and $$.

jhurkot · Jun 6, 2019

dgiles said:
Until they get to wireless charging, not gonna work for a long while for the majority of people until they have sidewalk plug-ins everywhere. That is gonna take some time and $$.

If you have a house with a driveway or a condo with a parking spot and 120v plug in. You can own an EV easily. Wireless charging is a long way off. Ever tried charging your phone wirelessly? It takes forever.

S.W.A.T. · Jun 6, 2019

jhurkot said:
If you have a house with a driveway or a condo with a parking spot and 120v plug in. You can own an EV easily. Wireless charging is a long way off. Ever tried charging your phone wirelessly? It takes forever.

Actually I bet it's not. Not sure the brand but my wireless charger works awesome, I would say about 20% slower then the wall charger but just blows my mind that something like that actually exists lol. I never thought of sidewalk charger for cars, you might be onto something.

lilduke · Jun 6, 2019

S.W.A.T. said:
Actually I bet it's not. Not sure the brand but my wireless charger works awesome, I would say about 20% slower then the wall charger but just blows my mind that something like that actually exists lol. I never thought of sidewalk charger for cars, you might be onto something.

Lets take it a step further. How about a full wireless power grid. No battery's required, drive around all day and never need to charge.

machinehead · Jun 6, 2019

If you are in a heated garage in the Winter, then a 120 volt would be fine ?
In a previous post you mentioned the battery would have to warm up , before accepting charge .
Was the charge rate roughly 30 km range per hour with 120v ?.

Also have you ever tried to drive away still plugged in, or did Tesla dummy proof this and give an alarm if still plugged in, and put in drive ?

I have a wife .

Great thread by the way.

whoDEANie · Jun 6, 2019

lilduke said:
Lets take it a step further. How about a full wireless power grid. No battery's required, drive around all day and never need to charge.

That would be yet another reason to be sporting one of these...

lilduke · Jun 6, 2019

whoDEANie said:
That would be yet another reason to be sporting one of these...
View attachment 217469

Why is that? Not sure what you mean.

whoDEANie · Jun 6, 2019

lilduke said:
Why is that? Not sure what you mean.

People already complain about the electro-magnetic fields generated from transmission lines and cell towers. ...imaging the strength of the fields required for a wireless power grid.

lilduke · Jun 6, 2019

whoDEANie said:
People already complain about the electro-magnetic fields generated from transmission lines and cell towers. ...imaging the strength of the fields required for a wireless power grid.

It is a totally different frequency band.(than cell towers, 4 and 5g wireless) But now I understand the reference. Thanks

jhurkot · Jun 6, 2019

machinehead said:
If you are in a heated garage in the Winter, then a 120 volt would be fine ?
In a previous post you mentioned the battery would have to warm up , before accepting charge .
Was the charge rate roughly 30 km range per hour with 120v ?.

Also have you ever tried to drive away still plugged in, or did Tesla dummy proof this and give an alarm if still plugged in, and put in drive ?

I have a wife .

Great thread by the way.

Heated garage would help a ton. I think charge rate at 120v is going to be 8.5 km per hour. So very slow. But if you have it plugged in all night it could handle most daily driving needs. I highly recommend 240v @ 30amps and up if possible.

It is impossible to drive away while plugged in. I know most wont even shift out of park while the cable is plugged in (you could be plugged in and not actively charging).

jhurkot · Jun 6, 2019

S.W.A.T. said:
Actually I bet it's not. Not sure the brand but my wireless charger works awesome, I would say about 20% slower then the wall charger but just blows my mind that something like that actually exists lol. I never thought of sidewalk charger for cars, you might be onto something.

There is a company that makes wireless charging for Tesla’s. I can’t remember what it’s called but it’s not very fast and it’s quite expensive. Plugging in only takes 5 seconds so the amount of convenience you’re gaining with it doesn’t seem worth it IMO.

S.W.A.T. · Jun 6, 2019

jhurkot said:
There is a company that makes wireless charging for Tesla’s. I can’t remember what it’s called but it’s not very fast and it’s quite expensive. Plugging in only takes 5 seconds so the amount of convenience you’re gaining with it doesn’t seem worth it IMO.

Totally agree but I can see that technology coming. Think of how many items we already have in our home that we pay extra for because its convenience

acesup800 · Jun 6, 2019

jhurkot said:
There is a company that makes wireless charging for Tesla’s. I can’t remember what it’s called but it’s not very fast and it’s quite expensive. Plugging in only takes 5 seconds so the amount of convenience you’re gaining with it doesn’t seem worth it IMO.

The issue is a very high percentage of people do not have a designated parking stall they can simply have available for a charge station. Heck, all it takes is for you to come home and find your wife has 3 of her friends over for a tupperware party blocking your spot so you park on the street, knowing you have to go out after the party to move your car later. Then you decided to drink that bottle of scotch you have been saving to ease the pain of the tupperware conversation and fall asleep, forgetting to move your car. You wake up with a car that will not make it to work/school/vacation/whatever.

It wouldn't take more than a few times before that would get very old.

My experience with the Tesla Model 3

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