In reply to Keith Tanner :
CT has the same. When I installed my level 2 charger, I submitted some information after connecting it to the internet. The local utility rebated $500 (of the $550 I paid at Best Buy on sale) for my Juicebox PLUS we earn a $50 credit for being on "smart charging" four months of the year (June-September).
84FSP said:Keith Tanner said:In reply to Slippery :
Not on the 3. Airflow seems to keep it clear. Others will have to report on the other models.
Same from my side and the cameras click on when you hit the turn signal giving you really nice rear/side visibility. The rear window visbility on the 3 was compromised very near launch when the engineers figured out they were really limiting trunk ingress/egress. They gave up some visibility to make it much more useable. With the rear seats folded flat it has a ton of interior space hatchback style.
Yeah, the rear visibility when backing up is poor. I don't have a problem when driving but navigating parking spaces requires the use of the camera. It would have been a good hatchback (and was supposed to be) but apparently the hinges would have compromised rear headroom. The hatch is the biggest reason I'd be tempted by a Y.
So you are about 3 years in at this point. What is your mileage so far? Have you noticed any degradation in battery capacity?
It's about time to replace the wife's Suburban and she would be a good candidate for an EV.
With all the other EVs on the market would you still lean toward Tesla or would you consider other manufacturers?
In reply to dyintorace :
Thanks, that's bonkers... But you can also do it via the app, right? That's what it sounds like in your earlier post. I was having trouble figuring what circumstances would cause you to do the crazy manual version or make it preferable to the app.
That asked, the Nissan app for doing the same on our Leaf was pretty clunky... But I agree that it's magical to pre-condition the interior.
In reply to Toyman! :
We're over 3.5 years in at this point. We've got 36k miles on the car - the car is not used for daily commuting (both of us work from home these days) but sees a lot of town use for things like shopping or going to the hockey rink or visiting family. It also gets used for the trips out of town unless we have a specific reason to use a different vehicle. It's our default for all uses.
The car's rated for 310 miles of range on a full charge. At 80% charge (where we keep it for daily use), that should be 258. It's now showing 248, and since that number is based on the EPA ratings and not on recent use, a bit of math indicates we've lost between 3-4% of capacity. To put that loss in perspective, taking off the spaceship wheel covers is apparently good for about a 3% loss in range, so our range now is as good as it was new with the hubcaps removed. I'm not sure if one of the software updates increased the amount of range available, though, so take that math as a rough guide.
Based on everything I've seen, there's an initial drop in capacity and then there's very little change. Telsa's "Impact report" (not a tweet) indicates that the S/X cars are seeing 12% degradation over 200k miles. They also mention that actual age is a factor.
The battery warranty is at least 70% of its original capacity available for 8 years/120k miles.
If I were buying today, what would I look at? Well, the recent news of the Tesla charging network being opened up to other vehicles would be a major factor in looking at alternatives. I'd certainly look around and check out things like the Ioniq 5 and the Mach E. The Blazer might be interesting although I'd have to avert my eyes every time I walked up to it due to the kindergarten styling. A Taycan wagon would be nice but, well, not on my budget. Janel would prefer a package with a hatch instead of a trunk as she's still not completely happy with the height restriction that comes with a sedan bodystyle, so we'd likely end up with a Y instead of a 3.
One thing I would definitely consider in a new EV would be one with an LFP battery pack.
dyintorace said:Jesse Ransom said:In reply to dyintorace :
I'm having a little trouble unpacking that... Don't have your phone handy or are out of cell service but can close the window with the remote after starting the HVAC?
Our i3 allowed the AC to be turned on while the car was 'off'. I think it would run for 30 minutes. Tesla has 'dog' mode. Hyundai has neither. Here is the hack I found.
1. Put the running car in park.
2. Go into the “EV” menu, select “Utility Mode” and turn it ON.
3. Roll down driver’s window
4. Exit car.
5A. Reach inside open window and lock doors.
5B. Trigger the window up while removing arm from open window.
6. You can now walk away from a locked car and the AC will continue running
7. Use Bluelink app to open doors when you return to the car. (NOTE: Key fob will not unlock door.)
Yikes. I wonder if there will be a software update to make that smoother.
On the Tesla, I just wait until it's locked and then tap the little fan icon on the app. It'll run for a while, then remind you that it's running in case you forgot. After two hours, it'll turn off. It'll also send you a notification when the car reaches the target temp - when Janel's at work/visiting her sister and I get that notification, I know she's getting ready to leave :)
You can also apparently set the HVAC to keep on when you exit the car, it's two taps of the screen. If you set the climate to "keep on", it'll run indefinitely and won't remind you.
Just for fun, I looked up the difference between Dog Mode, Camp Mode and "keep climate on".
That ability to use the interior camera in Dog Mode is the only time I've ever seen it used for anything.
Keith Tanner said:dyintorace said:Jesse Ransom said:In reply to dyintorace :
I'm having a little trouble unpacking that... Don't have your phone handy or are out of cell service but can close the window with the remote after starting the HVAC?
Our i3 allowed the AC to be turned on while the car was 'off'. I think it would run for 30 minutes. Tesla has 'dog' mode. Hyundai has neither. Here is the hack I found.
1. Put the running car in park.
2. Go into the “EV” menu, select “Utility Mode” and turn it ON.
3. Roll down driver’s window
4. Exit car.
5A. Reach inside open window and lock doors.
5B. Trigger the window up while removing arm from open window.
6. You can now walk away from a locked car and the AC will continue running
7. Use Bluelink app to open doors when you return to the car. (NOTE: Key fob will not unlock door.)Yikes. I wonder if there will be a software update to make that smoother.
On the Tesla, I just wait until it's locked and then tap the little fan icon on the app. It'll run for a while, then remind you that it's running in case you forgot. After two hours, it'll turn off. It'll also send you a notification when the car reaches the target temp - when Janel's at work/visiting her sister and I get that notification, I know she's getting ready to leave :)
You can also apparently set the HVAC to keep on when you exit the car, it's two taps of the screen. If you set the climate to "keep on", it'll run indefinitely and won't remind you.
Just for fun, I looked up the difference between Dog Mode, Camp Mode and "keep climate on".
That ability to use the interior camera in Dog Mode is the only time I've ever seen it used for anything.
Keith, in the newer Teslas you can see the interior camera in the sentry mode viewer in the app. Pretty cool feature to be able to see all the cameras remotely through the app wherever you are located, but I'm not sure it is available on the older cars? I know that my 2019 S doesn't have that feature.
In reply to mattm :
I'll have to check that. I know you can view the exterior cameras, but I've never checked if the interior is on the list.
In reply to Keith Tanner :
Thanks!
Jesse Ransom said:In reply to dyintorace :
Thanks, that's bonkers... But you can also do it via the app, right? That's what it sounds like in your earlier post. I was having trouble figuring what circumstances would cause you to do the crazy manual version or make it preferable to the app.
That asked, the Nissan app for doing the same on our Leaf was pretty clunky... But I agree that it's magical to pre-condition the interior.
Yes - it can be done via the app too.
I have confirmed that I can view the interior camera when Sentry is on.
Also, as can be seen from my icons on the bottom, I can make the car fart via the app. This is useful, as I have 7 and 10 year old nephews and this is obviously peak humor. The microphone...apparently I can use the external speaker as a PA system? I'll have to mess with Janel.
So, uhh, I'm pretty sure my car has the hot rear motor from the Performance due to supply problems with the smaller motor at the time. This doodad uncorks it and adds some extra tricks like RWD only or drift mode or various CAN-style tricks like using the proximity sensors to open the driver's door or trunk/frunk. But since they have to modify the Tesla software, every update has to go through them. That's a pain. But hey, 150 hp for $2k.
https://ingenext.ca/products/ghost-upgrade
I could always get the Acceleration Boost upgrade from Tesla for the same price and maintain my warranty until 2027.
Not that I think the car is too slow. But for those who think you can't hotrod EVs, you can.
Aren't you guys concerned about the remote access to the cameras on your cars? As in, if you can pull it up in the app, who's to say someone else can't monitor what's going on in your car?
I'm probably a conspiracy theorist, but it would worry me that there was the possibility of the cameras being hacked. Then somebody could catch me yelling at Bloomburg Radio when they discuss the Fed raising rates again...
In reply to Loweguy5 :
I'm less worried about that than the Ring doorbell across the street where Amazon is both lax with security and selling the feed.
Tesla has shown themselves to be a little more concerned about cybersecurity than most other OEs. The Jeep remote driving hack was a real wake-up call, and some manufacturers took it much more seriously than others. Tesla logs everything, but I don't think it broadcasts in real time unless you connect via the app when the car is parked.
Update from the heat wave - I told the car to hold the interior at 71F when it was 100F outside and the black car was parked in our intense high altitude sun. That sucked up 6 miles of range per hour to maintain that temp. So there's a data point on HVAC consumption in the heat. When we got back in the car after 90 minutes, the seats were cold to the touch. Ahhh.
Janel was driving her Jeep over the weekend and had to stop for gas. "I forgot this one doesn't refill itself overnight" :)
How long did it take you to relax enough to let your Tesla self drive itself? Or aren't you yet?
I know it doesn't have full self driving ( or at least I think I know ).
But Elon Musk's goal of 10 times safer than a human before it's real FSD ( full self driving) sounds doable and a great goal.
In reply to frenchyd :
Frenchyd, I'm pretty sure you asked this on the previous page and it was answered.
Update on that "evPulse" program that's meant to encourage charging at utility-friendly times. It's apparently still learning our habits and hasn't taken over the automated smart charging yet, but it does give me some reports.
According to its math, we have spent $7.19 on 50 kWh of electricity in the past week and driven 152 miles. The 30 day report obviously got some bad data as we were coming online three weeks ago, as the numbers don't line up so I'll ignore them.
74% of our charging is during "smart times" - basically, not in the afternoon. Interestingly, they're showing different electricity costs for different charging times when we don't have tiered billing here yet although I know it's coming. The 6-7 pm window is 2.8x as much as the post-7 pm window. Given that our solar array produces more power than we use, the actual cost is mostly just academic.
If you do the math, at $4.12/gallon (the current price for midgrade in town), that's about equivalent to 87 mpg. It also puts our average consumption at 304 Wh/mi. The EPA rating is 290 Wh/mi, and the difference is likely explained by fairly heavy AC use. Since there's no separate meter on the charging line, the utility is likely reporting the actual amount of energy received by the car and not reporting charging losses. Still, we're within less than 5% on a fairly small sample size.
I also pulled up some charging data from the Tesla app just for interest. Over the past 12 months, 90% of our charging (by kWh) has been at home. 9% was Supercharging on a couple of trips to Denver, and 1% was a destination charger at a hotel on one of those trips - we arrived at the hotel with an almost-full battery due to a food stop, so that was a pretty minimal top-up.
Looks like Tesla has reactivated their referral program, so if anyone here is looking to buy a new Model 3 or Y let me know and I'll give you a link that will give you $500 off and three months of FSD (no comment).
Otherwise, it's still just a car :) It's our go-to for any use because it's just easy and it has amazing AC and we don't always want the drama of a dramatic car. But at this time of year, it's that amazing AC that really matters.
With it being in the high 90s for the last couple of weeks, amazing AC would almost be temptation enough for me to buy in.
Hmm, I wonder if a 3 can be towed 4 down. Off to the googles.
Well, that was a hard, fast, and resounding no.
You're not kidding that's a hard no. Like, it will catch on fire and burn to the ground.
https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/model3/en_au/GUID-FA9E3DC9-805C-45BD-A64D-C4B3F491B8C0.html
NEVER TRANSPORT YOUR VEHICLE WITH THE TIRES IN A POSITION WHERE THEY CAN SPIN. DOING SO CAN LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND OVERHEATING. IN RARE CASES EXTREME OVERHEATING MAY CAUSE THE SURROUNDING COMPONENTS TO IGNITE.
There's even a picture specifically for Toyman :)
In reply to Keith Tanner :
Yep, the permanent magnet nature of the motor is a deal breaker. It looks like every EV manufacturer uses the same basic design.
Outstanding for regenerative braking and impressive torque, but not so good for a flat tow.
Keith Tanner said:Update on that "evPulse" program that's meant to encourage charging at utility-friendly times. It's apparently still learning our habits and hasn't taken over the automated smart charging yet, but it does give me some reports.
According to its math, we have spent $7.19 on 50 kWh of electricity in the past week and driven 152 miles. The 30 day report obviously got some bad data as we were coming online three weeks ago, as the numbers don't line up so I'll ignore them.
74% of our charging is during "smart times" - basically, not in the afternoon. Interestingly, they're showing different electricity costs for different charging times when we don't have tiered billing here yet although I know it's coming. The 6-7 pm window is 2.8x as much as the post-7 pm window. Given that our solar array produces more power than we use, the actual cost is mostly just academic.
If you do the math, at $4.12/gallon (the current price for midgrade in town), that's about equivalent to 87 mpg. It also puts our average consumption at 304 Wh/mi. The EPA rating is 290 Wh/mi, and the difference is likely explained by fairly heavy AC use. Since there's no separate meter on the charging line, the utility is likely reporting the actual amount of energy received by the car and not reporting charging losses. Still, we're within less than 5% on a fairly small sample size.
I also pulled up some charging data from the Tesla app just for interest. Over the past 12 months, 90% of our charging (by kWh) has been at home. 9% was Supercharging on a couple of trips to Denver, and 1% was a destination charger at a hotel on one of those trips - we arrived at the hotel with an almost-full battery due to a food stop, so that was a pretty minimal top-up.
Looks like Tesla has reactivated their referral program, so if anyone here is looking to buy a new Model 3 or Y let me know and I'll give you a link that will give you $500 off and three months of FSD (no comment).
Otherwise, it's still just a car :) It's our go-to for any use because it's just easy and it has amazing AC and we don't always want the drama of a dramatic car. But at this time of year, it's that amazing AC that really matters.
I really appreciate the updates you provide. When we place our order for the model 2 you'll be my referral.
I do one more step in measuring electric use. Because it's a number that turns Kilowatts into the gasoline cost of the trip
The formula I use is
distance traveled
divided by projected fuel mileage. (25 mpg ) (30 mpg) (35mpg)
Times cost per gallon. $4.12
In your example it would be equal to gasoline cost $25.65/ trip (25 mpg) $29.81 (30 mpg ) $17.89 (35 mpg )
Compared to &7.19 / electricity/ trip.
Tesla update - or lack thereof. I ordered a set of the Koni Special Active shocks for the car as soon as they were announced in June. I was told they'd ship by June 26th. The order was placed directly from Koni because Flyin' Miata is a dealer.
I didn't follow up because I was being nice and patient and I know that sometimes things run late. But I gave them a call today. Turns out they got their shipment and then, well, just didn't bother to fill my order. And now they're all gone and I'll hopefully get a set in November. I'm usually a big Koni booster, but I'm gonna have to give some feedback to our rep on this one. And once again, I've learned that trying to be a good human comes at a cost. I was putting off having the car aligned until the shocks were installed, but I think I might go ahead and do that now. Come to think of it, it's a double-wishbone suspension and not a strut so why am I waiting?
It's also time to repeat some major maintenance - a new cabin air filter. Good thing they came in a two-pack. Looks like Hertz has found the decreased maintenance requirements of the EV fleet to be real. And based on a quick check of what it costs to rent, they're passing these savings on to customers. A week's rental in Denver is $648.66 for a Model 3. Next cheapest is a Malibu (or equivalent) for $853.42.
https://thedriven.io/2022/08/05/hertz-says-tesla-fleet-of-rental-evs-are-50-pct-cheaper-to-maintain-than-fossil-fuel-cars/
Interestingly, it also looks like the Hertz Tesla fleet uses LFP batteries which makes a lot of sense given that they're treated like, well, rental cars and charged to 100% all the time. And it's quite likely that the Hertz EV fleet (it's not all Teslas) is giving a lot of people their first real exposure to driving an EV.
I never realized how the lower maintenance costs of an EV could affect a companies bottom line.
It makes sense though.
Now I understand why they wanted to order 300,000 Tesla's for their fleet. That's a major commitment for them.
Keith Tanner said:Tesla update - or lack thereof. I ordered a set of the Koni Special Active shocks for the car as soon as they were announced in June. I was told they'd ship by June 26th. The order was placed directly from Koni because Flyin' Miata is a dealer.
I didn't follow up because I was being nice and patient and I know that sometimes things run late. But I gave them a call today. Turns out they got their shipment and then, well, just didn't bother to fill my order. And now they're all gone and I'll hopefully get a set in November. I'm usually a big Koni booster, but I'm gonna have to give some feedback to our rep on this one. And once again, I've learned that trying to be a good human comes at a cost. I was putting off having the car aligned until the shocks were installed, but I think I might go ahead and do that now. Come to think of it, it's a double-wishbone suspension and not a strut so why am I waiting?
It's also time to repeat some major maintenance - a new cabin air filter. Good thing they came in a two-pack. Looks like Hertz has found the decreased maintenance requirements of the EV fleet to be real. And based on a quick check of what it costs to rent, they're passing these savings on to customers. A week's rental in Denver is $648.66 for a Model 3. Next cheapest is a Malibu (or equivalent) for $853.42.
https://thedriven.io/2022/08/05/hertz-says-tesla-fleet-of-rental-evs-are-50-pct-cheaper-to-maintain-than-fossil-fuel-cars/Interestingly, it also looks like the Hertz Tesla fleet uses LFP batteries which makes a lot of sense given that they're treated like, well, rental cars and charged to 100% all the time. And it's quite likely that the Hertz EV fleet (it's not all Teslas) is giving a lot of people their first real exposure to driving an EV.
Related note - I rented from Avis recently and they had a good number of Hyundai EVs. I took an Ioniq 5 for my 3 days in SoCal.
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