It finally happened, after a whole year of hype, the final version of the Tesla Model 3 was shown to the public and their specs released, it is not a home run like the Tesla Model S was in 2012, back then it was a car light-years ahead of the competition, but on the other hand, the Model 3 doesn't seem like a screw up, like the initial Model X.
Tesla Model 3 specs:
Price – $35,000
Standard Battery
- Range: 220 miles (EPA estimated)
- Supercharging rate: 130 miles of range per 30 minutes
- Home charging rate: 30 miles of range per hour (240V outlet, 32A)
More or less in the same ball park i had predicted, but i had the secret hope that Tesla would surprise us here, in order to keep the untold Tesla meme: "The best EV in the World in every single spec". Not anymore, Tesla...
Long Range Battery – $9,000
- Range: 310 miles
- Supercharging rate: 170 miles of range per 30 minutes
- Home charging rate: 37 miles of range per hour (240V outlet, 40A)
Slightly less than i had expected, but the 330-ish miles range are probably saved for the AWD version. Still great, though, there will be years until someone gets close to these numbers at 44k price. Thing is, 44k it's not mass market anymore...
One question on the charging: Wouldn't it be easier just to have one charging rate for both battery packages? Sounds cheap from Tesla to do these kind of things...
Trunk: 425 480-ish Liters
A decent trunk for a midsize car (D-Segment in Euro Speak), but let's not forget that part of that goes in the frunk, so expect something like 50l in the front and 430l in the back.
One minus point of the 3 is being a sedan (A body style going on extinction route, even in the US), which could be a deal breaker for some.
One minus point of the 3 is being a sedan (A body style going on extinction route, even in the US), which could be a deal breaker for some.
Personally, i think it is the best EV for the money right now, but because the distance between it and the competition is not as big as expected (Especially in standard battery spec), it will all depend on each buyer tastes and needs.
Coincidentally, this June plug-ins reached 1% share of the global automotive market, so one can say that the first round of the game is won, innovators, tree-huggers, tekkies and new tech-addicts have jumped into the PEV wagon, thanks to the Tesla Roadster and Model S, Nissan Leaf I, Chevrolet Volt I & II, among others.
Kicking off the round two of the game, which is to win the more progressive part of the mainstream buyers and reach two digits share, were the Chevrolet Bolt and Toyota Prius Prime landing last December, with the yesterday launch of the Tesla Model 3 being the Second chapter for this story, and the upcoming Leaf II the Third, these last three models are all set to present previously unseen sales levels for PEVs next year (All above 100k), so with the help of the Chinese market, we could see exponential growth in 2018 happening every month, hopefully for the next few years.
In the next days there will antagonistic comments (Think Shaquille O'Neal vs Charles Barkley) bickering over what happened, with Tesla Haters and Fanbois sharing their biased views on the car, on September 6, when the Leaf II is revealed, the same story will happen all over again, with Leaf haters and fanbois in heated discussions over the car, when in reality we should all salute new entries into the market, even if they are crap (*Cough* Mini Countryman PHEV *Cough*), because this should be a collective effort into promoting transport electrification.
Then again, it's 2017, "Us vs Them" Era, who am i kidding? Reason and rationality are now largely underrated, let the hate games begin!
When you look at the luggage space you schould take in to consideration that it's different mecher system in US and Europe. BMW 3-serie have 14 cubic feet in US and 480 liter in Europe.
ReplyDeleteFor the difference in supercharging speed the same goes for Model S and X, the smaller packs (60, 70, 75) is on 352V and the bigger on 402V wish means you get higher power at the same current with the larger batteries.
Thanks for the input, so we are talking around 480L? That is better, will change it on the text.
DeleteHow mush I don't know but if we are going to compare with different cars we should compare with the same measurement system just like we don't compare NEDC and EPA range.
DeleteI guess the difference in charging rates could merely be linked to the number of distinct units inside each battery. The charging rate for each individual cell may be identical, but the long range EV gains mileage quicker purely because there are more cells available.
ReplyDeleteSurprised by the 220 miles as I really though Elon Musk will not let the Bolt keep the crown, I was wrong. Now, the fact that the 310 miles ones is only at 44k blow me away! We can think that dual version might get a 320 miles of EPA range, with Elon quoting, some weeks ago, that the biggest possible battery in the available space between the wheels would be a 75 kWh, I wonder if it is a 70 kWh or a 75 kWh that's in there? If so, I'm wondering too what is the other pack, a 50 kWh or a 55 kWh? If it is a 50 kWh that would be an interesting thing for future possible updates...Now, with battery rapid evolution and shrinking prices, 2020 shall be great. One more time 44k for a Tesla with 310 miles, when only 5 years ago you had to pay more than 90k for a 265 miles Tesla! Only five years ago!
ReplyDeleteTrue, the 310 miles range is the truly disruptive figure on the Model 3.
DeleteBut at 44k it is a tough pill to swallow for most buyers...
Model 3 is a 2 RBI homerun but not a Grand Slam.
ReplyDeleteBut to use another sports cliche "A win is a win."
Bolt and LEAF 2.0 can't use the Supercharger Network.
I have a feeling the next barrier is going to be 5% market share for EVs before 10%, because other alternative fuels eg Ethanol or LPG have aready been at 1%, but never at 5%.
ReplyDeleteBristolboy is correct - us Brisgtoleans have it well sussed§ ;-)
ReplyDeleteA bigger battery can accept charge more readily than a smaller one.
In practise the Tesla's with the smaller battery packs have never charged at the nominal rating of the supercharger.
The maximum rate is only hit, fairly briefly if at all, on the 100kWh packs.
'I'm giving her all she's got, Captain!'
DaveMart
Thanks for all Bristol readers! :)
ReplyDeleteThis one is good. keep up the good work!..
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