Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Daisy Chaining: Driving a Tesla Across the Country

The modern iterations of Tesla EV programs have turned the auto industry on it's head. Consumers, as a whole, felt that electric vehicles were unpredictable, unreliable, and ugly. However, Tesla managed to fill these voids by producing electric vehicles that are stylish, sporty, and highly practical. Tesla has allowed owners to go from having range anxiety to sitting on their phones searching the web to find the cheapest car insurance. Tesla vehicles have an electric range that is unparalleled, and with fast charging technology on the rise, the question that comes naturally is, "how far can this thing go"?

Tesla Extended Range Technology

Most Tesla vehicles produced in the last 3 years hold a range of more than 220 miles per charge. The newly released Chevrolet Bolt is the only other EV that can compete with this range. New Tesla's offer twice the range of the nearest competitor other than the Bolt. More impressive than the extended range is the ever-sprouting network of high-voltage rapid charging centers which Tesla refers to as Superchargers. These stations are popping up all over the US, particularly along cross-country highway routes in the north, south, and midwest. There are also more and more urban stations being created along the primary ownership bands on the east and west coast. These Superchargers are capable of providing at least 170 miles of range on a 30 minute charge! Depending on how your Tesla is equipped, this number could be even higher.

Cross Country Capability

This combination of range and quick access to fast charging across the country give Tesla owners a sense of freedom never before experienced outside of traditional combustion engine vehicle ownership. More and more Tesla owners are successfully attempting extended road trips and cross-country adventures. Many Tesla user forums have created helpful apps containing Supercharger stats and status as well as highlighting other places to charge your Tesla if you find yourself away from the Supercharger grid. Tesla has smartly incorporated some of this data into the vehicle interface, allowing drivers to plan trips from one Supercharger to the next, effectively skipping along your route to your final destination. Many Supercharger stations are located near popular travel hotels which gives drivers the opportunity to recharge along with their Tesla.

This extended freedom is great and represents a huge leap in bridging the gap between electric and gas vehicle ownership. However, there are still a few tethers associated with driving a Tesla long distances. For instance, battery charging conditions can be critical. While temperature plays no effect in fueling a gas vehicle, it can greatly impact the charging of a Tesla. Attempting to charge a cold battery pack can reduce efficiency of charge by 50% or more. This is enough to disturb even the most casual itinerary. The state of charge can be a factor as well, as Tesla battery packs tend to charge much faster when they are more depleted. This leads to the next concern.

Driving speed plays a large factor in the indicated range calculations offered by your Tesla. The same is true of driving gas vehicles, however when planning a trip with a Tesla, the goal is to arrive at the next charging station with the lowest state of charge possible (within reason of course) to promote efficient charging. That being said, an increase in speed of 10mph can reduce effective range by as much as 50 miles per charge over the course of typical highway speeds. Drivers must be constantly aware of their state of charge and the remaining range to prevent coming up short of the charging station.

Though there are some concerns unique to road tripping in a Tesla, there are also some unique perks and advantages. Many times, Supercharger stations are located in places that would be nice stopping points anyway. Tesla road trips build in multiple 30 minute culture immersions that allow drivers to truly enjoy the journey. Also, getting to know your fellow Tesla owners and their experiences is a valuable and enjoyable connection that most other drivers will never see.

No comments:

Post a Comment