I've been EV shopping/researching for a few months with the goal of ordering sometime next year. With EV pickups either out of the price range or not available anytime soon, and the Bolt now definitely out of the picture the list has essentially narrowed to either a Model 3 or Model Y (and leaning towards the former). I've been lurking here for a couple months trying to absorb what I can, but I still have a few questions. In no particular order:
- How (mentally) hard have you found it to get down to the 10-20% range before charging on a trip? I'm one of those people that doesn't like to let the gas gauge go below half full (we live in hurricane country) and I like to have at least an hour reserve when I'm flying. Our most frequent road trip doesn't have many chargers along the route and I'd get a little wary of running out of options.
- Is it possible to specify/ensure I got the LFP battery on an SR+ if I ordered today? Or is it luck of the draw?
- Other than the obvious one of interior space, any other advantages to a Model Y? I've heard rumors that an SR+ with LFP battery is coming so I kinda want to wait a reasonable time to see if that's available and see what the range figures are before making a decision.
- I like the no-schmoozing, no-haggling model, but the actual purchase process still seems a little opaque and full of uncertainty. Any suggestions?
- What's a realistic charge rate off a standard 120V 15A outlet? This is only a concern on trips; I don't know if it'll be feasible to put a 240V outlet at our parents' houses. I already have a 15-50 in my garage that I added a few years ago to power a welder and other equipment and I can add another wherever needed, but that's harder to get away with on other peoples' houses. I can find some public non-SC chargers in the area if I needed it, but I'd still want to plug in overnight.
- Is there any practical advantage of an LR over the SR+(LFP) besides range and AWD that would justify the extra cost? I don't need even sportier acceleration or the AWD. I thought the range would be a concern but after playing on ABRP I don't think it'll matter too much, given how often and where we wind up stopping for bathroom breaks on our usual 220mi trip to visit family.
- Anyone have issues parking outside? We don't have space in the one-car garage and our winters are mild.
Any other advice and information ?
- How (mentally) hard have you found it to get down to the 10-20% range before charging on a trip? I'm one of those people that doesn't like to let the gas gauge go below half full (we live in hurricane country) and I like to have at least an hour reserve when I'm flying. Our most frequent road trip doesn't have many chargers along the route and I'd get a little wary of running out of options.
- Is it possible to specify/ensure I got the LFP battery on an SR+ if I ordered today? Or is it luck of the draw?
- Other than the obvious one of interior space, any other advantages to a Model Y? I've heard rumors that an SR+ with LFP battery is coming so I kinda want to wait a reasonable time to see if that's available and see what the range figures are before making a decision.
- I like the no-schmoozing, no-haggling model, but the actual purchase process still seems a little opaque and full of uncertainty. Any suggestions?
- What's a realistic charge rate off a standard 120V 15A outlet? This is only a concern on trips; I don't know if it'll be feasible to put a 240V outlet at our parents' houses. I already have a 15-50 in my garage that I added a few years ago to power a welder and other equipment and I can add another wherever needed, but that's harder to get away with on other peoples' houses. I can find some public non-SC chargers in the area if I needed it, but I'd still want to plug in overnight.
- Is there any practical advantage of an LR over the SR+(LFP) besides range and AWD that would justify the extra cost? I don't need even sportier acceleration or the AWD. I thought the range would be a concern but after playing on ABRP I don't think it'll matter too much, given how often and where we wind up stopping for bathroom breaks on our usual 220mi trip to visit family.
- Anyone have issues parking outside? We don't have space in the one-car garage and our winters are mild.
Any other advice and information ?