First, I love my Y. I am sure Tesla fans will give me grief about this post, but here it goes.
I am writing this as I am in the midst of a long "ski bum" road trip that started in Orlando, FL and will hit Breckenridge, Vail, Jackson Hole, Park City, Wolf Creek, and Crested Butte before heading back. I am writing this as a means to help some avoid "buyers remorse" with respect to battery range. This drive covers a variety of terrain in mostly cold climates through long stretches with minimal inhabitants. This also means that charging stations can be few and far between.
I will start with the fact that I am sitting in Rock Springs, WY having had an unscheduled stop half way from Ft Collins, Co because I would not have made the range the car told me, or even come close. Even with an extra stop, I reached 4% charge. When I put this stop in navigation at the last stop, the car predicted I would have over 25% range at this stop. My next stop is Jackson, WY. It's a long stretch that I am not fully confident I will make though not making it is not an option.
For the prospective Tesla buyer, like you, I have watched the Tesla advertised ranges extend year over year, and model over model. When the Y reached 324 mile range, and my old car reached 130k miles, I made the plunge and bought the Y. My measure for range was to be able to reach my parents in Hilton Head, SC from home in Orlando on one charge. I learned on my first trip, that was not going to be possible; however, I am retired, so I adjusted my expectations and learned patience in my old age (62). But this trip took my expectations adjustments to another level entirely.
Out West, speed limits are 70 to 80 mph. You will not be able to go the speed limit in many/most cases. This will become less a source of anxiety as super charging stations proliferate. But, unless you want to stop every 150 miles for a charge, you will not be able to use the car's full capabilities to go fast in places with high speed limits. It's like hitching a race horse to a cart of rocks. If you ever see a Tesla going at or below speed limits, you can bet the driver is trying to stretch the range.
Adding just a bit of insult to this problem, the car will tell you when you connect to charge at 4% that for the sake of the life of the battery, you should not let the battery be drained to that level. It will also tell you that you should not routinely charge to over 90% or more for the sake of the battery. Believe me, I would like to avoid doing so, but on more than a couple of occasions, between the car and the paucity of charging stations, I don't have a choice!
Finally, given the technology Tesla is developing for fsd, do not assume that Tesla can predict your range with much accuracy at the time of completing a charge. Also, Tesla is not good at predicting the time needed to charge especially as it closes in on the desired range you set when starting the charge.
There, that feels better.
I am writing this as I am in the midst of a long "ski bum" road trip that started in Orlando, FL and will hit Breckenridge, Vail, Jackson Hole, Park City, Wolf Creek, and Crested Butte before heading back. I am writing this as a means to help some avoid "buyers remorse" with respect to battery range. This drive covers a variety of terrain in mostly cold climates through long stretches with minimal inhabitants. This also means that charging stations can be few and far between.
I will start with the fact that I am sitting in Rock Springs, WY having had an unscheduled stop half way from Ft Collins, Co because I would not have made the range the car told me, or even come close. Even with an extra stop, I reached 4% charge. When I put this stop in navigation at the last stop, the car predicted I would have over 25% range at this stop. My next stop is Jackson, WY. It's a long stretch that I am not fully confident I will make though not making it is not an option.
For the prospective Tesla buyer, like you, I have watched the Tesla advertised ranges extend year over year, and model over model. When the Y reached 324 mile range, and my old car reached 130k miles, I made the plunge and bought the Y. My measure for range was to be able to reach my parents in Hilton Head, SC from home in Orlando on one charge. I learned on my first trip, that was not going to be possible; however, I am retired, so I adjusted my expectations and learned patience in my old age (62). But this trip took my expectations adjustments to another level entirely.
Out West, speed limits are 70 to 80 mph. You will not be able to go the speed limit in many/most cases. This will become less a source of anxiety as super charging stations proliferate. But, unless you want to stop every 150 miles for a charge, you will not be able to use the car's full capabilities to go fast in places with high speed limits. It's like hitching a race horse to a cart of rocks. If you ever see a Tesla going at or below speed limits, you can bet the driver is trying to stretch the range.
Adding just a bit of insult to this problem, the car will tell you when you connect to charge at 4% that for the sake of the life of the battery, you should not let the battery be drained to that level. It will also tell you that you should not routinely charge to over 90% or more for the sake of the battery. Believe me, I would like to avoid doing so, but on more than a couple of occasions, between the car and the paucity of charging stations, I don't have a choice!
Finally, given the technology Tesla is developing for fsd, do not assume that Tesla can predict your range with much accuracy at the time of completing a charge. Also, Tesla is not good at predicting the time needed to charge especially as it closes in on the desired range you set when starting the charge.
There, that feels better.
