Roadster 3.0

[bonnie]

At $0.33 per KWH electric cost, vs 30mi/gallon the Integra gets, at current gas prices the two are about equal in cost.

Greg,

Are you on PG&E? Which rate plan are you using?

I charge at night during off-peak and I don't pay anywhere near that (well, if I paid ... I'm close to net zero w solar).

 

[TEG]

If you don't have solar, and are in a situation where you can get it, it makes a lot more sense once you start charging an EV.
The tiered rates start to get painful if you become a heavy power user (compared to your neighbors), but solar can fix that.

Greg,
Are you on PG&E? ...

His location shows Auburn which is a PG&E service area, so, yeah, seems likely.

 

[ecarfan]

At $0.33 per KWH electric cost, vs 30mi/gallon the Integra gets, at current gas prices the two are about equal in cost.

That is very expensive electricity. Doesn't your utility offer a plan with much lower off peak rates?

UPDATE: I see you are in Auburn, CA. You need to switch to the PG&E EV1 rate plan and get $0.11/kWh off peak. Then set the car to charge between midnight and 7AM (am I remembering that correct.y?).

 

[the dude]

http://www.autoblog.com/2015/02/17/tesla-roadster-3-road-trip-340-miles-per-charge/

http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/roadster-road-trip-update-san-jose-los-angeles-single-charge

340 miles with 20 left in the pack, not too bad

 

[gregd]

That is very expensive electricity. Doesn't your utility offer a plan with much lower off peak rates?

UPDATE: I see you are in Auburn, CA. You need to switch to the PG&E EV1 rate plan and get $0.11/kWh off peak. Then set the car to charge between midnight and 7AM (am I remembering that correct.y?).

Yes, PG&E. The bottom tier is $0.11, but I calculated using the top tier (which we just dip into) for the addition of the car. I figured there would be a rate plan that would help, but I haven't had a chance to explore it. So, thanks for the info!

Solar has been investigated, but the orientation of the house, and several very large oak trees, prevent it from being cost effective. I think I can get about 3 panels in one corner. Without running any numbers, we figure that the benefit in shade offered by the trees does more than the equivalent in solar-electric powered air conditioning. Besides, the trees look good.

As I think I mentioned elsewhere, I actually have a better deal, as my employer offers us 4hrs of Level 2 charging each day, and it takes 3 hrs to replenish a complete round trip. So I rarely have to charge at home. It was one of the surprises in getting the car, that while being nicely "green", it doesn't actually save much money from the gas bill, at least at current prices. I still am interested in burning fewer electrons, just on principle, and to be easier on the ESS. And at $0.11 per kwh, that tips the scale nicely in favor of the electric.

Before you ask, the other big surprises, besides the noise, were that my insurance bill is still lower than my daughter's, and the cost of the yearly maintenance is way more than the cost of all the oil changes and spark plugs, and etc. that my ICE consumes per year. Not that I regret for a single moment getting the car, mind you. Just a bit surprised.

 

[tomsax]

[T]he cost of the yearly maintenance is way more than the cost of all the oil changes and spark plugs, and etc. that my ICE consumes per year. Not that I regret for a single moment getting the car, mind you.

Does your ICE do 0-60 in ~4 seconds? ICE cars at the Roadster's performance level tend to be quite expensive to maintain. Fuel+Tires+Maintenance for a Roadster is more expensive than a Corolla, but a Corolla is no Roadster.

Here are the numbers I calculated for our Roadster versus various other vehicles, count fuel+tires+service, 12,000 miles per year, $0.12/kWh, $2.50/gal, AD07's getting 12,000 miles on the rears and 40,000 on the fronts (my experience with our Roadster and paying Tesla's price for the tires).

I think it's unrealistic to expect that gas will average $2.50 over the long term, so here's what it looks like with $4/gal gas.

Tires are a big part of the cost of operating a Roadster. I run Continental Extreme DWS in the winter and they cost less and reportedly last longer. They also seem to be quieter and more energy efficient. If they last 24,000 miles, and I used them year-round, my cost to drive the Roadster would drop by 5.5 cents/per mile to 14.8 cents/mile. It will be interesting to see what the Roadster 3.0 tires cost to operate.

The graphs are little unfair in that it counts major service for the ICE vehicles, but doesn't count battery replacement for the Roadster or Leaf. Assuming a new Leaf battery pack every 60,000 miles adds 9.2 cents per mile.

Which brings us to the big question: how much will the new battery pack cost? If it's $40,000 and we assume 120,000-mile replacement, that adds 33.3 cents/mile and makes the Roadster more expensive to operate than a Ferrari. If we scale the cost of the Leaf battery ($5,500 for 24 kWh) to 70 kWh, we get $16,000 and only have to add 13.3 cents/mile.

Then we get to depreciation. ICE vehicles wear out. EVs should last a really long time assuming you can replace the battery pack when needed, so the Roadster and Leaf are likely to come out winners if batteries continue to get cheaper and there aren't any other significant maintenance costs.

Plus, electric cars are more fun to drive and more convenient to fuel.

 

[dpeilow]

So the first reported drive from the Bay Area to LA and there's no photos or video for posterity?

 

[Mark77a]

Does your ICE do 0-60 in ~4 seconds? ICE cars at the Roadster's performance level tend to be quite expensive to maintain. Fuel+Tires+Maintenance for a Roadster is more expensive than a Corolla, but a Corolla is no Roadster.

Here are the numbers I calculated for our Roadster versus various other vehicles, count fuel+tires+service, 12,000 miles per year, $0.12/kWh, $2.50/gal, AD07's getting 12,000 miles on the rears and 40,000 on the fronts (my experience with our Roadster and paying Tesla's price for the tires).

View attachment 72608

I think it's unrealistic to expect that gas will average $2.50 over the long term, so here's what it looks like with $4/gal gas.

View attachment 72609

Tires are a big part of the cost of operating a Roadster. I run Continental Extreme DWS in the winter and they cost less and reportedly last longer. They also seem to be quieter and more energy efficient. If they last 24,000 miles, and I used them year-round, my cost to drive the Roadster would drop by 5.5 cents/per mile to 14.8 cents/mile. It will be interesting to see what the Roadster 3.0 tires cost to operate.

The graphs are little unfair in that it counts major service for the ICE vehicles, but doesn't count battery replacement for the Roadster or Leaf. Assuming a new Leaf battery pack every 60,000 miles adds 9.2 cents per mile.

Which brings us to the big question: how much will the new battery pack cost? If it's $40,000 and we assume 120,000-mile replacement, that adds 33.3 cents/mile and makes the Roadster more expensive to operate than a Ferrari. If we scale the cost of the Leaf battery ($5,500 for 24 kWh) to 70 kWh, we get $16,000 and only have to add 13.3 cents/mile.

Then we get to depreciation. ICE vehicles wear out. EVs should last a really long time assuming you can replace the battery pack when needed, so the Roadster and Leaf are likely to come out winners if batteries continue to get cheaper and there aren't any other significant maintenance costs.

Plus, electric cars are more fun to drive and more convenient to fuel.

Good stats Tom - thanks.

 

[PokerBroker]

A little birdie told me that Tesla is planning to factor in the exchange of a working battery into the cost of the 3.0 upgrade. This will help Tesla continue to support those who don't upgrade with refurbished replacement packs as well as provide "husks" for upgrade packs.

 

[Doug_G]

I was fully expecting that. They need the original box and electronics in order to economically build the new battery packs.

 

[ecarfan]

Thanks @PokerBroker. I told my wife and she says "the little birdie needs to talk more" because she is anxious to know the 3.0 pricing.

 

[ChadS]

Squak, bird!

 

[bonnie]

Oh dear. We may have missed our opportunity.

 

[Bradleybang]

Bonnie,

Which would you guess would happen first?
Your Model X delivery or the 3.0 Roadster upgrade ready for install.

BTW. My Sig X reservation is 100 A.B.

 

[smac]

Does your ICE do 0-60 in ~4 seconds? ICE cars at the Roadster's performance level tend to be quite expensive to maintain. Fuel+Tires+Maintenance for a Roadster is more expensive than a Corolla, but a Corolla is no Roadster.

No but an Elise/Exige is pretty close 0-60. Would love to see that added to the graph

 

[Doug_G]

No but an Elise/Exige is pretty close 0-60. Would love to see that added to the graph

Uh, no. I've raced an Elise in my Roadster. No timing but I was waaaaaay out in front.

 

[bonnie]

Bonnie,

Which would you guess would happen first?
Your Model X delivery or the 3.0 Roadster upgrade ready for install.

BTW. My Sig X reservation is 100 A.B.

I'm guessing I'll have a Model X in my garage before the Roadster 3.0 is ready for install (but either is fine, really ).

Congrats on #100.

 

[Bradleybang]

I'm 102. 100 A.B. (After Bonnie). I thought all X reservation numbers were noted as after yours? :biggrin:

 

[bonnie]

I'm 102. 100 A.B. (After Bonnie). I thought all X reservation numbers were noted as after yours? :biggrin:

Hahahah. Good one.

 

[hcsharp]

No but an Elise/Exige is pretty close 0-60. Would love to see that added to the graph

Not the North American versions. But they get great gas mileage!