Thread by @TeslaStars

What’s the huge advantage of driving a car? 🤔

Having the freedom of going anywhere and stopping wherever you want on the way 😊

mobile.twitter.com/search?q=%23Ro…

I didn’t buy a @Tesla for city driving. I bought it exclusively for #RoadTripping, because it’s an #EV.

#ClimateCrisis

For 10 years I have not owned any car.

I am getting around the city of @Bordeaux by bicycle as this is the most convenient and quick way to move in a European urban environment 🚲😊

For #RoadTrips outside the town I used #CarSharing (up to a few weeks).

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1099058126672875524?s=21

However, I have been bothered by the #ClimateCrisis since 2005 and it’s been more and more difficult to cope with nasty petrol or diesel fill-ups and the CO2 and pollutant emissions associated with them 😖

🚗⛽️💨💨💨💨💨💨💨💀

#Pollution

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1102338521984131074?s=21

https://twitter.com/TeslaStars/status/1102338521984131074

Until 2016, no reasonably priced #EV was capable of #RoadTripping, so that was not an option.

Then the @Tesla Model 3 was unveiled and I knew it would become the #MostImportantCarEver, the one that would finally make #EV mainstream.

🚗🔋⚡️🤖🤩👍🏻

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1092055296166498305?s=21

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1092055296166498305

I placed a reservation pre-reveal on 31 March 2016 and waited patiently for about 3 years until Aldébaran, my Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor, was delivered.

🚗🔋⚡️🤖🤩👍🏻

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1103410075333525505?s=21

https://twitter.com/TeslaStars/status/1103410075333525505

I won’t get into a lengthy discussion about why an #EV is better for the environment than a #FossilCar. Plenty of documentation and evidence around, plenty of #FUD spread by #BigOil also... 😌

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1167710252848074752?s=21

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1167710252848074752

The #EV drivetrain is so much more efficient than a #FossilCar or hydrogen drivetrain, it’s not even funny 😆

That, combined with the fact that you can fill your battery with 100% renewable energy, provide a clear path to dramatically reduce transportation CO2 emissions 😊

Since Aldébaran was delivered almost 10 months ago, we have driven 16 710 km, mostly on 100 % renewable energy.

In a #FossilCar we would have emitted more than 1 600 kg of CO2 if we believe the official WLTP figures for an average car given for about 100 g/km...

So... #EV are the way to go.

🚗🔋⚡️☺️

But are all #EV created equal?

Are they all able to #RoadTrip without compromise or with very little inconvenience compared with a #FossilCar, so that Mr Smith or Ms Dupont ditch their gas guzzler and switch to an #EV?

To find out, let’s dig into the 3 specs that matter to make an #EV capable of #RoadTripping.

#Efficiency
#BatterySize
#Range

#Efficiency is the measure of how much energy is consumed to drive a certain distance.

I’ll use the International System to describe the various metrics. This system is used anywhere on earth except the USA 🇺🇸😉

Efficiency is measured in Wh/km, similar to #FossilCars l/100km ☺️

#BatterySize (in kWh) is important because for a given #Efficiency, a bigger battery can give you more range.

Unfortunately the battery is the most expensive component of an #EV and also weighs a lot...

So with a bigger battery, the car weighs more and becomes less efficient 😒

#Range is how far you can go with a full battery.

In real life though, you almost never go from 100 % to 0 %.

Because when you do, it’s not always a pleasant experience ☺️

On most #RoadTrip legs, you will use only part of the battery capacity, for instance from 90% to 10%.

For #RoadTripping in real life you need 2 additional ingredients.

Charging network density and speed.

And that varies for every car...

There are various plug standards so not all #EV can access all chargers.

The main plugs for DC fast charging (#DCFC) ie the chargers that provide the highest speeds, necessary for #RoadTrips, are #CCS (the European stardard), #CHAdeMO and @Tesla #SuperChargers.

The Model 3 is @Tesla’s first car with the #CCS plug. Model S & X are also #CCS compatible via an adapter.

All #SuperChargers have been retrofitted early 2019 with #CCS plugs to prepare for the Model 3 invasion.

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1092115315415285760?s=21

The @Tesla #SuperChargers V2 have two cables, one with a #CCS plug (for Model 3) and one for Model S & X.

But the new, faster #SuperChargers V3 have only the #CCS plug, which means that Model S & X will have, in the near future, to get a #CCS adapter.

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1208325695451074561?s=21

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1208325695451074561

Note that all I’m explaining here regarding the types of plugs applies only to Europe... There are different plugs in North America & Asia...

Standardization is a mess, but normally, unless you plan a world roundtrip with your car, only regional standards should matter.

Now the charging speed...

Obviously if you want to minimize travel time, you need to find a compatible charger (plug) & have your car accept a high speed.

#DCFC charger speeds range from 50 kW to 350 kW.

Each car has a maximum charging speed. No car today allows 350 kW.

Ok so now some real life examples of why the choice of car matters for #RoadTrips.

When you chose an #EV, you chose a plug and charging speed (in addition to price, style, performance, quality, tech, efficiency, battery size, range...)

Let’s say you buy a car with a #CHAdeMO plug, with a max charging speed of 100 kW.

I think that’s the case for the @NissanElectric LEAF e+ but their website is such a mess that I couldn’t find this important info...

You’d have access to... TWO 100 kW chargers in France 🇫🇷...

Of course you’d also have access to all the 50 kW #CHAdeMO chargers and there are hundreds of them.

But your charging time is multiplied by two. You paid for a 100 kW charging speed not so useful in real life if you can’t find a charger able to deliver that speed.

Now let’s say you buy a car with a #CCS plug.

This has been the European standard since 2014, more and more #DCFC chargers have a #CCS plug.

Your car is able to handle 100 kW as well. Now you have access to much more chargers at that speed 😊

Of course you also have access to all the 50 kW #CCS chargers... but charging time there will be twice as much 😒

Now imagine you buy a @Tesla.

All @Tesla are compatible with #CCS (either directly or via an adapter) and every @Tesla accepts at least 170 kW.

So you have access to all the #CCS chargers above, plus all the @Tesla #SuperChargers.

The map for 100+ kW now looks like this.

And if you include all 50 kW #CCS chargers you now have the biggest #DCFC charging network accessible in Europe.

Did I mention that @Tesla V2 #SuperChargers provide 150 kW and the new V3 #SuperChargers provide 250 kW?

To be noted: @Tesla is willing to open its #SuperChargers network to other #EV manufacturers. #CCS plug makes it easy.

Up to my knowledge the conditions being that:

- the cars need to accept at least 100 kW
- the car manufacturer needs to participate in building the network

The maps above (created with @Chargemap) show only France 🇫🇷 because that’s where I live and it’s where I’ve done a few real life road trips this year that I will use as examples later on ☺️

Your mileage may vary 😉

Real world #Efficiency and therefore #Range vary according to a certain number of parameters, among which: driving style (speed, accelerations...), road conditions (slope, wind, temperature, rain, snow...).

To compare different #EV we will use @RouteBetter with those settings ☺️

Which #EV should we compare?

If you want to #RoadTrip you need a bit of room for passengers and luggage.

All mid/full size sedans & #SUV do the job.

For good measure I’ve added the best sellers @Renault Zoé & @NissanElectric LEAF as well as the newcomer @Peugeot e-208

So let’s compare

@Renault Zoé
@Peugeot e-208
@Nissan LEAF
@Audi e-tron
@Jaguar iPace
@MercedesBenz EQC
@Porsche Taycan
@Tesla Model 3
@Tesla Model S
@Tesla Model X

I got Aldébaran on 6 March 2019.

A few weeks later we drove our first (small) road trip to see my sister and her family in Pau.

A bit more than 200 km at highway speed (130 kph in France 🇫🇷), it should be a piece of cake.

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1111667723300425728?s=21

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1111667723300425728

Every car will start the trip with the same 100 % charge, although in real life, if you don’t have a home charger, the initial state of charge would be lower.

Let’s drive a @Renault Zoé 50 kWh with #CCS.

Reference consumption is 200 Wh/km @ 110 kph.

209 km straight, no stop 👍🏻

Now we drive a @Peugeot e-208. It has a 50 kWh battery with #CCS up to 100 kW.

Reference consumption is 196 Wh/km @ 110 kph.

Piece of cake. Same time of 2 h 16 min for 209 km straight, no charging stop needed ☺️

We have now a @NissanElectric LEAF e+. That’s the new model with a 60 kWh battery with #CHAdeMo up to 100 kW.

Reference consumption is 200 Wh/km @ 110 kph.

Zoé & e-208 had to drive 110 kph to make it. The LEAF is a quicker in 2 h 9 min as it drives 120 kph.

Non-stop as well 😊

The @Audi e-tron 55 Quattro has a big 95 kWh battery with #CCS up to 150 kW.

Reference consumption is 250 Wh/km @ 110 kph.

The non-stop drive is even quicker in 2 h 2 min since we can drive at the 130 kph speed limit 😊

The @Jaguar I-Pace has a 90 kWh battery with #CCS up to 100 kW.

Reference consumption is 263 Wh/km @ 110 kph.

Of course it can make the non-stop trip in the same 2 h 2 min as the e-tron, driving at the 130 kph speed limit.

This gets boring 🤪. It’s too easy for those big batteries 🔋😉

@MercedesBenz EQC has a 80 kWh battery with #CCS up to 110 kW.

Reference consumption is 256 Wh/km @ 110 kph.

The trip is done non-stop in 2 h 2 min 😉

The @Porsche Taycan exists in several flavors ☺️

Let’s start with the Taycan 4S with a 79 kWh battery with #CCS up to 270 kW (tbd). That’s for 800V chargers otherwise it’s 50 kW (buy an option for 150 kW).

Reference consumption is 255 Wh/km @ 110 kph.

Trip done in 2 h 2 min 😌

The @Porsche Taycan Turbo has a 93 kWh battery with #CCS up to 270 kW on 800V chargers. Let’s take the 150 kW option to charge at that rate on 400V chargers (if I understood correctly).

Reference consumption is 255 Wh/km.

Non-stop trip in 2 h 2 min 😂

We upgrade to the most powerful @Porsche Taycan, the Turbo S with 93 kWh battery and same 270 kW #CCS charging with option for 150 kW on 400V chargers.

Reference consumption is 262 Wh/km @ 110 kph.

Obviously the drive takes 2 h 2 min 😗

The @Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus with 18” Aero Wheels has a 57 kWh battery with #CCS and #SuperCharging up to 170 kW

Reference consumption is 160 Wh/km.

Of course, it can make the trip in 2 h 2 min 😁

My car, the @Tesla Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor with 19” Sport Wheels, has a 77 kWh battery with #CCS and #SuperCharging up to 250 kW.

Reference consumption is 180 Wh/km.

Surprise! It makes the trip in 2 h 2 mins 🤪

The @Tesla Model 3 Performance with 20” Performance Wheels has the same 77 kWh battery and 250 kW #CCS & #SuperCharging.

Reference consumption is 190 Wh/km.

Exact same time of 2 h 2 min 🧐

The @Tesla Model S Long Range has a 102 kWh battery with 200 kW #CCS and #SuperCharging.

Reference consumption is 185 Wh/km @ 110 kph.

Trip done non-stop also in 2 h 2 min 🤨

The @Tesla Model S Performance has a the exact same 102 kWh battery with 200 kW #CCS and #SuperCharging.

Reference consumption is 190 Wh/km @ 110 kph.

Same non-stop trip in 2 h 2 min 🥳

Only two more to go 😙

The @Tesla Model X Long Range has a 102 kWh battery with 200 kW #CCS and #SuperCharging.

Reference consumption is 220 Wh/km @ 110 kph.

Same non-stop time of 2 h 2 min 🤓

Last, but not least, the @Tesla Model X Performance has the exact same 102 kWh battery with 200 kW #CCS and #SuperCharging.

Reference consumption is 230 Wh/km @ 110 kph.

Exact same non-stop trip time of 2 h 2 min 🤩

Ok that really was boring 😱

And you know what? It’s great news!!! 🥳👍🏻

It means #EV can do a 209 km non-stop trip 🤩... That wasn’t the case 10 years ago 🤯

Now that the contenders have been introduced let’s move to more serious stuff ☺️

On 26 May we drove roundtrip to Toulouse for the day.

Direct route is 252 km via the 130 kph highway (20 € toll each way 😱). We drove non-stop in 2 h 15 min. This is real life so it accounts for road traffic.

Let’s see how other cars would perform.

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1132753906646310913?s=21

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1132753906646310913

@Renault Zoé

@Peugeot e-208

@NissanElectric LEAF e+

Speed limited to 100 kph to make it non-stop 😌

@Audi e-tron

Speed limited to 120 kph to make it non-stop 🧐

@Jaguar I-Pace

Speed limited to 110 kph to make it non-stop 🤨

@MercedesBenz EQC

Speed limited to 110 kph to make it non-stop 😒

@Porsche Taycan 4S

Needs one (very quick) charge, like the Zoé and e-208 to reach the destination 😟

@Porsche Taycan Turbo

Speed limited to 120 kph to make it non-stop 😏

@Porsche Taycan Turbo S

Speed limited to 110 kph to make it non-stop 😟

@Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus

Speed limited to 110 kph to make it non-stop 😒

@Tesla Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor

@Tesla Model 3 Performance

@Tesla Model S Long Range

@Tesla Model S Performance

@Tesla Model X Long Range

@Tesla Model X Performance

Now we’re starting to see interesting results 😉

On a fairly short trip, there is a 26% time difference between the quickest cars (all @Tesla except the Model 3 SR+) and the slowest one, the @Renault Zoé, handicapped by its small battery and 50 kW charging speed.

The Taycan Turbo S, a hyper powerful sports car, needs to slow down to 110 kph and barely makes it 2 minutes before the Taycan 4S that drove 130 kph and stopped a few minutes to recharge 🤔

It takes 14% more time than any @Tesla but the cheapest one.

Food for thought 😐💭

On 20 April (4/20 😉) we drove our first real #RoadTrip, from @merignac to my wife’s parents home a bit north of Senlis.

This is the trip we drive the most often, about 4 times a year, so it’s interesting to see how the experience evolves (more #DCFC...)

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1119516970918064128?s=21

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1119516970918064128

@Renault Zoé

Speed limited to 100 kph for the first leg to make it to the next charger.

It’s actually interesting because @RouteBetter proposes to drive the regular road (limited to 110 kph anyway) instead of the longer toll road (limited to 130 kph)

@Peugeot e-208

Speed limited to 90 kph for the same first leg to make it to the next charger 😌

@NissanElectric LEAF e+

Speed limited to 110 kph for the same first leg to make it to the next charger ☺️

It’s ok though, the huge majority of that route is limited to 110 kph (except about 20 km close to @Bordeaux).

@Audi e-tron

Big detour via Le Mans needed to be able to find a suitable @IONITY_EU #CCS #DCFC 😳

@Jaguar I-Pace

@MercedesBenz EQC

@Porsche Taycan 4S

Speed limited to 100 kph for rhe first leg to make it to the next charger. Also a detour via Chartres to reach a @IONITY_EU #CCS #DCFC 😏

@Porsche Taycan Turbo

Speed limited to 110 kph for the second leg to make it to the next charger, which requires a detour via Chartres 😒

@Porsche Taycan Turbo S

Speed limited to 110 kph for the second leg to make it to the next charger, with a necessary detour via Chartres to make it to @IONITY_EU #CCS #DCFC 🧐

@Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus

@Tesla Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor

@Tesla Model 3 Performance

@Tesla Model S Long Range

@Tesla Model S Performance

@Tesla Model X Long Range

@Tesla Model X Performance

Very interesting results 😀

There is now a 34% time difference between the slowest car (@Renault Zoé) and the fastest one (@Tesla Model S Long Range).

Both @Tesla Model S versions are the only cars able to do the trip by stopping only once.

The fastest @Porsche is 6% slower than the slowest @Tesla.

Every @Porsche needs to drive slower than the speed limit during one leg of the journey to be able to reach the next charger.

Every @Porsche and the @Audi e-tron require a detour that adds between 30 and 89 km to the trip, adding charging costs and wear to the vehicle, as well as a longer driving time.

The @Jaguar I-Pace & @MercedesBenz EQC are the only non-@Tesla cars that don’t require a detour and/or driving below the speed limit to complete the #RoadTrip.

The trip is feasible with a compact car but takes much longer 😌

The fastest non @Tesla, the @Porsche Taycan Turbo, arrives 1 h (16%) after the fastest @Tesla.

The @Porsche are the second fastest cars behind the @Tesla thanks to their very fast recharging speed that makes up for the additional driving time.

Next trip is one that I have driven a few times in a #FossilCar so I know the road pretty well (especially the Bordeaux-Lyon leg), but haven’t driven my @Tesla yet: Aldébaran was delivered just a few days after we came back from the Alps 🚗⛽️💨💨💨🏔

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1099058126672875524?s=21

https://twitter.com/teslastars/status/1099058126672875524

@Renault Zoé

This is interesting because that’s not the route one would take. It’s much longer than normal and it must be because on the final leg there are no #CCS chargers accessible with the small range.

Speed limited to 110 kph for first leg to make it to the next charger.

@Peugeot e-208

That’s the normal route, and the e-208 doesn’t even have to reduce its speed along the way 😊

@NissanElectric LEAF e+

It also has to take the longer route.

Speed limited to 110 kph for on the first leg to make it to the next charger 😞

@Audi e-tron

@Jaguar I-Pace

Speed limited to 120 kph one the second leg to make it to the next charger 😌

@MercedesBenz EQC

Speed limited to 120 kph on the second leg to make it to the next charger 😒

@Porsche Taycan 4S

@Porsche Taycan Turbo

Speed limited to 120 kph on the second leg to make it to the next charger 😒

@Porsche Taycan Turbo S

It takes the longer route...

Speed limited to 110 kph on the second leg to make it to the next charger 😒

@Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus

@Tesla Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor

@Tesla Model 3 Performance

@Tesla Model S Long Range

@Tesla Model S Performance

@Tesla Model X Long Range

@Tesla Model X Performance

The slowest car, @Renault Zoé, arrives 4 hours (52% more time...) after the the fastest car, the @Tesla Model S Long Range.

The slowest @Tesla is faster than the fastest @Porsche by one hour.

A few cars, notably the @Porsche Taycan Turbo S, need to take a 120 km longer route...

The @Tesla Model S Performance arrives almost 2 hours before the @Porsche Taycan Turbo S.

The @Audi e-tron drives the trip in very similar time as the @Porsche Taycan and beats the other non @Tesla #SUV thanks to its charging speed.