Electric Cars: The Basics
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The All-Electric Tesla Model S Saloon
Tesla Inc. (formerly Tesla Motors Inc.) was founded by American engineers, Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in 2003. They named the Palo Alto based company, Tesla, as a tribute to the engineer Nikola Tesla. In fact, Elon Musk (Co-Founder, Tesla) become involved with the company post the founding of Tesla Motors. He was the lead investor in the 2004 Series A investment round.
In 2008, Tesla unveiled its first zero-emission electric vehicle (EV), the all-electric Roadster. As they say, the rest is history. Tesla, Inc is a publicly listed company and has a market value higher than any other automotive manufacturer. Elon Musk is also ranked as one of the richest individuals in the world. According to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, he is ranked second with a net worth of US$187 billion.
Tesla has the following battery-electric vehicle (BEV) models either in production or in development. In 2020, the EV company surpassed a production volume of 1 million plug-in electric cars.
- The all-electric Tesla Model S
- The all-electric Tesla Model 3
- The all-electric Tesla Model X
- The all-electric Tesla Model Y
- The all-electric Tesla Roadster
- The all-electric Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla also sells battery energy storage, solar panels, solar roof and other EV charging related equipment and accessories. Tesla also owns and operates a vast network of Tesla Superchargers (20,000+ across more than 4,500 locations). The Model S was at one time, the second most-sold plug-in electric car globally, after the ubiquitous Nissan Leaf EV.
The Model S was first introduced in 2012. Since its launch, the Tesla green car has achieved significant milestones to include:
- Best selling plug-in all-electric car in 2015 and 2016
- Top selling new car in Norway in September and December 2013
- Top selling new car in Denmark in December 2015
- In 2019, Motor Trend Magazine named the Model S as the ultimate car of the year
The United States is the largest market for the sales of the Model S electric vehicle (EV).
The automotive manufacturer claims that the Model S electric car has the lowest drag coefficient of just .208 Cd and the Model S Plaid has the quickest acceleration of any vehicle in production.
The Tesla Model S is available in two variants: the entry-level Tesla Model S and the Tesla Model S Plain. The entry-level is a dual motor all-wheel drive (AWD), while the Plaid is a Tri motor all-wheel drive (AWD).
In terms of pure electric range, both variants offer a class-leading EV range. The entry-level variant has a claimed zero-emission electric range up to 652 km (WLTP), while the Plaid has a range up to 637 km (WLTP).
Even adjusting for real-world driving conditions, the range for the Model S is impressive. for the entry level, expect a real-world electric range closer to 600 km. For the Plaid, a pure electric range up to 580 km is more realistic. For those new to electric driving, a number of factors impact the EV range. Some of these include: road conditions, speed, weather, payload, passenger load, tyre size, driving profile and more!
Tesla owners benefit from the Tesla Supercharger network. In fact, Tesla owns and operates the largest fast charging network globally (35,000+ globally) and the network continue to expand rapidly. Tesla claims that Superchargers can add up to 270 km of electric range in just 15 minutes. The Superchargers offers a maximum DC charging rate up to 250 kW.
Tesla incorporates a 16.5 kW 3-phase onboard charger as standard for the EV. However, as most homes in Ireland are powered by single-phase power supply, taking advantage of the three-phase charger will be only for those with access to three-phase power supply at home. For single-phase (7.4 kW) EV charging at home, the EV will take up to to 15 hours to fully charge.
We at e-zoomed encourage using a dedicated single-phase residential EV charger like myenergi zappi for charging at home. Though electric cars can be charged via a domestic 3-PIN plug, we at e-zoomed do not encourage using a domestic plug for charging an electric car.
In terms of performance, the entry-level dual motor all-wheel drive Model S can achieve 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, with a top speed up to 250 km/h. The Tri motor all-wheel drive Tesla Model S Plaid can achieve 0-100 km/h in 2.1 seconds, with a top speed up to 322 km/h. Tesla claims that the Plaid can maintain 1,000+ horsepower all the way to 322 km/h. Of course, the Tesla electric car also benefits from instant torque.
The interior of the electric car is designed for minimalism and space. The EV includes a 17 inch touchscreen display and a number of advanced features, either available as standard or an additional option.
Some of these include: all-glass roof, 360 degrees rear, side and forward-facing cameras, Tesla Vision (detects nearby cars, helps prevent potential collisions and assists with parking), Tesla Autopilot, summon, smart summon, auto park, auto lane change and more. The EV is practical, with ample head room and legroom. The boot size is 793 L.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Class leading pure electric range | Expensive. Cheaper pure electric alternatives available |
| Powerful and fast electric performance | Build quality issues |
| Tesla Supercharger network (DC charging up to 250 kW) | Full Self-Driving option not cheap |
Gallery
The All-Electric Tesla Model S Saloon (credit:Tesla)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
| Vehicle Type: | Saloon |
| Engine: | Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | Yes |
| Variants (2 Options) |
|---|
| Tesla Model S (prices not available) |
| Tesla Model S Plaid (prices not available) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 95 kWh |
| Charging: | 250 kW rapid charging standard (Supercharge up to 175 miles in 15 mins). On-board charger 16.5 kW AC |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 0g (CO2/km) |
| Warranty: | 8 years or 190,000 km |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity: 16.7 kWh | € 4.00 |
| Battery net capacity: 30.0 kWh | € 7.19 |
| Battery net capacity: 39.2 kWh | € 9.39 |
| Battery net capacity: 45.0 kWh | € 10.78 |
| Battery net capacity: 50.0 kWh | € 11.98 |
| Battery net capacity: 64.0 kWh | € 15.34 |
| Battery net capacity: 71.0 kWh | € 17.01 |
| Battery net capacity: 77.0 kWh | € 18.45 |
| Battery net capacity: 90.0 kWh | € 21.57 |
| Battery net capacity: 100.0 kWh | € 23.97 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 23.97 cents/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
| Charging Times (Overview) | |
|---|---|
| Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
| Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging DC (50 kW+): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+): | 0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW): | 0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1445 |
| Width (mm): | 1964 |
| Length (mm): | 4970 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2960 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 12.4 |
| Boot Capacity (L): | 793 |
| Tesla Model S | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 95 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 652 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km): | N/A |
| Charging: | 250 kW Rapid Charging (on-board charger: 16.5 kW AC) |
| Top Speed: | 250 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 3.2 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 398 |
| Max Power (hp): | 670 |
| Torque (Nm): | N/A |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 4 |
| Weight (kg): | 2,069 |
| Colours: | 5 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | N/A |
| Tesla Model S Plaid | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 95 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 637 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km): | N/A |
| Charging: | 250 kW Rapid Charging (on-board charger: 16.5 kW AC) |
| Top Speed: | 322 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 2.1 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 760 |
| Max Power (hp): | 1020 |
| Torque (Nm): | N/A |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 4 |
| Weight (kg): | 2,162 |
| Colours: | 5 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | N/A |
Top Reasons To Buy An Electric Vehicle (EV)
Never have the reasons to buy an electric car been more compelling, than 2022. The past decade has witnessed a significant maturity of all types of electric vehicles (EVs), to include, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). A BEV, also known as a pure electric car, is propelled using energy stored in an EV battery via an electric motor. While a PHEV uses ‘hybrid technology’, to include, an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor, to propel the vehicle.
One of the primary differences between a BEV and a PHEV, is that, a pure electric car, like the best-selling Tesla Model 3, has a much longer zero-tailpipe emission electric range, compared to a plug-in hybrid electric car, like the Toyota Prius PHEV. The reason is simple: a BEV has a much larger onboard EV battery. In general, the latest BEVs have a zero-emission range between 150 to 400 kms, while PHEVs average closer to 50 kms. Given the significant increase in electric range, improvement in EV charging infrastructure and attractive government grants, BEVs are fast becoming the preferred type of electric vehicle to own!
| Lower tailpipe emissions and lower air pollution i.e. improves air quality in the immediate area. |
| Significantly cheaper to recharge a full EV battery, compared to filling a full tank of petrol/ diesel. An EV battery can be charged for as little as €10, while filling a tank of fuel is over €100! |
| Cheaper to drive per km, compared to an internal combustion engine petrol/ diesel car. An EV costs less than 5 cents per km to drive. |
| Lower maintenance costs, compared to an internal combustion engine petrol/ diesel car. Pure electric cars have fewer moving parts, so less can go wrong! |
| Lower noise pollution, compared to an internal combustion engine petrol/ diesel car. Noise pollution is as detrimental on health, as air pollution! |
| A vast range of fantastic EV available on sale, for all budgets and aspirations. EVs have come a long way since the introduction of the first generation all-electric Nissan Leaf in 2010. |
| Attractive government subsidies to support the uptake of electric cars. Take advantage while still available. |
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
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