Range extender how useful is it really?? cost vs time savings..... Definitely not worth it to most

[CyberTW]

Then you don't know many Tesla owners. In some other forums there's commonly a thread about PEI and some of the other nearby "island" that don't have Superchargers, only CCS.
I'm in an area where my nearest Supercharger was 30 miles south and I had a couple of CCS closer to me (I now have a Supercharger as of last month)

It's not common, but there are areas in which CCS can help get you there.

Ya in Oregon, very very few Tesla owners use the CCS craps they have here. The SC network is built so much better and reliable.. in fact, the CCS charging network is laughable comparatively

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[TwiztOG43]

I drive 400mi every other week. There are multiple superchargers along the way. However, I used to have an Audi Q5 TDI that could make that trip with one tank with 1/3 left. (I usually do not stop)

With the Model Y, I have to make 1 or 2 charging stops depending on external factors such as the weather/temp.

While I love the fuel savings, barely any maintenance costs, autopilot and safety features, the added TIME to charge usually adds on average an hour or so to my trip factoring the time slowing down to take an exit and parking at the super charger.

So when the “500+mi” Tri-Motor was unveiled in 2019 it was a no brainer since it had that buffer.

Not to mention, for those who are really planning on the power share feature (which is most owners since it is included in FS) seems like there is an added benefit.

 

[RidnDirty]

I wanted a 500 mile vehicle from the beginning, so of the list of disappointing things.... Anyway, I ordered it and hopefully its released with better batteries then designed currently. Or it will just be a $16000 100mile battery. overpriced add-on. :-/

 

[HaulingAss]

With the Model Y, I have to make 1 or 2 charging stops depending on external factors such as the weather/temp.

While I love the fuel savings, barely any maintenance costs, autopilot and safety features, the added TIME to charge usually adds on average an hour or so to my trip factoring the time slowing down to take an exit and parking at the super charger.

So when the “500+mi” Tri-Motor was unveiled in 2019 it was a no brainer since it had that buffer.

This demonstrates a misunderstanding of what a 500-mile EPA combined rating means.

It doesn't mean it will have a 400-mile range under freeway driving conditions, particularly not on fast freeways with a non-aero pickup truck. Let's assume a 500-mile (EPA combined) Cybertruck actually existed today. It would be no quicker crossing the country than a 340-mile range Model 3 that has superior aerodynamics and requires much less charging per mile.

And it sounds like you were charging that Model Y like you would fuel a gas car if charging added an hour (on average) to complete a measly 400-mile trip. It should add nothing more than about two 10 minute stops (and less than that if you have destination charging on the ends of the trip).

The secret to convenient long-distant travel is not bigger batteries in vehicles that are less efficient on the highway, it's more aero vehicles for fast travel and more chargers wherever people travel. Both fast charging for extended road segments and destination charging for local driving.

The Supercharger Network has grown like gang-busters the last couple of years. I would like to see Level 2 chargers become more numerous and commonplace at hotels, resturants, hospitals, airports, convention centers, wherever people commonly need to travel out of town and park. Don't get me wrong, the number of Level 2 chargers is growing every year, but it's happening at a slower rate than people are adopting EVs. Destination charging is cheap to add (relative to fast DC chargers) and is what makes life with an EV more convenient than a gas car. Because you can show up with 10% charge and know you won't be looking for a fresh fill as soon as you leave.

The Cybertruck, regardless of how big of a battery is crammed in there, is not the right vehicle for fast, high-speed Interstate travel, it's a truck. I think people don't understand this because we have been spoiled by a lot of cheap gas and oil. If motorists had to pay the true cost of all that cheap gas and oil over the last 40 years, we would have a better understanding of how to accomplish more with less.

 

[Dusty]

Everyone's needs are different but after having a Model Y for a while I know specifically what my mileage needs are.

350 real world miles at 75-85(ish) mph. That's perfect for me.

That would get me to every place we drive to as a family 5-6 times a year with no recharging stops. I wouldn't have to drive differently, like not overtaking slower drivers as I please just to get a few more miles. And variables like traffic/weather wouldn't matter. I'd always get to our destinations with a good 10% charge at least. So' I'd find it useful, and I hope it's an option.

A 350 mile range (so a 400mi epa range), top-spec EV truck is still a long way away. Even the Rivian quad motor R1S with a large pack only gets 312 miles.

But, I totally get that most wouldn't see the value.

 

[TexasRaider]

A big factor is where you live; how cold it gets and how many superchargers there are. It gets cold where I am, and there are no superchargers between my house and my parents. Thus, to get rid of my gas car I pretty much need a vehicle with 400+ miles of range. If winter wasn't much of an issue and there were about 5 more superchargers in my region, I could get away with less range.

“Well there it is. There it is.” - Jurassic Park

 

[Woodrick]

Sorry, but you don't know what you're talking about. PEI has the best Supercharger in my region. V3.

Sorry, I might have characterized the issue slightly incorrect. Try travelling down to Yarmouth. Some Superchargers are coming, but aren't there yet. CCS is what can get you there and back

All I am doing is relaying the information from other Canadians in other Tesla forums.

I'm not trying to tell you that you have to get a CCS adapter. I'm not trying to tell you that the routes that you have driven require a CCS adapter.

All I am saying is that in some situations, CCS adapters can be advantageous. Try travelling in Newfoundland without one. Or for that matter anywhere north of Saguenay.
Down my way, on the North GA mountains, while I can drive through them with no issue, if I go up and stay for a few days, I have to come out about 50 miles to charge are a Supercharger. But there are a couple of CCS chargers in the mountains.

For probably 95% of the trips, especially if you stay on the Interstates, CCS adapters aren't needed. I don't recommend them to new buyers. Figure out if you need one before you get one. The probabilities that you may need one decreases daily.

 

[acey]

Rivain has a 410 mile max pack, bumps the tuck to $100k tho

 

[dandor]

Rivain has a 410 mile max pack, bumps the tuck to $100k tho

Would much rather have a 300 mile Rivian that could use the Supercharger network. For a Rivian or Ford Lightening, the range is much more important.

 

[TwiztOG43]

This demonstrates a misunderstanding of what a 500-mile EPA combined rating means.

It doesn't mean it will have a 400-mile range under freeway driving conditions, particularly not on fast freeways with a non-aero pickup truck. Let's assume a 500-mile (EPA combined) Cybertruck actually existed today. It would be no quicker crossing the country than a 340-mile range Model 3 that has superior aerodynamics and requires much less charging per mile.

And it sounds like you were charging that Model Y like you would fuel a gas car if charging added an hour (on average) to complete a measly 400-mile trip. It should add nothing more than about two 10 minute stops (and less than that if you have destination charging on the ends of the trip).

The secret to convenient long-distant travel is not bigger batteries in vehicles that are less efficient on the highway, it's more aero vehicles for fast travel and more chargers wherever people travel. Both fast charging for extended road segments and destination charging for local driving.

The Supercharger Network has grown like gang-busters the last couple of years. I would like to see Level 2 chargers become more numerous and commonplace at hotels, resturants, hospitals, airports, convention centers, wherever people commonly need to travel out of town and park. Don't get me wrong, the number of Level 2 chargers is growing every year, but it's happening at a slower rate than people are adopting EVs. Destination charging is cheap to add (relative to fast DC chargers) and is what makes life with an EV more convenient than a gas car. Because you can show up with 10% charge and know you won't be looking for a fresh fill as soon as you leave.

The Cybertruck, regardless of how big of a battery is crammed in there, is not the right vehicle for fast, high-speed Interstate travel, it's a truck. I think people don't understand this because we have been spoiled by a lot of cheap gas and oil. If motorists had to pay the true cost of all that cheap gas and oil over the last 40 years, we would have a better understanding of how to accomplish more with less.

For my use case, the Model 3 would not work. You are generalizing the trip in question.

I did not reserve the truck back in 2019 because it was the newest Tesla to be released. I reserved it because it is a truck. I have 3 large dogs, St Bernard/Huskies.

having a Truck that would get 500mi + would be more than enough to cover the 400mi trip with enough leeway.

There is no way you can tell me that the Cybertruck charged up to 100% going at 70-80mph won’t be any faster than the Model 3 with multiple stops at the same speed.

 

[HaulingAss]

Rivain has a 410 mile max pack, bumps the tuck to $100k tho

It's been found that the $10,000 Rivian max pack option only increases real world highway range by about 20 miles.

 

[HaulingAss]

For my use case, the Model 3 would not work. You are generalizing the trip in question.

I did not reserve the truck back in 2019 because it was the newest Tesla to be released. I reserved it because it is a truck. I have 3 large dogs, St Bernard/Huskies.

having a Truck that would get 500mi + would be more than enough to cover the 400mi trip with enough leeway.

There is no way you can tell me that the Cybertruck charged up to 100% going at 70-80mph won’t be any faster than the Model 3 with multiple stops at the same speed.

No, I'm telling you that the Model 3 will travel about the same distance on a fast highway as a Cybertruck with a much larger battery. And that larger battery will take longer to charge, per mile travelled, than the Model 3 battery.

Efficiency is more than just saving energy, it's about making the whole high-speed travel thing work faster and better. That's what people who say they don't care about efficiency and aero don't seem to grasp.

 

[TwiztOG43]

No, I'm telling you that the Model 3 will travel about the same distance on a fast highway as a Cybertruck with a much larger battery. And that larger battery will take longer to charge, per mile travelled, than the Model 3 battery.

Efficiency is more than just saving energy, it's about making the whole high-speed travel thing work faster and better. That's what people who say they don't care about efficiency and aero don't seem to grasp.

I get that. However we’re comparing apples to oranges. Model 3 is a sedan and the truck is pretty much full size. No matter how you look at it a truck will probably be never as efficient as a sedan such as the Model 3 due to drag/size/weight.

Also in regards to charging speed, if we are talking about regular level 2 chargers such as the wall connector, that is irrelevant to me since I usually charge at home anyways or at my destination which has a L2 charger as well.

 

[Sasmania]

Sorry, I might have characterized the issue slightly incorrect. Try travelling down to Yarmouth. Some Superchargers are coming, but aren't there yet. CCS is what can get you there and back

All I am doing is relaying the information from other Canadians in other Tesla forums.

I'm not trying to tell you that you have to get a CCS adapter. I'm not trying to tell you that the routes that you have driven require a CCS adapter.

All I am saying is that in some situations, CCS adapters can be advantageous. Try travelling in Newfoundland without one. Or for that matter anywhere north of Saguenay.
Down my way, on the North GA mountains, while I can drive through them with no issue, if I go up and stay for a few days, I have to come out about 50 miles to charge are a Supercharger. But there are a couple of CCS chargers in the mountains.

For probably 95% of the trips, especially if you stay on the Interstates, CCS adapters aren't needed. I don't recommend them to new buyers. Figure out if you need one before you get one. The probabilities that you may need one decreases daily.

As of now, the CCS Adapter doesn't even work with the CT anyway.... Doesn't fit the new opening and doesn't work even with the fender off. Will Tesla make one specifically for the CT?? I sure hope so...but when??? CCS generally sucks compared to Tesla Network, but when it's your only choice it sure is nice!

 

[TheLastStarfighter]

Sorry, I might have characterized the issue slightly incorrect. Try travelling down to Yarmouth. Some Superchargers are coming, but aren't there yet. CCS is what can get you there and back

All I am doing is relaying the information from other Canadians in other Tesla forums.

I'm not trying to tell you that you have to get a CCS adapter. I'm not trying to tell you that the routes that you have driven require a CCS adapter.

All I am saying is that in some situations, CCS adapters can be advantageous. Try travelling in Newfoundland without one. Or for that matter anywhere north of Saguenay.
Down my way, on the North GA mountains, while I can drive through them with no issue, if I go up and stay for a few days, I have to come out about 50 miles to charge are a Supercharger. But there are a couple of CCS chargers in the mountains.

For probably 95% of the trips, especially if you stay on the Interstates, CCS adapters aren't needed. I don't recommend them to new buyers. Figure out if you need one before you get one. The probabilities that you may need one decreases daily.

This is bizarre. You are telling me what it's like and what people think in the area I live, and you're completely wrong. It's like Mansplaining to a woman about what a period is like. What's the equivalent here? Amerisplaining?!?

We have a CCS adapter. We use them when desperate. No Tesla owner uses them as a first choice. They are slower, cumbersome and frequently broken or occupied. My wife was stranded once and needed a long detour two other times because of broken CCS chargers. The Tesla Superchargers are always working, fast, cheaper and available. And there IS one on the way to Yarmouth (in New Minas). There are other areas that have nothing but third party CCS chargers on route and you can't depend on the apps and websites to say if they are working or occupied. Our 3 SR+ can't make the round trip and we can't risk getting stranded or a long delay with 2 young kids going to see grandma and grandpa. Thus we need a 400+ mile car and/or several more Supercharges to move on from gas.

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