Tesla Cybertruck Roadtrip to Vegas | Range Was A Gamble

[DJAlan2000]

*

I didn’t even watch it but if he came from LA to Vegas there are like 20 SC stations on the way and some of them have a wild amount of chargers , I think it’s Barstow? It had 4 rows with like 10 in each row. Yeah it was Barstow

We've driven from Oxnard to Vegas many times, both in gas and ev's... When we were in my gas car (2017 Dodge Charger R/T) we would always stop in Barstow at Chili's for lunch/pee break/stretch out... It's 170 miles from 'home' to Chili's Barstow (where they have about 10 superchargers now right out back!)... It's another 160 miles from there to Las Vegas...

So, funny that we used to stop in GAS car at the same place... We would go in, eat, hit bathrooms, etc.. about 30-45 minutes...

NOW we take my Model Y (have to take the CT next time!), when we get to Chili's, we plug in, go inside, order, eat, bathrooms, etc.. USUALLY about the time the food gets to the table it's telling me to 'move the car or start paying idle fees'... Probably because I am only setting it to 80%...

I COULD set it higher, but frankly it's CHEAPER to get just enough juice to get across the border... Why? Because in California the price for SCs is around 50 cents per kWh, but in PRIMM (NV) it's only 24 cents (last May) which is less than HALF the cost!!

SO, if you are going to Vegas from CA, just make sure you only 'buy' enough from SCs to get you to Primm where there's a HUGE Supercharger setup and costs are HALF as much!

We even found one place in Vegas that was only 19 cents!! OMG!! We pay 25 cents AT HOME and that's OFF PEAK hours (late at night)...

Last thing... If you want to get great mileage, after you leave Baker (on I-15) heading TO Vegas, drop your speed to 65mph while going up that big, long, grade to Halloran Springs... You're going from about 900 feet to almost 3000 in just 13.5 miles... You will be tempted to drive 80 like everyone else, but hey, that will only save you 3.5 whole minutes (for that leg), but it's gonna save you A LOT of battery! Especially as you will continue going mostly uphill until you get to Mountain Pass (about 30 more miles) which is around 4700 feet (so, another 1700 feet)...

Sponsored

 

[Jack27]

*
We've driven from Oxnard to Vegas many times, both in gas and ev's... When we were in my gas car (2017 Dodge Charger R/T) we would always stop in Barstow at Chili's for lunch/pee break/stretch out... It's 170 miles from 'home' to Chili's Barstow (where they have about 10 superchargers now right out back!)... It's another 160 miles from there to Las Vegas...

So, funny that we used to stop in GAS car at the same place... We would go in, eat, hit bathrooms, etc.. about 30-45 minutes...

NOW we take my Model Y (have to take the CT next time!), when we get to Chili's, we plug in, go inside, order, eat, bathrooms, etc.. USUALLY about the time the food gets to the table it's telling me to 'move the car or start paying idle fees'... Probably because I am only setting it to 80%...

I COULD set it higher, but frankly it's CHEAPER to get just enough juice to get across the border... Why? Because in California the price for SCs is around 50 cents per kWh, but in PRIMM (NV) it's only 24 cents (last May) which is less than HALF the cost!!

SO, if you are going to Vegas from CA, just make sure you only 'buy' enough from SCs to get you to Primm where there's a HUGE Supercharger setup and costs are HALF as much!

We even found one place in Vegas that was only 19 cents!! OMG!! We pay 25 cents AT HOME and that's OFF PEAK hours (late at night)...

Last thing... If you want to get great mileage, after you leave Baker (on I-15) heading TO Vegas, drop your speed to 65mph while going up that big, long, grade to Halloran Springs... You're going from about 900 feet to almost 3000 in just 13.5 miles... You will be tempted to drive 80 like everyone else, but hey, that will only save you 3.5 whole minutes (for that leg), but it's gonna save you A LOT of battery! Especially as you will continue going mostly uphill until you get to Mountain Pass (about 30 more miles) which is around 4700 feet (so, another 1700 feet)...

Interesting. I never even look at what I pay but now I will for sure take that advice! So there is another bunch of chargers at chilis besides this one? Dropping to 65 will probably be the part I won’t do lol it’s so smooth I look down and I’m going 90 on those open roads most of the time lol. I do remember on way Home I pushed the limit and passed a few stations then had to stop at one that was slammed, it was at like a huge candy store place closer to LA. Seemed everyone must of done the same , we had to wait like 20 min to get one then charge , I won’t make that mistake again

 

[DJAlan2000]

Interesting. I never even look at what I pay but now I will for sure take that advice! So there is another bunch of chargers at chilis besides this one? Dropping to 65 will probably be the part I won’t do lol it’s so smooth I look down and I’m going 90 on those open roads most of the time lol. I do remember on way Home I pushed the limit and passed a few stations then had to stop at one that was slammed, it was at like a huge candy store place closer to LA. Seemed everyone must of done the same , we had to wait like 20 min to get one then charge , I won’t make that mistake again

Yeah, there are about 15 or so of them, some under a solar awning, just plug in, walk about 100 feet and your in Chili's (2808 Lenwood Rd., Barstow)... Funny thing is, there are all those 'other' chargers about half a mile away at the outlet mall too... But we've always stopped at Chili's for decades, so why change? Usually not even crowded around lunchtime...
Here's a pic:

 

[DJAlan2000]

I never used to look at the SC costs either until last year... First year they were about 35-40 cents (2023) but now they average 50 cents unless you are very late at night or early morning... even then, they cost... BUT, you're paying for expensive electricity from PG&E or Edison (both a rip off) and for the location 'rent' and Tesla's GREAT uptime!

But I sure like paying LESS when we're out of state!

 

[cheysel]

Huh, with all the variables like elevation, tires, and weather, it’s impressive to see how it holds up. I’d probably do the same thing just to see how real-world mileage compares to what’s promised.
Trips like that always remind me of actual gambling too, like trying your luck and hoping the odds fall in your favor. If you’re into that vibe, I’ve been checking out http://bonusbet.com/ lately. It’s a different kind of gamble but just as thrilling in its own way.

 

[DJAlan2000]

This. Any Tesla owner who has driven Socal to Las Vegas can attest that range is a lot better returning from Vegas than going there.

When we go to Vegas, I put in Prime, Nevada as my destination and tell it I want to arrive with 15% battery. Why? Because as soon as you cross the border, price goes from 55 cents per kWh to about 25!!! Then, when I arrive, I charge up quickly because it's already preconditioned as well as half the cost!
I do the opposite on the way back, making sure to top off at the border where it's cheaper.

 

[Cyber Man]

I don’t know whether Tesla has been improving the range efficiencies. I think OP, Dennis, has an early build. I got my Beast a month ago. I just crossed 1k miles. 90% of my driving has been in Sports mode. 70% freeway drive at speeds 60 mph to 85 mph. 30% FSD. I’m at average 380 Wh/mi!! That’s 321 miles range for Beast with stock AT tires!

To push the limits, I drove exclusively in Beast mode today. Around 35 miles freeway trip. I floored the throttle 10-15 times in freeway speed, and I was accelerating hard throughout the trip. This is aggressive driving. I did 482 Wh/mi!! His trip stats say 476 Wh/mi at 4K odometer. I have no idea how that’s possible unless Tesla has been improving range efficiencies behind the screens. There is no other explanation!

Sponsored