The End of the Year 2017

Well it's been an interesting year - New Year's Eve is always a time to examine the year.  Awaiting the Tesla Model 3 has been a theme for 2017. Luckily an enterprising soul You You Xue drove across the USA to show us the Model 3 we wait on:

Well I can tell you a big chubby arthritic guy it's a stretch getting and out. But - once in it's very comfortable with plenty of room and very adjustable. The screen is very well mounted and a beautifully clear image. The UI touch is responsive and overall I was very cheered by this short introduction. Love the clean interior.

I've been trying keep the Leaf running but it is getting tough - the 12 volt is dying and the fluids are lighting up the maintenance lights. Time is getting short for that rascal. The Think is back online but again a bit limited in range - better than the Leaf though.  I still enjoy the looks the Think gets - the Model 3 will be recognized much less.

Well about 10 people were out at the Laurel MD supercharger to check out the Model 3. We also saw another Model 3 owner - the first in MD who happened by for a Supercharger top off charge. He also graciously chatted with future owners about all the things he likes in his car as well.

One thing I realize watching the excited faithful checking out these cars is Tesla has an opportunity like no other here. People are waiting and if he can build them - they will come. Whatever you are wishing for this New Year's Eve for the coming year - I hope you find it along with health and happiness.

A healthy dose of reality

Well as usual when my electric side is going poorly I've been quiet. The Leaf is throwing out some strange warning lamps so I've been using an ICE (The rollerskate - Toyota Yaris. Ugh.)

        Dave's Dream Date - This is pretty close to what trips my trigger. Still waiting.

My thoughts have been back and forth on waiting for All Wheel Drive.  First with the Q3 earnings report I'm worried if they can deliver even my original 15K quantity prediction for 2017. Also I think Trump's tax plan could easily kill incentives next year. If he leaves it alone I'd say AWD may push buyers into the second ramp down period anyway for a $3750 discount. Rocky road ahead.

On the other side the TM3's out there look amazing. The Model 3 Owners Club guys made a great video - it's an hour long. It's missing the latest over the air updates - autopilot, bluetooth, voice commands, stereo equalizer. However they really go over the base hardware well. Looks like camping mode will work well - Grand Canyon here I come.

Model 3 Owners Club - Tesla Model 3 Youtube Video 

Youtube - Tesla Model 3 Autopilot Working

So the product is good. The question is can they produce before we are old and gray?  Question short answer is: no I'm already gray. Longer answer is a problem producing battery packs at Nevada is the current bottleneck - they fired a subcontractor and are working on the automated assembly programming now in house - which should improve numbers quickly.

Patiently waiting my dream date!

Tesla Model 3 - The Good, the Bad, and the Fugly

Well the dream car arrives, a select few, as the first Tesla Model 3's roll off the lot.

Yes on 28 JUL 2017 the delivery party was held for about 30 employees and about 40 or so Model 3 Teslas. They came in one battery size Long Range with 75kwh ratings and 310 mile range. We also got the scoop on the base model.  Finally a few more questions were answered about specs and features. A few other prices

The next question - what do I think of Tesla and the 'Dream Car'? MSRP $35,000.

The Good:

Specs - excellent coefficient of drag = 0.23 most efficiency of any Tesla to date.
Two battery sizes 55kwh & 75kwh.  Range (est not yet EPA) are 220 and 310 miles.
Weight base 55kwh bat. = 3549 lbs, 75kwh = 3814 lbs. (Model 3 Long Range LR ).

Standard that's just a bit more than the Leaf with 2.3 times the battery - impressive.

Faster than I need in either model-
Base 5.6 sec 0-60mph, 130mph top speed, Supercharging 130 miles in 30 minutes.
LR    5.1 sec 0-60mph, 140mph top speed, Supercharging 170 miles in 30 minutes.

The Bad:

Long range battery is 20kwh more battery for a $9000.00 upcharge. Nine Thousand Dollars. If you want it before Xmas and you stood in line on the first day my fellow East Coasters. Oh and you have another Five Thousand Dollars for the "Premium Package". Like auto pilot and future autonomy? Add Five and Three Thousand more.  Total of must have 'options' for receipt this year + delivery + MSRP = $50,000. Auto pilot and the promise of future autonomy - Fifty Eight Thousand Dollars.  

The Fugly:

That's in black paint. With ok wheels. Add another grand if you'd like a little color in your life.  Even White or Silver.  No one knows how much All Wheel Drive cost is unknown ($4K?) but whatever the cost US residents add at least $3750 if you thought you would receive the US tax credit because it will take too long for the full credit...  Don't ask the price for performance or ludicrous no one knows. Elon tweeted about little faith. Many of us had faith. 

Now after the delivery, admittedly this has me and a number of price sensitive reservation holders down on the configurable options cost. That and still not being able to plan for still unknown options cost.  I think the more average line standers hope to participate in the vision at an upper but attainable cost.  Musk often tweeted or gave investors comments that seem to say options would be reduced from luxury line cost levels. Ah not so far.

I do get the competing view. I'm a stockholder too and I get with 500,000 reservations demand is extreme. So on the other hand I accept Elon having to turn the Model 3 into a solid money maker. His job is to help fund the incredible CAPEX spending ramp that is growth from boutique Porsche sized automaker to a electric Ford sized car company. Given that he has a board of directors like any other CEO he has to walk a fine line between alienating customers and leaving money Tesla must have to survive with on the table.

So despite 'The Fugly" - I'm still in.  One option Elon has kept is the low cost plain Jane TM3 will deliver for many reservation holders within the federal rebate time limits early next year for us line standing East Coasters. Sadly the dual motor option will not. I live on a 1200' hill that gets covered in snow and ice every so often so that option represented safety.  I'll struggle will the lower range too probably and miss the pretty glass roof. The color I wanted:

The color (Black) that comes free, I'll probably do this to afford a single thing - autopilot:

With standard aero wheels and 18" tires:

Let's be clear though.

Color and the other luxury appointments won't matter!  After having my Leaf drop to sub 50 mile range in the winter a new Tesla is on the way.  I also think the cost and difficulties of obtaining the TM3 will be forgiven by all much less myself.  Talk about 1st world problems - ha!

Tesla Model 3 Watch as The Leaf looks at retirement

Again - long time no post. Is Tesla visible from the crow's nest?

Basically despite loss of range the Nissan Leaf continues to pull it's weight. The Tesla Model 3 continues to be admired from afar as we wait of the 'final reveal' next month. The Leaf being Mr Reliable deserves a pic. It may have to pull through another winter. Shown with my son.

Here's the latest in Tesla Model 3 speculation - the most rumory I'll mark with an asterisk.

The first deliveries to Tesla and SpaceX employees begins by end of July.

Two battery sizes 60 kwh and 75 kwh.

* Major rumor instead of 215+ mile range the numbers will be 250 and 300.  Would be amazing.

All wheel drive (AWD) will not be available - major blow! - for 6-9 months. Ouch Mar 2018!

Fastest chance of delivery will be a RWD with the 75 kwh battery. Despite standing in line prior to the unveil to plunk down my grand I'm inclined to still go after my dream car (AWD 75) even if it means mid 2018. Argh....

Interior is going center console control screen only with just a few controls on stalks and the steering wheel.  No HUD. Interesting conjecture- more voice control options? Early pictures show a very clean look I like.

* At least one release candidate (RC) TM3 car has pictures folks think may be the 'Signature Red' paint job.  While I like the idea of a badge like that I think I may be unable to resist blue.

Well if you've read earlier posts you already know the rest - full autopilot and autonomous driving hardware. If I can afford it add the all glass roof and I may have my 'last car'.

My earlier estimates were 15K of these this year. Teslanomics is considerably more optimistic with 83K which given the Model T approach - they could be correct.

TeslanomicsbyBenSullins

Well more to come in 45 days or so......

2017 Here We Go

Politics is tough to separate from the environment.  So with the election of president elect Trump the impacts on the renewable energy movement and electric cars are unknown. We seem to hit the take off point with 400,000 known Tesla model 3 reservations. There may be more - Tesla no longer updates the figure. Transport is America's biggest carbon producing sector. So I continue to have faith that this path to restrict fossil fuels in time to limit damage will eventually payoff. Like a spark a half a million US Tesla Model 3's could be the vanguard that electrify US roadways and the world. 

Many look at the evidence of accelerating global effects and say we are already too late. I hope we can still technically engineer our way out of this slow moving disaster. It seems it's coming faster than all thought. 

Thaw Faster Than Expected?