New Plate ! Old QR code

Well here's the new plate - it says it all:

Pennsylvania had a combination that I liked - both Electrc for the all Electric Vehicle (EV) and 3 for the Tesla Model 3. In case you are new to these pages, here's another view:

The QR code on the back next to the license plate dumps you at an older 'resource/links' entry from 2012 which I added a short update on. Hopefully it will lead people interested in electric cars here and in some cases - Tesla.  I don't make any incentives on Model 3 sales but for anyone interested in Tesla solar or the pricier Model S or X electric car lines here is my code:

http://ts.la/david901

Enjoy

Tesla Model 3 Specifications from various sources.

Because I'm always curious about my TM3 I've gathered specification notes from various sources which are credited below. Corrections always welcome.

Tesla Model 3 notes compiled

Motor ( Clean Technica, Rickard, Consumer Reports )

Permanent Magnet Switched Reluctance Motor

Model 3’s battery-to-wheels ratio 88.5-89% vs 

83% for Model S (Rickard / EPA)

Motor Horsepower 251 (CR says 258)

Drag Coefficient 0.23

Speed 0-60 mph 5.1sec Top Sp 140mph/225kph

Faster track specs have been recorded

Bat 75kwh Range 310miles/500km

170+ miles back in 30 minutes Super Charging

30-37 back per hr home on 32amp circuit (Glotfelty - observed)

Curb weight 3814 / 1730kg

Len 184.8 in / 4690mm

Wheelbase 113.2” / 2875mm

Width 82.2 / 2083 (Mir Folded 76.1 / 1930mm)

Track Front & Rear 62.2” / 1580mm

Height 56.8 / 1440mm

Ground Clearance 5.5” / 14cm 

Eight Airbags

(Measurements above from online Tesla.com specs)

0-60 stopping distance 133 ft / 40.5 meter (Consumer Rpts)

Battery

———-

NCA Nickel Cobalt Aluminum

Cobalt by weight in battery - 10.6 lb / 4.5 kg see:

http://benchmarkminerals.com/panasonic-reduces-teslas-cobalt-consumption-by-60-in-6-years/

Lithium by weight in battery - still unknown. My (Glotfelty) 2012 Leaf was 6 lbs per 24kwh so a round guess 20 lbs or less?

Notes from Jack Ricard youtube :

——————————

Long Range Model 3 battery notes 

From - Jack Rickard youtube video made 5/12/18

80.5 kwh battery (usable 78.27 kwh) made of 4,416 new 2170 cylinder cells (21mm x 70mm) 

Weight ( believe with associate electronic end cap ) - 1054 lbs / 478 kg.

Cabling to from battery and other runs on Model 3 - 1500 meters wiring vs 3000 meters on S

( Note while I’ve heard the term cell to refer to a single cylinder battery, Ricard uses cell to refer to a connected group of these cylinder batteries. I’m adding the term ‘group’ to his term cell to make clear this is many cylinder 2170s I believe connected in parallel. His usage I’m sure is correct, this is to help my novice brain. )

Nominal same voltage Pack as a Model S (some version)

96 ‘group’ cells of nominally 3.6volts.

Uses series of ’grouped’ cells = 46 cyl 2170’s (Glotfelty note - I believe this means 46 2170 cylinders in parallel connection. )

** Correction - clearly first version not getting amperage right - back to electrical detention! **

In video Mr Rickard states pack is 233 Amp hrs
( I wrongly confused this with grouped cell Ah - as Emily L would say - 'nevermind')

Given V = W / A.  I'm guessing V= Wh/Ah as well?

So      V =  78.27 kwh / 233 Ah
                  78270 / 233
                   336 volts

Ballpark for the four modules in series varying from 288v discharged to 346v nom.
(Charging voltage if all in series at 403v? Or would charger break them apart for 240v / 120v ?)

** End correction **

Modules - 4 ( not 16 like S )

M1 - 23 of group cells

M2 - 25 of group cells

M3 - 23 of group cells

M4 - 25 of group cells

Mod 23 series - nom 82.8v discharged - 69v  charged -96.6v

Mod 25 series - nom 90v    discharged - 75v  charged -105v

In video they tested Mod 23 in series with a Mod 25 yielding measurement of 154volts.

Two of those units = whole pack.

About 168 watt hours per kilogram.  Better than S weight to energy ratio.

Pack Usable 78.27 kwh of the 80.5 kwh.  (Repeat)

NCA chemistry + trace silicon+graphite in anode (This agrees with German sources)

Rickard feels this is the absolute state of art in batteries.

(At this time, no other manufacturer close)

He also comments later the balancing is excellent.

He also notes electronics, spread out in other cars, are well grouped in with the battery sled under the ‘hat’.

High voltage controller = a high end master BMS in ‘Hat’ at rear end of battery sled.

Power Conversion Unit = Charge unit in + outgoing 12 volt.

Has 3 phase ready for other country charging standards.

Has blank plate for AWD. 

Pyro fuse (emergency cutoff of high power) + regular fuse. 

The 4 modules each have a board at rear near hat to measure cell voltage & temp

Boards use signal connects perhaps using I2C with SCL and SDA lines

(Please anyone wanting to watch Rickard’s video and improve these notes please do - he’s very knowledgable and beyond my expertise so I appreciate any help here - D Glotfelty)

*Update 6/11/18* - Rickard has a MUCH better written summary of his video on his Blog. It has some new goodies not to be missed. Especially fascinating is his Tesla BMS observations near the end :
Tesla-model-3-gone-battshit

————————————

EV Tech on youtube presentation on Tesla Bat Tech:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7GR5fERXNY

11:35

Chem of 2170 cyl cell Cathode NCA LiNixCoxAlxO2

                                    Anode graphite + 5-15% SiOx

——————————————

German Tear Down Info.

2.8% Cobalt in Cathode

Parts for ≡ $18000 wholesale estimate

Labor asset $10000 if 10K made a week.

Info confirmed by E. Musk tweets with Electek.co

——————————————

Rickard comments on EPA testing documents

Model 3 - 9.95 hp or 7.42 kWh maintaining 50mph on level.

(Unsure if this is on a dyne setup or includes wind resist)

vs.

11-12 hp for Model S to maintain same 50 mph.

———————————————

Dave's SWAG (Scientific Wild Ass Guesstimate) of Battery Pack costs based on 

Tesla shareholder meeting 6/5/18

E Musk states ≡ manufacturing 2170 cylinder cell costs approaching US $100 per KWH and within 3 years cell in pack prices will approach US $100 per KWH. 

My take: Given the pack weight of ~ 1000 lbs for rounded 80KWH in TM3LR that is a manufactured pack in 3 years costs Tesla $8 a finished pound to make. 

Next - Today 2170 cyl cells at say ~$120 (SWAG) a kWh today would mean a finished single 2170 cyl cell costs Tesla around $2.18 to make today and a $1.82 in the near future. If cell costs drop 20% a year, and Elon is saying $100 is soon - let’s guess that's a year out about 20% reduction a year.  So in three years - $75 a kWh for cells - meaning pack overhead cost is about a third of cell only cost - $25 to equal = $100 a kwh.  Take today’s guessed cell cost of $120 x 80kwh = $9600. Now add a third and get a ballpark guess at the wholesale LR pack cost - $12,800 today.  Also wholesale cost in three years according to Elon’s estimate would appear to drop to $8,000 for complete LR pack. These are Very Rough Guesstimates so don’t be too excited!

Also note the German magazine estimate of $18,000 materials with my pack only leaves $5,200 for base wheels/tires, motor, suspension, remote steering/controls, control pad/computer, AC/Heat, body, lights, and cabin. Admittedly without labor so maybe it works, but seems a little low in comparison to my pack guess, which admittedly would include build labor. Perhaps a better comparison is $28,000 materials & labor - pack at $12,800 leaves $15,000 to buy remainder materials, build, and assemble for all the remaining car above.

Sources:

Tesla.com and Shareholder meeting 6/5/18

Jack Rickard youtube Model 3 Rectal Exam: (+ EPA source)

Jack Rickard youtube Model 3 Battery Teardown:

Consumer Reports

CleanTechnica:

https://cleantechnica.com/2018/03/11/tesla-model-3-motor-in-depth/

Electrek

Electrek.co

German Magazine Wirtschafts Woche  

https://www.wiwo.de/technologie/mobilitaet/elektroauto-zerlegt-tesla-model-3-kann-gewinn-abwerfen/22625806.html

Benchmarkmierals

Benchmarkminerals.com

Tesla Trashing?

Let's look at two articles about the 'over the top' efforts to critique Tesla.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2018/04/23/opinion-uaw-part-anti-tesla-campaign/34178345/

Clearly Reveal if they represent responsible journalism should look at the charges that UAW is playing fast and loose trying to paint Tesla as unsafe. Does the responsible reporter really survey more than a couple employees with UAW ties and an axe to grind. How do the numbers really compare across time frames and various time periods at the plant?

The Daily Kos can be over the top on support for the left, but this article to me hung together:

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/5/29/1767826/-The-War-on-Tesla-Musk-and-the-Fight-for-the-Future

Now - on the other side I would note I find few things problematic on my TM3:

1. Autopilot as in Traffic Aware Cruise Control is great. However the part two of Autopilot - lane keeping really needs work.  First immediate driver feedback to adjust road positioning would help. Next a sensor for the wheel that doesn't penalize a light hand on the wheel - I often get an alert when I am holding the wheel - very annoying. Finally I find that the auto lane change in response to a blinker press is very intermittent.

2. Cabin Temps get out of control quickly while parked. Lately the super high temps in the cabin may be offset by an new change in firmware. Similar to the other updated features I have faith that the fix is coming.

3. Lack of menu and help options in Voice Navigation. If I knew what was allowed I would really be more effective in voice comms.

Finally - The earlier the better - please also include blindspot detection! (Elon hints this is coming.)
                                                                                                         .

More Model 3 Tesla

Well 1200+ miles - how is Circe the Tesla Model Three doing?

First let me admit to cognitive bias as this little witch has enchanted me.  I mean her higher functions like autopilot are a long way from perfect. Still in general my EV grin is back on where it was when I first tried electric so long ago.

Pro's

1. Pickup and handling. So good it's wasted on a 59 year old. I really love the way this car goes and slows (regen). You seen it on youtube so no reason to rehash. Wonderful driving down the winding mountain.

2. Fit and finish appear great. Two middle aged someone's going over the car at the Frederick EV show announced the couldn't find any defects - they seemed surprised. I wasn't - I've been hearing all the shills on social media and the wide majority of those who have cars tell them the much vaunted defects are few and far between.

3. Cockpit. I wish I could make everything so clean and Zen. Plenty of center cockpit storage for scissors, small first aid kit, old multi-tool, tire gauge, change, mints, small amazon fire pad, paper & pens, extra charge cords, two charged phone spots that you can see or hide. That is before the locked glove box. Closed the only thing you see are cupholders. Map pockets for the back of the seats that I can put EV flyers in.

4. Frunk - small but exactly fits my old very small airline roller (legal in all measuring boxes) which is my overnight kit and the portable Tesla UMC 2 charger kit.

5. Trunk - plenty of storage and a hidden well for holding water spray bottle. Small side storage perfect for wheel patch kit.

6. Range - Aero wheels are fine by me. Last night I started with 95% charge to 295 miles range estimate onscreen. Drove a loop down past DC and back up the mountain to home. Range estimate at 105 left and a total 207 miles driven. Watts per mile estimated on the trip meter at 215.  Very good especially driving 65 to 75 for a lot of the trip. That's only one example but if accurate this car might be incredible. Maybe I had favorable winds that moved to help on the return trip? We'll know more with 3 people and luggage on the great Boston road trip next week.

7.  Quiet and Loud.  Great soundsystem. Wow. When you turn it off - great quiet.

Cons - Will come back and update - off to dinner.

Motivations Two, A look six years on.

Quick summary for the impatient.

I own Tesla stock. I'm long. I've revealed this before but I want to emphasize why I think Tesla is good along with sustainability technology I use everyday. You can too and make money long term. I'm not a financial advisor. 

First my slightly dull car history. 

Back in the late eighties and early nineties I began to be aware of issues with the hydrocarbon based energy economy. Today that might be under the bigger heading of sustainability. I went out of my way to buy a 1989 Honda CRX HF. Gas sipper 50 mph two seater great for commuting. The other idea that I might save myself a little cash on gas.

I soon was married and needing something for four - two boys had been born. At first we had a normal but good mileage Camry. In 2003 Honda came out with one of their early hybrids the Honda Civic Hybrid - HCH. I received an added federal incentive to offset the additional cost - a $2000 dollar rebate for the early HCHs. Here I could make back some of the added cost by saving fuel and the rebate. Fortunately early HCH models had decent batteries if not plug in. However it did eat catalytic converters near annually after six years which turned me off for good towards gas in general.

Climate change was also slowly becoming apparent both working at the National Weather Service and from my hobby of diving which I had done for over 20 years since 1982. What to do - the GM EV1s had been crushed so an all electric just didn't exist. Then the Tesla roadster proved $110,000 (or more) could buy an electric - but still slightly above my means.   

Motivations had now jelled.

Lower my carbon emissions while still driving - I didn't want to give up commuting. Lead in a small group with the hope the bleeding edge sustainability products will improve, cheapen, and become commonplace planet wide. Leave at least a path to survive climate change if that can be done for my grown sons and their kids. Electrify with solar and wind to provide clean cheap fuel for home and car.

So step one when Nissan made a first electric vehicle I bought it in Dec 2011 and commuted with it.

Next I helped one my sons interested in commuting electric in a two seater Think City.

Make a little money along the way. Maybe.

What! Give us back hippie Dave! Look I am not a financial advisor. Still I'm smart enough to have a saved for retirement. I may want to go green but I also hope for a comfortable retirement.  In addition to more mundane investments I have a self directed Roth for extra mad money in retirement. Indexed stuff on autopilot. Until one day I decided Tesla had The Right Stuff. This to me has been proven with their move to acquire solar install business and produce more types of vehicles for commercial and family use. If you are looking for the next Amazon some might say too late - the money's been made at Tesla. I'm long (means I bought it to hold) and I bought it at about 210 and recently a few a 253.  I have become comfortable with the Tesla stock price roller coaster. Tesla has a green mission and so do I. Furthermore ( as all stock, even index funds have risk ) I'm comfortable with this level of risk and half of my Roth I moved to Tesla stock. A fellow blogger recently wrote why he's long Tesla despite it's high valuation. It's a big article but I promise it's worth your time if you are pondering considering Tesla as a long term investment. 

Cars With Cords : Moats - Why Tesla can do...

Motivations again and Actions. 

On the off chance someone is reading my Electric journey, I wanted this to make my latest motives clear. It's only fair.  My friend in oil pushes oil despite having children. He's purposefully blind to a very bad possible future for them. He's not evil at heart but carbon emissions being his bread and butter he can't let himself believe in the science predicting a very bad future.

My investment in Tesla means I have to scrutinize my motives to make sure they still make sense. Musk at Tesla has been about sustainability and he follows through. How about my actions - are they making sense with my motives?

I've followed through with Tesla Energy's solar and powerwall system. A small system given my limited exposure in PA but working nicely. The price had fallen steeply and as usual I was able to defray some of the costs by paying less taxes in the form of a federal credit.

From a third party Constellation I source my grid home electric for a penny more per Kwh from wind sources.

( I need to take a picture of a wind farm - maybe on a road trip! )

The Leaf which served for six years but had long term battery issues is now replaced in my driveway with a Tesla Model 3, Circe. 

Finally I'm invested in Tesla as well. I'm invested and a customer thrice over.

Now if I can just get recycling down.

                                                                                                                   

Tricks with the iPod touch & Circe the Tesla Model 3

I'm cheap. I know you can't tell that from the TM3 (Tesla Model 3) but indeed it is so. Now I think maybe I should back pedal and say thrifty.  I'll spend for quality as Circe attests. One pet peeve is monthly bills. My phones speak to that - for years a flip phone until I found the unlocked Fire phone from Amazon on deep sale - $110. Combined with T-Mobile 30 dollar ($35 with tax) monthly service I was happy for a while. Amazon had their version of an android store with a fair number of apps.  At first I could sideload google play for more apps but that stopped functioning after an update and I didn't really worry about it. Cheap phone with a basic set of apps I was happy.

Then the Tesla Solar Roof was installed - I needed the Tesla app - no go with Firedroid. Looking for a cheap answer I picked a low cost 5th gen ipod 32gb for about $120. This worked great with my Mac laptop and indeed loaded the IOS Tesla app to watch my Tesla Solar and configure how the Tesla Powerwall was utilized. Happy Camper no new monthly bills.

Firedroid not happy with Tesla App

One thing I could not find out online was whether the Tesla Model 3 'phone key' function could work with the iPod touch? The iPod touch gave me access to the Tesla App but for some reason the showroom delivery didn't have Circe linked to the app. I used the showroom wifi to get net access but no luck. This turned out to just be a delay. In the meantime I simply used the magic Tesla keycards. I also set up Bluetooth pairing - giving me iPod music in addition to the Circe's Slacker streaming tunes.

My car appeared in my app later that afternoon at home. The iPod was on the home wifi and indeed could unlock the car from inside the house up house net and down 3g into the car. I now entered the car and enabled 'phone key' with the card and ipod together in the car. Driving the car a half mile I stopped far from wifi and tested the now netless iPod touch - works perfectly as a Tesla key over bluetooth.

Sadly this nice iPod Touch is probably just going to be a backup key. Why?

Of course it's not a phone service for the car. So I went and connected the Firedroid via bluetooth. Import contacts - fail. Media - fail. Hmmm. I really need to use a hands free phone - my neighboring state of Maryland tickets and I don't really like being the guy holding a cell phone driving anyways. Commiserating with a friend he looks at me and say why not an iPhone? I say cost of phone and cost of service. He looks at me like he's talking to an impaired senior. He may have a point.

Dave is dumb about phones.

In a few minutes we find a scratch/dent unlocked iPhone 6S for about $240 w/tax. It arrives in a couple days, looks in ok shape, and I move the sim card. ( I didn't know this was this simple or could be done with Android to Apple.)  For $35 a month I only get an hour of talk but I use my free Google home phone for most talking. I also have 5GB high speed data with unlimited throttled. Plenty for me - I use home computers more than the phone. Most of the time I prefer interacting with others to sticking my nose in a phone. Old guy symptoms grin.

New refurbie 6S and iPod 5 - both excellent Circe TM3 keys.

In addition to more connected, it's better for Waze.  The onboard gyros also work with stellar night sky display programs much nicer. The iPod Touch is still at use playing music and is a backup key.  If there is a question I'll check it out but otherwise it's done it's job with the car. Neither iPhone nor iPod seems to work with Carplay. Not an issue as of now for me. Below Circe at home with the Think.

Easter weekend with the Tesla Model 3 - Circe

I've begun the process of getting all the recalls done on the Roller Skate (Yaris '09). The Model 3 will be my car for the foreseeable future. With 600 miles over the weekend through Tuesday in the rain the car has completely won me over. I'm not a car guy - I came to electric cars because we've got to get this tech up and running before we fry our grandkids in oil. I have a little experience. I've driven a Mercedes convertible back in the day ( thanks Mitch ) and sat in the German luxury of Porsche and BMW but this Tesla has a Zen simplicity that fits me to a tee. In the rain very sure footed - in new all weather Michelins.  The electronic traction control just doesn't  slip. I'm told the rear wheel can get loose during regenerative braking but I have yet to see it. Smooth and with a calmingly simple interior. With superchargers essentially unlimited range on top of the base 500 kilometers (310 miles). Very nice sound system that streams whatever it is told.

I think I'll call her Circe, a deep blue nymph that is temptation on wheels. She was an enchantress that if I remember Odysseus managed to survive. Hopefully that's good luck.

I promise to get some more pictures as soon as I stop driving.

So it's time to sell the backup gas car. I've never been one to shy away from driving an econobox when the range was beyond the Leaf which was true many times. However it is wearying to drive in bad conditions and hopefully it can still serve someone as I'm sure I'll get very little for it.

Turns out the ipod touch with bluetooth runs the Tesla app as a key just fine. So the phone key is a go. As long as it's within bluetooth range or if it can touch a wifi hotspot it remote controls the cars doors, trunks, glovebox, horn, lights, charging, and climate control. Still I'm shifting to an iPhone to put it all together in one.

No defects I can see yet, just hope the honeymoon lasts a while.