Overview
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 globally.
Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
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The All-Electric Tesla Model 3 Saloon
The all-electric Tesla Model 3 is a best-selling electric vehicle globally. Since its unveiling in 2016, the Tesla Model 3 has been making history. Within a week of opening the booking for the ‘affordable’ Tesla, orders had topped 325,000 units.
Deliveries to US customers commenced in July 2017. In February 2019, the Model 3 become the best selling plug-in electric car in the US. For the UK market, the Model 3 bookings opened in May 2019, with deliveries commencing in June 2019. Since then, the Tesla Model 3 has ranked on the top of the league tables for EVs sold in the UK.
The Tesla Model 3 electric car is available in three variants: the entry-level Tesla Model 3 with the standard battery, the Model 3 Long Range and the Model 3 Performance. The entry-level is a rear-wheel drive (RWD), while the other two are offered as dual motor all-wheel drive (AWD).
In terms of pure electric range, neither of the variants disappoint. The entry-level variant has a claimed zero-emission electric range up to 305 miles (WLTP), while the Long Range has a range up to a whopping 374 miles (WLTP). The top of the line, Model 3 Performance had an e-range up to 340 miles (WLTP).
Even adjusting for real-world driving conditions, the range for the Model 3 is impressive and class-leading. For the entry level, expect a real-world range closer to 260 miles. For the Long Range, a pure electric range up to 325 miles is more realistic. For the Performance, expect an electric range closer to 290 miles. 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). Tesla has nearly 700 Superchargers in the UK and the network continue to expand rapidly.
Tesla claims that Superchargers can add up to 172 miles of electric range in just 15 minutes. The Superchargers offers a maximum DC charging rate up to 250 kW. For single-phase (7.4 kW) EV charging at home, depending on the variant, the EV will take between 8 hours to 12 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 rear-wheel drive Model 3 can achieve 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds, with a top speed up to 140 mph. The all-wheel drive Tesla Model 3 Long Range can achieve 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds, with a top speed up to 145 mph. The top of the line, Tesla Model 3 Performance can achieve 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds, with a top speed up to 162 mph. 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 15 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 and offers ample legroom and headroom for passengers. The boot size is 561 L.
Company-car drivers can take advantage of the lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK-2%) tax charge for pure electric cars. You can lease the Tesla Model 3 electric car via e-zoomed at fantastic prices. Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet.
PROS | CONS |
---|---|
Good pure electric range | Expensive. Cheaper pure electric alternatives available |
Fast electric performance | Options are expensive |
Supercharger network | All-wheel drive not standard for all variants |
The All-Electric Tesla Model 3 Saloon (credit:Tesla)
At A Glance | |
---|---|
EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
Body Type: | Saloon |
Plug-In Car Grant (PiCG): | Not Available |
Engine: | Electric |
Available In UK: | Yes |
Variants (3 Options) |
---|
Tesla Model 3 (from £48,490) |
Tesla Model 3 Long Range (from £57,490) |
Tesla Model 3 Performance (from £61,490) |
EV Battery & Emissions | |
---|---|
EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
EV Battery Capacity: | Available in three battery sizes: 53 kWh, 78 kWh, 82 kWh |
Charging: | Up to 250 kW DC Rapid Charging. Onboard charger 11 kW AC (3-Phase) |
Charge Port: | Type 2 |
EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
Tailpipe Emissions: | 0g (CO2/km) |
EV Battery Warranty: | 8 years or 100,000 miles |
Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
---|---|
Battery net capacity : 16.7 kWh | £2.40 |
Battery net capacity : 30.0 kWh | £4.32 |
Battery net capacity : 39.2 kWh | £5.64 |
Battery net capacity : 45.0 kWh | £6.48 |
Battery net capacity : 50.0 kWh | £7.20 |
Battery net capacity : 64.0 kWh | £9.22 |
Battery net capacity : 71.0 kWh | £10.22 |
Battery net capacity : 77.0 kWh | £11.09 |
Battery net capacity : 90.0 kWh | £12.96 |
Battery net capacity : 100.0 kWh | £14.40 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in the UK varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for the UK is 14.40 p/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): | 1443 |
Width (mm): | 1849 |
Length (mm): | 4694 |
Wheelbase (mm): | 2875 |
Turning Circle (m): | 11.8 |
Boot Space (L): | 561 |
Tesla Model 3 | |
---|---|
EV Battery Capacity: | 53 kWh |
Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 305 miles |
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km): | 154 |
Charging: | 170 kW DC Rapid Charging. Onboard charger: 11 kW AC |
Top Speed: | 140 mph |
0-60 mph: | 5.8 seconds |
Drive: | Rear-wheel drive (RWD) |
Electric Motor (kW): | 239 |
Max Power (PS): | 325 |
Torque (Nm): | 420 |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Seats: | 5 |
Doors: | 4 |
Weight (kg): | 1,752 |
Colours: | 5 |
NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
Tesla Model 3 Long Range | |
---|---|
EV Battery Capacity: | 78 kWh |
Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 374 miles |
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km): | 152 |
Charging: | 190 kW DC Rapid Charging. Onboard charger: 11 kW AC |
Top Speed: | 145 mph |
0-60 mph: | 4.2 seconds |
Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
Electric Motor (kW): | 324 |
Max Power (PS): | 441 |
Torque (Nm): | 493 |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Seats: | 5 |
Doors: | 4 |
Weight (kg): | 1,844 |
Colours: | 5 |
NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
Tesla Model 3 Performance | |
---|---|
EV Battery Capacity: | 82 kWh |
Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 340 miles |
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km): | 165 |
Charging: | 250 kW DC Rapid Charging. Onboard charger: 11 kW AC |
Top Speed: | 162 mph |
0-60 mph: | 3.1 seconds |
Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
Electric Motor (kW): | 377 |
Max Power (PS): | 513 |
Torque (Nm): | 660 |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Seats: | 5 |
Doors: | 4 |
Weight (kg): | 1,844 |
Colours: | 5 |
NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
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