I don’t have a y yet but one y owner on RUclips got the 226 range going 60 mph on the freeway.He drove the same stretch going 70 and it was well below 300 on the same course. Aerodynamics play a huge roll in efficiency. I also heard that the rated range for in town stop and go driving is 313. I plan on ordering mine on January 21 and getting delivery in March. I drive pretty slow and live in Minnesota. It will be interesting to see what kind of range I get with our extreme fluctuations in weather here. Thanks for your great vids.
Best of luck with your upcoming electric lifestyle. I really love my car. I drove an ICE vehicle the other day and it felt totally alien. Haha... I've published a couple videos on some cold weather driving I did in Montana and North Dakota and based on my own experience and with some chats I've had with other Tesla owners, it seems that in weather around 0-10F you'll get about 50% of the EPA range of 326 miles, which would be around 163 miles. One gentleman from Iowa had commented on another video of mine that he has seen as low as 120-130 miles, which is by far the lowest rating I've heard of. In any case, those super cold days will definitely include some range penalties. Keep that charger handing in frozen weather!
Good data. Thanks. There was a good range test done by Tom Moloughney in a Model Y at a steady 70mph. It was under obviously different conditions, (90 degrees with the AC running full blast) but he was able to squeeze 275.4 miles out of it. Pretty impressive. Here is a link to the video if interested. ruclips.net/video/8zMHNKCJu4s/видео.html. Off your topic, but some oood summer time data.
Hey, I heard in episode 19 your parents live in northern Illinois. I'm from Chicago but currently attend Northern Illinois University. Not sure if you're from that area since I know NIU technically isn't "north" of Illinois but more north west. Cool to hear that you're driving around Illinois. I'm thinking of buying a Tesla in the near future. I've learned a lot watching your videos keep it up!
Right on! I pass by Northern Illinois University whenever I drive down Interstate 88 to visit my sister in Chicago or to attend the regional markets she sells at. I have been Supercharging BlueLightning in North Aurora. ❤️ Illinois!
Thanks! Trying to provide practical and helpful information to viewers so they can make the best choices for their lifestyles, and to help prepare them for their new electric lives. The longer I have an electric car - and this Tesla in particular - the more I can't imagine ever going back to a gasoline powered car.
Your videos have been very helpful and entertaining. As a future owner of the Model Y, this was my biggest concern - which is the true usage we can get out of the states “326 miles of range”. Knowing now that this isn’t the true range. What is your take on going full electric? Would you have gotten the Model 3 instead with a longer range? Would you have considered an ICE?
Great questions. Here’s my super long response. Haha… Definitely, 326 isn't a real-world number unless maybe you're only driving in a straight line in 65 degree weather on a flat road at 40mph. Maybe that's a thing for some people (and the EPA tests) but it's not particularly real-world for me or anyone I've ever spoken with. The same EPA rating issues affect gasoline power cars but because their efficiency is so low already, the discrepancy of a couple miles per gallon doesn't really add up that much and they can just add another gallon or two to the gas tank to make up for it. Regarding the questions: 1) What's my take on going full electric? I would say that a more ideal person in Fall 2020 than me to go electric would be someone either with 1.1) a relatively short'ish daily commute so that they can just charge at home on 110V for most of their needs, or 1.2) a longer commute but has installed a 220V/Level 2 charger that allows for quicker over-night charging. In both cases, the ideal case *right now* is for the electric car owner to have access to at-home charging. 1.3) The other option is someone who doesn’t have at-home charging but does have access to 220V/Level 2 charing at work and has a commute that can easily accommodate that. In San Francisco I only have street parking so options 1.1 and 1.2 won’t apply to me when I get back. However, when my office opens back up again after Covid chills out, then 1.3 will typically be an option for me, even though my daily commute round trip will be 100 miles so I would need to charge every day at the office. Then other than the office I would have to find any local Level 2 public chargers in San Francisco or one of the few Superchargers in the area. I view myself as an early adopter (rather than an innovator or early joiner) so I’m fine configuring my life around the technology because of my views on environmentalism, national security and using “locally” produced energy - but not to a super extreme degree. But my feeling is that as Tesla and electric cars roll out to the early majority of buyers and then into the late majority and laggards throughout the 2020s-2040s, those users will need high capacity rapid-charge batteries and charging stations everywhere as common as gasoline stations (or massive installation of at-home chargers + plus many electric charging stations all around). Long story short: I like that I’ve gone electric and if I could do it all over again - even considering all the long distance traveling I do - I would. But being an innovator or early adopter in this space does require some accommodating the reality of limited range and charging options which hopefully will become less and less a problem as battery capacity and the number of charing stations improves. 2) Would I have gotten the Model 3 instead? No, I specifically waited for the Model Y to come out instead of buying the Model 3 because I wanted a car that I could basically step sideways into rather than needing to slide down into. I have a tricky lower back and I just need the increased step-in hight of the Model Y. Now, would I want my Model Y to have more range? Sure. I would love for it to have a solid 375 miles like a competing vehicle in its class, say, a Mazda CX-5, Ford Escape (in terms of size), or some luxury version of a CUV/smaller-SUV. But the technology is what it is and I’m modifying my life to accommodate. Not sure most people will want to do that though. The Model 3 is a great car in its own right, but I just needed a taller vehicle. (And the extra space is awesome for all the stuff I’m lugging around with me on my remote working and traveling). 3) Would I have considered an ICE? Humorously, when I was looking at price points of the up-spec’d Model Y ($54K) and the possibly of this being a midlife-crisis purchase, I actually considered a 2021 Corvette Stingray for a couple minutes. But decided against that for a million rational reasons (including the price of a well configured one). I had also considered a BMW X2 and other similarly sized vehicles. But in the end I kept coming back to electric vehicles, and specifically Teslas because they 1) are for sale right now, 2) have the best and most advanced battery technically, and 3) have the Supercharging network continent-wide to support my traveling lifestyle. BUT… if the Mustang Mach-E had been for sale, or Cadillac Lyriq, then both of those would have been highly considered. BUT… because of the lack of a comprehensive high speed charging network across the nation like Tesla’s Superchargers, it’s unlikely that I could have traveled the country as easily *and quickly* as I’ve done in my Model Y with any other electric vehicle currently. So in practice, I was not considering an ICE myself. But I think there are still many people who should buy an ICE instead of an electric car in 2020, although ideally they would buy a hybrid or partially electrified vehicle to get much greater gains in efficiency. Fortunately, my life is flexible just enough where I can modify it just enough to work well with electric car technology as it stands in 2020. As more and more Tesla and non-Tesla L3+ chargers roll out, I look forward to needing to modify my life less and less and for more people to buy in. Feel free to ask any other questions. I’m a fast typer and always happy to reply. :)
I do not have FSD but I do use Autopilot frequently. I would say I use it about 80-90% of the time on the highway and about 50% of the time it’s accessible on smaller roads. I have not done any comparisons of efficiency having Autopilot on or off. Could be interesting to look into that. Maybe once I get back home and can drive on the same stretch of highway twice back to back with similar weather conditions.
I don’t like that question. Haha... However, I suppose I will answer with: if I were doing long distance driving often and indefinitely then it would be better to opt for the 19” wheels, but in my case where I will return to San Francisco and will not be exceeding the battery range frequently on a daily basis as I am doing currently in my drive across America, then no... I would stick with my 20” wheels because I like the way they look and handle.
I don’t have a y yet but one y owner on RUclips got the 226 range going 60 mph on the freeway.He drove the same stretch going 70 and it was well below 300 on the same course. Aerodynamics play a huge roll in efficiency. I also heard that the rated range for in town stop and go driving is 313. I plan on ordering mine on January 21 and getting delivery in March. I drive pretty slow and live in Minnesota. It will be interesting to see what kind of range I get with our extreme fluctuations in weather here. Thanks for your great vids.
Best of luck with your upcoming electric lifestyle. I really love my car. I drove an ICE vehicle the other day and it felt totally alien. Haha... I've published a couple videos on some cold weather driving I did in Montana and North Dakota and based on my own experience and with some chats I've had with other Tesla owners, it seems that in weather around 0-10F you'll get about 50% of the EPA range of 326 miles, which would be around 163 miles. One gentleman from Iowa had commented on another video of mine that he has seen as low as 120-130 miles, which is by far the lowest rating I've heard of. In any case, those super cold days will definitely include some range penalties. Keep that charger handing in frozen weather!
Good data. Thanks. There was a good range test done by Tom Moloughney in a Model Y at a steady 70mph. It was under obviously different conditions, (90 degrees with the AC running full blast) but he was able to squeeze 275.4 miles out of it. Pretty impressive. Here is a link to the video if interested. ruclips.net/video/8zMHNKCJu4s/видео.html. Off your topic, but some oood summer time data.
Hey, I heard in episode 19 your parents live in northern Illinois. I'm from Chicago but currently attend Northern Illinois University. Not sure if you're from that area since I know NIU technically isn't "north" of Illinois but more north west. Cool to hear that you're driving around Illinois. I'm thinking of buying a Tesla in the near future. I've learned a lot watching your videos keep it up!
Right on! I pass by Northern Illinois University whenever I drive down Interstate 88 to visit my sister in Chicago or to attend the regional markets she sells at. I have been Supercharging BlueLightning in North Aurora. ❤️ Illinois!
Keep it up!
Thanks! Trying to provide practical and helpful information to viewers so they can make the best choices for their lifestyles, and to help prepare them for their new electric lives. The longer I have an electric car - and this Tesla in particular - the more I can't imagine ever going back to a gasoline powered car.
Your videos have been very helpful and entertaining. As a future owner of the Model Y, this was my biggest concern - which is the true usage we can get out of the states “326 miles of range”.
Knowing now that this isn’t the true range. What is your take on going full electric? Would you have gotten the Model 3 instead with a longer range? Would you have considered an ICE?
Great questions. Here’s my super long response. Haha…
Definitely, 326 isn't a real-world number unless maybe you're only driving in a straight line in 65 degree weather on a flat road at 40mph. Maybe that's a thing for some people (and the EPA tests) but it's not particularly real-world for me or anyone I've ever spoken with. The same EPA rating issues affect gasoline power cars but because their efficiency is so low already, the discrepancy of a couple miles per gallon doesn't really add up that much and they can just add another gallon or two to the gas tank to make up for it.
Regarding the questions:
1) What's my take on going full electric?
I would say that a more ideal person in Fall 2020 than me to go electric would be someone either with 1.1) a relatively short'ish daily commute so that they can just charge at home on 110V for most of their needs, or 1.2) a longer commute but has installed a 220V/Level 2 charger that allows for quicker over-night charging. In both cases, the ideal case *right now* is for the electric car owner to have access to at-home charging. 1.3) The other option is someone who doesn’t have at-home charging but does have access to 220V/Level 2 charing at work and has a commute that can easily accommodate that.
In San Francisco I only have street parking so options 1.1 and 1.2 won’t apply to me when I get back. However, when my office opens back up again after Covid chills out, then 1.3 will typically be an option for me, even though my daily commute round trip will be 100 miles so I would need to charge every day at the office. Then other than the office I would have to find any local Level 2 public chargers in San Francisco or one of the few Superchargers in the area. I view myself as an early adopter (rather than an innovator or early joiner) so I’m fine configuring my life around the technology because of my views on environmentalism, national security and using “locally” produced energy - but not to a super extreme degree. But my feeling is that as Tesla and electric cars roll out to the early majority of buyers and then into the late majority and laggards throughout the 2020s-2040s, those users will need high capacity rapid-charge batteries and charging stations everywhere as common as gasoline stations (or massive installation of at-home chargers + plus many electric charging stations all around).
Long story short: I like that I’ve gone electric and if I could do it all over again - even considering all the long distance traveling I do - I would. But being an innovator or early adopter in this space does require some accommodating the reality of limited range and charging options which hopefully will become less and less a problem as battery capacity and the number of charing stations improves.
2) Would I have gotten the Model 3 instead?
No, I specifically waited for the Model Y to come out instead of buying the Model 3 because I wanted a car that I could basically step sideways into rather than needing to slide down into. I have a tricky lower back and I just need the increased step-in hight of the Model Y. Now, would I want my Model Y to have more range? Sure. I would love for it to have a solid 375 miles like a competing vehicle in its class, say, a Mazda CX-5, Ford Escape (in terms of size), or some luxury version of a CUV/smaller-SUV. But the technology is what it is and I’m modifying my life to accommodate. Not sure most people will want to do that though.
The Model 3 is a great car in its own right, but I just needed a taller vehicle. (And the extra space is awesome for all the stuff I’m lugging around with me on my remote working and traveling).
3) Would I have considered an ICE?
Humorously, when I was looking at price points of the up-spec’d Model Y ($54K) and the possibly of this being a midlife-crisis purchase, I actually considered a 2021 Corvette Stingray for a couple minutes. But decided against that for a million rational reasons (including the price of a well configured one). I had also considered a BMW X2 and other similarly sized vehicles. But in the end I kept coming back to electric vehicles, and specifically Teslas because they 1) are for sale right now, 2) have the best and most advanced battery technically, and 3) have the Supercharging network continent-wide to support my traveling lifestyle. BUT… if the Mustang Mach-E had been for sale, or Cadillac Lyriq, then both of those would have been highly considered. BUT… because of the lack of a comprehensive high speed charging network across the nation like Tesla’s Superchargers, it’s unlikely that I could have traveled the country as easily *and quickly* as I’ve done in my Model Y with any other electric vehicle currently.
So in practice, I was not considering an ICE myself. But I think there are still many people who should buy an ICE instead of an electric car in 2020, although ideally they would buy a hybrid or partially electrified vehicle to get much greater gains in efficiency. Fortunately, my life is flexible just enough where I can modify it just enough to work well with electric car technology as it stands in 2020. As more and more Tesla and non-Tesla L3+ chargers roll out, I look forward to needing to modify my life less and less and for more people to buy in.
Feel free to ask any other questions. I’m a fast typer and always happy to reply. :)
I don’t recall if you have FSD or whether or not you use Autopilot / FSD. Do you use either one and if so, if your efficiency any better when you do?
I do not have FSD but I do use Autopilot frequently. I would say I use it about 80-90% of the time on the highway and about 50% of the time it’s accessible on smaller roads. I have not done any comparisons of efficiency having Autopilot on or off. Could be interesting to look into that. Maybe once I get back home and can drive on the same stretch of highway twice back to back with similar weather conditions.
Is it also possible the wheels you added decrease mile efficiency?
From what I have seen online and from various user comments, it appears that the 20 inch wheels reduce the total miles by about 20 miles or so.
Now that you know larger wheels reduce range, would you recommend getting the smaller wheels if one wants to maximize range?
I don’t like that question. Haha...
However, I suppose I will answer with: if I were doing long distance driving often and indefinitely then it would be better to opt for the 19” wheels, but in my case where I will return to San Francisco and will not be exceeding the battery range frequently on a daily basis as I am doing currently in my drive across America, then no... I would stick with my 20” wheels because I like the way they look and handle.