The Tesla Model 3 is the new kid on the block. I’m sure you’ve seen her around. So let’s take a look at how it compares to its gas car competitors regarding some top questions people have.
Table of Contents
Charging vs Filling Up
You probably see this as an easy win to the petrol or diesel cars but surprisingly you’d be wrong. According to a study, even with a relatively small 100 mile (160 km) range an electric car could satisfy about 99% of daily trips.
Using data obtained from the Department of Transport’s 2009 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), Garrett Fitzgerald and Rob van Haaren analyzed the travel data of survey participants. Around 98 percent of all single-trip journeys were under 50 miles in length, with trips over 70 miles in length accounting for just one percent of all single-trip journeys.
Even the Model 3 Standard has 220 miles (350 km) of range but there’s another reason this shouldn’t ever be a problem. The reason is because you don’t “fill up” an EV, you charge at home just like your phone.
Plugged in Model S
Although gas cars only take a few minutes to fill up EV’s only take seconds to plug in. Just as you don’t time how long your phone charged overnight, neither will you care about your car. The result is the same. Each morning you wake up to a full tank of fresh juice!
For a car like the Tesla Model 3, that means you have anywhere from 220 miles (350 km) to 310 miles (500 km) of range. Everyday. Even if you drive 100 miles during the day the next morning you’re full again!
Contrast this to a petrol car where you slowly burn through gas each day. Eventually you have to stop what you’re doing, find a petrol station, spend 5-10 minutes filling up and paying all while having toxic fumes swirl around you. Don’t even get me started on how filthy diesel can get either!
Instant Torque vs Lag
Electric motors are incredibly efficient converting well over 90%+ of supplied electricity into motion. Along with this comes the quite different feeling of instant torque. Torque at any RPM range. You get 100% torque from standstill and it only goes down as you reach top speeds.
Source: consumerreports.org
Many describe the sensation as akin to being on a roller coast ride. A ride that will rocket you to 60mph in 5.1 to 5.6 seconds.
The instant torque also makes the Model 3 far more responsive both at the lights and during high speeds. There’s no waiting for the engine to rev up or a turbo to spool up. Full power is applied instantly whatever speed you’re doing. This means that even at high speeds you can safely overtake cars without a worry.
Model 3 vs Gas Car Safety
Source: tesla.com
Traditional fossil fuel engines are made up of huge engine blocks that usually sit up front. In the Model 3 the motor is vastly smaller and can sit between rear axle. This leaves more room for safety absorbing infrastructure. The entire front bonnet area acts as a huge crumple zone and better protect the drivers.
You also don’t have to deal with the solid engine block breaching into the main cabin. This means that front impacts for the Model 3 are far less likely to be fatal.
The overall weight distribution of it is also far superior than gas cars as Tesla have located the battery (which can weigh hundreds of pounds/kilos) at the bottom. This lowers the centre of gravity and helps prevent roll overs.
Road Tripping
What about driving long distance you ask?
Supercharger locations in the US – source: tesla.com
Here is where the Model 3 falls down slightly. Although Tesla has an amazing Supercharger network placed along interstate routes, the charging can still take some time. That being said the Model 3 does have other advantages over gas cars too.
To begin with the drive is much quieter in EV’s meaning your trip is more enjoyable. It’s also a bit more pleasant charging your car than dealing with petrol or diesel too.
Furthermore Tesla’s Superchargers are always promised to be “cheaper than using gas”. So while you might have to wait a bit longer to charge (eg. 30 minutes vs 5 minutes) you’ll save some money in the process. Chances are that you’ll need to go to the toilet, stretch you legs or have something to eat too. As such that 30 minutes wait time shouldn’t be all that inconvenient.
How You Can Take Advantage
Electric cars offer an almost across the board upgrade over fossil fuel cars. Safety, performance, smoothness, quietness, fuel and maintenance costs. They all get better meaning a better life for you. For me, one of the biggest factors is simply safety as being in a car is likely the most dangerous thing a lot of us do.
According to the WHO, road injury is the highest cause of death if you’re a normal healthy adult. The fact that the Model 3 will be the safest car in its class by a long way greatly helps to mitigate that risk.
Now it’s understandable that the Model 3 might not be affordable enough for everyone. That’s OK though as a lot of what makes the Model 3 great also applies to all EV’s. You can buy a second hand Leaf and still benefit from a healthier life, lower running and maintenance costs and more.
Too many people push back against new technology. I say instead embrace it and use it to your advantage. The Model 3 has a lot of advantages, which one is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
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