Cost of charging and autonomy on a long journey of 850 km

Is the Tesla Model S the new reference vehicle for long trips? This is the question we ask ourselves today with the help of two reference routes.

How does Tesla’s flagship fit into our long-haul journey? Here’s what we’ll be looking at today with the 2022 Tesla Model S on our summer and winter benchmark rides.

The rules are always the same: departure takes place with 100% battery, arrival with 20% and the car will have to drive at the speed limit. We will return to the characteristics of the car (autonomy, battery, charging power) and see if the promises are fulfilled in journeys of more than 800 kilometers.

down, you can find summary tables of different cars which we practice. You will be able to compare the car you are interested in with others. Without further ado, let’s take a look at just how great the Tesla Model S drives.

Features of the Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S offers a WLTP range of 634 kilometers, making it one of the longest-lasting electric cars on the market. In addition, its dazzling acceleration (3.2 seconds to reach 100 km/h) and two engines make it a very sporty car.

In our daily practice, this usually works against electric vehicles, as range is negatively affected by power. But the Tesla Model S has more than one trick, as it is one of the most efficient and aerodynamic vehicles in the industry.

Finally, its maximum charging capacity of 250 kW allows it to be charged very quickly, whether at the Tesla Superchargers network or at Ionity, Fastned and others.

As always, the Better Route Planner is used to plan routes for the 2022 Tesla Model S with standard fuel economy criteria.

Route planning

Keeping all vehicles under equal conditions, We start trips with 100% batteryconsidering that for this recharge you have to pay the average price per kWh in France, currently €0.17. The Tesla Model S’s 95 kWh then represents 16 euros. We will take this value into account when calculating each base journey.

The first major route will simulate a summer vacation from Orléans to Arcachon (530 kilometers) and the winter route will start in Caen and end in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (850 kilometers).

The parameters shown in the Better Route Planner for a summer route are: Outside temperature is 25 degrees Celsius, no wind, reaching the charging station with 10% battery left and 20% reaching the destination. For a winter trip, it’s essentially the same, except for the weather we choose the temperature is 0 degrees Celsius.

Balance of different routes

530 kilometers, but not at once

Spread the word: Traveling 500 kilometers with Tesla Model S is no problem, as our benchmark summer trip shows. There are at least seven Tesla Superchargers between Orléans and Arcachon, but onlya stop to reach the destination with 20% battery left.

Used for Saintes Supercharger 9 minutes to add only 27 kWh. The cost of this charge is about 18 euros at the current price of Tesla Superchargers.

So it only takes nine minutes to reach Arcachon with enough battery and 20% remaining. In total, the travel time is 4 hours 47 minutes average consumption 189 Wh/km. This corresponds to about 500 kilometers on the highway.

Who can do better in winter?

The Tesla Supercharger network allows the Tesla Model S to use only these charging stations on our winter road trip. alone requiring four refills in just 33 minutes, an absolute record.

In winter, with about 50% battery and 0 degree temperature, Tesla Model S can travel more than 200 kilometersso refills are both fairly spaced and very fast.

In effect, the longest charge is less than 11 minutes, and the total trip time is less than eight hours. The total price for fast charging is estimated at 72 euros. Finally, consumption reaches 212 W/km, which corresponds to a range of 445 kilometers.

Consumption, charging cost and range

We summarize costs and charging times (including charging at home for €16) in the table below. As you browse through our examples, you’ll be able to see where the vehicle you’re interested in stacks up against others on a similar journey.

New reference car

Who can beat Tesla Model S on long trips in 2023? That’s the question that comes up as the balance sheet turns positive for Tesla’s grand tourer. It thrives on trips through France in summer as well as in winter, and needs very little time to charge its battery before setting off..

In terms of costs per 100 kilometers, the Tesla Model S has been in an extremely good place since then its summer route costs 6.38 euros per 100 kilometers, and its winter route costs 10.32 euros per 100 kilometers..

Compare, half the price of a Peugeot e-208 in the summerA large battery combined with excellent efficiency proves to be the key to great travel at a low price.

With a usable 95kWh, the first charge at home means the Tesla Model S doesn’t need much power on the road, where it’s very expensive.

The Tesla Model S’s high-speed efficiency record is remarkable, as its winter trip average is a very impressive 212 Wh/km. For comparison, in the same fiscal year, Hyundai Ioniq 5 consumes 291 W/km or 37% more.

The Tesla Model S is one of those vehicles that doesn’t need to slow down to optimize its long journeys, given its manageable consumption. It currently wins the award for the most suitable car for long trips across the country..

Of course, it’s aimed at the budget-minded public, as the currently available Plaid version is listed at a minimum of €138,990, and we imagine an entry price of over €100,000. .

Fortunately, there are other cheaper models available, notably the Tesla Model 3 Grande Autonomie at €62,490, and their long journeys are very expensive, both in terms of time and money. But for those who can afford it, there is no doubt that the Tesla Model S will bring them complete satisfaction.

If you are attracted to the Tesla brand but have trouble navigating through the various versions available, this guide is for you. Discover a wide variety of cars for…
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