Tesla Model Y Real-World Efficiency in 4 Seasons
How much does energy efficiency really change throughout the year when driving an EV? I have been collecting data for this experiment for well over a year driving several thousand kilometres in each season. The Tesla Model Y I’m driving is currently the best selling EV (and car!) in the world, so this test is […]
Tesla – AC vs. Fans vs. Windows Energy Consumption Tested
With most of the country sitting under some type of heat warning in late July, we decided to revisit Tesla’s impressive HVAC efficiency. We tested the heat pump system last winter, but this time we want to measure the extra energy consumption of cooling the cabin. Main Findings: Test Setup: Limitations
Tested: Heat Pump in Cold Weather – How much range is lost?
The other week we investigated how much extra energy is required for driving a PTC heater-equipped Tesla Model 3 in freezing temperatures. Our tests showed that generously heating the cabin to 71 degrees Fahrenheit required an additional 26% of energy during a 15 mile loop! We decided to repeat the same experiment with a heat […]
Tested: PTC Resistive Heat in EVs – How much range is lost?
Electric cars generally fall into two categories when it comes to heating the cabin in cold weather: PTC electrical resistance heat in less expensive EVs, and heat pump HVAC systems in more expensive and sophisticated EVs. PTC heating is more cost effective to manufacture but requires significantly more energy to operate. How much extra energy […]
Testing power output of Tesla USB Type-C Ports
The latest Model 3 and Y Teslas come with two Type-C charging ports in the front and two more for rear passengers. We just took delivery of the newest Model Y out of Fremont (September 2022 build), and wanted to find out if USB Power Delivery is supported and how much wattage comes out of […]