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More information below under Safety (Click Here).
One of the first things I did after ordering our Tesla 3 was to download the
Owner's Manual
(Click the link to the left.)
It is a .pdf file or 220 printed pages.
I downloaded it to my travel laptop for on the road use.
You can also ask Tesla-related questions in Google and the result usually comes from the Owner's Manual, or a Tesla Forum.
The full URL for the Owners Manual:
https://www.tesla.com/sites/default/files/model_3_owners_manual_north_america_en.pdf
How do you know a Tesla 3 from the S, X, Y? (I've seen this logo on tee shirts: S3XY for the Teslas. I understand the plan was to call it a Model E, but Ford has that registered logo even though they do not have a model E for sale. There you could place your Teslas in SEXY arrangement.)
Tesla 3 has a "T" on the fronk lid, and, on the rear, a "T" above license plate with no badging. However, some will have a "Dual Motor" on right rear. Underline is "P" Performance. I have seen after-market "Model 3" and the "T" even on non-Tesla cars.
There are 2 videos of Elon Musk, one Introducing the Tesla 3 and a second one where he gives the history of Tesla Electric Vehicles. At this site, search for "full presentation" and you will go to the 2 videos. The link: https://www.tesla.com/presskit
Tesla built its superchargers at great expense (and gave free unlimited use to early Tesla buyers) because they wanted everybody to feel that Tesla was the only car you could road trip in. They had reasons to not let other cars use their chargers even if the plug was the same. Tesla also spent a fair bit of money giving Level 2 chargers with Tesla plugs to hotels around the world to encourage Tesla drivers to stay at their hotels. The hotels pay for the electricity, and want to serve guests in any kind of car, but Tesla didn't give them free gear for that. Even so, Elon Musk has said the Tesla charging network does not need to be a walled garden. An adapter is available to let non-Tesla cars charge at the Tesla level 2 chargers.
Brad Templeton, Senior Contributor
Transportation, Forbes
The average car is driven only 40 miles/day. The Level One charger (which usually comes with almost any electric car) plugs into a dedicated standard house plug, and can deliver 12 amps. This means it will deliver 40 miles in an 8-hour overnight charging session.
Get the 20 amp plug (which Tesla sells and some other chargers sell) and you will see 50 miles or more in an 8 hour night. The "T" slot in it that says it is 20 amp.
A small battery car absolutely needs to get to full every night. The large battery Teslas don't.
Level 2
A Level Two circuit runs at twice the voltage and usually at higher current. In fact, you can install these up to 80 amps.
20% to 80% full. On a 250 mile Tesla Model 3, you can get that in 8 hours with just 5 kw, which is what you get from a 30 amp plug, the same one that runs your dryer. (On any plug, the car charges at 80% of full current, in this case at 24 amps.) Such a circuit is going to fully restore you on almost any day you drive, particularly if you have more than 8 hours at home.
Sharing with your dryer or unused elec. dryer outlet
Most houses have a 30 amp electric plug for your dryer. It may be easy for you to switch to a natural gas dryer, particularly if you are in the mood for a new dryer. They cost only a little more, but they cost a fair bit less to run, and as such they save money in the long run. They also cost the same day and night. You do need to get a natural gas line at your laundry room. Adding that can cost real money - or be cheap - depending on how far it has to come. Perhaps you can even sell your electric dryer to somebody on Craigslist.
If you do this, you remove 30 amps of load from your house, and now you can add a 30 amp line for your car without needing a service upgrade. Your electrician can also in some cases just run a line from where your electric dryer plug is (was) to where your car is. This is more than enough power for your needs, and even though a new gas dryer is not free, it can be the cheapest option of all.
Model 3 Specs
Excellent site for shopping and comparing:
Cars
Incentives
Charging
Events
Dealers by ZIP Code: https://plugstar.zappyride.com/
Facts about charging a 2020 Tesla 3 Standard Range Plus:
https://plugstar.zappyride.com/cars/Tesla_Model_3_Standard_Range_Plus_BEV_2020?zip=92870
SAFETY (left out of above graphic) from Tesla's website for Model 3:
Plan Ahead on Energy Creation and Use
Solar is the best decision I made for our Southern California single-family unit home. Late 2010, I purchased the Solar Plan from AMECO. It included 16 solar panels and the converter, and extra electrical panel to insure that I had the capacity to "charge an electric car." At that time I was paying a monthly average electric bill of $153. I now (June 2020) pay $20.73 a month. Our best nighttime rate (10 pm to 8 am) is $0.15 per kwh (Delivery and Generartion Charges). Southern California Edison has a system called Net Metering which is the amount of excess electricity exported to the grid by our system. Finally, to reduce electricity usage, we converted from an electric dryer to gas dryer, ultimately allowing me to use that 30 amp 240v plug to charge the Tesla.
My Plan to buy a Tesla
Three things that had to happen for us to afford a Tesla:
1) The Model 3 had to become available other than Premium cars.
2) I wanted to pay off our newest car (Which happened Aug. 2019) thus saving that car payment.
3) I had to sell our 1956 Chevy 210 Delray which we had purchased in 1998. (That happened May, 2020) Incidentally, I made $524.55 a year on that Chevy, making a nice down payment of over 1/2 of the cost of this Tesla. This left a monthly payment about the same on the resulting loan as what I was paying on the van I paid off.
4) Oh, with the classic Chevy, we had 3 cars for 2 people, so I sold our oldest car for $1,250 that Tesla had offered us $400 as a trade in.
Sometimes you get lucky
After 3 years, the above 4 things finally happened and we made our purchase order May 17, 2020 for a Tesla 3, Standard Range Plus Rear-Wheel Drive. At the end of May, Tesla dropped the price on the Model 3s $2,000. I wondered if I would get the $2,000 off since it was already on order, so I asked the person Tesla assigned to me. She "put in a request" and June 1, I got confirmation of a reduced price of $2,000! Plus, Southern California Edison gives a $1,000 rebate for a homeowner who has an electric vehicle. It can be applied for after I receive the registration in the mail.
Notes from the Owner's Manual:
Preserving the Battery
Owner's Manual quote: The most important way to preserve the Battery is to LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE PLUGGED IN when you are not using it. This is particularly important if you are not planning to drive Model 3 for several weeks. When plugged in, Model 3 wakes up when needed to automatically maintain a charge level that maximizes the lifetime of the Battery.
Contacting Tesla for towing, etc.
Regional Phone Number(s)
Mexico: 1-800-228-8145
United States and Canada: 1-877-79TESLA (1-877-798-3752)
Note: The phone number is also available by touching the Tesla "T" at the top center of the touchscreen.
I have been watching You Tube Tesla videographers for 3 years and have found these to be professional and informative:
From Tesla3Man I learned this:
Best Charging Practices
Tesla3man. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY2GDtJncG4
To make the battery last longer in day to day use
Best Charging Practices by Tesla3man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNsCNzsq1mo
My Referral Number is https://ts.la/carl41979 Just click the URL to the left to go to the Tesla.com site that will explain the benefits of using a referral number:
Next, Receiving the VIN and Delivery Date.
