Solar Roof by Tesla with Power Walls to power your home and EVs.
My
local Orange County Tesla Club had Kyle Field, CleanTechnica - Tesla
Energy/Solar Roof, speak at a meetup. His articles while
researching Tesla Solar Roof and Power Walls as his new house was being
constructed with articles written during and after completion follow,
complete with video and photos:
Dennis Pascual, Club Leader says: He has written about his experiences on CleanTechnica, but we can take the time to discuss it at this meetup.
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/06/13/why-teslas-solar-roof-is-a-bargain-at-53-of-the-price-of-a-roof-electricity-cleantechnica-analysis/
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/08/08/an-inside-look-at-the-components-that-go-into-a-tesla-solar-roof-installation/
https://cleantechnica.com/2020/01/26/what-should-you-know-before-signing-up-for-a-tesla-solarglass-roof/'
Some quotes from his articles: We
could have achieved a higher total kilowatt-hour output with
traditional panels, but the aesthetics of the Tesla Solar Roof
outweighed the benefit of the additional production.
The
Tesla Powerwall can be hardwired as either a whole home backup if there
is enough capacity, or to backup only essential loads. In this
configuration, homeowners are able to select a few circuits that will
be powered by the Powerwalls when grid power goes down. Our home simply
had too many things to back up for us to cover it all with two
Powerwalls.
We
were able to back up the majority of our home with the Powerwalls,
including a single 40 amp EV charger for us to run off of a Powerwall
just in case. It’s better to have the option than not, but it is not
likely that we will be charging a 75 kWh Tesla Model 3 off of just 27
kWh of Powerwall storage capacity if the grid is down.
A ride in a Tesla 3.
If I have not given you a ride in our Tesla, I found the 2nd best thing - YouTuber, SpawnPoint, made this video:
SpawnPoint
Taking My Tesla Model 3 for a Drive around some UK country roads, towns
and villages. One pedal driving throughout, I don’t touch the brakes at
all until the end of the POV drive. Demonstrating road and wind noise
in the Model 3 interior.
No talking at all, pure road, car and wind noise. What do you think? Is
it nosier than you expected? The first few minutes are a 20mph speed
limit due to road surfacing (loose stones).
Any guesses where I drove in East Yorkshire, UK?
Thanks for watching, Chris.
Notes about the
video: Beware that he is driving in the UK with steering on the
right of the car and driving on the left side of the road. I tell
people that the electric engine in the Model 3 makes a ride on the
highway sound like riding in a jet plane. See if you don't agree
when Chris gets on a road with a center line. Another thing to
listen for is the sound when he drives over patched pavement. I
would say, of our Model 3 with 19" wheels and pretty low profile tires,
that the ride is more sports car-like (firm or rough) than near-luxury
car-like. Also, I understand that it is "rougher" in the back
seat. In a Model S or Model X, much more expensive Tesla vehicles in the Luxury
class, an adjustable suspension is available as an option.
Model S Suspension adjustments, which the Model 3 does not have.
Also
in the video, I find it interesting that on the first two-lane road he
drives, there are cars parked in his lane. So, ride along and
listen.
Vehicle to Grid (V2G).
With
thousands of electric vehicles in garages around the USA, using the
stored electricity in those batteries could help the grid match high
demand.
The
Electric Car Company, Lucid, announced a “Lucid Connected Home
Charging Station” (pictured above) and the ability to charge both ways:
“Home charging is one of the key benefits of EV ownership. In addition
to the standard Lucid Mobile Charging Cord that comes with every Lucid
vehicle, Lucid has also developed the Lucid Connected Home Charging
Station, one of the first AC charging stations with bi-directional
charging ever offered. With bi-directional charging, owners can enjoy a
more cost-effective charging method and also use their Lucid Air as a
temporary energy reserve to power their homes, including off-grid
vacation properties. Lucid has developed an integrated partnership with
Qmerit that provides for a more seamless installation process for the
Lucid Connected Home Charging Station. Lucid Air owners begin by
completing a simple digital survey and Qmerit uses the results to
manage the entire installation process through its nationwide network
of highly trained and licensed electricians.”
Lucid
also announced that it is developing “static Energy Storage Systems
(ESS),” which is actually how the company originally started half a
decade ago when it was named Atieva.
Another Model 3 takes on Pikes Peak.
"Unplugged Performance tuned Tesla Model 3 is set to take on Pikes Peak [Interview]" article by Electrek.co. The article and Interview.
Why do electric vehicles have an advantage over Internal Combustion
Engine (ICE) cars on the Pikes Peak Hill Climb? (or any mountain
driving?) I learned from the article above:
In
Pikes Peak, both man and machine are put to the ultimate test…. 156
life-threatening cliff edge turns while the elevation climbs to a
whopping 16,000-ft [Actually 14,115 ft.], choking the drivers’ oxygen
and decision-making skills.
The weather is bi-polar; changing
from hail, high heat, rain, and snow. And the cars suffer too! Lack of
airflow to the ICE engines, coolant runs thinner, horsepower crippled,
oil viscosity changes, overheating, etc.
OK, if you haven’t caught on by now,
an electric car would be a wise choice, since the electric motor
doesn’t suffer from the altitude at all. It’s almost a match made in
heaven, and the perfect place to showcase your performance parts and
modifications for Tesla.
The driver of this car, in the interview, also mentioned these
advantages of an EV: 1. No gears or shifting 2.
Silent power 3. Broad power band. 4. All-wheel
drive. Unlike air-petroleum cars, EV's electrons don't care about
altitude. Driver can adjust the power distribution front to rear (Stock
Tesla 3 has 50/50 distribution front to back.)
Grille of "Unplugged Performance's" tuned Tesla Model
3. I presume this is for "thermal management" (battery
heating).
Wonder if I could get a grille like this for Big Red?
Any image with a border can be clicked for a larger copy.
Update before the race from Electrek Performance: https://electrek.co/2020/08/26/tuned-tesla-model-3-crashes-at-pikes-peak-driver-wants-to-race-sunday/
Image from Electrek Performance link above.
More Crash, after-crash, and tow truck photos from InsideEEVs Website.
FINALLY, some inside the car video and audio of qualifying a Model 3 at Pikes Peak on the upper half, August, 2020. "Randy Pobst & Unplugged Performance - Pikes Peak 2020 Day 1 - Lower Section Qualifying Leader"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG7fqwD6xt0#action=share
Same day qualifying on the lower half of Pikes Peak Hill Run.
I missed the gauges that were shown in the first video, and the camera
angle was not as good as the first video as to seeing the road
ahead. However, the best part was Randy's comments during the run
and more importantly his summation at the end of the video.
Preparation of Electric Performance Tesla Model 3 Performance for Pikes Peak
Excellent update of pre-race qualifying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA0qHZ20ChM
Electric Performance Tesla Model 3 Performance at the starting line for qualifying. Source
On the Pikes Peak Website, I found this profile on Blake Fuller, the Electric Performance entry's driver. Photo Source.
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb 2020 Results
As it turned out Blake took first place in Exhibition Class in his 2018 Tesla Model 3 Performance
with time of 11:02, 45 seconds faster than his 1st place finish
in 2016 with a Tesla S. Complete run and interview of Blake right
after his winning run at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsfXeAJxymg&feature=youtu.be
Randy Pobost, who crashed earlier, but the car was rebuilt, drove his 2020 Unplugged Performance Tesla Model 3 Ascension-R
to second place with 11:04. Complete run with interior sound (Randy
talks a lot more than Blake during the run). Watch the speed on
the screen, even with thermal issues. This camera inside the car
seems more interesting than the camera on the top of the car as with
Blake. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvZMwiwnLVg
The third Tesla 3 crashed earlier, and was not heard from later in the week.
Interview of Blake Fuller the day after the race by Zak and Jesse of Now You Know Youtube: go to minute 3:30 of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz5rzxKzz6w
Click for a larger/readable image.
Pikes Peak results. Blake Fuller
in his Tesla Model 3 Performance finished 1st in Exhibition Division
setting a record time of 11:02, beating his own record setting run in
2016 by over 40 seconds. He was 20th 0overall, and Randy Pobst
finished 2 seconds behind him for 2nd in Exhibition Division also in a
Tesla Model 3. Blake was driving a stock Model 3
and look at the types of cars in the 20 or more he beat! All 44
entries, except for Blake's Tesla Model 3, were either built for Pikes
Peak or highly modified to run there.
Trip Statistics - Tesla Model 3
I again took a short August trip of 128 miles in our 3-month-old Tesla 3 and used 171 miles of "expected range" for 75% efficiency.
It was very hot so the air conditioning was on full blast, and the
Speed Limit on part of the trip was 70 mph. While at our
destination, I noticed on the Tesla app that while parked in 109 degree
heat that it was 125 degrees inside the car. I remotely turned on
the air conditioning from the app and lowered the temperature from 125
to 75 degrees while parked and it cost 2 "miles" of electricity.
About a week later we took a trip to nearly the same location. We drove 118.2 miles and used 246 Wh/mi or 4.07 kWh per mile. Since I had charged to 100% at home, the trip cost us about $4.00 for fuel. Because
it was hot at this location, I tried "Dog Mode" in the Tesla 3 which is
for leaving your dog in the car. You can set the
temperature. After 40 minutes, the car notified me that it had
been 40 minutes. At that time I discovered "Cabin Overheat
Protection" so I used it instead of "Dog Mode" and it kept the car from
going over105 degrees. Of course, that took some "miles".
Cabin Overheat Protection
The climate control system can reduce the temperature of the cabin in
extremely hot ambient conditions for a period of up to twelve hours
after you exit Model 3. Touch Controls > Safety & Security >
Cabin Overheat Protection and choose:
• OFF: Disable Cabin Overheat Protection.
NO A/C: Only the fan operates when the cabin temperature exceeds 105° F
(40° C). This option consumes less energy but the cabin temperature may
exceed 105° F (40° C).
• ON: The air conditioning operates when the cabin temperature exceeds 105° F (40° C).
Note: Cabin Overheat Protection operates only when the energy remaining in the Battery is above 20%.
From: Pg. 128 of the Owners Manual.
To me 105° in the
car would have made the black seats unbearable, I still turned on the
A/C from my iPhone just before we went out to the car to return home,
cooling the cabin to about 75°.
Trip Statistics - I.C.E. 2013 Chrysler Town & Country
I have been surprised at the 75% efficiency of our Model 3, but
I have never really checked on the efficiently of the expected range
compared to the actual range. When I filled up
with gas in our Town and Country last time, I recorded the cost -
$44.16 for 15.949 gallons at $2.769 per gallon. More importantly,
the car's MPG was 20.9. Since I have a 20 gallon tank and gas is
$2.769, it would cost $55.38 to fill the tank and the predicted miles
were 390 and my mileage was 98507. If the 390 is reached, that
would equal 14 cents per mile for fuel in a 20 MPG ICE car compared to
our Tesla Model 3 at 3 cents per mile for fuel.
After driving several miles in our I.C.E. car, I calculated the actual miles
(117) compared to the expected range (390) and got a % efficiency of 58.5%. (far below our Tesla Model 3.)
Over the Air Software Update No. 2020.32.2
In less than 3 months of ownership, we have received 4 over-the-air
software updates. The description of version 2020.32.2 follows:
Shots of the car's screen.
I answered "Yes" to this.
Speed Limit signs
This over-the-air update is supposed to show the speed limit sign
on the left above, and chime when the stoplight goes green if you do
not accelerate, but it takes some miles to calibrate. After a 1,000+ mile road trip, I don't see these 2 things happening. Perhaps they are for FSD models.
Teslas read speed limit signs, but does not adjust cruise if you enter
a lower speed area to the lowered limit. I learned from a
YouTuber that to drop cruise to the speed limit, tap the speed limit
sign and it resets your speed to that new limit. Also good if you
have set your cruise above the limit and think a radar unit might be up
ahead, tap the speed limit sign to go down to the speed.
Traffic aware cruise in suburban driving.
Near our house is a highway with many stop lights. I like to set
my cruise control to the speed limit so I am not speeding. The
car will decrease speed if a car going slower, or stopped in your lane
is detected, and resume when the light turns green. I must have
been following a stick shift car today because after leaving the green
light my car paused a bit while following the car ahead and it felt
like I had shifted gears! Just a reminder why Teslas win drag
races, no shifting.
Driving our Tesla Saloon.
I follow Tesla YouTuber, SpawnPoint in the UK and he refers to his white Model 3 as his "saloon"...the Queen's English for "Sedan".
Click on any image in this report for a larger, more readable, copy
Other car parts with different names in the UK compared to America. Full list.
From: adrianflux.co.uk/
Clean Fuel Reward Program, Southern California Edison.
In an earlier report, I mentioned the Clean Air Rebate Program for EVs through my electricity provider, Southern California Edison. Click here to read that report.
September 4, 2020, I received my $1,000 check:
