undefined | Better HN

0 pointsspectrum12346y ago0 comments

Right unless you routinely go on 500+ mile trips with a longer range Tesla or 400+ mile trips with the shorter range models there is no need for a gas car. I road trip a decent amount but I've released 4-5 hour drives aren't really an issue.

And of course those trips are possible you'd just need to stop 1-3 times for 10-15 mins (you charge faster at lower batter % vs fill up more range once). Now if you want to go 2x your battery range, then you actually start to have a mild inconvenience with charging time.

0 comments

cortesoft6y ago

I thought that, too, but I have taken a couple of longer (800 mile or so) trips in the Tesla and was pleasantly surprised. I thought the 'charge for 30 minutes' at a supercharger was going to seem like a lot of waiting, but by the time we unloaded the kids out of the car, went to the bathroom, etc, the car was already charged.

Being forced to stop every couple of hundred miles was really not that bad. Broke up the trip nicely.

Also, the autopilot is AMAZING for long trips. Even though you have to pay attention, it is so much less exhausting than fully driving. I kinda feel like a supervisor, watching out far down the road, looking out for strange things coming up, etc. Just a very pleasant experience.

automathematics6y ago

100%. Tesla is THE car for long roadtrips in the US and the narrative otherwise needs to stop.

CURRENT Superchargers charge up to 600 miles per hour. COMPLETELY dead to COMPLETELY full is like 30 minutes. But most stops to charge will only last long enough for you to pee and grab a red bull

NEW superchargers charge up to 1000 miles per hour. Do the math. You're going to have to start jogging if you want your redbull before idle fee's kick in.

Combine that with autopilot. I took a trip in a gas rental car recently and HATED it. Tesla for roadtrips for sure.

Fins6y ago

What really needs to stop is the fanboi narrative of "I drive my glorious Tesla like that (and damn the compriomises) so YOU BETTER LOVE IT TOO, AAARGGGHHHH!!!!!!"

If it works for your roadtrips, great. For mine it doesn't, and anyone telling me that I should enjoy spending an hour in some crummy location in the middle of nowhere waiting for the thing to charge (but only to 80%, or your battery will lose capacity!) are probably the same people who enjoy Elon's fart jokes.

atonse6y ago

I second this. I had the same concerns but we stop anyway with young kids. And charging has never felt too long. Since there are so many superchargers in the northeast US (DC-Boston) you can stop for 15 mins at a time even and that’s fine too.

The self driving makes road trips utterly relaxing.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse