The Model 3 Performance has two motors and can go from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph.
A “base” Performance version can be ordered for $64,000; the car I sampled was fully loaded, at $78,000.
I drove the Model 3 Performance for only about an hour, in less-than-ideal Manhattan conditions, but my overall impression was that the car is completely brilliant.
Here’s the bottom line: I really, really, really liked the Tesla Model 3 when I drove it earlier this year — but I like the high-performance version much, much better.
Earlier this year, I took my first proper spin behind the wheel of the Tesla Model 3, perhaps the most anticipated car in the history of the automobile industry. I had driven the Model 3 for about 15 minutes when it was launched in July of 2017, and I was impressed. The few hours that Business Insider had with the well-equipped $57,500 rear-wheel-drive version of the vehicle reinforced all my initial enthusiasms.
Tesla Model3 (Image: Wikimedia/Carlquinn)
That was just the appetizer, however. The entrée arrived this week: the $78,000 high-performance, dual-motor, all-wheel-drive Model 3. Tesla has labeled its previous cars in this category with a “P” (for performance) and a “D” (for dual-motor), along with the kilowatt-hour designation of the battery. Thus, the high-performance AWD Model S with the biggest battery available in the P100D.
Not so with the Model 3. The trim I sampled doesn’t have Model 3 badging at all and get just a “Dual Motor” label on the rear. Tesla refers to it as the Model 3 Performance.
I had a few complaints about the Model 3, but they’ve faded with time. And my main beef with what I’ve been calling the P3D was with the elevated pricing. But Tesla has adjusted it, so that a “base” P3D can be had for $64,000. If you take a pass on some of the upgrades, you get a considerably better driving experience than what the tricked-out RWD Model 3 offers — for less than $10,000 extra.
The P3D is an important evolution of the Model 3 for Tesla, which isn’t currently manufacturing the no-frills $35,000 version of the car (that vehicle will have a smaller battery than the Model 3’s now on sale, as well as a more bare-bones interior). Tesla needs revenue, and the pricey P3D will bring it in. Besides, the company’s history is that buyers tend to flock to its more expensive cars, at least initially.
Three years after Dieselgate, automakers are still exploiting ‘the lawful but awful ways’ to achieve the best possible scores for CO2 testing in the EU
When Volkswagen was caught cheating diesel emissions tests in 2015, one of the first actions its engineers took was to launch a secret project: to obtain cars from rival manufacturers and conduct tests on their emissions. Its aim was to find evidence of widespread cheating across the industry, so guilt could be spread around and penalties diluted, say two people inside the company.
The Volkswagen Scandal, in other words, might helpfully become the Car Scandal.
Vehicles from Fiat, Hyundai and others were tested for harmful nitrogen oxide emissions by VW engineers at the group’s Wolfsburg headquarters from late 2015 to early 2016. The engineers had a simple conundrum: VW had just admitted to equipping 11m cars with software to detect laboratory tests and enable them to enter a low-emissions mode. If VW’s best engineers found regulations so onerous that they resorted to deliberate fraud, what had its rivals done?
A third person in the company insists there was a more innocent explanation for the tests. Engineers uninvolved in the original cheating had to use rival cars as control variables to better understand their own sophisticated software — some of it supplied by third parties and used by rival brands. “We were not dirtying others’ hands to make our own look clean,” says this employee.
Volkswagen declined to comment on this previously unreported episode.
What the engineers found shocked them. Rival brands’ NOx emissions were considered “a complete disaster”. Performance on the road was “completely different to the technical data”, says a VW worker briefed on the results. The overall summary of whether rivals were also skewing emissions results was clear: “It’s not only VW who is cheating.”
What is unclear is whether rivals were deploying the same strategy as VW — using a “defeat device” to illegally trick regulators into believing its cars were green — or if they had simply become better at bending the rules on tests, a problem that still exists with petrol cars today, as the European Commission revealed last month when it disclosed the latest “tricks” carmakers were using to exploit loopholes for incoming 2020 emissions procedures.
The distinction is blurred but important. VW paid the consequences of crossing the line and cheating NOx emissions tests in the US. But the efforts of other carmakers to legally undermine testing for both NOx and CO2 in Europe have never resulted in real penalties.
“Legal optimisation was done on an industrial scale,” says Nick Molden, chief executive of Emissions Analytics, which conducts real-world driving emissions tests. “It became so ingrained in how cars were certified that the carmakers didn’t understand they had done something wrong . . . That’s the scandal in Europe: that these actions were not illegal.”
Gerry Keaney, chief executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), has called on Government to “get its act together” and address the “obvious failures” in its short-term tax policies for electric cars.
The current company car tax and VED rates act as “a positive disincentive” to fleet operators and drivers who want to take an electric car as a company car, Keaney told delegates as the BVRLA’s annual Fleet Technology Congress.
The company car tax band for zero emissions vehicles is currently scheduled to increase over the next two years to a high of 16% in 2019/20, before dropping to 2% the year after. The BVRLA wants the Government to accelerate the introduction of the 2% band.
“Short-term tax policy relating to electric cars today makes zero sense to anybody,” Keaney said. “It doesn’t reflect any sort of connected thinking between an air quality objective, between the diesel campaign that’s going on, between the tax harmonisation objectives.”
He urged the Government to take action in November’s Budget because “if it wants to make a difference, that is the single biggest thing it can do to accelerate the take-up of electric cars”.
Once the Government has addressed its short-term tax policy it needs to look at the longer-term because as the take-up of electric vehicles grows, the tax yield from both company cars and private cars will decline rapidly, Keaney said.
“There needs to be a grown-up discussion in the UK about what is going to replace the current tax yield that comes from cars when looking to tax electricity, for example. How is electricity going to be taxed? What is the role it’s going to play? How is it going to be addressed?”
Keaney repeated calls from the Fleet Industry Manifesto, put together by Fleet News, fleet operators’ association ACFO and the BVRLA in 2015, for the Government to consider road pricing to replace fuel duty.
“Road charging is politically unacceptable today,” Keaney said.
“But actually, as the tax yield from hydro-carbons declines, there needs to be a discussion, and we need to be part of that, on how we top up the Exchequer’s coffers.”
The Prius has been the long-standing darling of the eco-conscious car crowd. But that’s changing in a hurry with the Tesla Model 3.
First some background. Let’s start with Elon Musk speaking during this past week’s second-quarter 2018 earnings conference call.
“The more Model 3s we deliver to the field, it’s actually causing viral growth of our sales. So, if we deliver a Model 3 to somebody [and] they love it, they tell all of their friends…really our customers are our primary sales force…that’s the thing that fundamentally drives our sales.”
–Elon Musk, August 2, 2018 Tesla earnings conference call
Tesla Model3 (Image: Wikimedia/Carlquinn)
Then later in the conference call Robin Ren, VP Worldwide Sales at Tesla, cited the Prius as the first among a list of five cars that Model 3 buyers are trading in.
“So, we looked at what people who are buying Model 3 cars in the United States, what cars they are trading in. What we found is through this year, from January to July, the top five non-Tesla cars people are trading in to get into a Model 3. They are Toyota Prius, BMW 3 Series, Honda Accord, Honda Civic and Nissan Leaf.”
–Robin Ren, VP Worldwide Sales at Tesla, August 2, 2018 Tesla earnings conference call
Many — if not most — of those are likely older traditional Prius hybrids and not the newer plug-in hybrid Prius Prime. The former, which Toyota began producing in 1997, has been the top-selling car for eco-conscious buyers for almost two decades.
West Sussex County Council takes delivery of four 100 percent electric Renault ZOE
Vehicles will be used as pool cars and form part of the council’s drive to reduce emissions
Local authority was convinced by the ZOE’s class-leading real-world range of 174 miles
All-electric Renault ZOE priced from £18,420 OTR (after PiCG, plus battery rental)
Renault continues to be the best-selling manufacturer of all-electric vehicles in Europe
West Sussex County Council has become the latest in a long line of public sector organisations to take its first steps into electric motoring with the 100 per cent electric Renault ZOE.
The local authority has added four ZOE Q90 Dynamique Nav models with the Z.E.40 battery to its 530-strong fleet – its first pure EV cars – after being convinced by the model’s 174-mile estimated real world range.
West Sussex Council Fleet Goes Electric With Renault ZOE (Image: Renault)
Based at County Hall in Chichester, the models are already in service as pool cars, helping the council reduce emissions by tackling grey fleet car use and cut costs by offering staff an alternative to using their own vehicles.
Already, the vehicles are proving extremely popular and are booked out everyday. Between them, the vehicles will complete several thousand journeys per year, allowing users to travel from council HQ to points as far afield as Crawley and Shoreham and back on a single charge.
Loretta Haddow, Team Leader – Fleet Resource and Support, at West Sussex County Council, said:
“We have had electric vehicles on trial and extended demos before and must have looked at every model out there but they have never been quite right for us.
“But the latest ZOE was the game changer for us and the extended range made it a viable option for the first time.
“We are really pleased that the ZOE is able to get across the county and back and we wanted to give everyone who’s going to take one of these cars the confidence to know that wherever they’re going to go they’re going to get back again.
“Since going into service we’ve been really impressed with how easy and relaxing they are to drive. The team love them. They’re really popular.”
Haddow added:
“While range and emissions were the biggest factors for us, as a public sector organisation we still have to present a compelling business case before adding new vehicles to our fleet. In this case, the ZOE ticked all the boxes in terms of whole life costs.”
Ben Fletcher, Head of Z.E., Renault UK said:
“We are delighted to have supplied four Renault ZOE to West Sussex County Council. The ZOE provides low running costs with no emissions as well as a relaxing environment. This is proof of another public sector body recognising the business and environmental benefits of adopting the Renault ZOE.”
ZOE is the best-selling electric car in Europe with more than 100,000 ZOE sold since launching in 2013 with over 6,000 in the UK. ZOE is one of three models in Renault’s diverse electric vehicle range which also includes the Twizy quadricycle, the Kangoo Van Z.E., Europe’s best selling electric van, and the forthcoming Master Z.E. large panel van.
The Renault ZOE is available in a choice of two trim levels, Dynamique Nav and Signature Nav, both of which come with the new R110 electric motor, combining extra power with driving enjoyment and the Z.E 40 battery that provides a 174-mile real world range. For customers more likely to use public rapid chargers whilst travelling longer distances, the Q90 option is available with both trim levels. This charges the ZOE from 0-80 per cent full in just over an hour when using a 43kW charge point. The MY18 ZOE Q90 with Z.E.40 battery provides an estimated real-world range of 174 miles.
The Dynamique Nav offers a comprehensive specification, which combines comfort with convenience, safety and security. Standard features include Hands Free keycard, automatic lights and wipers, rear parking sensors, cruise control, climate control, 7-inch R-Link infotainment system with voice-controlled TomTom sat nav, electric windows and LED Daytime Running Lights. The top-of-the-range Signature Nav adds further luxury with features such as supple premium leather upholstery, BOSE® audio system, heated front seats, electrically folding door mirrors and a rear parking camera. Renault’s Range OptimiZer technology ensures ZOE is highly efficient with its heat pump, a bi-modal braking system and Michelin ENERGY E-V tyres.
ZOE continues to be available to purchase in two ways. First, under a battery hire scheme, where ZOE pricing starts at £18,420 (OTR) after the Government Plug-in Car Grant, with battery leasing from £59 per month. It is easy to purchase a used ZOE with a battery lease – the new owner simply chooses which leasing option suits their needs the best and starts monthly payments based on their lease plan. You can also buy the ZOE outright. ZOE i ‘full purchase’ models start from £24,020 (OTR) after the Government Plug-in Car Grant, giving the buyer full ownership of the battery with no monthly battery lease payments.
EVs to hit 11 percent of new car market by 2030, with up to 40 million charging stations worldwide.
A new study finds that electric vehicles (EVs) and their charging stations are poised to see explosive growth over the next decade.
At the same time, utilities, car companies, and other businesses are pursuing a variety of charging strategies — many of which will be very cheap and possibly even free for consumers.
By 2030, EVs are projected to comprise 11 percent of the new car market, with up to 40 million charging points worldwide, according to a new study by Greentech Media (GTM), a division of Wood Mackenzie.
Electric cars charging in Milton Keynes (Image: T. Larkum)
So power demand for EV charging will soar, led by China, North America, and Europe.
To reach this kind of exponential growth in charging infrastructure, GTM explains, “utilities, along with manufacturers, oil and gas giants and sector-specific specialists, will need to test new business models.”
One of the most innovative business models comes from a U.S. startup, Volta Charging, which bills itself as “the largest free electric car charging network in the US.” It has raised nearly $60 million to create an EV charging network that shows video ads, providing revenue designed to allow free charging for customers.
So far “sponsored stations have delivered over 22 million free electric miles,” the company says, “saving over 9 million pounds of CO2.”
By 2040, the UK government wants all new cars to be either electric or hybrid, and the switchover could have major implications for the UK housing industry.
The government’s “Road to Zero” strategy, set to be phased in over the next 20 years which will lead to a complete ban on non-electric cars being sold in the UK, is a huge step forwards in reducing emissions and promoting a cleaner, greener way of life for the country.
Charging at home (Image: T. Larkum)
While there is still debate over exactly which vehicles will be affected, with recent news that petrol and diesel hybrid cars could be exempt from the new rules, as well as a target for 50% of all new cars to be ultra-low emission by 2030, it will undoubtedly have a huge effect on the country’s housing market, which will need to be ready to cater to the changes.
Best and worst places for electric cars
One study conducted recently by Motorway.co.uk has revealed that much of the country is largely unprepared for such an overhaul in terms of its property stock, with many areas having very low levels of off-street parking available – which will be a necessity after the switchover so that people are able to charge their electric cars near their homes.
Chargemaster is offering to install 4,000 plug-in vehicle charging points at AA hotels and B&Bs for free across the UK to boost infrastructure for drivers.
The strategic partnership between the AA, Chargemaster and its new parent company BP, will see hotels fitted with 50kW rapid chargers for any EV driver to use on the POLAR network.
Chargemaster Rapid Chargers next to Milton Keynes Central railway station parking (Image: T. Larkum)
The first hotel to benefit from the offer is Sandford Springs Hotel in Kingsclere, Hampshire.
Chargemaster will work with any AA-inspected establishments interested in taking up the offer to determine the best charging points for their location
Research by Chargemaster shows that 90% of EV drivers will seek out destinations that have charging points over those that don’t, meaning that having a charging point provides an additional draw for hotels while the EV market continues to develop.
David Martell, chief executive of Chargemaster, said: “We believe that within the next five years, all hotels will offer EV charging, just like they provide Wi-Fi today.
“Our offer for AA hotels is a great opportunity for hotel owners and operators to get a competitive advantage with a facility that could attract hundreds of thousands of customers in the coming years.”
A team from Nissan, together with the all-new 2018 Nissan Leaf, were involved in an extreme test of both electric and human endurance in support of an all-electric attempt at the National Three Peaks Challenge in the UK recently.
The National Three Peaks Challenge involves ascending and descending the three highest peaks of Scotland (Ben Nevis, 1,345 metres), England (Scafell Pike, 978 metres), and Wales (Snowdon, 1,085 metres), and driving between all three, in just 24 hours.
Nissan Leaf (Image: Qurren/Wikipedia)
With the Leaf offering a larger capacity battery (40 kWh) and longer range (270 km combined), and the UK’s rapid charging infrastructure well developed along the route, two teams joined forces on a warm June day to take on the challenge.
Split into two units of Nissan Leaf, the teams started at 12 pm at Ben Nevis on one of Scotland’s hottest days of the year, with temperatures nearing 30-degrees Celsius. Descending the mountain mid-afternoon, the journey continued south to England, the Lake District and Scafell Pike, which was climbed in the very early hours of the morning with ambient temperatures still topping 20-degrees.
The morning of the second day brought the teams into Wales and towards their final destination of Snowdonia and the final peak – Snowdon.
The European passenger plug-in market continues pushing forward. In June, the continent registered some 38,000 plug-in electric vehicles (PEV), up 37% relative to the same period last year and the continent’s second best performance ever.
That showing pulled the year-to-date (YTD) count to some 185,000 deliveries (+43% year over year, or YoY). In total, the 2018 PEV market share of the overall car market there is up to 2.2% (2.4% in June).
This time, fully electric cars (BEVs) grew slower (+20%) than PHEVs (+55%). Will we see all-electrics bounce back in the second half of the year?
Looking at Europe’s fuel mix, diesel continues to drop significantly (-16% YoY) in a growing market (+5.2%), while all other fuels (including CNG, LPG, …) are on the rise, profiting from the diesel-fleeing stampede. At this pace, the new registrations of diesel-powered vehicles will be virtually dead by 2025.
June saw the Renault Zoe beat the Nissan Leaf for the first time since February, with BEVs continuing to own the top positions. The Tesla Model S, meanwhile, profited from the usual last-month-of-quarter peak to join the top 5. It landed in the #4 position.
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV managed to score another top 5 presence as well, winning at the same time the bestselling PHEV award.
Among models that landed in 2018, the best selling one is the Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV, which registered 235 units in June, adding to the current 498 registrations made this year.
