Crashnburn80's Tesla Model 3 Performance Longer Range Build

Unfortunately larger foot prints and heavier GVWR weights are rewarded with fuel efficiency requirement exemptions, incentivizing building larger and heavier vehicles which is cheaper than investing in new technology to advance fuel ecomonmy. It's pretty disgusting really. Of course these exemptions were lobbied for by the Detroit automakers.

100% agreed. For ICE vehicles falling under the GVWR exemption part of the problem is the heavy US subsidization of fuel prices. If people paid closer to actual fuel cost like they do in Europe, it wouldn't matter if the vehicle got a fuel economy exemption, most people wouldn't buy it because it would cost dumb money to drive. And that is not a bad thing, the market would self correct, but that will never happen here. The truck EV market is an interesting one, one you'd expect Detroit to lead on this, but they don't. GM's Hummer repeats all the exact same mistakes that drove the brand into bankruptcy, but now they do so with an EV. Pathetic and a complete disgrace. Ford lacks dedication to build a ground up EV truck, instead retrofits an ICE vehicle platform as an EV providing mediocre results as one would expect. RAM is trying to sell a future hybrid with the 12+ year old 3.6 power plant as an extended range EV, what a joke.

I do think there should be some intelligent incentivization around vehicle weight mainly for the truck/suv market. Since trucks are so much less efficient than cars and weigh more, they take much larger batteries to provide similar range which further adds to the weight bias. Heavier batteries and curb weight further reducing range, so then more battery and weight is added to combat the loss, it is rapidly diminishing returns. Smaller and lighter is clearly the answer.

 

The Alpha Wolf has my eye but I’m going to need serious convincing on that brand to consider it. I’d predict a failure to make it to reach market. Crash seems similarly skeptical. We will see.

I guess my comment was aimed at the established automakers which includes Tesla now. Why no compact and light ev pickup? Just like crash says above (I started this reply before his post).

Rivians are amazing but pricey and heavy, aimed at the elite and meager on bed space and overall utility. If Alpha meets their targets then it will definitely be interesting but the track record for startup EV pickups says it’ll be expensive. Cybertruck is great new tech in some ways but mostly a concept vehicle in my mind. Utterly ridiculous and also too expensive, too esoteric, too elite.

Tesla had a real chance to deliver an economy pickup to the masses based on the Y and instead went all crazy on some sort of ridiculous attempt to rethink everything. I have to imagine many on that project have at least mixed feelings about the production cut. Definitely pride in the engineering but would any of the designers really want to daily drive it?

In my opinion, you get payload and towing / torque effectively free for an EV, the only real challenges to solve are range and balancing bed space and passenger seating. I like the range extender idea, that makes sense and also facilitates quick swapping vs charging. But clearly the key to range is keeping vehicle weight minimized and then coefficient of drag which Tesla and Rivian are pretty good at doing.

I’d wager that most double cab pickups either have 2 or fewer occupants or little to nothing in the bed for most trips. It’s typically either / or and having the option means wasting the space and dragging around extra weight and size.

Really the one thing I’d like to have seen in the cybertruck is a center seating position like the semi. That would be game changing. One seat up front, three behind, 5-7 ft bed w integrated ramp and range extender option, 20-22 ft length and 5000 lbs max curb weight preferably significantly less.

steer by wire facilitating 4 wheel steering is great for improving turning radius in longer wheelbases. Does it require 48V for the primary electrical? I don’t see why an EV can’t steer off one set of battery and run accessories off 12V. Maybe steering and air compressor off 48v, definitely stoked on adjustable air suspensions for the future.

I keep thinking a flatbed w slide in passenger pod could really make sense. Different pods for different uses. Effectively a convertible of sorts, store the pod when doing truck stuff then quickly attach it for passenger hauling.

mostly though, stick the driver as close to the front axle as possible. Crash ratings seem impressive. Take advantage of that. Truck bed cargo options eliminate the need for a frunk. Reduce size and weight somehow.

 

I think it would be cool if the CT bed shared some of the rear passenger space with some way to convert passenger space for bed space. Then the length could be reduced but you could still haul longer items if you didn't need to carry more than two people.
Wish it had a spare tire. Not sure how bow lines would work when carrying kayaks on the rack.
Not a fan of the single wiper implimentation. Mercedes did it years ago but they modulated the length as it swept the window from a center pivot so it covered more of the glass.

I still want one. I'm obligated to own my Y for 30 months as part of my state rebate but I'll be looking to get a CT or similar to replace both the Y and taco by then.

sorry for OT.

 

I think Rivian does all this better when comparing trucks. Rivian has longer range (without aux range extender packs in the bed), better cargo space with larger frunk, gear tunnel and optional full size spare that can be stowed in the bed compartment. It also offers quad motor for better off road control. But the Tesla is just a little lighter and quicker in top trims.


Rivian is supposed to release an R2T and R2S in late 2025 as a 2026 model. These will be smaller more basic models aimed at a much lower price point. Rivian is supposed to debut the vehicle next year. These will be smaller and lighter, should be interesting to watch.
https://www.howtogeek.com/rivian-r2t-and-r2s-release-specs-rumors-features/

 

I’ve seen a few of the Highland 3s in the wild now, but this was my first chance to park next to one today.

 

is $4.24 good or bad? I haven't bought gas in months so I'm out of the loop.

 

I have no idea. I only buy gas for the Tacoma a few times a year, and then I have $1 off from Safeway points to use at Chevron. Never pay attention to gas prices anymore, it’s great.

 

I’ve put one tank of gas in your old truck since September…

 

In 23 I filled my truck up once. So far in 24 I've filled my wife's car once and that was only so I could drive it enough to pass the emissions test. Once you get out of the habit of weekly gas station trips the process seems complicated and messy as compared to charging an EV.

 

In case you missed it, there is going to be a massive free trial of Full Self Driving this week.

 

Just filled up a few days ago @ $4.65. Which is cheap. Most of the big stations here are now $5/gallon.

Is that for vehicles that have not purchased FSD? Or those that paid for it, but Tesla has yet to deliver?

 

Correct, all existing vehicles that have an FSD computer, which looks like all Teslas after April 2019. Older vehicles with hardware 2 can have hardware updated to be FSD capable.

 

I wonder how soon before the first *reported* accident happens…

 

I think the FSD used to be like a $10k option? I guess it's standard equipment now, but you still have to pay a fee to use the feature?

 

Yeah, all cars after 4/19 have the capability, it’s just whether you pay to turn it on. You can either buy it for an absurd sum (think it is $15k now) or subscribe to it for $199/mo.

 

The Tesla's ability to send messages that the alarm is going off and ability to pull up live camera feed on my phone saved the car this past weekend. Stayed out of town, and got bombarded by non-stop messages from the car that the alarm is going off. When I pulled up the camera feed to see what is going on, I see the car is being taken and drug up onto a flatbed tow truck. Needless to say I was back to the car in no time and not a happy camper to put it nicely. Turned out the spot the hotel told me to park in was several blocks away, and not directly behind the hotel with the exact same number. Paid a dumb sum for them to drop the car and was royally pissed. But had the car not called for help and had the ability to show me what was happening, then outcome could have been far worse where I come out and the car is gone.

 

That's the universe telling you to buy tacoma parts