The Tesla Model 3 Electric Saloon: The Complete Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

For those keen on an overview of the Indian electric vehicle (EV) market and the benefits of zero-emission electric driving, simply scroll down to the end of the article!

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The Tesla Model 3 Electric Car

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Tesla Inc. (formerly Tesla Motors Inc.) is a US based electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer with the following portfolio of electric vehicles:

• All-electric Tesla Model X
• All-electric Tesla Model S
• All-electric Tesla Model Y
• All-electric Tesla Model 3
• All-electric Tesla Roadster
• All-electric Tesla Cybertruck

The all-electric Tesla Model 3 is a best-selling electric vehicle globally. Since its unveiling in 2016, the Tesla Model 3 has been making history.  Within a week of opening the booking for the ‘affordable’ Tesla, orders had topped 325,000 units. Deliveries to US customers commenced in July 2017. In February 2019, the Model 3 become the best selling plug-in electric car in the US.

The Tesla Model 3 electric car is available in three variants: the entry-level Tesla Model 3 with the standard battery, the Model 3 Long Range and the Model 3 Performance. The entry-level is a rear-wheel drive (RWD), while the other two are offered as dual motor all-wheel drive (AWD).

In terms of pure electric range, neither of the variants disappoint. The entry-level variant has a claimed zero-emission electric range up to 305 miles (WLTP), while the Long Range has a range up to a whopping 374 miles (WLTP). The top of the line, Model 3 Performance had an e-range up to 340 miles (WLTP).

Even adjusting for real-world driving conditions, the range for the Model 3 is impressive and class-leading. For the entry level, expect a real-world range closer to 260 miles. For the Long Range, a pure electric range up to 325 miles is more realistic. For the Performance, expect an electric range closer to 290 miles. For those new to electric driving, a number of factors impact the EV range. Some of these include: road conditions, speed, weather, payload, passenger load, tyre size, driving profile and more!

Tesla owners benefit from the Tesla Supercharger network. In fact, Tesla owns and operates the largest fast charging network globally (35,000+ globally). Tesla claims that Superchargers can add up to 172 miles of electric range in just 15 minutes. The Superchargers offers a maximum DC charging rate up to 250 kW. For single-phase (7.4 kW) EV charging at home, depending on the variant, the EV will take between 8 hours to 12 hours to fully charge.

We at e-zoomed encourage using a dedicated single-phase residential EV charger like myenergi zappi for charging at home. Though electric cars can be charged via a domestic 3-PIN plug, we at e-zoomed do not encourage using a domestic plug for charging an electric car.

In terms of performance, the entry-level rear-wheel drive Model 3 can achieve 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds, with a top speed up to 140 mph. The all-wheel drive Tesla Model 3 Long Range can achieve 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds, with a top speed up to 145 mph. The top of the line, Tesla Model 3 Performance can achieve 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds, with a top speed up to 162 mph. Of course, the Tesla electric car also benefits from instant torque.

The interior of the electric car is designed for minimalism and space. The EV includes a 15 inch touchscreen display and a number of advanced features, either available as standard or an additional option. Some of these include: all-glass roof, 360 degrees rear, side and forward-facing cameras, Tesla Vision (detects nearby cars, helps prevent potential collisions and assists with parking), Tesla Autopilot, summon, smart summon, auto park, auto lane change and more. The EV is practical and offers ample legroom and headroom for passengers. The boot size is 561 L.

The Tesla Model 3 electric car is not available in India.

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PROS	CONS
Good pure electric range	Expensive. Cheaper pure electric alternatives available
Fast electric performance	Options are expensive
Supercharger network	All-wheel drive not standard for all variants

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The All-Electric Tesla Model 3 (credit:Tesla)

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Driving an electric vehicle (EV) is cheaper than driving a petrol or diesel vehicle. As an example, in India, filling a full tank of fuel for the internal combustion engine (ICE) Tata Nexon SUV will cost up to Rs 5,000 (assuming an average cost per litre of Rs 100. The Tata Nexon has a fuel tank capacity of 44 L).

In comparison, the Tata Nexon Pure Electric SUV will cost less than Rs 300 for a full EV battery charge (EV Battery size: 30.2 kWh). In India, the average cost for residential electricity is between Rs 5 to Rs 10 per kWh(unit). Therefore the cost to drive per km (or mile) in a pure electric vehicle is substantially lower than a petrol or diesel vehicle.

At an average one can expect a cost per km of Rs 1 for a zero-emission EV, while for an equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle, the cost per km could be up to Rs 7 per km. The annual cost savings achieved by switching to electric driving is significant!

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Vehicle Type:	Saloon
Engine:	Electric
Available In India:	No

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Trims (3 Options)
Model 3
Model 3 Long Range
Model 3 Performance

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in three battery sizes: 53 kWh, 78 kWh, 82 kWh
Charging:	Up to 250 kW DC Rapid Charging. Onboard charger 11 kW AC (3-Phase)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	0g (CO2/km)
Warranty:	8 years or 100,000 miles

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Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):	6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):	3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+):	0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW):	0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)

• Note 1: SoC: state of charge

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Dimensions
Height (mm):	1443
Width (mm):	1849
Length (mm):	4694
Wheelbase (mm):	2875
Turning Circle (m):	11.8
Boot Space (L):	561

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Tesla Model 3
EV Battery Capacity:	53 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	305 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km):	154
Charging:	170 kW DC Rapid Charging. Onboard charger: 11 kW AC
Top Speed:	140 mph
0-60 mph:	5.8 seconds
Drive:	Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	239
Max Power (PS):	325
Torque (Nm):	420
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	4
Weight (kg):	1,752
Colours:	5
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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Tesla Model 3 Long Range
EV Battery Capacity:	78 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	374 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km):	152
Charging:	190 kW DC Rapid Charging. Onboard charger: 11 kW AC
Top Speed:	145 mph
0-60 mph:	4.2 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	324
Max Power (PS):	441
Torque (Nm):	493
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	4
Weight (kg):	1,844
Colours:	5
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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Tesla Model 3 Performance
EV Battery Capacity:	82 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	340 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km):	165
Charging:	250 kW DC Rapid Charging. Onboard charger: 11 kW AC
Top Speed:	162 mph
0-60 mph:	3.1 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	377
Max Power (PS):	513
Torque (Nm):	660
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	4
Weight (kg):	1,844
Colours:	5
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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India Electric Vehicle (EV) Market

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India, like many other countries, is well positioned to benefit from the shift to zero-tailpipe emission electric driving. Road transportation is a major contributor to air pollution (over 30%), choking our towns, cities and villages across India. Diesel vehicles, in particular, diesel trucks and diesel buses, are significant sources for tailpipe emissions. But given the rise in the standard of living, since liberalisation, the demand for privately owned passenger cars has increased at an unprecedented pace, further worsening the air quality. India has more than 3 crores (30 million) cars releasing tailpipe emissions on its roads!

Though we have seen some improvements in air quality during the ongoing pandemic (as a result of lower vehicle traffic), India’s shift to electric driving will be key in achieving long-term higher air quality. Of course, apart from EVs, the continued development of green and renewable energy infrastructure will be key in achieving lower long-term air pollution. India has already demonstrated global leadership in regards to large-scale solar and wind projects! Hopefully, India will replicate the success with zero-emission electric vehicles.

Despite recent announcements and support from local and national government agencies in India, the EV market is still at a nascent stage, well, at least in terms of electric cars and electric vans. Two-wheel electric scooters and three-wheel electric rickshaws (e-rickshaws) have demonstrated a strong uptake, and India is poised to become a global leader in electric scooters and electric rickshaws (e-tuk). In fact, the ubiquitous e-rickshaw commands an impressive 83% of the Indian electric vehicle market. India currently has over 15 lakhs (1.5 million) e-rickshaws, with each EV playing a role in reducing tailpipe emissions on our roads in India.

Sales of passenger electric cars is still at an early stage. In FY2021, though the market witnessed a growth of nearly 110% from the previous year, the absolute volume of cars sold was only 5,905 electric cars. Currently there are less that 15 pure electric car models available on sale in India.

Tata Motors, the biggest automotive manufacturer in India has launched the Tata Nexon electric SUV. Mahindra Electric, another leading Indian automotive manufacturer, has also launched a number of plug-in electric vehicles (EVs), to include, the Mahindra eVerito electric car, Mahindra eSupro electric van and Mahindra e2o Plus compact electric car. International manufacturers, like UK based MG Motors, have also launched the MG ZS electric SUV in India. Also available are the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE SUV and the Hyundai Kona electric SUV.

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Benefits Of Electric Driving

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The benefits of electric driving are many, with significant advantageous over petrol and diesel internal combustion (ICE) engine cars, for all stakeholders. These benefits include:

• Lower to zero-tailpipe emissions
• Lower running costs
• Lower taxes
• Lower maintenance costs
• Lower noise pollution
• Convenience of charging at home
• Smoother drive
• Instant torque for acceleration
• Lower environmental impact

Below we have highlighted three of our favourite benefits of owning and driving an electric car.

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Improved Air Quality

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Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) or all-electric vehicles do not have tailpipe pollution. In fact, such electric cars do not even have a tailpipe! Zero-emission electric driving has a real and immediate impact on local air quality i.e. improving air quality. While, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have reduced tailpipe pollution compared to traditional petrol and diesel vehicles. The sooner we migrate to electric driving in India, the sooner we can improve air quality for all our cities, towns and villages. Lower air pollution will also result in a reduced number of health issues arising from inhaling toxic pollutants.

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Lower Maintenance & Running Costs

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Electric vehicles (EVs) are cheaper to maintain and drive. Pure electric cars have far fewer moving parts compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The fewer the moving parts, the lower the probability of repair and maintenance. Moreover charging an electric car can cost as little Rs 50 per 100 kilometres! A full charge can cost between Rs 100 and Rs 200. Significantly cheaper than filling a tank of petrol or diesel!

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Lower Noise Pollution

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Yes, we in India are far more resilient to noise pollution than those living in the western world. We have certainly got used to horns blaring and engines roaring, day and night. But that does not mean we enjoy or welcome noise pollution. In fact, quite the opposite!

Though much focus has been on the advantageous of ‘air quality’ with an electric car, just as important, is the benefit of lower noise pollution. In fact, pure electric cars are silent, with an inbuilt ‘sound booster’ to increase road safety for pedestrians. As our cities in India and across the world become densely populated with cars, the significant negative impact on ‘quality of life’ as a result of increased noise pollution from petrol and diesel vehicles, is just as dangerous, as increased air pollution. Battery-electric cars are a perfect solution in reducing noise pollution and increasing the living standards for us all. Of course, one can only hope that the self inflicted ‘horn blaring’ pollution will also reduce!

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