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

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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.

For those keen on an overview of the types of electric vehicles (EVs), simply scroll down to the end of the article.

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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:

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The Tesla Model S Electric Saloon

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Tesla Inc. (formerly Tesla Motors Inc.) was founded by American engineers, Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in 2003. They named the Palo Alto based company, Tesla, as a tribute to the engineer Nikola Tesla.  In fact, Elon Musk (Co-Founder, Tesla) become involved with the company post the founding of Tesla Motors. He was the lead  investor in the 2004  Series A investment round.

• 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 Tesla Model S was at one time, the second most-sold plug-in electric car globally, after the ubiquitous Nissan Leaf EV.  The Model S was first introduced in 2012. Since its launch, the Tesla green car has achieved significant milestones to include:

• Best selling plug-in all-electric car in 2015 and 2016
• Top selling new car in Norway in September and December 2013 
• Top selling new car in Denmark in December 2015 
• In 2019, Motor Trend Magazine named the Model S as the ultimate car of the year 

The United States is the largest market for the EV. The automotive manufacturer claims that the Model S electric car has the lowest drag coefficient of just .208 Cd and the Model S Plaid has the quickest acceleration of any vehicle in production.

The Tesla Model S is available in two variants: the entry-level Tesla Model S and the Tesla Model S Plain. The entry-level is a dual motor all-wheel drive (AWD), while the Plaid S is a Tri motor all-wheel drive (AWD).

In terms of pure electric range, both variants offer a class-leading EV range. The entry-level variant has a claimed zero-emission electric range up to 405 miles (WLTP), while the Plaid has a range up to 396 miles (WLTP).

Even adjusting for real-world driving conditions, the range for the Model S is impressive. For the entry level, expect a real-world electric range closer to 350 miles. For the Plaid, a pure electric range up to 335 miles is more realistic. 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.

Tesla incorporates a 16.5 kW 3-phase onboard charger as standard for the EV. However, as most homes in India are powered by single-phase power supply, taking advantage of the three-phase charger will be only for those with access to three-phase power supply at home. For single-phase (7.4 kW) EV charging at home, the EV will take up to 15 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 dual motor all-wheel drive Model S can achieve 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds, with a top speed up to 155 mph. The Tri motor all-wheel drive Tesla Model S Plaid can achieve 0-60 mph in 1.99 seconds, with a top speed up to 200 mph. Tesla claims that the Plaid can maintain 1,000+ horsepower all the way to 200 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 17 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, with ample head room and legroom. The boot size is 793 L.

The Tesla Model S electric saloon is not available in India.

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PROS	CONS
Class leading pure electric range	Expensive. Cheaper pure electric alternatives available
Powerful and fast electric performance	Build quality issues
Tesla Supercharger network (DC charging up to 250 kW)	Full Self-Driving option not cheap

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The All-Electric Tesla Model S Saloon (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 (2 Options)
Model S Long Range
Model S Plaid

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 95 kWh
Charging:	Up to 250 kW DC Rapid Charging. Onboard charger 16.5 kW AC (3-Phase)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	0g (CO2/km)
Warranty:	8 years or 120,000 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):	1445
Width (mm):	1964
Length (mm):	4970
Wheelbase (mm):	2960
Turning Circle (m):	12.4
Boot Space (L):	793

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Tesla Model S
EV Battery Capacity:	95 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	405 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km):	N/A
Charging:	Up to 250 kW DC Rapid Charging. Onboard charger 16.5 kW AC (3-Phase)
Top Speed:	155 mph
0-60 mph:	3.1 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	398
Max Power (hp):	670
Torque (Nm):	N/A
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	4
Weight (kg):	2,069
Colours:	5
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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Tesla Model S Plaid
EV Battery Capacity:	95 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	396 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km):	N/A
Charging:	Up to 250 kW DC Rapid Charging. Onboard charger 16.5 kW AC (3-Phase)
Top Speed:	200 mph
0-60 mph:	1.99 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	760
Max Power (hp):	1020
Torque (Nm):	N/A
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	4
Weight (kg):	2,162
Colours:	5
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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Types Of Electric Vehicles (EVs)

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“Electric vehicle” is an umbrella term, and a broad one at that. There are a number of different types of electric vehicles (EVs), each with its distinct characteristics and advantages. These include:

• BEVs: Battery-electric vehicles (pure electric)
• PHEVs: Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) combined)
• MHEVs: Mild hybrid electric vehicles (internal combustion engine (gasoline or diesel) along with regenerative braking)
• FCEVs: Fuel cell electric vehicle (electric with hydrogen as fuel)

The above “types” are powered either entirely or partially by electric energy and have different environmental impacts.

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Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

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Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), also known as pure electric vehicles, are powered entirely by electricity (i.e. the vehicle does not have a conventional internal combustion engine). BEVs have zero-tailpipe emissions and help improve local air quality.

BEVs are also very economical to drive. A BEV can cost as little as Rs 50 per 100 kilometres to drive. Examples of best-selling EVs include, the all-electric Tesla Model 3 and the all-electric Renault Zoe. A BEV is charged by plugging in the electric vehicle to a dedicated electric car charging station (home or public charging stations). BEVs are well suited for those living in towns, cities and urban centres. Of course, battery-electric vehicles are also suitable for those living in rural settings.

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Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) differ from battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), in that, PHEVs use both a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric engine for propulsion. Plug-in hybrid vehicles combine the advantages of electric driving and internal combustion engine driving.

On shorter distances, the PHEV uses the electric mode to drive emission-free, using the on-board EV battery and regenerative braking. For longer distances, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles switches to using the internal combustion engine. With a PHEV, the vehicle can cost as little Rs 50 per 100 kilometres to drive on e-mode, without any tailpipe pollution, and also be driven long-distances, without the fear of range anxiety! Most PHEVs have an EV battery of up to 15 kWh and can achieve a zero-emission electric range of up to 50 kilometres. No wonder PHEVs are fast becoming popular globally, with much potential or India. Like a BEV, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is charged by using an external power source (EV charging point) for charging.

PHEVs are suitable for those that drive long-distances on a regular basis but want to lower the negative environmental impact from tailpipe pollution. PHEVs are also suitable for those individuals and families that are seeking to save money by taking advantage of electric driving. The Volvo XC40 PHEV and the Volkswagen Golf 8 are good examples of PHEVs.

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Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEVs)

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Mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs) are a limited form of electric driving. These vehicles also use hybrid technologies (electric driving and internal combustion engine), but the EV battery is much smaller than a BEV or PHEV. Moreover, in a mild hybrid, the EV battery cannot be charged via an external source (i.e. EV charging station). In a MHEV, the battery is charged by capturing the energy released during braking, a process known as regenerative braking. MHEVs have lower tailpipe emissions, and are more economical to own, run and maintain than petrol and diesel cars. MHEVs are a better option than a petrol or diesel car, but not as good an option as a BEV or PHEV. Mild hybrids are well suited for those living in regions with limited charging infrastructure. Again, MHEVs have great potential in India, given the limited public EV charging infrastructure.

The Toyota Prius is a good example of a mild hybrid electric vehicle.

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Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs)

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Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) also called hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, have a fuel cell stack that uses hydrogen to generate the electricity needed to power the electric vehicle. The fuel cell generates electricity and pure water vapour that can escape via the tailpipe. It is capable of generating electricity as long as there is a steady supply of hydrogen. Fuel cell electric vehicles can be refuelled with hydrogen at purpose built filling stations. Filling an FEC takes no more than five minutes.

FCEVs have a range of about 500 kilometers or more between refueling. Today, the only and major limitation is the very limited hydrogen refuelling station network globally. The Toyota Mirai FCEV is a good example of this type of EV.

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