2013 Tesla Model S: Revised High Powered Wall Connector In-Hand
July 31, 2013
Just over a month ago we found out that our as-yet-uninstalled Tesla HPWC (High Powered Wall Connector) contained a flaw that would prevent it from working at the 80-amp charge rate it's supposed to. Internal fuses were blowing in customer units in the field, leading Tesla to send out a software update to all vehicles to prevent them from drawing more than 60 amps until they had a fix.
We learned about all this through a Tesla message board, but we'd heard nothing from Tesla directly. So we put our installation plans on hold and gave them a call to find out when we might get our hands on a revised one.
It arrived on my desk while I was on a business trip last week, about 4 weeks after I put in the call.
Here's what a new HPWC with "the fix" looks like inside.
2013 Tesla Model S: Fingers Stuck in the Door Handle
July 30, 2013
This 11-second video I made of the Tesla Model S door handles got lots of comments and questions on YouTube and Reddit.
The Reddit community mostly asked about their operation in icy weather conditions (which I can't test at the moment) and also wanted to know what happens if you get your fingers stuck in there when it closes.
So, I tested it. I can tell you this before you watch the video. The door handles do not detect an "intruder" and pop back out automatically. They continue to close.
Click through for the video...
2013 Tesla Model S: HOV Stickers
July 29, 2013
Clean air stickers on our filthy 2013 Tesla Model S. First stop is the car wash. Next stop is the HOV-lane to bypass as much traffic as possible. We may even wait until rush hour just so it feels more satisfying.
2013 Tesla Model S: Too Few Cupholders
July 25, 2013
A few nights ago the Oldham's pushed aside our daily intake of skinless grilled chicken breasts and kale smoothies and hit the drive-thru at the local Jack in the Box where breakfast is served 24/7 and the new slogan is Go Big or Go Hungry.
We went big.
2013 Tesla Model S: Charging Network Extended
July 23, 2013
Dan Edmunds approaches me once a year to reserve a car for his annual family tour of the northwestern states. This year he asked for our 2013 Tesla Model S. A week or so later he changed his mind, citing the lack of supercharging stations along his route. The extra time required to refill at civilian charging stations didn't fit into his time schedule.
Now Tesla has announced an extension of its supercharger network in the Pacific Northwest. Dan may want to rethink his plans.
2013 Tesla Model S Performance: Uphill, Downhill
July 19, 2013
Here's a shot of the Energy Consumption screen after driving up and down a steep hill in Palos Verdes, CA.
The normal fully charged estimated range offered by the Tesla Model S is based on maintaining an average of 300 Wh/mi (Watt-hours per mile), the gray line you see going across the screen. Most of my driving style rests above that line, not usually as high as the average in this photo showing 439.
2013 Tesla Model S Performance: Back Seat Review
July 18, 2013
Two of my friend's birthdays are one day apart in July. So, I piled the gang into our long-term 2013 Tesla Model S and drove them to a local restaurant for a celebratory dinner.
I asked for a review of the back seat after having three adults sitting across. The tallest of the group is 6'1" and he was sitting behind the front passenger seat. He said there was plenty of hip and elbow room but the way the ceiling is shaped, he had to tilt his head to the side to avoid it touching the top. He added that if he was sitting in the middle, under the glass sunroof, he would've been fine.
2013 Tesla Model S Performance: Have App, Will Play
July 17, 2013
I'm fairly obsessed with the iPhone app for our 2013 Tesla Model S. Every once in a while I just check in to see how the car is doing. It's like having a baby monitor for your car.
I noticed that it loses some estimated range just being parked overnight. Not sure if it is consuming a small amount of energy while it rests or if it adjusting itself based on my driving style from my latest trip. Either way, I check the app occasionally to see where I stand.
2013 Tesla Model S Performance: Broken Sunroof Fixed Quickly
July 16, 2013
Late last week our 2013 Tesla Model S suffered a jammed sunroof because the pop-up wind deflector had inexplicably broken in two. The piece that was left behind fell into such a position that it jammed up the works.
Someone at Tesla got wind of this after I posted a tweet on my personal Twitter account, and they sent me a message on Saturday. I promptly emailed them the same pictures I'd taken for the "Broken Sunroof" post that went up a few days ago.
On Monday I got word back that the local service center probably had the part in hand, they wouldn't know for sure until they eyeballed it themselves. So, we set up a Tuesday appointment for 12:30 pm. The local service center is only a couple of miles away, and they have a concierge service, so they sent someone over to pick it up so I could keep on working.
The guy's credentials checked out, and he knew the story without prompting, but I was still a bit nervous when I handed over the key. This sort of dealer valet service isn't new, but I'd never personally used anything like it before.
So I spied on him as he drove away. I followed his progress back to the service center on the Tesla iPhone app.
2013 Tesla Model S Performance: Door Handles
July 15, 2013
Love 'em or hate 'em, the door handles on the 2013 Tesla Model S are unique and add to the space-age vibe of the car.
Click through for an 11-second video of the driver door handle in action.
2013 Tesla Model S Performance: My First Time
July 11, 2013
I don't know why it has taken me this long to drive our long-term 2013 Tesla Model S. But somehow it worked out that way. I had Dan give me a run-down so I wouldn't screw anything up.
Despite reading all of the posts in our long-term section, driving this car is new to me. So bear with me if I repeat observations that other editors have made.
Let's start at the beginning. I didn't have to use the key fob to open the door. As my hand got close to the recessed door handle, it popped out for my use. As I slid into the driver seat, the car started. Dan told me the car starts when your body hits the seat. You turn the car off the same way. Get out and it shuts off.
2013 Tesla Model S: Broken Sunroof
July 10, 2013
My daughter was curious about the all-glass sunroof in our 2013 Tesla Model S. So I opened it for her, or tried to.
It jammed at 21-percent open and went no farther. I closed it without incident and tried once more. Same result, except just 20 percent this time.
The trouble seemed to originate on the driver's side just above my head where I could hear a faint click. And I could see the glass panel pull up short on my side, too, as the whole mess cocked sideways a tiny bit before the action ground to a premature halt.
I saw what was going on in short order once we all exited the car at home. But it was also abundantly clear that I wasn't going to be able to fix it myself. This looked to be a job for the Tesla service center.
2013 Tesla Model S: Supercharger Charging: How Fast Is Fast?
July 9, 2013
I've been very interested in the ins and outs of rapid charging at a Tesla Supercharger station ever since they first announced the build-out of the Supercharger network. I've become even more interested of late, because I'm considering taking the 2013 Tesla Model S on my next bi-annual trip to the remote Oregon Coast to visit my parents.
The Supercharger network will loom large during this journey, and I need to know exactly what I can expect in terms of downtime at each stop.
Tesla's claims for charging speed are not absolute. Weasel-words like "up to" and "as fast as" pepper the discussion. One says a Supercharger will "provide half a charge in about 20 minutes." At the Supercharger unveiling they said they could "provide 3 hours of driving in as little as 30 minutes."
These claims are astounding, even if they prove to be half true in less-than-perfect conditions. But they didn't give me the specificity I needed to plan my trip.
So I headed to the nearby Hawthorne supercharger with our 2013 Tesla Model S, arriving with just 29 miles in the tank. My plan was to take screen grabs from the Tesla iPhone app at intervals as it charged, then put everything in Excel and graph them when I got home.
2013 Tesla Model S: Commentary from the Public
July 4, 2013
Our 2013 Tesla Model S gets much more attention than any car in our fleet. I easily get ten times more questions about the Tesla than even our immaculate 1987 Buick GN or the shouty-SLS. You simply can't get out of it without someone saying something, snapping a photo, or turning to their friends and pointing out what's just pulled up.
Click through to read a few of the interesting remarks I heard during a few days in the Model S.
2013 Tesla Model S: Would You Sign the Petition?
July 3, 2013
Tesla Motors wants the ability to sell cars directly to consumers in all U.S. states without a dealer network.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that an "anonymous Tesla enthusiast" started a petition to put before President Obama. The petition has passed the required 100,000-signature threshold to merit a response from the White House.
2013 Tesla Model S: High Power Wall Connector Flaw
July 2, 2013
More than one person has quizzed me about it over the last couple of weeks, including my boss's boss, whose title is a three-letter acronym beginning with "C" and ending with "O".
"Why is that still sitting on your desk?" they ask, pointing at the white cardboard box containing the HPWC (High Power Wall Connector) we bought with our 2013 Tesla Model S.
"Uhhh...it's complicated?"
A Tesla HPWC draws 240V single-phase power at 80 amps through a 100-amp circuit breaker, enough juice to refill an empty 85kWh Model S battery and restore its 265 miles of maximum driving range in just over four hours. Put another way, a Model S charges at up to 62 mph through a HPWC, as in 62 miles of driving for every hour on the plug.
Our Coulomb Level 2 charge station draws 30 amps through a 40-amp circuit, plenty for all other EVs on the market. But it takes over a dozen hours to refill an empty Model S. Slow as this sounds, it would do until we got our HPWC installed. Many Edmunds staffers drive less than 50 miles overnight, which the Coulomb can deal with in less than 3 hours.
That's great, but why is it still sitting on your desk, Dan?
2013 Tesla Model S: Late to the Party
July 1, 2013
"Dear Customer,
Your High Power Wall Connector (HPWC) did not ship with a cable organizer. Once the cable organizer part is available in February, we will ship you one.
"As an alternative to installing the cable organizer next to your HPWC, Tesla recommends coiling the cable around the exterior of the HPWC. The shape of the connector is designed to secure the coiled cable against the mounting surface."
This was a note we received from Tesla — in late April. That's when our HPWC arrived, a couple of months after we got the car. Model S cars may be speedy, but the shipping of parts that go with them is another story. We finally got the cable organizer this week, four months after the promised delivery date.
2013 Tesla Model S: Cabin Boom
June 27, 2013
Our long-term 2013 Tesla Model S has a boomy cabin. It may be noticeable only because otherwise this is an uncommonly quiet car, but boom it does, each time a tire thumps against a bump in the pavement.
2013 Tesla Model S: Its Door Handles Drive Me Nuts
June 26, 2013
Seems I'm in the minority regarding the door handles of our long-term 2013 Tesla Model S. You see, I cannot stand them. That motorized feature is goofy and unnecessary, serving only to provide a gee-whiz impression the first time you use them and after that the novelty is gone and then they're simply a potential trouble spot. They lack tactility, as there's a delay between when you tug and when the solenoid fires, so the door feels as though it sticks slightly. Not a lux vibe, that.
2013 Tesla Model S: It's Got a Big Trunk
June 25, 2013
The task of transporting a set of wheels for my personal car recently fell to our 2013 Tesla Model S. Even with the rear jump seats installed there was plenty of space for four large boxes.
2013 Tesla Model S: Impresses Everyone
June 24, 2013
I was hanging out at my local cheese store one morning and we were talking about the Tesla that I parked in the back. I was trying to describe why I liked it so much. I tried equating its acceleration with a strong gust of wind propelling you, or a flood of torque that is eerily silent. Nothing seemed to convey what I was trying to explain. Finally I just said, "You know what? Let's pile in and go for a spin."
2013 Tesla Model S: Navigation's On the Fritz Again
June 21, 2013
If you're counting, this is the fourth time we've had to reset the touchscreen in our Tesla Model S not including the screen replacement in March. This time, it was because the web-based navigation system was missing large portions of its map, no matter where I drove.
2013 Tesla Model S: So Cool. So Fast. So Devoid of Passion.
June 20, 2013
A few days ago I took our long-term 2013 Tesla Model S home for the first time. Driving a Model S is an interesting experience.
It's luxurious and upscale, and it feels, well, expensive. And large. And substantial.
And even though the Models S has been out for awhile now, people were giving it second, third and even fourth glances as I motored south on the 405.
2013 Tesla Model S: Philosophical Range Anxiety
June 19, 2013
Last Thursday when it was my turn to pick a car for the weekend the Tesla Model S was available. It was the moment I'd been waiting for. I genuinely like this car. I like its speed, styling, the progress it represents and the fact that I can feel genuinely patriotic when I drive it. It's good like that.
But I went home in the Mazda CX-5.
2013 Tesla Model S: First 5,000 Miles
June 18, 2013
We've officially driven our long-term 2013 Tesla Model S 5,000 miles since we purchased the electric sedan back in January.
2013 Tesla Model S: Plenty of Room in Back
June 17, 2013
After knocking our Tesla Model S for its average seats up front, I figured it was only fair to take a closer look at the rear seats. Turns out, they're pretty solid, and not in an overly firm kind of way.
2013 Tesla Model S: Poor Door Lock Controls
June 14, 2013
There are many things I like about the main control screen in our Model S. The door lock control screen is not one of them.
It's not the screen itself that's the problem, it's the fact that it's the only means of locking and unlocking the doors other than using the key fob itself.
2013 Tesla Model S: Tesla Model S vs. Fisker Karma
June 12, 2013
As I drove our 2013 Tesla Model S home last night, I passed a Fisker Karma. After passing the Karma and giving a "Yup, we both love the environment and have $100K to spend on it" nod to the driver, I couldn't help thinking about the vastly different directions these companies are heading.
The Karma is on its way out, while the Model S is the favored new kid on the block (at least in Southern California), but why?
2013 Tesla Model S: Hit and Miss Door Handles
June 10, 2013
The door handles on the 2013 Tesla Model S are one step away from being great. Allow me to explain.
For one, they're well designed. When they're retracted, they blend nicely into the contour of the door. When they're deployed, they have a simple, functional shape that easily fits the biggest hands.
2013 Tesla Model S: Average Seats for the Price
June 7, 2013
As impressive as our 2013 Tesla Model S is for a pure electric car, it's still a very expensive car in general. And with a price tag of well over $100,000, there are certain expectations that come along with it.
2013 Tesla Model S: Screen Blanks Out Again
May 29, 2013
The primary display screen on our 2013 Tesla Model S went blank, again. If you are keeping track, this is the third outage in three months of ownership. A recap follows...
2013 Tesla Model S: Cargo Cover Arrived
May 24, 2013
Six weeks after taking delivery of our 2013 Tesla Model S, the cargo cover arrived. It was disappointing that we had to wait so long for the arrival of the $250 optional cargo cover, which Tesla prefers to call a parcel shelf. But that was nothing compared to how long we waited for the charger to show up.
2013 Tesla Model S: The Center Console (Or Lack Thereof)
May 20, 2013
I don't understand the Tesla Model S's center console, or rather its lack of one. There's just a carpeted strip on the floor with little walls on the side. It's basically a gutter. Is this appealing?
2013 Tesla Model S: One Mile Per Second
May 15, 2013
Our long-term 2013 Tesla Model S hauls the mail. The thrust available underfoot when trundling along at city speeds is immense. When you floor it from a low speed, the Tesla delivers an instant, seamless wallop of potent, even giddying, acceleration.
2013 Tesla Model S: Great Mirror Design
May 14, 2013
Range this, charge times that. Here's something about our long-term 2013 Tesla Model S that has nothing to do with the fact that it's fueled by electrons. Check out its rear-view mirror. See that? It's all mirror. No clunky plastic bezel. No HomeLink buttons or GPS beacon or a full complement of patio furniture or a frickin' laser beam on its head.
2013 Tesla Model S: TPMS Gets Confused
May 13, 2013
We recently performed the first track-test of our long-term 2013 Tesla Model S, and during the 60-0 mph braking test, this message flashed up on the screen and on the instrument panel as well.
2013 Tesla Model S: Moisture Discovered in Reverse Lamp Lens
May 10, 2013
Yup, our 2013 Tesla Model S is an exceptional car for myriad reasons, but just like any other car, sometimes a vigorous washing or cracked lens allows moisture to get behind or condense onto the lenses of lights. I'm not going to attempt the repair myself. We'll put it on the list for the next scheduled service visit.
2013 Tesla Model S: Software Update
May 9, 2013
I sat in the car. It awoke and alerted me that it wanted a new software update. Neato. Even neater, you don't need to visit the dealer/service technician and it does it wirelessly. Because it requires the car be parked for up to two hours, the car allows the update to be scheduled during the wee hours of the night. I assume it all worked at 1:00 a.m. as it was programmed to do.
Click through to see what the software update entailed.
2013 Tesla Model S: Recharging From an Outdoor Electrical Outlet
May 8, 2013
After driving our 2013 Tesla Model S home, I snapped this photo and sent it to Director of Vehicle Testing, Dan Edmunds along with "We don't have clearance Clarence. I'll check the garage for a nearby outlet minus cover." To which Dan replied, "If nothing pans out, I guess you'll have to charge without recording."
It turns out our "Kill A Watt EZ" gauge we use to record how much electricity goes into the car's batteries won't mate with my outdoor outlet with the big, flappy rain cover.
Click through to see what my electricity usage looked like after I plugged in the Tesla.
2013 Tesla Model S: What's Wrong With This Picture?
May 7, 2013
Only eagle-eyed readers will spot what's wrong with this photo. Can you?
2013 Tesla Model S: Wall Connector Finally Arrives
May 6, 2013
Our Tesla "High Power Wall Connector" has finally arrived. The HPWC, as the Tesla forum members call it, is a $1,500 option that allows the Model S to be charged at 62 miles of range per hour at 240 volts and 100 amps. This is the fastest you can get without having to trek down to a Tesla Supercharger location. For reference, the 240V Charge Point station we have at the office charges the Model S at 18 miles of range per hour at 30 amps.
We're glad that the HPWC arrived, but it took just over two months from when we took delivery of the car to make its way to us. In fact, we weren't even sure when it would show up.
2013 Tesla Model S: What's Missing?
May 3, 2013
The 2013 Tesla Model S has so much going for it that it seems nitpicky to talk about what it doesn't have in the way of small amenities. But when you, or Edmunds.com, have paid more than $100,000 for a car, shouldn't it have what many luxury cars have?
2013 Tesla Model S: Cat Transport
May 1, 2013
It wasn't glamorous or high tech, but one of the first tasks I had for the 2013 Tesla Model S was toting an unhappy cat, in his carrier, to the veterinarian. The Model S's wide doors and ample interior space for front passengers made it easy to get the carrier, and the 19-pound cat inside, into place.
2013 Tesla Model S: Software Update in Store
April 30, 2013
On Monday morning, after a weekend with our 2013 Tesla Model S, this screen was waiting for me. As soon as we complete the update, which takes about two hours, we'll let you know what changes it brings about, if any.
2013 Tesla Model S: Charge and Chat
April 29, 2013
I had our 2013 Tesla Model S recently, and if I had just done around-town trips, I probably could have gotten by without charging the car. But in addition to the usual errands, we had plans for dinner and a jazz concert in Hollywood. That's 60 or so miles of driving. And then there were the "vampire losses," the 8-10 miles of range drop that happen overnight when the car is not charging. Added up, and it was definitely time for a fill-up.
Fortunately, one of Tesla's six supercharger stations is at Hawthorne Airport, a general-aviation field that's about 16 miles from my house. We pulled in with 86 miles of range remaining.
2013 Tesla Model S: Visiting the Tejon Ranch Supercharger
April 26, 2013
There I was, taking the long way to Moab, Utah in our 2012 Jeep Wrangler. My first stop was Buttonwillow Raceway to help out at the SCCA road races, but before I got there I peeled off Interstate 5 at Laval Road in Tejon Ranch for some sustenance.
"There's a Tesla Supercharger around here somewhere," I thought to myself.
2013 Tesla Model S: One of One? Hopefully
April 25, 2013
I saw this "personalized" Model S at Supercar Sunday recently. I don't know what your reaction would've been, but this was mine: http://bit.ly/ZX1rH
2013 Tesla Model S: Track Test
April 24, 2013
We finally took our 2013 Tesla Model S, which we bought and paid for, to the track.
2013 Tesla Model S: Vegas Road Trip Wrap-Up
April 24, 2013
I drove to Las Vegas in our Tesla Model S, in and out of various hotels and restaurants, and back home across the desert. All told, I covered 820 miles and, of course, it was all under electric power. Sure, there was a little anxiety at first. But that feeling is quickly offset by other advantages. Namely, the car drives like a dream: fast, quiet and ultra-responsive.
But there were a few features that I really didn't like. And some lingering insecurities.
2013 Tesla Model S: Free Gas
April 23, 2013
What if you went to a mall and there was a gas pump with a sign saying, "Go ahead and fill up! It's free!" That's what it was like to drive the Tesla to Las Vegas. Free fuel in Barstow. Free fuel in Las Vegas.
And how much is that worth? Gas for a 2013 BMW 7 Series getting 22 mpg combined and requiring premium at $4.17 a gallon would be $123 for the 650-mile trip. For the Tesla, fuel costs would be $0. But there is the time and hassle of charging.
2013 Tesla Model S: 2-Speed Cruise
April 22, 2013
I'm a big fan of cruise control for two reasons: it reduces fatigue on long drives and it helps keep you at a legal speed. On my trip to Las Vegas I discovered that our Tesla Model S has a super cruise control system. The graphics are great and the system actually offers two speeds. One bump gives you the customary 1 mph increase/decrease. But if you push it through a detent, you get an approximately 5 mph plus or minus jump.
There was one other feature of the cruise control that I liked.
2013 Tesla Model S: Supercharged
April 19, 2013
I felt a little apprehensive when I left my house early on a Sunday morning. I had to reach Tesla's supercharger in Barstow 128 miles away over the Cajon Pass, elevation 4,190 feet. I dialed down the cruise control to 65 mph as I climbed the long grade. But other than that, I cruised at 70 mph.
It was a good thing I read the Tesla forums because there were no signs directing me to the superchargers. They were, as other owners had posted, behind the Chili's restaurant. I pulled in, hooked up and checked the charge screen: jackpot! I was getting 300 miles of charge every hour.
2013 Tesla Model S: Las Vegas Road Trip
April 18, 2013
I was psyched to get the chance to be the first Edmunds editor to drive our Model S to Las Vegas. But then reality set in.
Las Vegas is 275 miles from my house. The Tesla only goes 265 miles max, and probably more like 240. Okay, I'll stop in Barstow for an hour to juice up at one of the super chargers. But what if they're full? And what happens when I get to Vegas and need to charge? And what about valets driving this quirky luxury car?
Lots of questions. Some anxiety. But I'm going anyway and I'll embrace the adventure.
Then I hit my first problem.
2013 Tesla Model S: Car Wash Fun
April 17, 2013
If you take a Tesla Model S to an automatic car wash, leave a little extra time for the staff to freak out.
Since you have to be sitting in the Tesla's seat for it to move forward, someone really has to ride in it. After a bit of conversation, where they tried to decide who would be the rider, I volunteered to be the one sitting in the car.
2013 Tesla Model S: Street Legal
April 16, 2013
With a car this expensive and this beautiful we couldn't bring ourselves to drill holes in the front bumper for the license plate bracket. So we called the Tesla service center in Los Angeles and asked if they could do it. The cheerful receptionist checked with the techs and said to just stop by any old time.
The service center is only accessible down a tight alley so we just parked at a meter and waltzed into the service center unannounced.
2013 Tesla Model S: On-Trend Sunroof
April 15, 2013
The trend these days is toward huge, panoramic sunroofs with sprawling dimensions that approximate an open-air driving experience.
2013 Tesla Model S: Rearward Visibility
April 12, 2013
It seems churlish to complain about something as mundane as rearward visibility when faced with all the splendor and glory of our Tesla Model S.
But the fact is, visibility could be better. That C-pillar is pretty wide, and the rising beltline doesn't help matters.
2013 Tesla Model S: Hidden Door
April 11, 2013
It was my first time charging our Model S. I pulled up to the charging station and spent a good five minutes circling the car, looking for the door to its charge port. Where could it be?
Then I figured that, like everything else on this high-tech luxury cruiser, the door was probably operated via touchscreen. I was right.