300 mile drive home in I3S, advice?
Discussion
I have done a lot of long journeys in an i3S over the last 4 years. I'm based near Cardiff and have travelled to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stuttgart amongst others - this is my advice (for what it's worth!):
I would assume 120-130 miles as a safe range without having to worry - once you're on a long trip it doesn't really matter if you stop 1, 2 or 3 times as long as you don't have to deviate too far off route, you're putting the same amount of total charge in and each stop will just be shorter. Also, charging slows down above 90-95% on an i3 so no point in waiting for that unless you have to.
I would always try to use Tesla rapid chargers - they're a bit cheaper and just tend to work first time. Install the Tesla app and set up a payment card and it should be seamless.
If using Tesla chargers, be careful if they are busy as they now charge you an overstay fee if you charge above 80% - annoying on an i3 as it will hold full speed until about 92% unlike other EVs but not a problem if you just stop more often for less time.
For your route, i would stop at the Tesla chargers at Moto services - Reading westbound, Celtic Manor resort, and, if you need it, Bridgend Designer outlet.
Happy to answer any questions and enjoy - best car I've ever owned!
I would assume 120-130 miles as a safe range without having to worry - once you're on a long trip it doesn't really matter if you stop 1, 2 or 3 times as long as you don't have to deviate too far off route, you're putting the same amount of total charge in and each stop will just be shorter. Also, charging slows down above 90-95% on an i3 so no point in waiting for that unless you have to.
I would always try to use Tesla rapid chargers - they're a bit cheaper and just tend to work first time. Install the Tesla app and set up a payment card and it should be seamless.
If using Tesla chargers, be careful if they are busy as they now charge you an overstay fee if you charge above 80% - annoying on an i3 as it will hold full speed until about 92% unlike other EVs but not a problem if you just stop more often for less time.
For your route, i would stop at the Tesla chargers at Moto services - Reading westbound, Celtic Manor resort, and, if you need it, Bridgend Designer outlet.
Happy to answer any questions and enjoy - best car I've ever owned!
padrc66 said:
I have done a lot of long journeys in an i3S over the last 4 years. I'm based near Cardiff and have travelled to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stuttgart amongst others - this is my advice (for what it's worth!):
I would assume 120-130 miles as a safe range without having to worry - once you're on a long trip it doesn't really matter if you stop 1, 2 or 3 times as long as you don't have to deviate too far off route, you're putting the same amount of total charge in and each stop will just be shorter. Also, charging slows down above 90-95% on an i3 so no point in waiting for that unless you have to.
I would always try to use Tesla rapid chargers - they're a bit cheaper and just tend to work first time. Install the Tesla app and set up a payment card and it should be seamless.
If using Tesla chargers, be careful if they are busy as they now charge you an overstay fee if you charge above 80% - annoying on an i3 as it will hold full speed until about 92% unlike other EVs but not a problem if you just stop more often for less time.
For your route, i would stop at the Tesla chargers at Moto services - Reading westbound, Celtic Manor resort, and, if you need it, Bridgend Designer outlet.
Happy to answer any questions and enjoy - best car I've ever owned!
That's because full speed on an i3 is only 50kW to start with, so about what most other EV's charging slows down to by 90%.I would assume 120-130 miles as a safe range without having to worry - once you're on a long trip it doesn't really matter if you stop 1, 2 or 3 times as long as you don't have to deviate too far off route, you're putting the same amount of total charge in and each stop will just be shorter. Also, charging slows down above 90-95% on an i3 so no point in waiting for that unless you have to.
I would always try to use Tesla rapid chargers - they're a bit cheaper and just tend to work first time. Install the Tesla app and set up a payment card and it should be seamless.
If using Tesla chargers, be careful if they are busy as they now charge you an overstay fee if you charge above 80% - annoying on an i3 as it will hold full speed until about 92% unlike other EVs but not a problem if you just stop more often for less time.
For your route, i would stop at the Tesla chargers at Moto services - Reading westbound, Celtic Manor resort, and, if you need it, Bridgend Designer outlet.
Happy to answer any questions and enjoy - best car I've ever owned!
Best advice for any new EV owner is: Stop worrying. If you've never ran out of fuel, you won't run out of electricity. It'll tell you when it needs to stop, and there's enough infrastructure now that you can stop at thousands of places that'll top you up.
With the i3's modest charge rate, don't be afraid to use the 100kw chargers. They'll give you exactly the same speed charging and I find they're usually empty when the 300kw+ ones are full. A handful of service stations separate them and might save you a bit of time waiting.
With the i3's modest charge rate, don't be afraid to use the 100kw chargers. They'll give you exactly the same speed charging and I find they're usually empty when the 300kw+ ones are full. A handful of service stations separate them and might save you a bit of time waiting.
Thanks all, home now, tbh a bit of a tedious drive, sitting at 60 mph to maximise range, and had 2 stop twice to charge, but that wasn’t what it was bought for, 90% of my mileage is within 50 miles of home, so perfect for that.
It was looking like I’d get home with 20 miles of range left, so popped it into sport for the last 5 miles of B roads, and was pleasantly surprised with how it went.
Now to sort out the best off peak tariff…
It was looking like I’d get home with 20 miles of range left, so popped it into sport for the last 5 miles of B roads, and was pleasantly surprised with how it went.
Now to sort out the best off peak tariff…
SWoll said:
That's because full speed on an i3 is only 50kW to start with, so about what most other EV's charging slows down to by 90%.
My 58kwh ID3 is down to 50kw by about 50%-60% (125kw peak) So id really not be too concerned by 50kw max charging, especially as the I3 has a much smaller battery to start with.Don’t stress
If you’re going to public charge regularily then something like the octopus electroverse card might be a consideration to save a few quid but otherwise just tap your credit card.
Look for chargers that suit your journey, don’t let your journey be dictated by the chargers. I’ve been away from home driving around Crawley and Brighton to attend to family stuff, I could have gone to Tesla in Crawley, had a bun fight trying to get on a Tesla charger with the charge flap on the wrong side requiring 2 parking spots, or what I actually did…go to Sainsbury’s in Brighton as I was passing, paid a little over 60p a kWh which isn’t bad, large bay with a cable that is long enough and got some groceries while I charged.
Ther are thousands of options now to charge, but the motorway ones do tend to be the most expensive
If you’re going to public charge regularily then something like the octopus electroverse card might be a consideration to save a few quid but otherwise just tap your credit card.
Look for chargers that suit your journey, don’t let your journey be dictated by the chargers. I’ve been away from home driving around Crawley and Brighton to attend to family stuff, I could have gone to Tesla in Crawley, had a bun fight trying to get on a Tesla charger with the charge flap on the wrong side requiring 2 parking spots, or what I actually did…go to Sainsbury’s in Brighton as I was passing, paid a little over 60p a kWh which isn’t bad, large bay with a cable that is long enough and got some groceries while I charged.
Ther are thousands of options now to charge, but the motorway ones do tend to be the most expensive
gareth h said:
RammyMP said:
Sitting at 60! The future of motoring!
In fairness I didn t buy it as a motorway mile muncher, I ve got a Cayenne for that, but as a hack for the local lanes it fits the bill quite well, keeping the miles off the other cars and saving a healthy chunk of cash too.Edited by Goatwidcoat on Friday 21st August 10:24
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