Tesla Model 3 – EV Charging and Solar Panels

Is there a more trendy brand right now than Tesla? Associated with elegance and innovation, the company was created by a wealthy benefactor who recently revealed all of the electric vehicle maker's patents in an effort to combat climate change. The Tesla Model 3 has quickly become one of the most popular automobiles in the country, as well as the best-selling electric vehicle. In fact, it was the best-selling car in the world in April 2020, outselling Jaguar's flagship electric vehicle, the Jaguar I-Pace.

In this article, you'll discover more about Tesla Model 3, including its charging range, performance, price, and more!

AT A GLANCE Tesla and Solar Overview

The Tesla Model 3 is one of the most popular electric cars in the United States right now. Here's a quick rundown of the important details:

• There are three versions available.
• Advanced technology, such as automated lane switching and parking
• Around 250-350 mile range (depending on the version)
• Dual motors are available for increased speed and acceleration.
• The standard charging time is 7 hours.

Every Tesla Model 3 Owners Need to Know

The Model 3 is Tesla's most affordable vehicle. In 2020, the Model 3 price starts at $40,000. This price is for the Standard Range Plus model, which provides 250 miles of range on a single charge. The 322-mile Long Range Model 3 starts at $49,000, while the Performance model, which can reach up to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, starts slightly under $57,000.

An all-electric vehicle with all of the features of the Tesla Model 3 was previously unavailable in the $40,000 price range. The spacious four-door, the five-seat sedan is comparable in size to the BMW 3-Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The Model 3's quick acceleration and pleasant ride are comparable to those of German premium vehicles. Simultaneously, the Model 3 has a more capacious interior.

Tesla Model 3 Charging and Range

Depending on what model you choose, the 2020 Tesla Model 3 has a range of 250 to 322 miles. The most economical Standard Range Plus model, with a battery pack storing around 75 kilowatt-hours, has a range of 250 miles on a single charge. The Long Range and Performance models, each with a battery pack containing around 100 kilowatt-hours, have a 322-mile range. The Model 3 Standard Range Plus possesses an outstanding efficiency level of 141 miles per gallon equivalent, making it the most economical vehicle on the road.

Tesla is constantly altering model names and improving car specifications through over-the-air upgrades. In 2019, the EPA rated the Long Range models at 310 miles, and the Standard Range Plus model at 240 miles.

The vast majority of EV charging occurs at home. Model 3 owners may fully utilize the 11.5-kW on-board charger by using a suitable 48-amp home charger, such as the JuiceBox 48. This allows Tesla users to increase their range by 30 to 35 miles in one hour. Home charging of the level 2 Tesla EV charger enables quicker charging from the comfort of your home and provides a rapid charging possibility than a public charging station or Tesla supercharger. The Standard Range Plus version requires around 7 hours to charge from empty to full.

Model Year	Max Charge Rate	Battery Size	Charge Time on Level 1	Charge Time with JuiceBox 48	All Electric Range
Model 3 Standard Range Plus (2019)	11.5 kW	75 kWh	~3 days	~7 hrs	240 miles
Model 3 Long Range (2019)	11.5 kW	100 kWh	~3 days	~9 hrs	310 miles
Model 3 Standard Range Plus (2020)	11.5 kW	~75 kWh	~3 days	~7 hrs	250 miles
Model 3 Long Range (2020)	11.5 kW	~100 kWh	~3 days	~9 hrs	322 miles
Model 3 Performance (2020)	11.5 kW	~100 kWh	~3 days	~9 hrs	322 miles

Where can you Charge your Tesla Model 3?

You may charge your Tesla Model 3 at home, plug in when you get to work, or fill it up (usually for free!) when you're out and about at places like supermarkets and public parking lots.

Tesla Supercharger: Level 3 DC Fast Charging

The typical American drive is less than 40 miles. As a result, a Tesla Model 3 is sufficient for local and regional travel. But what about long car rides and Tesla Model 3 charging times? This is where the Tesla Supercharger public charging network comes in handy. The corporation has almost 2,000 Supercharger station sites strategically positioned to facilitate travel along efficient highway routes. Tesla drivers can add around 170 miles of range in only 30 minutes by pulling up to an EV charging station, plugging in, and plugging out. Tesla's V3 supercharger version, which began rolling out in 2019 and is still being implemented across North America, will increase charging speed even further.

How much does it Cost to Charge a Tesla Model 3 Using Solar?

We'll find it out by breaking down the averages with rather basic arithmetic. We'll also examine the cost of charging a Tesla 3 without solar through SoCal Edison. In this blog post, we will give you a breakdown of how much it costs to charge your tesla model 3 using solar. But before we do that, let us first address how many solar panels you will need.

There are two Tesla 3 versions available:

• A conventional 50 kWh battery with a range of 220 miles.
• A 70 kWh battery with a range of 310 miles.

Let's use a larger battery as an example.

According to the United States Department of Transportation, the typical American drives 13,476 miles each year, or 1,123 miles per month. So, assuming you drive 1,123 miles each month on average and the Tesla 3 with the long-range battery can travel 310 miles on a single charge, let's figure out how many full charges you'll need every month.

1,123 / 310 = 3.6 monthly costs

Let's say four charges each month, allowing for battery degeneration over time and other factors.

70 kWh battery x 4 monthly charges = 280 kWh required each month

To break it down per day:

280 kWh per month / 30 days in a month = 9.3 kWh required each day

How many solar panels are required to charge a Tesla 3 battery once a month?

The amount of kWh produced by a solar panel is determined in part by how much sunlight it receives. Depending on where you reside, it can range between 4 and 6 hours every day across the United States. We'll divide the difference and say 5 hours.

9.3 kWh per day / 5 hours of sunlight per day = 1.86 kW to satisfy energy demands

To account for the minor loss during power conversion, divide it by 78 percent.

1.86 kW / .78 = 2.38 kW

Just divide the number of kilowatts required by the power rating of the solar panels to get the average number of solar panels required. The majority of domestic solar panels are 250 watts.

2.38 kW / .25 kW = 9.52 solar panels

To summarize, around ten more solar panels are required to charge the Tesla 3's long-range battery.

How Much Would a Tesla 3 Charge Cost with SoCal Edison?

In the United States, the average monthly kWh consumed by a household is 897 kWh. So we'll include that, as well as the additional 280 kWh per month required to charge your Tesla 3.

897 kWh + 280 kWh = 1177 kWh every month 

With SoCal Edison's current price structure, you would fall into Tier 2 and would pay $0.25 per kWh.

Without solar, your average monthly power payment from SoCal Edison would be:

1177 kWh x .25 = $294.25 every month

Calculating how much you'd pay per month only to charge your Tesla 3 at Tier 2 prices:

280 kWh x .25 = $70 extra every month

Solar Panels to Charge the Tesla 3

If you charge your Tesla 3 using solar panels, you'll be able to recoup your $5775 investment in around six to seven years.

$5775 for the additional solar panels / $70 every month for 82.5 months

If you have SoCal Edison time-of-use rates, your charges might range from $0.12 per kWh during off-peak hours and $0.48 per kWh during peak times.

Even if you have solar, you will most likely have to use grid electricity at some point. Charging your Tesla EV (Electric Vehicle) at off-peak hours is a fantastic way to benefit from cheaper costs.

The cost of charging your Tesla 3 is affected by how much you drive, which panels you choose, and how much sun you receive. Overall, the additional power usage of a Tesla 3 may be compensated by solar generation, resulting in considerable savings over time.