Can Tesla Model 3 Handle a 200 Mile Commute? Let's Free the Data

// New here? Check out more

// Shoot me a msg online

// My Gear

// Music by Epidemic Sound

// Disclaimer
This video and channel are not affiliated with Tesla nor did they endorse this specific production.

[xjrx]

Yes it does. I got mine 10 days ago and I’m commuting 190 miles daily. Thanks autopilot!

[jhart]

“JuSt GeT a NeW jOb” “MoVe cLoSeR”

Listen folks; those of us in the “high mileage commuting club” came here to see if a Tesla could do it, not ask internet strangers their opinions on if we should move or change jobs, mkay?

Life isn’t always as easy as it seems, and most of us commute because the pros outweigh the cons. For me, personally, I’m commuting because I make $30k more working where I do than an hour and a half away in my hometown. But if I moved closer to where my work is, we’d pay substantially more in housing and utility costs. So yeah, I’ll eat the mileage and time and listen to some extra podcasts and keep my extra $30k and affordable house ✌🏼

[jy]

I do a 150 mile commute on a daily basis. I am definitely looking forward to taking delivery of the Model 3. One thing you forgot to mention was not having to deal with going to the gas station. I typically have to go fill up gas every other day. Also, it really stinks to have to go in the shop for an oil change every 10k miles. Appreciate you making this video.

[brenttaylor]

We average 100 miles per day with no problem. Over 12, 000 miles in four months, Just finished a 300+ mile leg.
Used A Tesla destination charger to grab a few extra miles, and arrived comfortably at the supercharger in Plano TX.
Grabbed a cup of coffee and a donut at one of the local shops, and in thirty minutes we were on our way.

[georgemaurice]

200 miles per day. 5 days equals 1, 000 miles per week, 4 weeks per month ?.
Am I missing something? ( it's very early morning for me here so I just may be missing something). If so my apologies

[r.perron]

I have a 164 mile commute 4 days per week. I've only had the car for a little over a month, but here's what I've seen. I charge to ~82% each eve, 250 miles plus a bit, typically. My commute each way is about 25 miles at freeway speeds (65 - 75 mph) and the remainder at undivided highway speed (limited to 60 mph on ap, 64 mph if I'm in a hurry with tacc but avoiding tickets). I typically arrive home with between 75 and 85 miles remaining range, though I could stretch that if I were more ... patient. That's with summer temps, no rain, aero caps removed, cabin overheat protection on. That puts me right at the edge of what I feel is healthy for the battery long term. I'm a little concerned about the coming winter temps, and will put on my aeros in Nov. and try to be a bit more patient (I'm in the south mid-Atlantic US with relatively mild winters.) On ap at 60 mph, I can easily remain below 225 Wh per mile, giving me enough leeway to avoid over cycling the batt. That's my hope, anyway!

[jinmannn]

I’m commuting roughly 140 miles a day. I go through tons of traffic and over a mountain for a rough 3 hr daily commute and have been considering Tesla recently for the fuel savings.

My current car is rather sporty and costing me about $700-$800 a month which is quite brutal but I didn’t really notice until I started plugging numbers. We have discounted charging at my place of work (first 10kwh free and $1.00/hr afterwards for charging so I’ve been quite heavily considering a long range model 3 with FSD to make the commute less stressful. Glad to see others are making bigger commutes with their Teslas!

[johnafwatson]

Just finished a trip from Montreal, Quebec back home to Guelph, Ontario. Stopped at the Kingston, ON Supercharger and had a conversation with a woman who is a Prof at Queen's University in Kingston.
3-Hour daily commute with previous monthly gas bill of $700 CDN/mth ($536.50 US). They put in Free Tesla destination chargers at Queen's University and she uses that as her 'home base' for charging. No Energy Costs!
That works out to $42, 000 CDN ($32, 190.06 US) for 5 years of saved gas alone! She and I also benefited from the $14, 000 CDN ($10, 730 US) provincial rebate - now discontinued by our new, and environmentally idiotic, Conservative government.
Final total invoice price for the Model 3 in Ontario was $75, 000 CDN ($57, 482 US), so she's essentially paying $19, 000 CDN ($14, 562 US) for 5 years use of an awesome, sexy car which will likely still have massive value at that point. This doesn't even take into account the maintenance savings and comfort.
Loving my new Model 3!

[scottrmckay]

Thanks for this video - just found out my job will require a 200 mile daily commute 3x days a week but my comp justifies the drive for a period of time until my kids get out of high school - I appreciate the analysis and insight you provided

[cjrreid]

You should totally upload these to apple podcasts bc I (and, I'm sure, a ton of other people) would totally listen to them as a regular part of our commute

[Mr.Adkins]

Current Model S 90D owner. We got it or our long commutes. (150mi/shift 15+shifts a month) Owned since Sept. '16 and have nearly 100k miles on it. We've taken long road trips across country and into Canada and have enjoyed the car immensely. I'd say the car is what afforded our road trips. Our electric is .06/kWh. We've spent less than $1, 800 on electricity if all our charging was at home but in reality we've used super chargers about 30% of the time so really closer to ~$1250 cost total compared to our old vehicle which would have been ~$11, 300 in fuel alone at $2.60/gal and efficiency of 23mpg. Add in $60 per oil change every 4, 000 which adds $1500 and the cost of gas shows poorly. Looking to get a P3D here soon to replace our last gas car.

[TheTimeIsChow]

Ben, love your work but there are a TON of variables left out here which make the Tesla seem more favorable in terms of TCO.

This person, and most, should really install a home charging unit. This is, at minimum, $500 for the unit itself plus electrical work. It usually runs $1000-$1500 installed.

There has also been a major insurance increase for those coming from an average commuter (I.E. a Jeep). I pay $890 a year for insurance on my car. I got quoted upwards of $2400 a year for a TM3. Another $1500 a year paid out in just insurance premiums. This does, obviously, vary depending on the driver and what they're coming off of.

On top of this, these vehicles have been known to run through tires. 15k-20k miles usually the average. So tack on another almost $600 for tires, installed, a year for this person.

I've been very close to pulling the trigger on one of these things for a while now. But once everything starts getting added up, it's very difficult to make it make sense.

[JR-qlgl]

I actually work in San Diego, but live way north of here past riverside. my commute is over 200 miles per day and the car is doing it easily.

I charge to 90% so I start at a rated 279-281 and end around 44-60 depending on conditions and speed. And I drive at 80mph. Or faster occasionally. No charging at work. Sport wheels...

Enhanced Autopilot is definitely saving me a lot of stress and strain on this commute. I love this car.

[karenrobertsdottir]

Why are you repeating this segment with the faulty math?

If you're getting 280 miles total in "combined" highway / city driving in a Model 3 AWD with aero wheels, you should immediately be making a reservation with a service centre because something is seriously wrong with your vehicle. Maybe if you were talking about a M3P with 20" tires or something. But even then, in "combined" city / highway driving, that would be a terrible run.

Now, if you're talking interstates.... M3 RWD with 19" wheels going a constant 75 mph, or M3P with 20" wheels going 65mph... yeah, 280mi is probably reasonable. But that's not the driving experience of someone commuting into / out of LA. And RWD aero? Come on, be serious. ;)

[pfkelly]

I put on 3, 000 a month with the model 3 and some days drive 234 miles. What a treat with autopilot and zero issues with the range. Also my tank is “ Full” and no monthly trips to ford to get oil change etc. Saves me hours, stress and money. Company pays most of my mileage.

Way to go Elon

Thank you

[affinity]

I typically have a 200 mile commute. I live in CT and drive to NYC... in a mustang GT. I didn't know I would be driving so much when I bought it a year ago. I make $85-$110hr depending on the job. I'm about to buy a house 25miles closer to NYC but I'm spending so much on gas I need either a hybrid or long range EV. For me a Tesla would nearly pay for itself as I have spent about $7k in gas in 1 year. I don't mind the commute but I do need to find a solution to bleeding money for gas.

[kevinkiser]

You messed up the math on this one chief monthly mile calculation includes 200 miles for 20 working days during the month is 4k plus weekends we are talking closer to 5k miles..so please used the other side of the napkin for the math next time

[loungelizard]

You missed the fact that most commutes are slow speed. Non rush hours speeds in Bay area i averaged less than 50 mph. At those speeds he should be getting 370 mile range!

[arifsaleem]

Absolutely a great long commute car and significantly more affordable than it may seem. 110mi round trip daily commute here, were previously paying over $4/gal for 91 octane in a 2008 Acura that was getting about 28mpg combined. The gas savings alone offset a large majority of the car payment compared to what we were already paying for just gas. The amazing vehicle, autopilot, etc. all just icing on the cake. Hands down one of the best decisions you could make if you are saddled with a long commute and can't make other changes to get rid of it.

[dvakil]

We have 180 mile daily commute and looked at the math before purchasing. Gas/solar electricity savings compared to our 2005 Prius and 2017 Prius Prime mixed together is about $90/month after taking into account the expected new mixture of car driving, maintenance saves about $100/month average (tires aren't negligible driving 36k miles/year), savings on the toll lanes is about $100/month (as long as electric cars continue to drive free on the 91), but increased insurance offset those by about $50. Net savings: $240/month ignoring the car payment.