New Tesla Model 3 SR+ LFP battery in the UK. Charge to 100% daily now? Cold charge test.

#SR+ #LFP #MODEL3

So the new Model 3 SR+ are now fitted with a new type of battery in the UK

Made in China car

Now LFP battery and no longer the 90% daily charge limit.

Any other changes?

This is just a brief test to show quoted range according to the car and I also need to supercharge it a bit. How fast will it charge?
Note: this is a cold charge, not driven or preheated prior. That always restricts charge speed but what will it be like?

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[jadamsnz]

I have one of these made in China Models 3s (known as MIC 3's here in New Zealand) and have the following observations and pieces of information I have picked up:
1. LFP cells are less energy dense but because they don't suffer from thermal runaway issues the batteries made from them don't need to be designed to mitigate thermal runaway and therefore more LFP cells can be put in the same size battery pack, partly making up for the lower energy density.
2. LFP battery capacity, remaining capacity and discharge/recharge rate are harder to measure so the Tesla can take longer to learn the battery behaviour.
3. Tesla recommends regularly charging to 100% because a) that doesn't hurt the batteries and b) helps the system learn
4. I have yet to drive a long way in mine so it is still learning my driving style but at 100% it is estimating 440km range. Based on an open road non-motorway trip that used 31% I estimate a range of just under 400km which if it turns out to be accurate is fine with me.
5. As with yours there is no lumbar adjustment for the passenger
6. Out rear boot is motorised, yours appeared to be manual...?
7. Tyres are Michelin Pilot Sport 4, the same as I have on my Porsche, which was a pleasant surprise.
8. I'd agree with your comments about construction quality of the MIC Teslas, in fact hearing the Model 3 I could order was MIC helped me decide to get one. The quality issues of the USA made ones had been a slight turn off for me.

[Leo_]

I have the LFP model 3 and my experience is exactly as you showed here. The key is to precondition the battery. This happens automatically on long journeys, but you can also preheat by setting a scheduled departure time, even without being plugged in. You can do that in the app. Just remember to get it started about an hour before charging.

[thomasjacques]

Just tap the battery icon to toggle between MILES and PERCENTAGE. Great video as usual. A warm battery is a happy battery.

[paulhorton]

SR+ (M3 RWD) has unused space in the battery compartment which has been part-filled with a larger volume of cells to get around the lower energy density problem. I believe there's also a slightly higher useable energy capacity vs the old NCA chemistry. And being able to charge to 100% without problem gives an automatic range uplift in everyday driving - I think it's a compelling package.

[willieduplooy]

Can’t wait for the real world range and charge video. Keep up the good work guys 👍🏻

[pashton]

I’ve recently achieved around 230wh/mi on a drive where the temp was between -2, and 3 deg.
This equates to >200 miles in the cold in an SR+ 2021 with the LFP battery.
I’ve charged from 16% to 85% in around 17 mins too at a supercharger on the same journey as preconditioning is a must.

[typhoons]

Looking forward to the range test. A December uk one would be great to see what the lfp sr is capable of doing

[FlorinArjocu]

10 degrees is not that cold at all, that is spring here. ;) For those living in a block, this is not good news at all. Unless you charge in the evening, before getting home (still not ideal when you are tired to spend some extra half an hour or so only for charging). I would test it vs a non LFP.

[tamtdc]

Heated wheel / rear seat - yes it does have heated, just wait a few days for it to be enabled (about a week after delivery it happens).

[vladimirmarinov]

Hi Richard, I’ve had an MIC LFP SR+ in the UK since late March this year, one of the first MIC in the UK I believe. I checked with Tesla straight away when I picked up the car because of the missing daily charge limit. They told me that all made in China SR+ since we’ve been getting them in the UK are LFP. They recommend to keep the car plugged in whenever possible and regularly charge to 100% and at least once per week. I wonder why that is but you are right that you do get the extra range when you’re constantly at 100%. I drove across Europe approx 3000miles in total in the summer. I could see very consistent 165-175 kW charging speeds when the car is driven on motorway and the battery pre heats which works well on longer drives. What is interesting, the pre heating sometimes kicked in even about 40-45 min prior to arrival at the supercharger. Not sure how that compares to other battery chemistries but it seems long which adds to your point about people living close to chargers who don’t charge at home. Apart from that now in the winter I can feel some significant reduction in range especially if the car is stationary (I don’t charge at home … London living). But … all around superb car and if the numbers quoted for life span of LFP are true then those cars will be popular for resale and be around for a long time, I think.

[nzpomdotcom]

Lumbar support on passenger side was removed because they had data to show it was hardly ever used, nothing to do with chip shortages. Standard range now has a 60kWh battery, heated seats and steering wheel as standard, great

[gileshalliwell]

I’ve had mine for six weeks and experiencing great efficiency, cold weather I never saw less than 220 miles and now, with the warmer weather it’s nearer 260. Just done 1200 miles in France and never had charge/range worries and indicated 200-220 w/h per mile despite motorway cruise at 70. Just a great value car!

[alangordon]

Great that you shared this to show the difference between hot and cold charging! Keep up the great work!

[brushlessmotoring]

Great reference test to compare against a hot battery charge another time. LFP has lots of benefits, it also lasts a really long time with a cycle life many times cobalt based chemistries, not so sure about calendar (time) aging though.

[henriquerochelle]

We are here in Rio Verde - GO
Watching !
Great Vídeo !

[mrlimey]

The heated wheel and rear seats will be active today, do an update!

Efficiency is good, got 250 out of it in 0-10c. Needs a warm battery.

[TriviaChallenge]

This is the video I needed to see. Thank you!

[garypacitti]

I have a LFP battery (the slightly smaller previous version - Sept 2021). Agree it hates the cold. But have managed to achieve charging speed of 149kw/h , here in Scotland. But battery had to be preconditioned.

[JohnnyWestlake]

FWIW, my LR Model 3 I received in May did this for the first few charges, before eventually showing the daily / trip labels.

[acelectricalsecurity]

People will mention the mining issue, probably because they are sick of the hypocrisy from EV owners, they think because their car is electric they are not causing pollution.