Correcaminos’
2nd Year Anniversary!

April 28, 2020


Glowing
(Click to enlarge)

It is two years to the day since we took delivery of our Tesla Model 3, and we’re more thrilled than ever with Correcaminos. Indeed, thanks to each new software upgrade, it is a much better car than when we drove it off the lot. The latest downloads since the 1st year anniversary have added truly remarkable features: it now completely drives itself on interstates; boasts numerous games; allows access to video services like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube; has Dog Mode, Sentry Mode, and Camping Mode; displays dashcam and sentry videos on the display; comes to a complete stop with regenerative braking; and even recognizes and stops at traffic lights and stop signs. What a car!

In two years, we have put this many miles on Correcaminos’ odometer:

According to those numbers, to date it has averaged 4.14 miles-per-kWh. Given the numerous long distance road trips we have taken at freeway speeds in the last two years, I am genuinely impressed. The EPA rates the Model 3 at 3.85 miles-per-kWh, so our 4.14 level of efficiency exceeds that estimate. Since it also claims that “1 gallon of gasoline = 33.7 kWh,” it is evident that no gasmobile comes close to Correcaminos’ energy efficiency:

4.14 x 33.7 = 139 MPGe

That average is thus higher than what the EPA gives the Model 3 in the city (136 MPGe), highway (123 MPGe), and combined (130 MPGe). Here is a table that uses our accumulated miles and kWh to calculate the daily averages:

The best news is that many of the kWh came from our rooftop solar, so we drove those miles with truly zero emissions! More specifically, the sole greenhouse gases emitted were the 116 times we used Tesla’s Superchargers on roadtrips, and even then only at sites that were not powered by solar canopies. Below are summaries of those emissions and fuel costs since taking delivery, with comparisons if instead we had charged from the grid or kept our previous Subaru Outback.

I feel a modicum of pride for taking these steps to help mitigate the climate crisis, as I also feel shame and guilt for having ignorantly, naïvely, gullibly exacerbated the problem for decades. And to think that naysayers, fossil fools, shorts, and FUD’sters always try to tell me that my Model 3 is just as dirty and costs as much to fuel as an average gasoline car. Math doesn’t lie!

Such trolls also claim that the Model 3’s battery will deteriorate so quickly that I’ll need to replace it, for a premium price, after only 5 years. ¡Caca de toro! I have extrapolated Correcaminos’ capacity with every single charge, and this graph plots the results:

It is evident that the battery remains extremely healthy. Yes, the scatter plot has wobbled a bit, especially during the colder winter months, but the overall pattern consistently shows that the pack still retains about 99% of its original capacity. Here is the result after charging to 80% today, which put 246 miles of range into the battery:

246 miles ÷ 80% = 307.5 miles for a 100% charge. I should clarify that no, I never did receive the promised boost in range to 325 miles. That doesn’t bother me, as I am more than happy to still have over 300 miles from a full charge, but I really do wish that Tesla would at least post an explanation why some Model 3 owners received the range increase and others didn’t. Just be open and honest about that difference, Tesla: I’m curious to know!

Finally, for readers who aren’t already bored enough, here‘s a slideshow of our second year with Correcaminos:

I’ll add one more note about the above video, as I know some readers might ask. It was very painful for me to compile the slideshow, and it is hard for us to watch it. To explain, for the last year our little girl Pomeranian, ’Tisa, had progressively failing kidneys, and after our last roadtrip she started suffering noticeably. We had to let her go earlier this month —on her 9th birthday, no less. It still breaks my heart when I’m driving Correcaminos and remember that she’s not behind me in her carseat, smiling and looking out the window, begging for me to reach back and scratch her head. Our one solace is that she really did have a happy life, as good a life as any dog could wag a tail for. And it at least helps us to know that she was with those she loved and who adored her, being held and comforted, as she gently relaxed and then… left… finally free of the pain and anguish.

We anticipate many more roadtrips of effortless driving ahead in the 3rd year of ownership, with minimal emissions and costs, but deeply missing ’Tisa’s joyous, loving, adventuresome companionship.