But how much do they justify our expenses when purchasing them? After all, the cost electric machines far exceeds the cost of their traditional counterparts. decided to look into this issue.

So, in addition to , manufacturers of electric cars assure us that electric motors are environmentally friendly, which do not cause direct harm to the environment, and are safer, since in the event of an accident there is no risk of the fuel tank igniting. In addition, driving an electric vehicle is much more pleasant and interesting due to the absence of torque dips. But that is not all. Plus, low prices allow electric vehicles to have a competitive advantage over regular cars, running on engines internal combustion. Even hybrid versions of cars cannot boast of electric ones motor vehicles with its characteristics.

What does an electric car need for everyday use? Of course it's electricity. There are cars that need to be charged at special gas stations. There are cars that can be charged from regular socket at home. But no matter what type of charger you use electric car, in any case, you need to pay for electricity. Do you think it is expensive for the owner of an electric car?

Of course, compared to gasoline and diesel vehicles, the cost of owning an electric car is much lower. But, nevertheless, it is different in all countries and varies greatly depending on the cost of 1 kW/h. In some countries, the cost of electricity is very expensive, while the cost of fuel is relatively reasonable. Therefore, it is not advisable to use electric vehicles in such countries.

But, for example, in our country, the cost of fuel for last years has grown to large values, while the cost of electricity remains quite low by world standards. Therefore, it is economically profitable to use an electric car in our country.

But you ask what to do with the cost electric car. It's no secret that their prices are very high. Will this investment be worth it in savings? Let's be honest. If you plan to use the electric machine for a long time (at least 5 years), then it is quite possible that you will be able to recoup your expenses. But with the condition that there will be at least 25,000 km per year. Otherwise, you won't be able to justify buying an electric car.

How much energy do electric cars consume?

On average, all electric cars consume about 30 kWh for every 160 kilometers driven. Eg, Nissan car LEAF, according to the manufacturer, consumes 30 kWh per 160 km. Other popular Tesla electric car Model S consumes slightly more on average: 35 kWh per 160 km. This is due to the fact that the Tesla is much heavier and more powerful than the electric Nissan. But, for example, an electric one consumes only 28 kWh for 160 kilometers. Unfortunately, the real data of the combined BMW consumption i3.

But it seems to us that this car will become, thanks to its expensive technologies. According to preliminary data, the car will consume only 26 kW per hour with a range of 160 km.

! So, for example, in Russia the average cost of 1 kWh is 2.5 rubles (2014 prices). With an average energy consumption of an electric car of 30 kWh per 160 km of run, per 1 km of the car's run, the electric power unit consumes 0.19 kWh. Therefore, if you buy an electric car, then with a mileage of 25,000 per year (average 68.4 km/day), you will spend on charging battery about 4750 kW of energy. Multiplying by the tariff 1 kWh of energy in your city or locality, You will find out how much you will spend Money to charge the car.

So multiplying the number of kWh by average cost electricity in Russia, we get that every year you will spend about 11,875 rubles in order to charge the car (if you charge the car from its own power supply). If you refuel your car at an electric gas station, the cost will increase 2.5 times.

What about hybrid versions of cars that have electric powertrains in addition to traditional engines? Do hybrid cars save us money or is it a myth?

While electric cars have a huge benefit in terms of operating costs compared to traditional vehicles, the economic benefits of purchasing hybrid cars are not so obvious, provided that their initial cost is not much different from the cost of fully electric cars. To recoup the cost of purchasing a hybrid car, it takes significantly longer (mileage) than for electric cars.

For example, according to the results of an American study (see table), it turned out that in order to recoup the costs of purchasing a hybrid it is necessary drive 220,000 miles or 354,000 km. Only after this the overpaid money for the hybrid version of the car will begin to justify the purchase of a hybrid!!!

I would like to say a little about the study. For this purpose, identical models were compared, as with conventional gasoline engines, and with a hybrid power plant. The comparison was in quantity. average price gasoline, which was taken into account in the study, was $3.4 per gallon (4.55 liters or 26.90 rubles per 1 liter of gasoline). The difference in price of new cars was also taken into account. Next, experts calculated for the most popular hybrid cars how many kilometers they must travel before recouping the overpayment when purchasing them. The results surprised all participants automotive market. Thus, most hybrid cars do not allow the owner to quickly recoup the overpayment upon purchase. To do this, it is necessary to drive a huge number of kilometers before the owner begins to gain profit by saving on fuel.

It's also worth noting that the study did not include planned costs for replacing the battery that powers the electric motor. Although manufacturers assure that the battery lasts a minimum of 160,000 km, unforeseen expenses should not be written off either.

Therefore, if you are not going to travel around the world in a hybrid car, then purchasing it is not advisable, so hybrid car for short runs it will not save you a penny.

At the same time, the study showed that there is one hybrid car that, very soon after purchase, will begin to pay for itself due to lower fuel costs. It turned out to be. The thing is that in the USA traditional and hybrid version costs almost the same. Thanks to this, purchasing this model is very profitable compared to the gasoline version.

What do you think is the least profitable hybrid car? If you think that this is the Highlander we wrote about above, then it is not so. It's actually an Active 3 hybrid car. The researchers just couldn't fit it into the payback graph. So, in order to recoup the overpayment for a hybrid three-ruble ruble, you need to drive at least 2 million kilometers. Just think, every liter of fuel savings increased the cost of a car in the US by $6,400 compared to petrol model 335i.

So, the next time you think about purchasing a hybrid car, think about whether you really need it. If you think that hybrid car will save you a huge amount of money, then know that this is not so.

“How to charge?”- this is probably the first question that arises for a person interested in electric vehicles. And in the conditions of Belarus, the question is doubly interesting. We will approach it using the example of European Tesla Model S as the first decent electric car currently on the market. We continue the promised series of publications.

Let's remember physics: volts, amperes and kilowatts

First, some basic information about electric current. If you did well in school and know how volts differ from amps and kilowatts, you can safely skip this information.

The capacity of a car battery is measured in kilowatt-hours; in our case, the battery has a capacity of 85 kWh. This means that, theoretically, it can produce 85 kW of power for one hour or, accordingly, produce 1 kW for 85 hours. To replenish a battery, you need to do the opposite - apply 85 kW to it for an hour or apply 1 kW to it for 85 hours. Of course, in reality there are losses, and charging does not always occur at the same speed, but this is the general idea.

A watt as a unit of power is volt (voltage) multiplied by ampere (current). To understand the difference between current and voltage, the best analogy is water. Voltage is, figuratively speaking, the water pressure, and current is the diameter of the pipe. To pump the same volume of water (kilowatt-hours), you can, for example, pump water through a narrow pipe with high pressure or through a wide pipe with low pressure.

If the pipe is wide and has high pressure, then the filling process goes quickly. Otherwise, it's slow. For high voltage you need good insulation of the conductor (thick pipe wall), for high current strength - a sufficient cross-section of the cable (pipe thickness).

Now let's talk about sockets. A typical household Euro socket has a rated voltage of 220 V and a maximum current of typically 16 A or less. If we multiply the voltage by the current or 220 V × 16 A, we get maximum power consumer at 3520 W, or about 3.5 kW.

Another common type of socket is three-phase, with a phase-to-phase voltage of 380 V (the voltage of each phase is the same 220 V). It is less common in everyday life (electric stoves), but is ubiquitous in production, where it is used powerful equipment. Most often, a three-phase outlet has the same maximum 16 A current, which, taking into account three phases, gives us 220 V × 16 A × 3 = 10.5 kW. This European-style socket is red and has five contacts arranged in a circle. For convenience, we will call it a red rosette.

There are also single-phase 32 A sockets ( of blue color), but here they are extremely rare.

Since the electrical network uses alternating current, and the battery is charged by direct current, it must be “straightened” using charger. The same thing happens when you charge your laptop or mobile phone. Only in the case of Tesla charger The device is installed inside the car. IN basic configuration Model S comes with one 11 kW charger; you can optionally install a second one and get a total charging power of 22 kW.

Also included with the machine is a so-called Mobile Connector, which is shaped like a charger, although in fact it is just a smart one connection cable. For the German market, the kit includes two adapters: one for a regular Euro socket, the other for a three-phase red socket. And this is exactly what we need! In the case of the American Model S, you will receive a set of single-phase American sockets of varying power and the inability to charge from a three-phase outlet in principle! This is the main and very significant limitation of the “American women”.

Mobile Connector

The car itself, destined for Europe, houses the Mennekes Type 2 charging connector. Introduced in 2009, it was adopted as a single European standard for electric vehicles. Today it is used in Renault Zoe and BMW i3. The main advantage of Type 2 is the ability to work with both permanent and alternating current, with a single or three-phase network. In addition, it is much safer than conventional plug connections, since energy transfer begins only after the connector is fully connected and the car and cable “agree” on the type of connection. electric current and charging power. In the case of the American Model S, the car will have its own connector unique design, more compact, but does not support three-phase current.

First charge - at the car wash!

Now that we have sorted out the cables and sockets, we can start charging. For the first time in Belarus, our car was charged at the car wash of the Peugeot auto center. The employees treated the electric car with understanding and allowed us to use their three-phase red socket. As it turned out, powerful professional washers high pressure This is the type they use.

Open the trunk, take out the Mobile Connector, and plug it into the socket. The indicator lights up green - everything is ready to charge. WITH opposite side cable there is a handle with a button and a Type 2 connector. Press the button in the handle, and taillight The driver's side door opens. We insert the connector, the three LEDs in the headlight start blinking green - charging has begun!

On the screen in the Tesla cabin you can see the 230 V network voltage (in our case, phase) and the current strength. The car gradually begins to increase the current and at the same time monitors the voltage. If suddenly a voltage drop or fluctuation is detected as the power increases, the current will be limited. This is how network overload protection works.

In our case, the wiring was quite new, so the car quickly reached the maximum for of this type 16 A sockets and started charging at a power of 11 kW. About a quarter of the battery needed to be charged to "full tank" and the estimated charging time was 2 hours. Not fast, to put it mildly. Nevertheless, while the car was being put in order, it was possible to charge almost completely. Not a bad start. A full charge from the red socket will take about 8 hours.

If you close the car while charging, the Mobile Connector is blocked in the connector and all illumination is turned off so as not to attract unnecessary attention.

After driving around the city, it's time to test the charging speed in the garage using a regular outlet. And here comes the bummer: the Mobile Connector blinked red four times, which is an indication of a lack of grounding. No “ground” - no charging. Very often, electricians do not take grounding seriously, which is why you can find ungrounded or “grounded” sockets everywhere. So the presence of a European socket in the wall does not at all guarantee you the ability to charge from it. Even if you are lucky and have a ground connection, the charging speed will be four times slower than the red socket, since the maximum power is in this case only 3 kW. A full charge will take over 33 hours!

If you want to charge at home faster than the red socket allows, you need to optional equipment. One charger installed in the car allows charging at a power of 11 kW by default. The optional second can be installed immediately at the factory or added later, in which case the maximum charging power will be 22 kW. In addition, it will be necessary to install a High Power Wall Connector (HPWC), which is almost a complete analogue of the Mobile Connector, only it is installed permanently and has a thicker cable.

If for America HPWC is the only alternative, then in Europe you can purchase a similar device with a Type 2 connector and the corresponding cable. But in the case of a third-party cable, you will not be able to open the charging door by pressing a button in the cable. You will have to open it from the central screen or from mobile phone through the application, which is not very convenient. A power of 22 kW will allow you to fully charge in 4 hours.

But perhaps the biggest challenge with 22kW charging is allocating the appropriate power. If you do not have the opportunity to get 22 kW in the parking lot, there is no point in ordering a second charger in the car and HPWC. For convenience, it is best to purchase a second Mobile Connector in the garage and use it as a stationary one, permanently connected to an outlet. And carry the original one with you in the trunk just in case you need to charge it on the road. Most likely, on the road you will be charged from a regular (if you are lucky with grounding) or a red outlet. Even if you suddenly find a Type 2 connector with a power of 22 kW at a Belarusian electric gas station of the future, then 4 hours is still too much time for recharging during the day. In the case of overnight charging, a difference of 4 or 8 hours does not matter.

Why cities don't need electric gas stations

Now let's talk about electric gas stations. This is the most asked question for electric car owners. Oddly enough, in the city electric gas stations are not necessary for Tesla owners in principle. The actual power reserve is 300-350 km, at most worst case(when it’s minus 20 Celsius and there’s traffic) it drops to 200 km. In the evening you put the car on charge (just like a mobile phone), and in the morning you always have “ full tank"(if red socket or HPWC). In the case of a regular outlet, a “full tank” may not work, especially in winter. Therefore, the best electric refill is the red socket in your home.

Is it possible to operate a Tesla normally if you don't have a garage or parking space? Since the installation of the home red socket took a long time, and the euro socket in the garage did not have grounding, we drove the first thousand kilometers in the “parking near the house” mode. Thanks to the kind people at the Peugeot car wash, Atlant-M Britain and DAF Trucks, we used their red sockets every few days. In all cases, there were no problems, except for two points - you have to wait a long time for charging to complete and wipe the cable from dust and dirt before putting it back in the trunk. Night charging is much more pleasant: you sleep - the car is charging. During the day it is very inconvenient.

Model S can be charged at any time without waiting for the battery to discharge to zero. The battery has no memory effect and will not recharge if you leave it connected for a long time. The manufacturer generally recommends leaving it connected all the time while you are not driving. This is especially important in winter when severe frost. You can remotely turn on the climate control and warm up both the interior and the car battery from the network. Another convenient feature is that it automatically marks on the map all the places where you have ever charged. Thus, after some time, its own map of “electric filling stations” is formed.

Is it possible to “reset the extension cord” from the apartment? Theoretically - yes, practically - no. Firstly, it will be unsafe in rain or snow, and secondly, charging from a regular outlet takes a catastrophically long time. Therefore, in order to use an electric car normally, installing a three-phase red socket next to a permanent parking place at work or at home is a priority task that should be taken care of in advance.

To install a three-phase socket at home, you will need to make a project, go through the approval stages, mount sockets, lay cables and, possibly, install an additional electricity meter. It can all take over specialized organization, who deals with electrical work. In each individual case, the timing, cost, and availability of electrical power will vary. Therefore, before you think about buying an electric car, you definitely need to understand for yourself how you will solve the charging issue.

But what about electric refueling on the A-100, you ask? After all, the slogan on a huge poster reads “Electric cars refuel here,” and on a special pedestal, like a monument, stands a lonely Nissan Leaf. As it turned out from a conversation with the gas station staff, they have no idea how it works: “The bosses are playing this electric car game and we don’t know anything.”

On the second attempt, with a request to clarify the situation, the employee went to his superiors, who did not even deign to leave the office and look at the first live client of an electric gas station in the country. "It is for official use», - said the lady at the cash register, as if curtly, after a visit to the authorities.

We approached Nissan and found out that the “subcompact” is charged with “slow” charging through the old Type 1 connector. In any case, without dancing with adapters that are not there, it will not be possible to charge the Model S there, and it will take too much time. Thus, “electric refueling” on the A-100 is simply not a completely correct marketing ploy.

If in the city Tesla is an almost ideal option for everyday driving, then long journeys on an electric car in Eastern Europe today represent big problem. You can still go to Vilnius by making an agreement with the owner of the red outlet there for the night, but you can no longer go to Moscow. This requires a network of fast chargers located on the highways.

Main difference fast charging from slow in that it immediately serves D.C. high power directly into the battery, bypassing the charger built into the car. In the US and Europe, Tesla is developing its own network of electric charging stations, called Superchargers. Depending on the version, they charge with direct current with a voltage of 400 V and a power of 90 to 135 kW. Moreover, 150 kW stations will be launched in the summer. For Tesla Model S owners, the use of these chargers is unlimited and free. This charging allows you to replenish half the battery in 20 minutes.

It will take more time to charge the battery all the way, since when charging after 80% of its full capacity, the battery begins to heat up more and the power must be reduced. The company has very ambitious development plans Supercharger networks in Western Europe and the USA. As for Eastern Europe, so far there is no specific information was not announced.

Existing network Superchargers V North America

Plans for network development in North America by 2015

Existing network of Superchargers in Europe

Plans for network development by 2015 in Europe

The second, universal, fast charging option is the Chademo network. The idea is the same, but not free and with a maximum power of 50 kW. There is a special adapter for Model S that allows you to charge from these stations. The Chademo connector has enough big size and not nearly as comfortable as Type 2.

First of all, ask the following questions: What is the charging time for a Tesla? How to charge a Tesla? Where can I charge my Tesla? And what does the charger look like? Tesla device?

This is what it looks like tesla charging station Houses. Well, we see - there is a thick corrugation, there is an equally thick cable inside, there is an automatic machine, we turn on the automatic machine, then through again, not a lot of small connectors, such a small beautiful wall-mounted thing with a cable is connected, which, in fact, supplies current to the machine . Now about 80 Amperes are coming to it, which is approximately 17 kW. It means that Tesla charging time with its help it will be 5 hours.

We approach the car, press the button on the plug and the charging port opens.

When charging is finished, we take this same plug, take it out, hang it up and leave.

Such tesla car charger costs $1,200 plus tax, i.e. roughly speaking, about $1,300. Theoretically, you can install an ordinary American power socket, costing $30 in America, through which you can supply up to 40 Amps inclusive, i.e. about 10 kW, which will provide Tesla charging time in 8 – 10 hours.

In principle, at home or even for a temporary connection, you can use a regular American power outlet.

The usual mobile connector that comes with the car is plugged into this socket, this is what it looks like.

And the difference between the wall-mounted, stationary option, which costs $1,300, and the connector that comes with the kit, is quite simple - you need to take it out of the trunk and plug it into the network, and the wall connector just needs to be inserted into the car.

Now what happens inside the car when we charge it? What does she show us on-board computer ?

Here is this very charging screen - you can see that the car is already charged by almost 80%, and you can see how it is gaining those same Amperes, and the Amperes are gradually increasing a little bit, so as not to spoil the cold battery, i.e. first she takes 30A, after a minute it’s 40A and so on up to 80A. And here on this screen you can see how many kW is currently approaching it and how many kW/h it has already pumped for this charge. Also, in parallel, the car shows how much time remains until fully charged. In our case, about an hour to an hour and a half. This is basically all you need about how to charge a Tesla. As you can see, everything is very simple.

But there is one thing. First and most importantly, it’s good for those people who have their own micro-infrastructure, which allows them to have 80A single-phase current. For most, the maximum power is 40A, and in households in a private house (at the dacha, at work) much lower currents of 12A are available. And here it’s worth saying that charging a Tesla car through a regular household outlet, maximum current which is 12A, Tesla full charge time is about 16 hours, and is about 200 km in hard operation.

The main problem of any electric vehicle in any country is to obtain sufficient electrical power, i.e. in the office, at home, in the country. And this is really a problem, at least in Russia, because... We currently have neither regulations nor any other procedures for allocating power specifically to cars; we have them for dacha farms, but not for cars. This is precisely the main headache for owners of electric cars. It is clear that each user can independently come to an agreement with the energy supply organization, but in order for there to be as many electric machines in our country as possible, we need a procedure that will be clear to every user: where to go, what kind of application to leave, what reasonable amount of money to pay, and then one will appear the most necessary power you need power. This is exactly what it is main problem operation.

Regarding the city infrastructure, well, just yesterday the news came out that Moscow parking lots will be equipped with chargers - this is certainly good, some kind of step into the future. But according to statistics Tesla Motors– about 90% of Tesla cars in America are charged at home, i.e. This is either charging at home in the parking lot, or charging in the country if people live in their own houses. And only 10% is obtained at supercharges and at public gas stations. Of course, city gas stations are good, but they are not charging stations– these are recharging stations, i.e. you just came to the store and recharged the car a little, or you’re just going somewhere - you received a little life-giving energy and drove on to be guaranteed to get there, i.e. Because of the weather or because of a traffic jam, do not accidentally drain all the energy. But the most important thing is charging at home or in the country, where a person lives, where a person leaves the car to charge at night, and this problem, which has been solved in Europe and the USA, there you can turn to networks or private ones (both state-owned and near-state) companies that can solve this problem, and the only place in America where there are problems with charging is Manhattan, and only because it is very small and there are really problems with electricity there, there is an energy shortage, and in the same Moscow and all of Russia there is energy surplus, i.e. .e. electricity is in abundance, at least in high-voltage networks, and there is no problem in allocating additional energy through these high-voltage networks. It turns out that there is energy, but then this most necessary link and procedure is missing so that each user, simply by submitting an application and paying reasonable money, receives electrical power to charge his car.

Impressions from Tesla operation winter in Russia

To bookmarks

Managing partner of the venture fund LETA Capital, Alexander Chachava, shared his experience of operating a Tesla car in Moscow, and also gave some tips on using a car in winter.

I've been traveling for a year and a half Tesla car and has already covered 14 thousand km. I've heard that consumer quality drops in the second year of ownership, batteries work worse, and the car starts to have problems.

I didn’t notice anything like that, everything works like a clock. I don’t know what will happen at 50 thousand km, but so far everything is great. The lack of maintenance is a little annoying; Tesla told me that there is no need to perform any actions on the car; if anything happens, it will report a malfunction. I'm so used to the instantaneous response of the electric motor that gasoline cars At first I am surprised by the delay after accelerating, even on a BMW.

But the sound of the engine is a little lacking for a complete sensation, although sometimes you like the silence when you want to sit in silence and not drive. In general, the engine roar option, which can be ordered from a tuning studio for an electric car, is not as idiotic as it seems at first glance.

The first question that arises for a person who is interested in electric vehicles is: “How to charge them?” Tesla Model S is considered the first among them, which is worthy of respect. The answer will be based on this.

The original article and photographs were taken from the site auto.onliner.by

Physics within school curriculum everyone knows, which means they remember what it is: ammeter, voltmeter and kilowatts.

The capacity of batteries used in electric cars is measured in kilowatt-hours. For the model under consideration, this value is 85 kW/h. This means that the battery can theoretically produce 85 kW per hour or one kilowatt for 85 hours. This is provided that there are no losses. In reality, of course, they exist, since the charging speed is not always the same.

Power, i.e. A watt is voltage (volts) times current (amps). To better understand the difference between voltage and current, we can use an analogy with water. The current strength can be compared to the diameter of the pipe from which water flows under pressure (voltage). When pumping water through a narrow pipe, but under high pressure, as when pumping it through a wide pipe, but under low pressure, you can pump the same volume of this liquid (kilowatt-hour). Only in the second case will the filling process take place quickly, while in the first it will take longer. Continuing to compare further, we find that for high voltage, reliable insulation is necessary (in the case of water, a thick pipe wall), and for large size current strength - cross-section (pipe diameter).

The most common household European sockets have the following parameters: current -16A or less, and voltage - 220V. If we multiply these two values, we get a maximum power of 3520W, or almost 3.5 kW.

No less common in production (less common in everyday life) are three-phase sockets. They have the same 220 W in each phase, which gives a phase-to-phase voltage of 380V. Their current strength, as a rule, is also 16A. Multiplying these three values ​​(taking into account three phases) we get a power of 10.5 kW (220x16x3). This socket in the European version has five, located in a circle of contacts. Its color is red, which is why it is often called “red rosette”.

There are also “blue sockets” - single-phase (32A), but they are practically never found here.

One more nuance: the battery is charged with direct current, but alternating current flows in the network, so it needs to be “straightened”. A charger is used for this, just like when charging a mobile phone or laptop, digital camera, etc. The only difference is that this charging device is installed inside an electric car.

For the Model S base model, there is only one, and its power is 11 kW. At the client's request, a second one can be installed. In this case, the power doubles. In addition, the car package includes a Mobile Connector, which resembles a charger in shape, but is actually a “smart” connecting cable.

For the German market there are two adapters, which are also included in the kit. One of them allows you to charge an electric car from a regular outlet, the other from a “red” outlet. For American customers, a set of single-phase sockets of varying power is included. For “American women,” the main limitation is the inability to charge the car from a three-phase outlet.

Mobile Connector

For cars supplied to Europe, a single standard was adopted in 2009, according to which electric cars must have a Mennekes Type 2 connector for charging. Today it is used in the BMW i3, Renault Zoe, and now in the Model S. Its advantage is that it can work with current, both alternating and direct, with a single- and three-phase network. It is also much safer than traditional connections, since energy transfer can begin only after it is fully connected to the car and an “agreement has been reached” between the latter and the cable on the type of electric current and the required charging power. In a vehicle designed for American market, a more compact unique connector of its own design will be installed, but will not allow the use of three-phase current.

First charge - at the car wash!

Having learned everything about sockets and cables, you can move on to the actual charging. The first refueling can be done (at least in Belarus) right at the car wash of the Peugeot auto center, where there is a “red outlet” and the understanding of the employees.

To do this, the Mobile Connector is inserted into the socket, then the indicator lights up green. At the opposite end of the cable there is a handle with a button, as well as a Type 2 connector. Press this button so that the door on the driver's side in the taillight automatically opens where the connector is connected. We insert it - charging has begun, as evidenced by three blinking LEDs in the headlight. In the cabin, on the monitor you can get information about the current strength (230V in our case). Protection will monitor network overload: if there is a voltage drop with increasing power, or fluctuation, the current will be automatically limited.

For new wiring, the time to reach 16A is short. Having reached them, the battery begins charging at a power of 11 kW. To charge the battery ¼ it will take neither more nor less – two hours. It takes 8 hours to fully charge from this outlet.

The illumination turns off if the car is closed during charging, due to the fact that the Mobile Connector is blocked in the connector. It's very nice when you don't need to attract attention.

When conducting tests, in a car, after a trip around the city, we checked the charging speed. We did this in the garage using a regular (household) outlet. Mobile Connector suddenly blinked red. And this indicates the absence of grounding, without which there will be no charging. By the way, we have this important factor Electricians do not take this seriously, so more often household sockets are “zeroed,” which does not allow charging an electric car. But, even if the socket is “ok”, the charging time from it is much longer than from the “red” socket, since its maximum power is only 3 kW. The car will not be useful for more than thirty hours, because that is how long it will take to fully charge.

As mentioned, the car has one charger installed, but if you install a second one directly at the factory, you can double the maximum charging power, i.e. up to 22 kW. Additionally, you will need to install a High Power Wall Connector device, similar to the stationary Mobile Connector.

HPWC for Americans serves as the only alternative, while in Europe there is another, with a corresponding cable and Type 2 connector. Unfortunately, a third-party cable does not allow opening in automatic mode charging hatch, and you will have to open it using a mobile and corresponding application or from the central monitor. But it becomes possible to charge within four hours.

The real problem is rather the allocation of appropriate power when charging at 22 kW. If there is no possibility to get 22 kW at the parking place, then there is no point in installing a second charger. It is recommended to purchase a second Mobile Connector to use it as a stationary one in the garage

Are electric gas stations needed in cities?

All experts are unanimous in the opinion that the owners Tesla gas stations not needed in the city. Why? Yes, it’s simple: the car’s power reserve is about 350 km (even at minus twenty, this is at least 200 km), i.e. it's more than enough for a day's mileage. And at night the car is charged in its own garage (similar to what we do with mobile phones). In the morning it has a “full tank” and is ready to go. It is advisable, of course, to have a “red” socket at home, so that even in winter period have a guaranteed full charge.

If there is no garage or there is still no “red” socket at home, or there is no grounding in the European socket, you can drive a thousand kilometers in the “parking at home” mode, using “improvised” “red sockets” (at a car wash, in services, etc. .). But, every time after refueling, you will have to clean it of dirt and dust before putting the cable in the trunk. But even more unpleasant is the long period of idle time waiting for the battery to be “filled.” You can, of course, not fully charge the Model S, since the battery does not have a memory effect. But it will not recharge if it remains connected to the outlet for a long time. According to the manufacturer's recommendations, it needs to be charged when it is not being driven, which is especially important in cold weather. This will allow you to warm up the battery, as well as the car interior, by turning on the climate control remotely. Another advantage of this recommendation is that over time the driver will have his own map of improvised “electric filling stations”, since all the places where the car has ever been refueled are automatically marked on the map.

Another question often worries drivers: “Is it possible to “drop” an extension cord from an apartment? Answer: “No!” This is very dangerous in bad weather, firstly. Secondly, it will be catastrophically long. Therefore, in place permanent parking installing a three-phase outlet is a first necessity. And it’s better to take care of it in advance.

To do this, you need a project that needs to be approved by the relevant authorities, after which you can begin laying the cable (possibly installing an additional electric meter). You can entrust the work to the appropriate organizations. But an electric car is worth it, and when you, having become its owner, experience all the delights of innovative transport, you will understand that all the preparatory difficulties were worth it.

Well, the bigger signs on the A-100 calling for refueling electric cars here are just the whims of the gas station owners. The staff has no idea how to use it, it turned out in a conversation with employees.

An attempt to contact the authorities during testing ended with the phrase that it was intended “for official use!”

Therefore, one can only talk about refueling “A-100” as incorrect marketing course. But only!

Perfect option– if there is a gas station for everyday driving in the city. But for long-distance travel in Eastern Europe this is a big problem today. You can still get to Vilnius if you negotiate with the owners of the “red” outlet about refueling at night. It is impossible to get to Moscow due to the lack of a network of gas stations on the highway. In Europe and the USA these are easier. There is its own network there, called Supercharger, where Tesla can be charged, depending on the version, with a direct current power of 90-135 kW and a voltage of 400 V. Stations with a power of 150 kW will also be launched there soon. Tesla drivers can use them free of charge and without restrictions. They are fully charged within twenty minutes.

The company's ambitious plans include further development Superchargers in these countries, but no information has yet been announced regarding Eastern Europe.

North America: existing network of Superchargers

Gas stations planned for 2015 in North America

Europe: Superchargers

By 2015, plans to develop a network of gas stations in Europe

To others universal option is the Chademo network - the same idea, but not free. With the help of a special conductor, Tesla is refueled, but at a maximum power of 50 kW. Disadvantage: Large connector size, which is less convenient than Type.

For Europe the best option there would be the development of stations that would allow the car to be charged via a Type 2 connector using direct current. But there are no such solutions from third-party organizations yet.

How much does a full refill cost?

The tests carried out indicate that 250 W/h are consumed per kilometer, i.e. 25 kW/h per hundred kilometers. But, you need to take into account that the efficiency of the charger is not 100%, and the battery is normal mode"filled" only 90% to be able to use reproductive braking, as well as extend battery life.

It turns out. That in order to charge an 85 kW/h Tesla battery, you need 100 kW/h and 90 kW/h if it is filled to 90%. Considering real stock travel - 300 km, we have 30 kWh for every hundred kilometers.

At the electricity tariff for ordinary individuals, but taking into account that it will be more than 150 kW (i.e. 917 rubles), we get: in rubles, for every hundred kilometers traveled it will cost 27,510 rubles. But, at the same time, you are driving a car with 412 hp under the hood, and acceleration to one hundred kilometers occurs in 4.4 seconds!

It is also very convenient to track the status of the car, manage it central locking, know the location, use the climate control system and, most importantly, control the charging progress, you can use mobile application Android and iOS.

To summarize, here are some things to remember:

• To charge from a regular European socket, which lasts for 24 hours, grounding is required.
• For comfortable operation in the parking lot and garage you need a “red2 socket, which can be fully charged in eight hours.
• When choosing between buying a second charger and a Mobile Connector, the second option will be preferable, which can be used as a stationary one.
• It is very inconvenient to use Tesla if there is no permanent place with an electrical outlet.
• Long-distance travel on roads that are not equipped with special gas stations is extremely difficult.
• American Model Model S cannot be charged from a three-phase socket.
• At least three dollars must be paid for the electricity required to cover one hundred kilometers of travel.

Despite all the difficulties that still exist, an electric car is worth buying because it provides unprecedented driving sensations!