Tesla Reports Fewer Autopilot Accidents in Q1

Tesla Reports Fewer Autopilot Accidents in Q1
Tesla’s Q1 2019 Vehicle Safety Report says vehicles were involved in one accident per 2.87 million miles driven on Autopilot, in line with the company’s report the previous quarter.

The numbers released in Tesla’s Q4 2018 Vehicle Safety Report showed one accident per 2.91 million miles with Autopilot.

Tesla said one accident occurred every 1.76 million miles driven in Q1 without the feature, compared to 1.58 million miles in Q4.

Tesla started releasing safety data in 2018 to to give consumers more insight into the performance of its self-driving system.

“By comparison, NHTSA’s most recent data shows that in the United States there is an automobile crash every 436,000 miles,” the Q1 report said.

 
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Vendor - Model 3 Sunglasses Mount – By Skyline

Vendor - Model 3 Sunglasses Mount – By Skyline
First off, it’s been a blast being part of the Tesla Motors Club community! We enjoy engaging with the community and getting feedback on all our products. For those that don’t know us – Skyline designs, develops and sells aftermarket accessories for Tesla vehicles. Our backgrounds are rooted in consumer products and the automotive industry. We design everything in-house literally ground-up. Some of our current popular products include the Model 3 Case Friendly Phone Dock and Model S/X Quick Connection Case Friendly Phone Dock.

What’s new?

As Tesla enthusiasts, we have been a bit frustrated that in the Tesla Model 3 there is not a sunglasses storage/access compartment to conveniently store and protect sunglasses or prescription glasses. After many design cycles and somewhere around 15 concepts we’re proud to present our latest product – the Skyline Sunglasses Mount for Model 3. It effortlessly installs on the inside of the center console lid, making for a very slick solution!

What is the Skyline Sunglasses Mount?

The Skyline Sunglasses Mount is an elegant solution designed specifically for the Model 3. The mount contours to match the interior of the Model 3 center console lid perfectly. It attaches with a 3M double sided adhesive – no drilling or permanent modifications needed.

The install is simple and 100% damage free to the vehicle.

Sit back in the driver seat, and simply press on the lid to open and easily slide your frames into the mount. The innovative design accommodates all sunglasses and prescription glasses frame/styles.



The front “wedge” is sprung, to automatically engage the eyeware for a confident hold. We’ve tested this at all speeds and vehicle vibrations to ensure frames will be secure in place.

Check out the video below and more on our YouTube channel.

How did we design and test?

Skyline prides in testing all products directly with Tesla owners. We call this our BETA program. If you’re interested in participating in future product development please email us [email protected]. The sunglasses mount was developed in parallel with the feedback from BETA testers to ensure we make the best possible product.

Lastly, our TMC folks can use promo code “SAVE5TMC” for 5% off all products!

Website:

Tesla Accessories | Skyline Products

Email contact:

[email protected]

Sunglasses mount for model 3 link:

Sunglasses Mount for Model 3 and Model Y

Youtube Channel link:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2YibeXuPG7WzAJYEJwF7tg?view_as=subscriber

Instagram:

theskylineproducts

Facebook:

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Vendor - Your Tesla is Here. Now What?

Vendor - Your Tesla is Here. Now What?
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a sponsored post from Eastman Performance Films, respected worldwide as a producer of energy solutions including professional-grade window films, industrial coatings, adhesives, and laminates.

It’s a given that you’ll celebrate the end of your long wait for delivery. Congrats and enjoy! After that comes the inevitable question: How do I keep my Tesla in delivery-day condition as long as possible?

The urge driving this question is good – for the long-term value of your vehicle and confidence on the road. Don’t fight your urge to preserve the pristine condition of your new machine. Let it rule. There are lots of things you can do, but first, make sure you’ve invested in three key types of protective coverage. This will prepare your Tesla for years of supercharger stops and software updates.



Auto Insurance – coverage for unexpected incidents

Floor Mats – coverage for a key area in your interior

Paint Protection Film (PPF) – coverage that helps safeguard your finish



Shopping for Insurance

Many major auto insurance carriers will cover a Tesla – but some may not be prepared for the atypical repair scenarios that come with electric engines or aluminum body parts. When you shop for insurance, ask questions and consider major carriers as well as Tesla’s own auto insurance. This is a little more work than updating your current policy, but it can prevent the headaches that come with longer waits for claim resolutions and repairs.

Floor Mat Considerations

Your Tesla’s interior footwell may not stand up to slush, dirt and long-term abuse from your feet. It also can’t be personalized. Floor mats customize your interior while also protecting it. This is a plus at resale. Think about fit, weather, lifestyle and personal style when you’re making your choice.

Powerful PPF Benefits

Flying road debris, car wash swirl marks, and even pollen or dust can permanently mar your Tesla’s finish. Technologically advanced SunTek PPF offers a combination of top quality PPF features precisely engineered to satisfy perfectionists:



Molecular structure that readjusts with sun or engine heat, making scratches disappear.

Hydrophobic top coat resists stains from gas, oil and car exhaust for easy cleaning.

Gloss or matte, it’s optically clear and smooth so it blends into your finish.

A 5- or 10-year manufacturer’s limited warranty is included.

You can wax it or top it with ceramic coating without voiding the warranty.

Professionally installed using a custom-calibrated TruCut system for precise Tesla fit.  



Spot Coverage or Full Wrap?

The question really isn’t if you should get SunTek PPF, it’s where. Spot coverage protects areas that take a beating, while a full wrap shields your entire finish. SunTek dealers have observed that Tesla owners choose the full wrap more often than owners of other car brands. We invite you to tell us what you’ll do, and why, in the comments.

 
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New Video Touts 2020 Roadster Speed

New Video Touts 2020 Roadster Speed
When Tesla surprised fans with a new version of the Roadster, they demonstrated the sports car’s incredible acceleration. Test-riders were pinned to their seats, eyes wide, expletives spilling out of their mouths.

Tesla claims the car will go 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds.

The automaker again emphasized the car’s quickness in a new video clipped shared over the weekend.

“Zero to sixty faster than you can read this caption,” read a tweet accompanying the video of a red Roadster rounding a curve and speeding past the camera.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1119299135390146561
In addition to impressive top speed specs of 250 mph, the new Roadster is expected to have a range of 620 miles. The Roadster is expected to go into production next year.

 
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Model Y Aims to Be Tesla’s Real Mass Market Hit

Model Y Aims to Be Tesla’s Real Mass Market Hit
Tesla’s first shot at a mass-market EV was definitely the Model 3, which was not only the best-selling electric but also the best-selling luxury car in America last year. But, it’s the upcoming Model Y and it’s appeal to people’s preference for crossover SUVs that the company is betting to be its biggest hit.

“I think it’ll be really compelling. I’m confident that it’ll be – of any midsize SUV – it’ll be the one you want,” Musk said during the Model Y presentation in March. “I think we’ll probably do more Model Ys than S, X, and 3 combined, most likely.”

Musk has said the Model Y will cost about 10 percent more for about 10 percent less range than the Model 3. The base price of the Model Y will be $39,000, however the base version is not likely to go into production until spring of 2021.

Tesla employed a similar production plan with the Model 3, selling more expensive versions that cost nearly double the promised budget price of $35,000. Those budget Model 3s didn’t start being delivered until the end of March and it stressed Tesla to the max, requiring layoffs and significant changes in company operations. Still, even with its production woes, there’s no denying that the Model 3 has been wildly popular. Bloomberg estimates Tesla has produced more than 420,000 Model 3s.

The Model Y, which is built using about 70 percent of the same parts as the Model 3, is not expected to have such a rocky first production run. It’s also a class of vehicle that consumers demand and are willing to pay a premium for.

The world loves SUVs.

“SUVs are the growth engine behind the global auto market and we think there is little chance of this trend reversing,” Jeff Schuster, president of Americas and global vehicle forecasting at LMC Automotive, told Quartz. “Globally, we see SUVs closing in on 40% of the market by 2025. And from now until then, SUVs will account for nearly half of all new vehicles and redesigns.”

Some argue that the Model Y is not a true SUV, rather a tall sedan. During a recent interview, Car and Driver testing driver Kim Reynolds asked celebrated Chrysler car designer Tom Gale – who helped design cars like the Plymouth Prowler, 1994 Dodge Ram pickup series, the Dodge Viper, and the Lamborghini Diablo, what he thought about the Model Y.

“I don’t see it as a crossover at all,” Gale said. “ In fact, I think a lot of people are going to miss it on the road. Just today I saw a Model 3, and it really is a testament to how well they’ve evolved the proportions of Tesla’s design. The same is true with the Model Y, but to me, this is just a sedan being taller.”

Musk almost agreed with Gale during a recent episode of the Ride the Lightning podcast.

“The Model Y is much roomier on the inside than it appears on the outside,” Musk said. “A lot of people think it looks not much bigger than a Model 3… It’s intended to not look big, but it’s actually… I think the mark of a good design for a vehicle is that it feel much bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside.”

Musk even said he downplayed the Model Y at launch.

“I intentionally didn’t go all out with the Model Y reveal because I didn’t want to convince people to buy a Y instead of a 3,” Musk said on the Ride the Lightning podcast. “So if everyone just decided ok we’ll just buy a Y instead of a 3 then we wouldn’t have any customers and there would never be a Y because we wouldn’t be able to float the company. So I was kind of, like, medium in presenting the Y but I think when people get it the reaction will be better than they think. It really just if you want an SUV and are prepared to accept a slight cost increase and a slight range decrease then that’s great. The advantage of a sedan is that it’s going to cost a little bit less and it will have a little more range. So it just depends if you want a sedan or an SUV.”

Of course, Tesla already has an SUV with the Model X. But, it starts at about $90,000, certainly not a price tag approachable by many. The average price paid for a vehicle last year was $32,500, according to JD Power.

“With Model Y we wanted to avoid the technology bandwagon with the X, where It should have been easy to go from the S to the X and instead it was hell because there were so many new technologies,” Musk said on the Ride the Lightning podcast. “We didn’t want that to be the case and it would be too risky for the company to do that with the Model Y. So we’ve tried to make the car as similar to the 3 as possible, except to the degree that a change is necessary to achieve SUV functionality. So you’ll be able to fit seven people and have a higher ride height, more cargo capacity while still having a low drag coefficient and not increasing the frontal area too much so CDA (Cross Directional Area) and mass are close enough to the 3 that the range is only affected by 8-10 percent. The CDA is worse with the Y because CDA is higher.”

With a less complex build and a lower price tag, the Model Y will be within reach for many more SUV buyers. The long-range Model Y with 300 miles of range will come first in the fall of 2020 with a price of $47,000. Tesla will also offer an all-wheel drive dual-motor version for $51,000 and a performance version for $60,000.

Tesla has said it expects the demand for the Model Y of between 500,000 to 1 million units per year. In its Q4 2018 shareholder’s letter, Tesla said it plans to achieve “volume production by the end of 2020.”

Tesla’s “default plan” is to produce the Model Y at its Fremont, California factory, Chief Executive Elon Musk disclosed in the Ride the Lightning interview.

The move would put assembly of all Tesla’s offerings under one roof – Model S, Model X and Model 3 are also built in Fremont. It seems like tight quarters for such an aggressive manufacturing plan for the Model Y, particularly given that high demand for the Model 3 forced Tesla to erect tents in the parking lot of the Fremont factory to finish production of some cars. You have to wonder if the Fremont plant will be put under similar strain if the Model Y meets expectations.

While we know there’s consumer demand for compact SUVs, it’s not clear how quickly consumers will opt for an electric version. Model X demand seems to have leveled off and other new electric SUV models from Audi, Jaguar, and Hyundai have not had gangbuster sales.

Still, there’s a long line of competitors coming to market with electric SUVs in coming years. Automakers need to move some electric vehicles to start meeting fuel-efficiency standards, so new electric SUVs are on the way including the Mercedes-Benz EQC, Byton M-BYTE, BMW iX3, more Audi e-tron models, and a Ford Mustang-inspired electric SUV.

The fact that so many established automakers are jumping in the ring, may have already proven the Model Y a success in Tesla’s mission to transition the world from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Not only are many automakers building electric cars, but also electric SUVs. But, Tesla is going to have to deliver on delivering the Model Y if it intends to have a company that sustains, let alone a mass-market hit. Fortunately, the vehicle has much of what consumers crave today and will increasingly want in the future.

 
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CHAdeMO Charging the Model 3

CHAdeMO Charging the Model 3


Last night I received the 2019.24.4 software update for our Model 3. So this morning I tested Tesla’s CHAdeMO adapter to determine the rate of charge, and see how many miles I’d get and how long it would take to charge from a given SOC. Summary: 45 minutes gave me 139 miles of rated range and cost $8.69. Tesla’s CHAdeMO adapter is easy to use and provides more charging options for the Model 3.

A DC charger at a charging station in Sacramento.

This site where I charged has one DC charger with dual plugs to charge EVs with either CHAdeMO or CCS charging ports. It can charge one car at a time, delivers a maximum of 125 amps, and provides maximum power approaching 50 kW depending on factors such as state of charge, battery pack temperature, etc. I arrived at the station with 126 miles of rated range – 39% SOC – in our long range RWD Model 3.

I arrived at the station with 126 miles of range / 39% SOC.

If you haven’t used CHAdeMO chargers before the plugs are substantial, and by that I mean big. But using the adapter, while not dead simple like a Supercharger, was straightforward and easy: I removed the CHAdeMO plug from its holster on the charger, connected it to Tesla’s CHAdeMO adapter, and plugged the adapter into the Model 3’s charging port.

This station is operated by Greenlots. To start a charging session you either call their 1-800 number, use the Greenlots phone app, or a Greenlots RFID card. I have a Greenlots account and their RFID key fob so I held the key fob next to the labeled sensor on the charger and it verified my account. The charger provides you with easy to follows instructions. I pressed the button to select the CHAdeMO plug, and then pressed the button again to start the charging session.

I connected Tesla’s CHAdeMO adapter to the charger plug, plugged the adapter into my Model 3 charge port, and used an RFID card to start the charging session.

The charger delivered 22.8 kWh in the first 30 minutes, providing about 90 miles of rated range.

This DC charger sent 23 kWh to the Model 3 in 30 minutes, adding 90 miles of rated range to the pack.

The session started with the charger delivering 42 kW when the battery pack was at 39%. The power slowly increased, hitting 49 kW when the battery pack reached 80% SOC. I didn’t charge long enough to see where the taper would begin, but I’m guessing that would be in the range of 80-85% SOC.

It took a total of 45 minutes to go from 39% to 81% SOC. This included the time it took me to plug in and initiate the session. In 45 minutes the charger delivered 33.7 kWh (according to Greenlots), adding 139 miles of rated range to the pack.

The charging session started with the charger delivering 42 kW at 39% SOC, and the power slowly increased hitting 49 kW when the battery reached 80% SOC.

At this location Greenlots charges 25¢ per kWh, plus taxes and a 35¢ session fee. Total cost for this charge was $8.69, so just under 26¢ per kWh, which is comparable to the cost of using a Supercharger. The cost of using CHAdeMO chargers varies depending on the network that operates the station.

CHAdeMO charging stations are not Superchargers, yet. Some of the new stations coming online provide more than 125 amps, but I believe Tesla’s current CHAdeMO adapter will accept no more than 125 amps (please correct me if I’m wrong). CHAdeMO chargers don’t span the entire country, and generally don’t have as many charging stalls per site compared to most Supercharger locations. But some regions of the country have a good number of CHAdeMO charging locations that support EV drivers. So while 139 miles in 45 minutes is slower than a Supercharger, it’s better than L2 charging. Most importantly this gives us more charging options for road trips and regional travel.

I’ve used this station before to charge our 2012 Toyota Rav4 EV, thanks to Tony Williams’ CHAdeMO charging port, JdeMO. Adding the CHAdeMO charging port to our Rav4 EV expanded the horizons of that car, and I expect the CHAdeMO adapter to come in handy for our Model 3. I don’t expect to use it for local charging, but plan to use the adapter on longer trips we have planned.

Quick charging my 2012 Rav4 EV at this station several years ago.

If you are new to EVs and want to know how to find CHAdeMO charging stations, Plugshare is a very good resource. Go to that website (or download the phone app), click on the filter tab, and select CHAdeMO (or any other type of charger) to find charging locations near you.

Screen shot from the Plugshare.com website showing the location of CHAdeMO charging stations in the Atlanta area.

Final note: In the United States the two non-Tesla DC charging standards are CHAdeMO and CCS. The CHAdeMO charging standard was designed and promoted by Japanese power companies and auto manufacturers including Nissan and Mitsubishi. The Nissan Leaf, which came on the market in 2010, is the best selling EV with the CHAdeMO port. Other auto manufacturers use the CCS DC charging standard. Cars with the CCS port include the Chevy Bolt EV, BMW i3, VW e-Golf, and other European made EVs coming on the market. Ultimately cars with a CCS port will outnumber those with CHAdeMO. At some point Tesla may sell a CCS adapter for use in the United States, but there’s no indication of that yet.

This guest post from Steve Noctor originally appeared on his blog It’s Electric. 

 
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Model Y Spotted in the Wild

Model Y Spotted in the Wild
A photo of a Model Y working prototype in the wild has emerged on Twitter.

Posted by charging network ChargePoint, the photo shows a rear view of the all-electric crossover in blue.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1126910714835161089
Tesla unveiled the Model Y in March and offered test rides to attendees, then displayed it briefly at its Palo Alto headquarters, but it’s been otherwise tough to catch a glimpse of the highly-anticipated vehicle.

ChargePoint also shared a photo of a camera-equipped Model S, seemingly ready to shoot promotional video of the Model Y. ChargePoint didn’t offer any details on the location of the photo, but it’s possible the Model Y was visiting the company’s Campbell Calif. headquarters to test on ChargePoint equipment.

It’s likely we’ll see more Model Ys testing in public as we get closer to the first deliveries to start in the fall of 2020.

 
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Musk May Hold Competition for Tunneling Tech

Musk May Hold Competition for Tunneling Tech


Elon Musk commented last week on the SpaceX-sponsored Hyperloop competition for engineering students, hinting that building tunnels for the technology is one of the trickiest pieces of the puzzle.

The 2019 competition was conducted in a mile-long test tube, with teams trying to reach the highest speed possible and safely bring themselves to a stop. Forty-two teams took part in this year’s contest, with the team from Technical University of Munich setting a record of 288 mph.

Musk said that next year’s competition will be held in a tube that’s over six miles long, with a curve instead of being in a straight line like the current test tube. But, eventually the plan is to build a longer Boring Company-dug tunnel.

“I don’t think we’ll have a long enough, straight enough underground tunnel a year from now but I think three years from now we definitely will,” Musk said at the competition. “So figure three years from now, we’ll at least have a couple miles.”

Musk said the company may enlist the help of students to solve the complicated task of tunneling.

“I think a tunneling thing would be pretty exciting,” Musk said. “Because as I just articulated the primary challenge is how do you tunnel effectively, especially how do you put in the reinforcing segments and get the dirt out effectively — it’s harder than it seems.”

Musk said a speed that is one-tenth that of walking – about a mile every three hours – would be a significant in his goal of building a network of underground transportation tunnels.

 
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Tesla CFO Deepak Ahuja Announces Retirement

Tesla CFO Deepak Ahuja Announces Retirement
Longtime Tesla CFO Deepak Ahuja announced his retirement from the company Wednesday during the company’s Q4 earnings call. Zach Kirkhorn, previously the company’s vice president of finance, will take over the role.

“I feel really good about Zach taking over. He’s proven his self over the years with many tough challenges he’s worked on,” Ahuja said.

Kirkhorn has a finance degree from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School and an MBA from Harvard. He has served in various finance roles at the company since 2010 – the days of the original Roadster.

Ahuja previously retired from the car maker in 2015, but returned when replacement Jason Wheeler left in 2017. While he’s again stepping away from the CFO position, Ahuja will remain an outside advisor to Tesla. Chief Executive Elon Musk said he hoped Ahuja would do so “for years to come.”

 
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Tesla Launches Merch Shop on Amazon

Tesla Launches Merch Shop on Amazon
If you’re in the market for a Tesla mug, model, hoodie, cap, or iPhone case, the automaker has set up an official store on Amazon.com.

Tesla has previously sold branded merchandise and accessories ranging from infant onesies to floormats on its ‘Tesla Shop’ website, which remains live.

The following products are available on Tesla’s Amazon store as of Tuesday afternoon:



iPhone cases: $35 to $45

Men’s hoodie: $70

Women’s hoodie: $75

Snapback hat: $25

Die-cast Model S P100D, Model S P85, and Model X: $250

Mug: $25



The new Amazon store, which launched this week, is a way for the automaker to tap world’s largest retailer as a channel for its brand.

 

 
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