Fraser drives a Tesla Model 3 Long Range 75kWh 2021.

This is Fraser’s first electric car, he’s owned the Tesla Model 3 from new and drives 5,000-10,000 miles annually. The current mileage of the car is between 10,000-20,000 miles and he achieves 255 miles from a full charge.

Why did you choose the Tesla Model 3?

Once you get over the idea that the engine is electric there are only two issues that matter.

Firstly, where can you charge it. If you buy anything other than a Tesla you instantly cut yourself off from the best and cheapest charging network in the UK. Why would anyone do this?

Secondly, efficiency, again, Tesla is pretty much the best. Some cars may go further but only because they have bigger batteries. With old cars it’s mpg that matters but now it’s miles p/kWh that counts.

Positives

• Dog mode – if you have a dog this is brilliant. Takes the worry out of leaving the dog in the car while you pop into the shops etc.
• one pedal driving – sounds a bit weird but after the first drive it’s the most natural thing. You almost never need the brakes. Much smoother drive and you get free ‘fuel’ every time you slow down.
• charging integration with car – you just tell it where you want to go and it decides where and when to charge. All you have to do is pull up, insert charger & walk away.Billing etc. is all taken care of automatically. No cards or apps required.

Negatives

• Automatic windscreen wipers – they don’t work very well. A software fix is promised but you often need to set it manually.
• That’s it!

Compared to when you first bought the car, does your battery still charge at the same rate & do you still get the same range?

Yes – not noticed any changes. The car is pretty good at predicting the mileage.

Have you experienced any faults with the car? If so, what have they been?

No faults. Never set foot in a garage or spoken to anyone from Tesla for 2 ½ years.

What are the standout technological features of the car?

It just works.

Tell us something people wouldn’t readily know about this electric car 

Dog mode which maintains the cabin temperature. Puts a message on the screen so passers by don’t worry and enables you to watch the interior of the car from your phone. Absolute godsend when you need to leave your dog in the car on a sunny or very cold day.

What’s the biggest or funniest myth you’ve heard about EVs?

Brake pads wear out faster – which they don’t as you very rarely use them due to regeneration which does most of your stopping for you.

What electric car(s) are you interested in next and why?

Tesla – because of the charging network and simplicity of ownership & buying.

Home charging unit

Tesla – Basically, having a home charger is the same as having your own petrol station at home. Every morning you wake up and you car is full. Couple that with a cheap overnight tariff and filling it up is remarkably cheap. In the last year I have saved over £560 v fuel. I use Tesla’s home charger as that way it all integrates with the car app. Also, if you have Tesla house batteries and solar it can work out when to divert solar to charge the car making it free to fill up.

Electricity supplier & tariff

Octopus Intelligent Go – gives me cheap electricity from 23:30 to 05:30. Nothing negative. Use this to charge up the car and house batteries for 7.5p kWh. This charges the car and can run the whole house all day for most of the year. Nothing bad to say.

What public charging networks would you recommend to others and why?

Tesla – would not want to deal with the rest. One of the main reasons I bought one initially.

Insurer

LV= all very easy.

Please itemise where you’re saving money (or not) owning & running a Tesla Model 3

• Don’t pay road tax
• home charging has low VAT
• if you home charge on a cheap rate it’s very cheap to run
• don’t have to waste time in petrol stations so buy less chocolate too!

See other Tesla Model 3 Owner Reviews here