A pair of Tesla Model 3 drivers have set a new record for distance travelled on a single charge.
Tesla enthusiasts Sean M. Mitchell and Erik Strait managed to travel 606.2 miles in their Model 3. That’s almost twice the advertised maximum mileage of between 220 and 310 miles.
The 32-hour trip saw the men drive at between 20 and 30 miles per hour for the whole journey, which took place on a closed loop near Denver airport (via Electrek).
Naturally, with only a 10-metre elevation, that’s a pretty forgiving drive unlike anything Tesla owners would experience in the wild. They also performed the feat minus the benefit of air conditioning.
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Regardless, the efforts smashed the the previous ‘Hypermilling’ (the practice of seeking the most out of an EV battery) record for the Model 3, which was 560 miles.
Final #Model3 hypermile numbers from @teslainventory and I: 606.2 miles (975 km), 66 kWh, and 110 wh/mi, and 32 hours of driving. At its peak it was 108F in the cabin with no a/c running. Thank you @Tesla and @elonmusk for making such an incredible piece of machinery! pic.twitter.com/Z1LJk4Ligk
— Sean M Mitchell (@seanmmitchell) May 27, 2018
Once the duo notched up their record tally, they connected the Model 3 to a Supercharger and got some shuteye. However, in an unforeseen twist, the EV failed to recharge overnight.
Rather than driving the Model 3 home, the pair were forced to have it towed to a service centre. Given it’s a holiday weekend in the United States, we’re yet to hear an update from on the problem.
Whether it’s to do with the strain they placed on the battery via the long journey or just an unfortunate coincidence remains to be seen.
Getting our hypermile #Model3 towed to the Service Center. After leaving it charged overnight at a Supercharger it is still not taking a charge. @teslainventory pic.twitter.com/QicQbnnWrF
— Sean M Mitchell (@seanmmitchell) May 27, 2018
Most people who ordered the Tesla Model 3 would probably relish the opportunity to drive to the shops and back, let alone 600 miles on a single charge. Sadly, not may who’ve plonked down a deposit for the Model 3, have received one yet.
Is the Model 3 the vehicle to take EVs mainstream? Or will the production delays put paid to the firm’s ambitions? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.