Scott and Corey decided a trip to Sydney would be better done by road than air. Their Tesla Model 3 Long Range would be tested, but would if be fab, or a dreadful fail?

Before I answer, consider this: chargers are rare, even now. The last 2 years has seen Australian weather on some kind of weird cosmic spin cycle. In that time, floods, fire, and mice plagues have come and gone, then come again.

The last few months has seen several one-in-a-hundred year floods, one after the other, pound the east coast. Savage seas reshaped the landscape by gouging chunks of beachfront like a drunken bogan at a pie-eating contest. Chargers have been either been done to a turn, or drowned like rats deserting a sinking ship.

Is it just me, or is that a really bad time to go on a road trip?

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ABOVE: 2022 Tesla Model 3 Brisbane to Sydney – 900km for $50

It turns out that between the Tesla, and the charging apps, the 900 trip is not only possible, but easy, as easy as if it has been made in a petrol-powered sedan.

The boys made the trip in several lazy, long-legged jumps, allowing the Model 3 to help with planning breaks around the convenience of charging, eating, and peeing. Two of those things we all do on a road trip anyway.

Before I tell you how much it cost and how long it took,here  a few funny Tesla stories, to fill the time.

Teslas can recognise traffic lights, and can even tell its driver what colour the lights are. As it turns out, it also recognises portable traffic lights being towed behind a work truck at 110kph. Who knew? Ya gotta love AI/UX/UI programmers.

The boys didn’t shell out the shekels for full Auto Pilot, so the model 3 makes do with regular smart cruise. It still has lane departure so I struggle to find much of a difference between regular smart cruise control, and full auto-pilot.

It also gets a bit squiffy around traffic cones on narrowed sections of road. It sees them as a threat worthy of a good set of anchors. I guess we’re still a long way off autonomous travel, right?

How Much Did the Trip Cost?

The wild weather that persists to today, pales into insignificance when set against the stratospheric petrol prices of recent times. 98ron at $2.40 a litre is an insult in anyone’s language. The boys made 4 stops, with the entire first leg costing 50 of our Australian dollars.

  • Ballina Charge Fox $10.40
  • Coffs Harbour Charge Fox $10.80
  • Port Macquarie Charge Fox $7.44
  • Heatherbrea Tesla SuperCharger $16.83

They left Brisvegas with 100% and arrived in Sydney 12 hours later with 50% left in reserve.

It was charged from renewables, and emitted no CO2.

Was it comfortable?

The Model 3 was brilliant, but some of the technology clitched. The cruise control was moody, especially in rain. Seats were comfortable even after few hours. There is also the added advantage of the extreme inferiority a Model 3 inspires in those around it.

Conclusion:

After a week touring the finer sites of Australia’s largest city, the tired twosome will retrace their steps north. The same trip by ICE powered transport would have cost have cost around $280 each leg. It would also have emitted 180kg of planet-killing CO2, as well as other noxious fumes. Before you get how you get, all charging was done from renewables.

You do the maths. Not only is a road trip possible, but it is cheaper, quieter, and arguably, more fun to do it in the calm oasis created by an electric car. It turns out, the trip was fab.

One last thing, their hotel has found a use for a hideous Toyota Troopie as the reception desk in a foyer, ‘cos god knows it is horrid on the road.

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