No, not the keyfobs. Though I've replaced them plenty. Or the 12V lead-acid, Tesla replaced that last year. No, the big one, 6 thousand cells of the 70kWh battery under the floor of my Model S. The first symptom was one I'd seen early on in our ownership - so I knew it was serious, … Continue reading It really happened – broken Tesla battery!
Why Tesla?
This is why. Hopwood Park services off the M42. Non-Teslas can't use this particular site as it's deemed "high-usage". It happened to be empty when I arrived! On a 260-mile drive I needed a 10 minute charge to get home (or face driving ~150 miles at 50mph on the remaining charge). The Gridserve public chargers … Continue reading Why Tesla?
Using the EV chargers at STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
This page is intended for employees and visitors of STFC-RAL, until something official becomes available. This is the situation at March 2022. Hopefully some of what I've learned in nearly 6 years of EV driving is useful. TLDR; download the Chargepoint app and plug in! At the Harwell campus there are many tenants, STFC being … Continue reading Using the EV chargers at STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Tesla Model S charging in cold weather
Say you've not used the car much over the weekend, it's not fully charged and you need to make a surprise trip on Monday morning. It's mild weather and you turn up at a public high power charger a few miles from home, and find the car charges at 20kW. Eh? It should manage at … Continue reading Tesla Model S charging in cold weather
EVs in 2021 and Scotland in the Model S
In 2021 EVs are coming from most manufacturers, and at some rate too. Back in 2015 when our Tesla was new, around a thousand a month were registered in the EU. In September 2021, over a thousand a day were registered! Recently on my commute along the M4, I usually see at least one car … Continue reading EVs in 2021 and Scotland in the Model S
Renewables and home heating- our heat pump journey
Scroll down for the diary of our heat pump install from Octopus Energy Services. Since buying a "fixer upper" of a house in 2011 we've been ... well, fixing it up. We self-built an extension and replaced all the windows and doors. Insulation of the older part of the house is not yet finished (hung … Continue reading Renewables and home heating- our heat pump journey
A year with a used Tesla Model S in the UK
In early 2020, just before lockdown, we bought a used 2015 Tesla Model S 70D from Tesla. Naturally, if I'd have known that I would hardly need a car for at least a year due to a global pandemic, I wouldn't have bought it. But as a used car it has worked out very well. … Continue reading A year with a used Tesla Model S in the UK
Electric Cars – a resource for teachers in 2020
An electric Tesla Model 3 has completed JOGLE, John O-Groats to Lands End, with only one and a half hours spent stopped and charging, breaking the previous record easily. This is enabled by a network of high power chargers which can charge electric cars at up to 250kW. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/tesla-model-3-breaks-record-shortest-charging-time-crossing-uk The carbon impact of electric cars … Continue reading Electric Cars – a resource for teachers in 2020
First holiday in the Tesla Model S
Instead of the 2020 Tour of Europe we were hoping for in the Model S, we took a week's holiday in North Wales. Although we could have made the journey without charging, that would have left us nearly empty. There are fewer chargers in Wales than in England, and no EV charger where we were … Continue reading First holiday in the Tesla Model S
A diary – Buying a used Model S from Tesla in the UK
Late on Sat 25/1/20 "Just flippin' buy the thing if you think it's good value then" - so I pushed the button- and was rewarded with a hedgehog?! To cut a long story short, it took 27 days from order to the collection of the car. Tesla's communications weren't the best, I've had better from … Continue reading A diary – Buying a used Model S from Tesla in the UK
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