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Just had a quick look. Did you compare theoretical (gasoline) vs measured (electric) values? The cost difference is quite significant. What is the error here?

Just had a quick look. Did you compare theoretical (gasoline) vs measured (electric) values? The cost difference is quite significant. What is the error here? While I knew electric engines can be more efficient, I was surprised by these numbers.

mlyle 6y ago
This is about right. A lot of comparisons are slightly off because they use the energy numbers from the car itself which leave out charger inefficiency --- which can be rather bad on Tesla --- but it doesn't change the big picture. On the other hand, you need to consider the amortized cost of the vehicle itself; both a higher vehicle cost and the likelihood of a somewhat lower vehicle lifetime. Maybe increased performance counteracts some of this for you? Further complicating things is maintenance. Oil changes are avoided. Brake pad changes are reduced. But tire wear is usually increased... And after all this, there's the convenience differences (both ways). You never need to go to a gas station for a normal drive. But road trips suck a lot more.
- radium3d 6y ago
  To be fair, road trips wouldn't suck a lot more, you just get to stretch your legs after 2 hours of driving (or a lot more if you have one of the 400 mile range model S!) I'd hope you stop to pee or something after 400 miles of driving Lol
  - mlyle 6y ago
    You still have fewer choices of where to stop/eat and will be stopping longer.
mrpopo 6y ago
An IC engine is 20-30% efficient depending on the technology (the rest is waste heat). An electric engine is 80-90%. Even if you imagine the electricity comes from a gasoline power plant, the efficiency at the plant will be higher than a regular car ICE because of scale benefits + use of a cold sink (ocean/river).
radium3d 6y ago
Actually, this includes the energy used by my water heater, refrigerator and heat/cooling over night after midnight as noted on the sheet. So the savings are even greater :) Also, the gasoline numbers are actual numbers at the pump. I logged them every time I filled up my old 2014 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid. The amount of energy in a gallon of gasoline is not theoretical, it is very close to 33.7kWh.

mlyle 6y ago

This is about right. A lot of comparisons are slightly off because they use the energy numbers from the car itself which leave out charger inefficiency --- which can be rather bad on Tesla --- but it doesn't change the big picture. On the other hand, you need to consider the amortized cost of the vehicle itself; both a higher vehicle cost and the likelihood of a somewhat lower vehicle lifetime. Maybe increased performance counteracts some of this for you? Further complicating things is maintenance. Oil changes are avoided. Brake pad changes are reduced. But tire wear is usually increased... And after all this, there's the convenience differences (both ways). You never need to go to a gas station for a normal drive. But road trips suck a lot more.

radium3d 6y ago
To be fair, road trips wouldn't suck a lot more, you just get to stretch your legs after 2 hours of driving (or a lot more if you have one of the 400 mile range model S!) I'd hope you stop to pee or something after 400 miles of driving Lol
- mlyle 6y ago
  You still have fewer choices of where to stop/eat and will be stopping longer.

mrpopo 6y ago

An IC engine is 20-30% efficient depending on the technology (the rest is waste heat). An electric engine is 80-90%. Even if you imagine the electricity comes from a gasoline power plant, the efficiency at the plant will be higher than a regular car ICE because of scale benefits + use of a cold sink (ocean/river).

radium3d 6y ago

Actually, this includes the energy used by my water heater, refrigerator and heat/cooling over night after midnight as noted on the sheet. So the savings are even greater :) Also, the gasoline numbers are actual numbers at the pump. I logged them every time I filled up my old 2014 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid. The amount of energy in a gallon of gasoline is not theoretical, it is very close to 33.7kWh.