Tesla Model S in Ireland

Electric cars are not a new technology. Dating as far back as the early 1800’s, electric power has been part of the automotive industry. The abundance and ease of access to oil reserves pushed the internal combustion engine forward whilst the EV was forgotten about. Think how different things might have been if Henry Ford instead built an EV on his mass production line…

Fast forward to 2016 and while there is plenty of interest in electric cars they are not selling as well as predicted. The main issue is the charging time and dreaded “range anxiety”, which is the fear of running out of power (think of the feeling you get when driving your petrol/diesel car with low fuel)

The Tesla Model S is challenging the large luxury car segment, think Mercedes S Class or BMW 7 Series territory. This is a bold move for a relatively new car company to challenge such established and prestigious marks. Tesla pride themselves on new technology and the Model S is full of bright ideas and is an absolute techfest.

The Drive:

I drove the Model S P70D which has 324bhp and 387lb ft of torque available from the second the dual electric motors start to spin. This equates to instant acceleration from the get go. Unlike a petrol or diesel engine where you wait for the engine to spin up to speed and deliver power, the Model S surges forward aggressively at any speed. The P70D will cover the standing 0-100kph sprint in 5.2 seconds which is quick in anyones book (the P90D version can cover 0-100kph in a face bending 2.8 seconds). There are no gears in the transmission meaning zero loss of drive for even a split second while accelerating. The handling is very positive for such a heavy car with great turn in and steering weight. Vehicle weight is 2108kg but when on the move it does not feel as heavy. The body stays superbly controlled and feels very much planted through corners. Although the ride is firm the car never crashes over bumps and it fells really well engineered.

Interior:

It feels very well built inside but not on par with a flagship Audi. The airy cabin is a nice place to spend time and the 17” iPad like display which features predominantly in the centre console is great fun to play with.

Range:

The P70D has a theoretical range of 440 km’s but in real life conditions, taking into account ambient temperatures, electronics used, air conditioning and driving style, it would more likely equate to 250 – 350 km’s before needing to recharge. Real life range should be more than sufficient for the majority of people’s daily commute. In 30 minutes the battery can be recharged to 80% by the use of Tesla’s own Supercharger Network (currently not available in Ireland but there are plans for the network to be developed).

Technology:

Summons Feature:

This feature allows the owner to move the car without sitting inside. By holding down a button on the key fob the car will find a parking space and park itself. I’m not sure how useful it is but it’s very impressive to see in action. The only reason I can think of using it would be to park the car in a tight spot but you’re leaving the Tesla open to getting car park dings and marks.

Self-Drive:

As the title suggests this car actually drives itself. Activation is as simple as tapping the lever twice and that’s it, you’re in the future today! Simply let go of the steering wheel, take your feet off the pedals and sit back and relax. A predetermined distance is kept between the Tesla and the car in front with no interaction needed from the driver. It’s a strange feeling at first as you progress down the road at 100kph watching the steering wheel move on its own accord. Strangely, it starts to feel normal as your trust grows in the systems.

Should You Buy One?

Of course you should, but currently it's difficult to buy a Tesla in Ireland due to the lack of a dealer network. Instead you would have to source one from the UK or further abroad if you don’t mind left hand drive. There are plans for Tesla to come to Ireland in 2017.

The price in the UK for a new P70D is ￡60k (€78k) so this car will definitely not mobilise the masses but it really is an exicting alternative to the standard executive saloon.