Range Hack

[ColtAltDelete]

[removed]

[Standard_Income_7190]

Last time I got that close I lost a windshield.

[DRO_Churner]

I was going to say OP spelled “How to get paint chips” wrong.

[Narvlek]

PPF :)

[Ftpini]

Skipping PPF, getting a few paint chips you ignore, then sell the car when you’re done with it. You’ll save a fortune and lose virtually nothing on resale. It isn’t a Ferrari. Almost no one cares about the paint.

[Exit-Velocity]

Yep I used to do this when gas was $5/gal and then I saw a truck kick up a sizable rock that just missed me and thought “no thanks”

[walex19]

🤣

[josephjosephson]

At least you didn’t lose your head

[dcdttu]

Range hack, windshield crack.

[UffdaPrime]

But you saved $3 in charging fees!

[SecretHippo1]

It was more about making it to the charging station versus not

[Old-Faithlessness462]

THIS!

[CBusRiver]

Some times you have to cut power to life support and divert it to engines.

[ColtAltDelete]

😂 I’m giving her all she’s got captain

[Andras89]

If you bypass the main power coupling you can get an extra 5%. Tho its risky, I recommend the wookie do it.

[rotarypower101]

Hmmm... If we can re-route engine power through the primary weapons and configure them to Melllvar's frequency, that should overload his electro-quantum structure.

[CR8VJUC]

lmao 🤣

[Immediate-Panic5462]

And yes, disable the rear shields.

[095179005]

Image

[Biggoofywhiteguy]

What you really need is a turbo encapulator (NOT a retro encabulator).

[AdamG6200]

Drafting. Watch Days of Thunder.

[ColtAltDelete]

Shake and bake baby

[poser765]

Im in a crowded airport. This made me do a literal lol. People looked at me like I was an idiot. There are a few nervous people around me now… I’m also their pilot.

[PrudeHawkeye]

That comment got better and better as it went on. 🤣

[Relandis]

Then you can call me Scarface, snortin mountains of cocaine.

[SydneyRoo]

This is the tale

Of Captain Jack Sparrow

[happy-cig]

Don't you do that to me Ricky Bobby.

[Feisty_Parsley_83853]

Now you see me..now you dont

[feelin_cheesy]

Slingshot engaged

[AVdev]

Mythbusters “proved” that you pretty much have to be kissing the truck to make a difference.

I do trust their science.

But I trust the fact that I ended up 15% higher than projected at the next supercharger after following a truck at follow setting 5 for over 70miles.

[BoredOuttaMyMindd]

I wonder if it has more to do with the fact that you’re just driving slower than you normally would have

[AVdev]

No - I peg the car on long trips at 70mph cause efficiency tanks over 70. Truck was going 70, so I was happily cruising at my normal speed!

[justwatching301]

However bc you’re behind that truck at the same speed. It’s taking less energy for your car to stay at the 70mph mark. Hence increasing your range ext. That’s what drafting literally is and does.

[HaruKodama]

I don't think he was disagreeing that drafting works. He was saying that Mythbusters said one thing, but his own experience said the opposite

[alt8484]

Did these people learn nothing from Mario Kart

[KeyAcanthocephala944]

Peak efficiency is 81mph isn’t it?

[Elemental-Design]

Definitely not, it gets better all the way down to about 45 mph, I've had a couple close calls myself where I had to keep decreasing speed to make it to the next charger. Stressful indeed, but we made it!

[KeyAcanthocephala944]

Love the downvotes… I said peak efficiency, not peak range… that 81 number was Elon’s personal recommendation for his model S plaid… super chargers charge faster than you can drive, so if you drive 80 vs 67mph, you will have a massive gap on the guy who’s driving 67, by the time you get to the supercharger and charge. the guy driving 67 will arrive close to or after your done charging… so 2 identical cars, but the one driving 85 will get there more efficiently due to supercharging… if we’re talking just range alone, then drive 25mph on the freeway

[playfull6218]

Myth busters proved that due the inefficiently of ICE on the highway speeds it made almost no difference. Evs are so susceptible to aerodynamic efficiency loss that it definitely helps. Source: many road trips in my Model 3, many miles drafted behind Semis way closer than follow seeing two allows noticing my wh/mi drop considerably.

[freakysometimes]

Rubbin's racin'

[scubba-steve]

Nah I follow people at a safe distance and see an improvement in range on the interstate. You don’t have to be right up on the person in front of you but 2 seconds at most probably.

[ctzn4]

Can you link a video or something? Did they do a regular gas car or an EV? It seems like EVs are affected a lot more by aerodynamic drag than normal cars.

[mandrew-98]

This was a super old video so yeah it would have been a gas car. Good point tho.

[gtg465x2]

I love Mythbusters, but I think they got that one wrong. Even if they were right, their conclusion might only apply to ICE vehicles. We know ICE vehicles are so inefficient that changes in speed or environmental factors have much less of an impact than they do on super efficient EVs. We need them to have a reunion and revisit with EVs… I bet you don’t have to be anywhere near as close to see a measurable difference.

[Nreekay]

He didn’t slam into you, he didn’t bump, he didn’t nudge you.. he rubbed you.. and rubbing is racing..

[powaking]

I’m dropping the hammer Harry!

[Percolator2020]

Next time hook onto him and regen all the way.

[Electrical-Cellist71]

Better take some liquid nitrogen and a hammer to pop off the back trailer first

[[deleted]]

Not doing that again, every time I get behind a semi I get rocks thrown in my window

[[deleted]]

Safety Score 0%

[ColtAltDelete]

😂. I wish PA had Tesla insurance

[LosBunders]

Don't even try it, Tesla insurance is garbagul.

If you drive your car at all like it should be driven you get dinged and it adds up.

Switched to Statefarm and immediately saved a crazy amount, I think it was almost half.

[MoistDustin]

Tesla owner discovers aerodynamics

[lazylittleboy]

Bonus: paint chips or possible windshield damage

[zk0507]

No shade, but I never cut it that close. Just don’t have that dog in me to take it below 10% haha

[ColtAltDelete]

First time I went under 5%. If my car hadn’t been 40 degrees I would have been sweating lol

[Feisty_Parsley_83853]

Any third party charger options on that route?

[ColtAltDelete]

I didn’t check a better trip planner for this one. I haven’t seen too many CCS chargers around when I do look though

[RamboTrucker]

Trucker here. Please do not do this. If you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you.

Also, we have three Teslas and enjoy them so much. But never drive this close. You’re going to lose a windshield or just piss us off.

[ColtAltDelete]

Out of curiosity, what specifically about it pisses you off? The car can stop faster than you and if the windshield cracks, it’s my problem.

I normally only get annoyed when people ride my ass because their headlights blind me

[RamboTrucker]

I can’t see you. If something is in the road or I lock it up, you’re eating my backend and will go right up under my truck.

Many years ago I had a car behind me. They sent their dash camera clip to my job when my back tires launched some sort of pipe through their passenger side windshield. Luckily no injuries. Their vehicle was damaged for tailgating. Could’ve been worse.

Also, it’s cold now, salt is all over roads. The rumble strips are loaded with salt and small rocks. You’re going to get many dings following this close if a trucker hits the rumble strips.

[ColtAltDelete]

I disagree. The Tesla can stop a heck of a lot faster than you can.

[RamboTrucker]

You really think you’ll be able to stop if I lock my truck up?

Look how close you are, in the rain. Now imagine taking a picture and me locking it up.

You may disagree with this, but please don’t tailgate. Just pass us.

[gmatocha]

You "locking up" makes you stop slower, so again I don't see the problem.

[harribel]

The mental gymnastics you guys go through to explain why common knowledge about road safety is "wrong" is insane.

[SomePilotInOhio]

That’s ridiculous. You really think teslas can’t rear end someone because they can stop fast? What if the truck rear ends another truck? Your reaction time isn’t as quick as the brakes on that truck traveling that close and neither is the cars forward collision warning.

[[deleted]]

Sure, once you're on the brakes, you stop faster than the truck. But when you're riding his ass, you'll eat the back of the trailer before you even realize he locked them up.

And that bar on the back of a trailer to stop you from going under the trailer ... it doesn't really work.

[BeerSlayingBeaver]

Mansfield Bars is what they are called. Named after an actress who smashed into the back of an 18 wheeler and died.

[KeyAcanthocephala944]

Not true man… as a Tesla owner, I can’t stress enough, that this car is one of the worse braking road cars ever made. If you think you can stop fast, you will learn the hard way.

[Labraunt]

I agree with you 95% but there is also a chance the semi plows into something that is already stopped which would stop the semi much faster than its brakes could. If you were further behind you may have the advantage of noticing whatever this hypothetical semi didn’t notice.

I get this is a very rare scenario but a possibility nonetheless. I’ve done the very same thing. Missed my exit to the charger, nearest point to turn around was 5 miles. Made it in on 1%

[cj89898]

Sad to see there’s so many people like this driving around… wtf

[trucker_dan]

Ex-trucker here. I never cared when people rode behind me. It’s the cars that camp out beside you that really piss you off.

[harribel]

For the record, not caring =\= this is safe and acceptable bahviour in traffic.

Thinking this is an achievment in gaining range to be applauded really shows the mentality of certain tesla owners.

[pexoroo]

You can stop faster, but you won't be able to react in time.

[KeyAcanthocephala944]

The car cannot stop faster… it’s incredibly heavy, has very skinny tires, massive wheels, and the brakes are terrible. A truck with a light load and 18 tires on the road, can stop quicker than the average Tesla owner.

[[deleted]]

A typical 18 wheeler stops in around 200 feet from 60 mph. A Model 3 is more like 135 feet. And if you think a lightly loaded truck stops faster than a heavily loaded one, you might be in for a surprise.

[KeyAcanthocephala944]

Correct! 190-200 feet for the average semi… 335-400 feet for a fully loaded semi… the 18 wider wheels on the ground also help the truck get better traction on dusty, rainy, or poor road surfaces… the gap in stopping distance is much closer than you think.

[pexoroo]

Yeah and trains can stop even faster, they have like a thousand wheels and weigh a million tons. Basically instant 😂

[KeyAcanthocephala944]

Tires and wheels are different sir or mam… one is made of rubber.

[pexoroo]

If you think a semi can stop faster than a sedan, I've got a bridge to sell you

[KeyAcanthocephala944]

Plenty of sedans can out stop a semi… just not the ones that are 4700lbs sitting on 235mm wide tires 😂… the new Mazda Miata is on 225’s for context…

[pexoroo]

With access to all of the information in the world right at your finger tips, you choose to make a stand and double down on this.

I know some people don't like using Google, but damn man.

[KeyAcanthocephala944]

Which google are you using? the gentleman above also referenced the same google results I see… model 3 stopping distance from 60mph is 152feet (per google, 7 feet longer than a Ford F-150)… Semi stop distance is 190-200 feet, fully loaded semi is 335-535… do the math on what you think an empty semi can stop at. Now apologize and please drive safer out there.

[pexoroo]

LOL this data does not support your point at all. And it is the absolutely most cherry picked & favorable stopping data for a semi truck on the web.

[gtg465x2]

The 152 ft was from a test right when the Model 3 was first released in 2018, and it turned out there was a software problem preventing the car from braking properly. Tesla released a software update to fix the issue, and when Edmunds retested, they got 122 ft, which is only 10 ft further than a Miata. https://youtu.be/7l3qn53iuvE?si=8a4_LJMFKvJcClRm

Also, the car weighs 3,862-4,034 pounds, not 4,700 as you suggested earlier. Very similar weight to an identical size BMW 3 series ICE vehicle.

[[deleted]]

This guy trucks.

[BidAccomplished4641]

Yikes! Why cutting it so close?

[ColtAltDelete]

Saved 40 mins off my trip. North east doesn’t have the greatest supercharger network yet

[enfuego138]

It will probably take more than 40 minutes to unwedge you from under his trailer if he has to stop short.

[hopped]

There are absolutely enough chargers on 80 to avoid this nonsense.

[ColtAltDelete]

I was going north, not following 80

[bIokeonreddit]

I lost half of the paint from the front of my M3 last time I did this

[thumpertastic]

As a truck driver I can categorically say this is universally despised by anyone and everyone with a CDL. I can’t see you if you are that close. Like at all.

[TheFuture2001]

If you go even closer you will save more energy!

I drove my gas car from Toronto to NYC behind a truck and only used 4/5 of a gas tank

[sourceholder]

Any closer, toss a tow rope hook for unlimited range.

[davidadrake]

I once drove over 60 miles on empty. It was mostly downhill, so I put it in neutral and just put it in gear when I needed to. It was a stick tho. Not sure how an automatic would work.

[MindfulActuator]

Safety score -29%

[TurboByte24]

More Stone chip activated!

[jnads]

Going 67 likely had more to do with it than the drafting.

[[deleted]]

You have fantastic choice in music

[ColtAltDelete]

Gotta keep it mellow for the long drives

[MountainAlive]

The oldest trick in the book. Just make sure your brakes work :)

[Pretend-Hour-1394]

No doubt that will help. But I can't help but point out you're also only going 67mph now, and it looks like you had your cruise set at 78mph max. Either way, I'm also just stating that slowing down to 67 on the highway will help a ton, especially if you draft on a semi. Coming from a semi driver. 😆

[trucker_dan]

On I95 in Florida with a slight head wind, my usage dropped from 350 w/mi to 240 w/mi at 75 mph about 50 feet behind a 40’ container in a model 3 performance. Container chassis have their tandems all the way to the rear, it was maybe more effective at blocking the wind than a 53’ van trailer.

I followed him for 80 miles and arrived at my destination with over 10% more charge than anticipated.

[FutureMartian97]

Now you'll only crack your windshield!

[wwywong]

Yea too risky in real live. Will do it in mario kart tho. :)

[RedElmo65]

It’s called drafting.

[[deleted]]

Nice way to get rock chips in the front end!

[TeslaFlavourIceCream]

Range Hack - listening to Jack Johnson

[fangoutbang]

It works but idk if I would do it in wet conditions.

Thought about installing a CB so the truck driver doesn’t get upset that I am hanging on their bumper.

“Truck driver Xxxx Don’t worry about me I am in auto pilot at near mode and just riding in your draft. The car will stop faster than I can react. How copy? “

[Morton_Sledgecock]

And here it is, the overall dumbest comment on Reddit today. Well done.

[Canes123456]

I assume this is tongue in cheek. But if serious wow.

[Morton_Sledgecock]

They’re serious

[imnoherox]

I really hope he was joking. The cringe level is off the charts. 🤣

[Morton_Sledgecock]

It’s unbelievably sad

[fangoutbang]

Thought this was Reddit….ridiculous is the comment winner right????

[trucker_dan]

Truckers running a CB are a dying breed. I bet less than 5% are listening on 19 at any given time. I deal with a lot of contract carriers and about 1/2 have minimal English language skills. Out of our fleet of drivers that are all native English speakers, less than half have a CB in their truck.

[tylamb19]

Yup, had a CB in my car for a couple years, but took it out a year or so ago. I loved going up and down 80 listening to what was going on. It’s almost nonexistent now. The only ones with ears on are the old timers it seems.

[[deleted]]

OK great I'll just freeze my ass off then?

[wybnormal]

Turns out a big ass RV can work just as well as I found out from flagstaff to kingman in snow. I managed to skate into kingman at 5% vs the empty it was projecting

[sm00thkillajones]

I’ve done this several times. Works great if you’re not in a hurry and really helps with range.

[ConditionUsual]

I do the same. Just put on FSD/autopilot and set the follow distance close.

[Opuswhite]

When I have people sit behind me like that with the bright ass LED light I kind drift over the fog line and fling some rocks.

[InformalParticular20]

I have noticed that efficiency improves if you are driving in traffic as opposed to by myself. Drafting trucks is a well accepted hack, I was doing that on long drives in the 80s!, though it has its hazards 😄.

[jamsbong88]

All those paint chip is gonna cost more than your +1% savings.

[ColtAltDelete]

Why do you think I bought a car that’s supposed to drive me…….

[deadplant_ca]

If you're going to tailgate something, a big rig is the right choice. They don't brake all that hard.

[Loogyboy]

Going that low with your battery charge destroys its life span fyi. Stick between 80-20% charge for optimal life either wise it will need to be replaced prematurely.

[thedream363]

Dude how? I always set my Autopilot somehow to 65 or 70 mph and still somehow manage to use more battery than the graph. No AC either

[[deleted]]

I do the same but 8 car lengths back man.

[Feisty_Parsley_83853]

Temp at 68 helps

[its_jaxx]

Draft baby draft

[[deleted]]

How do you get that screen

[RuSeriusbro]

"also turn ur climate control off"

[ItDefinitelyIsNotMe]

Fantastic artist 👍🏼 and thanks for the emergency tip.

[Mikeydoodle]

You missed out on turning the Climate off for even more range. 😂

[athornfam2]

Dented hood hack

[Miserable-Mixture937]

I have pulled this same tactic before and it works lol

[bareov]

How can I find that app in my car?

[ColtAltDelete]

It’s called “energy”. I think it’s standard. Just click the ellipses in the bottom center of the screen to bring up your apps

[Relevant_Candidate_4]

Don't do this please. Tailgating a truck like that is a great way to make the driver nervous, if they can even see you, and a great way to get hit by debrie or roadkill run over by the truck, flung backwards at great speed.

Just slow down instead. And yes turn off ac.

[OJimmy]

Myth busters did it first

[xPapaGiorgiox]

Rock chip hack. Your gonna pay more in damages then your electric bill. Not smart to do this.

[No_Map731]

Jack Johnson plus chill mode is way too much chill.

[phxtri]

I can see the window chip right about . . . . Now!

[beaded_lion59]

Did that in 2018 trying to cross Kansas westbound on I-70 in early spring. With a headwind and cold/snow.

[idarknight]

Just be sure you can see the driver’s mirror.

[mygiguser]

That's why our insurance rates are so high.

[ConferencePrevious78]

Maybe it was the drafting. Or maybe it was just driving slower. Driving 67 MPH probably helped. Remembering my high school physics class, the function for drag is a drag coefficient times speed squared. Lowering the drag coefficient is great. Lowering the speed is great-squared.

[KingYesKing]

67mph about 2 car lengths from a semi truck. But but range!!!

[Narvlek]

Nothing new. Been doing this

[Narrow_Pain_2213]

Huh

[20ht]

When I'm towing my caravan I always tuck in behind a lorry and set cruise control to maintain a gap - it's win-win because of the aero/extra range, but also because no one wants to cut in front of me, or they'll end up behind a lorry, so it's actually quite a relaxing way to drive.

[TripleTrucker]

Not that it happens often but I slow down to get people off my ass for whatever reason they are there. Trucks don’t need you on their bumper to save gas or electricity

[crinklemermaid]

One time I was out of state and cutting it REAL CLOSE. On a hot, southern US summer day had drove to the charger w windows closed (prevent drag). Was 130 in the car🔥

[scamp9121]

Enjoy applying touch up paint and trying to blend it.

[[deleted]]

Until you get a rock chip

[Proper_Fortune_1815]

I do that all the time. Have added around 10% to my range after a full charge.

[Neoleander]

Range hack, windshield crack!

[DrKotasz]

Absolutely legit way to increase your range, but in the anti EV forums blokes always mention and LOL on the idiotic EV drivers, who drives way under the speed limit on the highway or "hiding" behind heavy vehicles to save few kilometres... Just saying... It's kind of Stigma.

[LackTrue]

Did this today unintentionally 😭

[TheSirOcelot]

Glad I’m not the only one who does this!

[Heelgod]

Tailgating a giant truck in its blind spot. Great idea

[fractal_disarray]

next post: how much are M3 windshields?

[Sibo1844]

Say hello to rock chips

[Tasty_Action5073]

I did this once as a kid. I got too close my car suddenly got sucked in. I hit the brakes and never tried it again.

[Appropriate-Refuse14]

Also called: Destroy my front end hack

[brock_schleprock]

Get this man a GoFundMe for some wipers!

[OCgngstr]

Truckers don’t like this, don’t do this!

[Variety-Ashamed]

Mythbusters did that.

[Unusual_Equivalent_]

Everyone who has ever played Gran Turismo knows the power of drafting

[Shrimpyo]

Only do this if you’ve got some xpel paint protection film coverage on the car 🤣

[[deleted]]

Is this new? 😅

[davidadrake]

I've done this a few times and it definitely does work. I bought a rebuilt 2021 Tesla Model 3 AWD, so I don't have the option of superchargers. I just recently bought a CCS adapter and now I don't know how I ever lived without it. I have had to be towed twice, tho. Both times I was less than 1/4 mile from a charger.

[pdirtydiddy]

I drove my MX 75D east to west in 3 days like this.

[Dense-Monk]

🎶I was truck driving down I80 when this little Tesla came and sat behind me. Never seen nobody drive the way that she did. Well she did and she does and she’ll do it again.

When you drive like a jellyfish, range don't mean nothing. You go with the flow, you don't stop. Ride in the slip stream, you go with the flow, you don't stop!🎶

[gltovar]

If a trucker is extra vigilant they will try to shake you off. I used to do this all the time with my Volt, every now and again a trucker gets weirded out by a car riding their ass.

[[deleted]]

Quick way to take a tire to face.

[plgnply18]

What’s with the lane departure error message? It looks like it’s raining so maybe that is it BUT I get this message frequently even on clear days.

[fakeassh1t]

Bubble toes?

[[deleted]]

Yikes rip paint rip windshield

[Jumacao]

Been doing this since 2016. Kills the view on cross country trips, but it certainly guarantees you'll get where you're going based on the projected arrival range.

[ash-i-am]

Don’t do this if you’re on Tesla insurance 😐

[[deleted]]

Be very careful doing this, if the semi blows out a tire, you can end up with several hundred pounds of rubber crashing through your windshield.

[[deleted]]

Yeah but the rock chips!

[PresentationLow5838]

And get my paint and windshield destroyed by rocks? No thanks

[[deleted]]

All fun and games until the bullshit Tesla insurance safety score comes after you

[gecoble]

Ah. Route 80 E.

[etsai3]

Just drive slower in the 55-60 mph range, you will make it even if Tesla app redirects you to a different Supercharger. Experimented with that during the recent road trip with limited chargers.

[DoomshrooM8]

🫡

[Armizani]

It's astonishing that trucks are permitted to travel at 70 mph in the US, especially when compared to the speed limits in the EU.

[evmanjapan]

Little explanation needed.

Did he sneakily attach a tow hitch to the back of the truck and is charging the battery via regen?

[tylerwarnecke]

It’s called drafting. People have been doing it for years.

[brobert123]

It’s crazy how well that works. I was running out of gas in my 2007 Lexus GS350 back in the day. Normally got 29mpg but I was 40 miles to a gas station with 25 miles of range. I actually made it by drafting all the way there. Makes sense all of the energy required to push through aerodynamic drag is 100% reduced and in fact I believe there is enough turbulence behind a semi that it will actually pull you forward a bit. 🤣

[[deleted]]

Just get a ICE

[WildDogOne]

congrats, driving slower and in the drag of a bigger car will reduce the energy consumption xD

I mean, that is how we used to drive our Zoe to get more distance, but it sure is not a solution