24 hr BMW i3-REx and 2019 Tesla

[bwilson4web]

Tuesday 03/25 I drove my 2017 BMW i3-REx for 24 hours which matches how long it takes to witness a Starship flight in Port Isabel TX:

Tesla Model 3 // BMW i3-REx
1,200 mi. $80 // 1,140 mi. $95

This was not a planned test between the two car as much as by accident, nearly the same distance and time. Lesson's learned:

• overlap or serial biology breaks - you don't eat something while pumping gas. But it is trivial to eat takeout while charging. Pumping gas is faster than charging but changing can occur while dealing with biology.
• Full Self Driving (FSD) or short gas segments - FSD handles the driving which reduces fatigue. However, the 2.3 gal gas tank in the BMW i3-REx means taking a fueling break ever 80-100 miles . . . a pause that refreshes.
• Naps vs all nighter - no BMW i3 cat naps and drive as long as the driver is alert, catch-up sleep when you get arrive. No catch-up sleep with the Tesla as catnaps, a biology function, are easy while getting a charge.

Both cars are equally capable of the same distance for similar costs over a 24 hour period. But they handle things differently. A happy human knows how to adjust to the vehicle characteristics:



LATE UPDATE

I learned about Electrify America (EA) problems nearly 10 years ago with my first, 2014 BMW i3-REx. On this trip, I needed to refresh my battery SOC and out of three charging stalls, only one worked. I had to change stations to WalMart. There I used a sun-bleached screen, older unit to add 64 miles (15.82 kWh, $7.94.) In that 20 minutes, the dogs and I got to do biology stuff.

Compare the BMW i3-REx, 2.3 gas tank:

• 20 minutes to charge - about as long as the Tesla charge interval
• 64 miles added range - the Tesla would add 140 miles range
• 33% charger reliability - +99% reliable Tesla Superchargers and when one fails, move to a second stall
• range extender cross country - Tesla EV both town and country driving

One of the reasons for this trip was to look at replacing the 2017 BMW i3-REx with a HW 4.0 Model 3 or Y. This test demonstrated there is no pressing need so I have to look at confidence and sad to say, the Tesla is losing my confidence, Not the car but the distracted CEO.