On November 19th, members of TOCWA are participating in a world record attempt to charge as many EVs simultaneously in one location:
If you would like to come along, we are building a list of available vehicles to participate – please download the PDF RSVP form here.
If you have a recent 75D model S or X that was built before July 2017, you can get it “uncorked” to the same performance as the post July 2017 ones now – it depends on components and age, but well worth checking.
For the model S 75D the 0-100 time is 4.4 seconds down from 5.5 seconds, and for the model X 75D, 5.2 seconds down from 6.5 seconds.
One owner had theirs done today, and has noticed a significant improvement in performance.
This is one of the really unique things about Tesla – how many other cars have you owned where months after the original purchase, you get a free power upgrade?
In 2014 Tesla advised that they would ship the first cars to Australia – there would be no servicing support or charging in WA – despite this, eight said yes.
They were transhipped from Sydney in December 2014 after the Sydney Grand Opening and arrived here in February 2015.
Original owners received a single phase 40amp wall charger, and were delighted to discover the UWA REV chargers (30amp single phase) around Perth. The Tesla mobile charger was not available at delivery, so we could not escape the metro area. UWA imported a Percedos 16amp single phase charger for us from Germany, but when it arrived it was restricted to 13amps so as not to exceed the capacity of the 15amp caravan park sockets. It did, however, enable us to break out of Perth.
Some early long drives in WA include:
David & Lindsay to Kalbarri and return – S85 – July 2015 – 1200km in 4 nights
20 hours charge in Dongara, 40 hours plugged into Kalbarri laundry and 20 hours Jurien Bay through a motel window – only 10/13 amps via the Percedos.
Nullarbor Steve drove his new P85D back from Melbourne – November 2015- 3880 km in 9nights
No 3phase, 540kms on one charge Nullarbor roadhouse to Caiguna, 536kms on one charge Caiguna to Coolgardie.
Then 3 Phase pigtails with the red Euro connector for the Tesla UMC and other external EVSEs became available, we started supplying 3 phase sockets to fill the gaps, and planning 3phase trips.
Matt & David drove Mat’s P85+ across the Nullarbor to Adelaide – May 2016 – 2850km in 5 nights
All 3phase (arranged by sending AEVA 3phase sockets in advance), except 15amps overnight at Caiguna.
Matt K – Adelaide to Brisbane and return to Perth – P85+ – June 2016 – 10000km
Tesla Superchargers from Melbourne to Brisbane (via Sydney) and 3phase, External EVSE, 10m 32amp 3phase extension cable and 32A and 20A pigtails. Dual on board chargers.
Richard McNeal Round Oz, Sydney to Sydney return via WA – August/September 2016 – 16000km
Some 3 phase, but 4 EVSEs failed. Balanced dual 15amp octopus charger, 17kw on board charger. Max of 700kms in one day.
Rob & Robin to Broome and return – P85D – July 2016 – 5400km in 13 nights
Mixture of 3phase and single phase.
Cable Beach, Broome
David, Vernon, Lindsay to Broome and return – S85 – October 2016 – 5000 km 3 nights each way
All 3phase (arranged by sending AEVA 3phase sockets and installing Tesla wall connectors in advance). Single 11kw on board charger. Max of 720kms in one day.
Rob & Robin to Shark Bay and return – P85D – November 2016 – 1900km in 3nights
All 3phase.
Shark Bay
Nullarbor Steve to Launceston return – P85D – March 2017 – 7650 kms in 11 nights
3 phase most of the way. Single 11kw on board charger. Max of 1012kms in one day.
Rob & Robin to Esperance, Kalgoorlie and Kalbarri – P85D – April 2017 – 8 nights
Mixture of 10 amp and 3phase.
David, Lindsay to Esperance, back via Hyden – S85 – April 2017 – 2400km in 5 nights
All 3phase (arranged by sending AEVA 3phase sockets and installing Tesla wall connectors in advance).
The AESY group (AEVA sponsored by Synergy) are trying to cover all the main roads in WA in a 100kms grid of 3-phase sockets. If you any ideas for locations please contact the AESY member below:
Richard Chapman Pilbara
Rob Dean Goldfields
David Lloyd Kimberley and Nullarbor and Coral coast
Jon Edwards South West
Christopher Jones Great Southern and Wheatbelt east of Perth
Glenn Elliot Wheatbelt north of Perth
TOCWA’s loan cable stock is now available for members to borrow.
We have:
3-phase tails for use with your Tesla-supplied mobile charger,
ChaDeMo adapter for use at the UWA fast charger and the RAC Electric Highway chargers,
Type1 adapter for use at chargers such as at the convention centre, Leederville and Garden City,
Type2-Type2 cable for use at chargers such as Home Base Subiaco.
We will also soon have available to members, discounted cables for purchase. If you are interested, or would like to borrow a cable, please get in touch.
Members of TOCWA and AEVA visited the Greenbushes Lithium mine in South-western WA. The mine is blessed with some of the highest-grade lithium deposits in the world and is expanding to meet the growing demand. There was a display and meeting in Greenbushes and then a bus tour of the mine site and works.
Today, the Eaton Fair Shopping Centre held an opening event for WA’s first supercharger – we were pleased to see WA’s oldest Tesla, owned by Frank Lister as one of the first vehicles to charge there.
TOCWA Chair, Rob Dean said, “I would just like to say big thanks to Matt Kemner, Marc Loveridge, Chris Lee, John Krepp, David Lloyd, Bruce Smith and Frank Lister who received the first 7 cars back in February 2015 – some of them waiting 2 years for the chance to order a car in the first place. Without the persistence of some of these owners plus others in the Eastern states, Tesla may not have pushed into the Australian market as early as they did.”
A number of owners are planning to visit the new Supercharger this weekend during the last weekend of the school holidays, and also as part of the TOCWA tour of the Greenbushes lithium mine.
More pictures of the opening below – thanks to David Hince
The Eaton Fair shopping centre will be holding a Supercharger opening event on Friday at 1.00pm at Western Australia’s first Tesla Supercharger.
The Supercharger is near the corner of Council Drive and Recreation Drive, Eaton.
For more information, please email Rob at chair@tocwa.org.au
Here’s today’s picture of the new Eaton Supercharger site – it’s very close to complete, and we are hoping it will be commissioned in the next few days
TOCWA members’ cars were on show today the Como Rotary car show at Wesley College – if you came and said hello, and would like more information, get in touch.
