The appeal of EVs felt in the Porsche Taikan

at homePorsche Taikan Cross Turismohas been here for a month now. My wife is the main driver, but I also have the opportunity to drive it from time to time, and I have come to feel the appeal of EVs once again.

Certainly EVs have their disadvantages. However,For daily transportation, EVs are so convenient that we cannot find any advantages of gasoline or diesel vehicles.

The main reason,It is in the ease of driving.The motor's quick response is truly appreciated in situations where low-speed driving in town is common. It has a response and torque that no V8 or V12 engine can match, and it runs like a fish out of water. Especially when re-accelerating after decelerating at intersections, you may wonder if you will ever be able to go back to an engine-powered car. It is so smooth that you may think you can never go back to an engine car again.

In addition.The ease of charging is another major attraction of EVs.There is an electrical outlet in our parking lot, so Taikan can be recharged at home. Currently, we are using a 100 V outlet, but even so, we can charge about 1 kWh of electricity in an hour, which means that we can store about 8 kWh of electricity overnight, or enough for 30 km to 40 km.

The car will not travel more than 30 km for daily shopping and pick-up, and even a 50 km commute to and from work can be mostly covered by an overnight charge.In other words, just like a smartphone, an EV can be plugged in when you get home, and the next morning it is ready to run again.It is like having a gas station at home, nothing could be more convenient. Even if you do not have a charging facility at home, there are now many charging stations, and there are many opportunities to charge your car while you are parked while shopping or commuting.

Incidentally, some people may have concerns about the short range, but don't worry too much. That is the same logic as when you go from a mobile phone to a smartphone, you don't have much trouble.
In the days of the Galapagos, a cell phone would often hold a charge for about one round of charging. However,When the cell phone came out, I said, 'No one uses a cell phone that only lasts a day.'Many people were of the opinion that this was a good idea. But what about now? Most people use smartphones that can only hold a charge for a day or so for practical purposes, and EVs are no different. The environment for recharging is getting better and better, and we can recharge our batteries "on the side" of many other things.

My first encounter with Tesla and my impression at that time

Witnessing the power of EVs in this way, I suddenly remembered Tesla. In fact, I had a chance to drive a Model S when Tesla had just arrived in Japan.

My impression at that time was excellent. I had imagined an image unique to American cars, but the body was very solidly built and had the quality of a European car.The ride was similar to that of a Mercedes-Benz, honest and reassuring.

The acceleration was spectacularly fast, but the car was easy to drive and had none of the squishy feeling one might expect from an American car. Based on this experience, I had a good image of Tesla.

Four attractions of the new Model 3

Then we heard that Tesla's Model 3 had undergone minor changes and received a sharper design. The Model 3 is the most compact sedan in Tesla's lineup, placing it in the same segment as the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Before the minor change, the Model 3 was honestly not my favorite design. However,The new Model 3 looks stylish and sporty, and I had a gut feeling that I would like to drive this one.So my wife and I immediately headed out for a test drive.

Based on my previous experience with the Model S, I had high expectations. However, the capabilities of the new Model 3 far exceeded my expectations. To be honest,The car was excellent, exceeding my expectations by 1.5 to 2 times.There are four main attractions.

The first is,It is the rigidity of the body and the excellent setting of the suspension.The ride was superior to cars in the same class, and even to cars one or two ranks above. The tires rolled surprisingly smoothly, especially when starting off, and the ride quality of the Model 3 is substantial. Of all the cars I have driven so far, the one I thought had the best ride in a soft-footed car,Range Rover AutobiographyIt is. However, the initial rolling feel of the Model 3 was as smooth as it could be.

Second.The interior is quiet and simple and sophisticated.In the new Model 3, all the windows are double-paned, and when the windows are closed, the interior is surprisingly quiet. It is as if you are wearing noise-canceling earphones. The interior design is as sophisticated as the latest luxury hotels, eliminating all unnecessary buttons and creating a simple but high quality space. It is a refreshingly different approach from the 180-degree approach of car makers who mistakenly believe that soft padding anything can create a sense of luxury.

Third,It is easy to handle in the city.The Model 3's one-pedal drive smoothly decelerates and stops the car simply by easing off the accelerator pedal. During the test drive, I did not need to step on the brake even once. Even when stopping at traffic lights, the car decelerates smoothly and comes to a stop very naturally. This behavior is gentle not only to the driver but also to the passengers. Moreover, the car stops naturally on any slope without stepping on the brake, and when starting up a slope, there is no vibration or impact from the release of the parking brake. This is more impressive than any other car I have experienced.

And the fourth,It's easy to spend time while parking.I feel that Tesla is very focused not only on driving, but also on spending time in the car while stopped. This perspective is hard to find in other cars.
If the car is set to "camping mode," the air conditioning will kick in when the car is stopped, and the 17 standard-equipment speakers provide the best acoustic space, making the car as comfortable as a living room while watching Netflix or Youtube inside. The quietness of the car also helps to make the interior a completely private space.
I can afford to work, take breaks, and even take naps.

For pet owners, there is also a "dog mode" that keeps the car comfortable and allows pets to remain in the car. One of the main reasons I decided to purchase a Tesla this time around, in addition to this means of transportation,Can be used as your own comfortable workspace.I thought it was a good idea.

Ordered in Ultra Red, 18" Photon wheels, white interior.

In addition, the price of the Model 3 is attractive enough compared to cars in the same class. With subsidies, it can be purchased for less than 6 million yen. This performance at this price,Without a doubt, it is the best value for money that outperforms others.

I was impressed once again with the power of EVs after driving the Model 3, and decided to switch from my previous Mercedes-Benz GLB.

However, theIt is hard to beat the allure of the Model 3, which evokes the dawn of a new era.The advanced future-inspiring features, the more solidly built chassis than I had imagined, and the unparalleled performance as an EV. I strongly wanted to have these things.

The True Value of Tesla｜Evaluation from a 911 Owner's Perspective

I have driven many Porsches. I have driven many Porsches, and I think I have some idea of how good or bad the performance of a car is.
From that perspective,If we were to describe the Model 3's performance, we would say that it has the potential to become the de facto standard for sedans in the future.

Acceleration from 0-100 km/h in the long range is a mere 4.4 seconds, as brisk as a 992 Carrera. The true value of the Model 3, however, lies not only in its acceleration speed. Its body rigidity and suspension settings are not the most enjoyable to drive, but they are of a very high level, and the ride comfort, stability, and maneuverability are all more than adequate.

It offers a ride quality that is considerably higher than many cars I have driven, let alone cars in its class. And yet, it also offers outstanding athletic performance. Honestly,I can assure you that even as a daily driver of Porsche, I have no complaints about the quality of the Model 3's daily-range driving experience.
Incidentally, I later recommended a test drive of the Model 3 to two of my acquaintances who are genuine Porsche drivers, and both of them said, "The Model 3 is awesome! They both said, "The Model 3 is awesome!

And the high level of convenience that takes advantage of the unique characteristics of EVs. New innovations have been generously introduced throughout, such as automatic parking by simply unbuckling the seatbelt, automatic selection of D or R depending on the situation with auto-shift, and parking monitoring with sentry mode.Why weren't cars like this before? I wonder.about.

In this regard, we are convinced that the Model 3 could set a new benchmark in its class. It will set the standard for the segment, just like the Volkswagen Golf.

No, the Model 3 may have the potential to exceed even that.

EVs still have a low market share in Japan, but I will keep an eye on Tesla's future. I think the evolution of the Model 3 this time is real. That is the reason why I decided to purchase it.