Just when you thought you had seen it all in the way of camping and road trips, here come the electric vehicles. Tesla SUV owners are beginning to show up at places once reserved for tents and campers.
Featured Image Courtesy of Tesloid
When That Park Place editors asked me to do this article, I had no idea this was something actually taking off around the country. Now, I’m excited to try it for myself.
Going on a camping trip is one of the best ways to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy nature. However, planning a camping trip can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re going to be driving a Tesla Model Y. While the Model Y is a fantastic vehicle for road trips and daily commutes, it may require some extra planning and preparation for camping. Here are some tips on how to go camping in a Tesla Model Y.
Plan Your Route
Before embarking on your camping trip, it’s essential to plan your route carefully. One of the main challenges when driving an electric vehicle (EV) is finding charging stations. Fortunately, Tesla has an extensive network of Superchargers that can be found along most major highways and interstates. To ensure you have enough charge to reach your destination, use the in-car navigation system to plan your route and find Superchargers along the way. Be sure to factor in any detours or stops you might make along the way, as these will affect your charging needs.
Camping in the Tesla Model Y Performance using Camp Mode. Have you tried it? pic.twitter.com/15ZbRZA0ER
— Sarah (@thesimple_sarah) March 28, 2023
Pack Light
When camping in a Tesla Model Y, it’s essential to pack light. While the Model Y has plenty of cargo space, you’ll want to make sure you’re not overloading it with unnecessary items. Consider investing in lightweight camping gear, such as a compact tent and sleeping bag. If you’re planning on cooking, bring only the essentials and consider using a portable stove instead of a full-sized grill. The less weight you carry, the more efficiently your car will drive, and the longer your battery will last.
Use Camping Apps
There are many camping apps available that can help you plan your trip, find campsites, and even locate charging stations. Apps like Campendium and Hipcamp are great for finding campsites that are EV-friendly and have amenities such as showers and bathrooms. ChargePoint and PlugShare are excellent apps for finding charging stations along your route and at your destination. These apps can also help you plan your charging stops, so you don’t run out of juice. Don’t forget, you’re going to want to find camping sites that offer the correct charging outlets so that you’re not pulling off of a standard extension cord. Call ahead and make sure the campsite offers higher voltage connections!
Charge Your Car Overnight
One of the best things about camping in a Tesla Model Y is that you can charge your car overnight. Many campsites have RV hookups, which you can use to charge your car. If your campsite doesn’t have an RV hookup, you can use a portable power station, like the Goal Zero Yeti or Jackery Explorer, to charge your car. These power stations are compact and can be charged using solar panels, so you don’t need to worry about running out of power. But by far the very best thing about this is that, because your Tesla is silent, you can run the vehicle all night without getting in trouble for disturbing other guests.
Are You Ready?
Going camping in a Tesla Model Y requires some extra planning and preparation, but it can be a fantastic experience. With careful route planning, lightweight packing, the use of camping apps, and overnight charging, you can enjoy a stress-free camping trip while minimizing your impact on the environment. So, pack your bags, hit the road, and enjoy the great outdoors in your Tesla Model Y.
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Sounds like a fun trip. For planning reference a 300W solar panel is 5 feet long and 3 feet wide. Weighing 40 lbs. The good news is two 300W solar panels will probably keep your car at the charge it started at and and provide power for use at your campsite all night. It will also charge your car in two months maybe.
Here is the math on charging using solar panels. A Tesla Y has 75Kwh of batteries. A 300W solar panel does about 1.3kwh per day. That would be 57 days or about two months to charge. That ignores losses in charging (50%?), losses due to use/leakage (11kwh/month), and usage at your camp site. Bring at least 2 300W panels to break even.
If you want to seriously charge the car bring 60 panels. That would charge it in 2 days or so. You might need a trailer for the 2400lbs. Make sure your camp site has 900 sq ft or 83 square meters (A space bigger than 9 meters by 9 meters).