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Missed opportunity: No inverter

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Cosmacelf

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Mar 6, 2013
12,640
46,690
San Diego
I really think Tesla missed an opportunity to make the Model X insanely great in that they didn't include an inverter output. A lot of SUVs these days have 120 volt plugs at the back hooked to an inverter that can deliver several hundred watts. The problem with ICE cars is that to draw a lot of power from the inverter, you need to have the engine running or else you'll wear out your starter battery pretty quickly.

The Model X COULD have been a great tailgating car, or camping car with the addition of a reasonable power inverter built in. Drawing from the main battery pack, it would last a long time, no generator or car engine needed to be running.

Missed opportunity...
 
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I really think Tesla missed an opportunity to make the Model X insanely great in that they didn't include an inverter output. A lot of SUVs these days have 120 volt plugs at the back hooked to an inverter that can deliver several hundred watts. The problem with ICE cars is that to draw a lot of power from the inverter, you need to have the engine running or else you'll wear out your starter battery pretty quickly.

The Model X COULD have been a great tailgating car, or camping car with the addition of a reasonable power inverter built in. Drawing from the main battery pack, it would last a long time, no generator or car engine needed to be running.

Missed opportunity...

Good point, I would really like something like that for a number of reasons.
 
Model X really have too many unique selling features that no other car in the market can compare.
the long lasting inverter will certainly be another unique feature, but unsure if this is a must buy feature for many people. if it is, i guess this will probably be added later.
 
It depends on your definition of the word "utility"...(i.e. gimmick)

No, it doesn't, you are absolutely right. The X should have been peppered with 120V/240V, 12V cigarette plugs and USB ports. The SUV/MPV/Minivan market is heavily competitive and it appears that Tesla is basically asking families to make sacrifices to ride in the X.
 
Add me to the I agree list.

I keep one in the car for when I am working while someone is driving me somewhere. And it's annoying because my laptop draws just enough power to cause the cooling fan to cycle on and off.
 
Are we sure there isn't one?
there could be one in the trunk area I guess... haven't seen extensive photos of that area yet... but all I can see by way of power is the 12V in the normal spot (same as Model S) up in the front armrest area.... which also has 2 USB ports, one of which has a plugged in wire that goes to the phone dock. There also appear to be 2 USB ports in the rear of the front arm rest for the 2nd row. While that's better than nothing, it's definitely not an inverter with a 120V AC plug
 
I really think Tesla missed an opportunity to make the Model X insanely great in that they didn't include an inverter output.

Heck, for an electric car, I am really surprised at the lack of electrical outlets in my Model S. I had a 2001 GMC that had two 12v charge ports in the dash plus a lighter, 1 12v port in the cubby, 1 12v port in the back seat and 1 12v port in the trunk. My '09 Cadillac had a similar setup (although not in the trunk) plus USB ports. Even my old Pontiac Vibe has 12v and 115 volt outlets on the dash. It just seems odd.
 
I really think Tesla missed an opportunity to make the Model X insanely great in that they didn't include an inverter output. A lot of SUVs these days have 120 volt plugs at the back hooked to an inverter that can deliver several hundred watts. The problem with ICE cars is that to draw a lot of power from the inverter, you need to have the engine running or else you'll wear out your starter battery pretty quickly.

The Model X COULD have been a great tailgating car, or camping car with the addition of a reasonable power inverter built in. Drawing from the main battery pack, it would last a long time, no generator or car engine needed to be running.

Missed opportunity...

That's a good point but they can always add it as an upgrade or part of an option. The opprotunity will always be there.
 
I really think Tesla missed an opportunity to make the Model X insanely great in that they didn't include an inverter output. A lot of SUVs these days have 120 volt plugs at the back hooked to an inverter that can deliver several hundred watts. The problem with ICE cars is that to draw a lot of power from the inverter, you need to have the engine running or else you'll wear out your starter battery pretty quickly.

The Model X COULD have been a great tailgating car, or camping car with the addition of a reasonable power inverter built in. Drawing from the main battery pack, it would last a long time, no generator or car engine needed to be running.

Missed opportunity...

I think the reason is that they offer you free electricity (supercharging). I don't think they want to pay your electricity needs beyond driving.
 
I bought an 120VAC inverter for my S, the kind you can wire to battery posts, not just plug into 12V outlet. Good for a few hundred Watts or so... And it's been sitting on a shelf ever since. I thought I'd install it in the frunk and have 120V there for any accessory, a cooler, or whatever. We've camped exactly once in the S (sleeping in it) in the last year, and found there's outlets at the campground used those instead. But on a SUV I could see the "utility" of having 120V in the rear hatch area. Plug in a vacuum there and suck up all the spilled Cheerios around the back seats, every week or so.

It also dawned on me maybe the inverter idea is backwards. It would be much more useful to put a little gas generator in the frunk and do the opposite, run the mobile adapter to the back and plug in to charge up. Kind of a hybrid or range extender.. no Volt going to put me to shame. I had hoped to charge while driving. But the S won't budge if the charge door is open.. so out the window that went too.