I went to the Tesla Model 3 event, downtown Chicago last night. It was a private viewing for owners with reservations and will be open to the public this weekend I believe, if not already today. Its a newish Tesla Gold Coast location on Rush, right at the Viagra Triangle or so I have heard that is what its called. I must have seen 20 Teslas in the opposite lane going from the northern burbs to down town.
There were about 150-200 people there and they where showing off all 3 cars as well as solar roof, panels and powerwall 2. They had specialists there to go over solar if people had questions. My understanding from talking to a few people there that Solar roof installs would start there this year, but no set date yet. There was a clear push for solar at this event even though it was mostly about the model 3. They had a DJ and drinks and Hors D’Oeuvres (copy/paste from the web). I was expecting more information on the car and duel motors but there wasnt really a speaker, just a ton of Tesla employees that you could engage with and they would answer any questions. I talked for a while with someone I recognized from Highland park and they told me that they where delivering ~14 model 3s a day for the past few weeks. Oddly specific numbers, but that was what was stated. Thats roughly 60 a month for one location.
On the way down, I toured the 2 new chargers (in the last 3 months). One in Skokie (20 stalls I believe) and one in the Mariano's grocery store parking garage near Wrigley field in Wrigleyville, 10-12 stalls. Many iced stalls, bunch of jerks, but still plenty of open slots during rush hour and a very busy store. Both where the 72KW, newer style, smaller stands. I topped out at 72KW, but I was driving my X75D and I was charging from 50% or above as I was not really stopping to charge as much as I was stopping to see the locations and check the rate, so they could go higher in better circumstances as it was also very cold. There was again talk about expanding highland park with more charging and another guy told me they were trying to lease a dealership that was empty, but the owner only wanted to sell and Tesla did not want to buy, only lease. Probably something to do with the advantages of leasing compared to owning? In general, charging has grown nearly exponentially from a hand full of 4-8 stall locations around chicagoland to what must be 100+ stalls and 10 locations in the last year or less. These are all new; Bollingbrook (20+), Rolling Meadows (12+), Skokie (20), Wriglyville (12ish) and the Aqua hotel downtown with at least 10.
The model 3 is pretty much everything that people have discussed. Its very nice all around and its roomier then it looks. I sat in the back at first with people in the front and I am 6'4". I was very comfortable, but the front seat was not all the way back. Later I got in with the driver seat much farther back and it was cramped but not uncomfortable. Kind of like American Airlines economy seating where the seat in front of you is about 2cm from your knees, but not touching. Again, I am well over 6 foot and head room as great. I had read complaints about how far down you sit in the back, but I didnt notice it at all, even making note to see how it felt and it was fine. This is overblown and again I am pretty tall so any cramped leg space or knees riding high would have been noticeable and less then comfortable for me and I felt totally fine.
The one bad thing I can say about the car is that its not an S/X. Its just not as big in the drivers area. For me, its something I would notice as I am over 250lbs. The steering wheel is just shrunk down and it feels like you are in a race car compared to the S/X. The steering wheel is thick though, which is comfortable. The center screen is lightening fast and responsive. On part with the most responsive cellphones and tablets and faster then most android devices. The wheels re responsive as well and I expect more functionality to moved to the wheels based on context It could be that you will change context with voice and use wheels to fine tune things that are touch screen only today. I could see not having to touch the screen at all for any functions while driving if you dont want to. The trunk is a bit hard to close for an older lady there but mostly because it opens so high. There are handles hidden inside that are not obviously noticeable and they make it much easier for someone that is not that tall to close.
Another very cool thing.. at least for me.. I ran into a guy I met that has an S and went to the Semi Reveal. He was telling me that the two semis where not just different configurations of the same truck. They are completely different sizes. The black truck was noticeably smaller. This struck me as something I had never heard before. I read smaller pack/range, but not smaller vehicle. And I questioned him a ton on it and its not just the wind screen on the top of the truck, it was physically smaller and he showed me some pictures he took that made it more clear the size difference, though I am still skeptical. It very well could be that the smaller semi could be targeted all the way down to box truck and large van like solutions. Maybe even a smaller pack for hotels that just go back and forth to the airport all day with 1-20 people and luggage max.
Oh and lastly.. one of the guys told me to say "Ho-Ho-Ho, Not Funny" instead of just "Ho-Ho-Ho" and it would do something different then Santa and jingle bells. It was so loud with all the people and the DJ that I could not hear what it was doing, but I assume it was funny. Forgot to try when I was leaving to come home.
Overall it was a very nice event with a lot of really nice folks and there was a ton of excitement in the room. Not one person pissed about the 35k car, everyone I talked to, including employees seemed to be waiting for the duel motors, this is Chicago.
