Here’s What We Learned From the Tesla Model 3 Owner’s Manual

Last week, a Reddit user with the name “pn02ner” posted a link to the Tesla Model 3 owner’s manual, saying Tesla Roadside Assistance sent it to them in an email. Tesla has confirmed to us that it’s an older manual, and some of the information has changed since it was written, but considering how little information it’s published about the Model 3, this is the most detailed overview we’ve gotten so far.

Granted, we’ve already gotten quite a bit of time with the Model 3. When it was first revealed, Tesla gave us a multi-hour extended test drive. Tesla also entered the Model 3 in our Car of the Year competition, where it performed well enough to be named a finalist. But even with all that seat time, there’s still a lot to learn from the owner’s manual.

For example, if you plan to park your Model 3 while you travel the world, you’ll want to make sure the car is plugged in, or the car is charged and in Energy Saving Mode. That’s because a parked Model 3’s charge level will drop by about 3 percent for every week it sits. If you put the car in Energy Saving Mode, though, that loss drops to about one percent per week. To minimize the risk of battery damage from a completely dead battery, though, the Model 3 will automatically enter a low-power consumption mode when the battery level drops to 5 percent.

If you’re planning to vacation with your Model 3, it’s also important to know that it’s not equipped for towing. That option may become available when Tesla releases the dual-motor version, but at least for now, you won’t be able to haul a trailer behind your Model 3. That said, you will be able to install a roof rack. So while you’ll have to use a different vehicle to get your boat to the lake, the Model 3 will still be able to haul a few mountain bikes to the trailhead.

Tesla also requires the car to be unlocked or close to the owner’s phone in order to unplug the charging connector. It would be great to think we could trust people not to go around unplugging cars as they charge, but sadly, that’s not the case. This feature ensures that no one unplugs your Model 3 without your knowledge, keeping you from coming back to a partially charged car.

As for the power and torque figures, Tesla confirmed that the numbers we got for Car of the Year are the final, correct ones. So while the quoted 165 kW works out to about 221 hp, Tesla says our 271 hp figure is the correct one. Tesla didn’t say whether the long-range Model 3 makes more power than the short-range version, however. And while 3,700 Nm works out to about 2,729 lb-ft of torque, don’t expect to pull any trains with your Model 3. That figure has been multiplied by the final drive ratio of 9:1, giving it about 303 lb-ft of torque. According to Tesla, though, that figure is slightly off. The Model 3 actually makes 307 lb-ft of torque.

If you’re interested, you can check out the entire PDF here.

Source: Reddit

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