TESLA

Winter test of Tesla Camp Mode: As you make a bed, you get to lie

Prevailing nature and vanlife trends have increased interest in Tesla's camp fashion. It is full of romantic descriptions of how the Tesla owner presses the gas and feels the freedom of being able to camp in nature without having to think about the proximity of a hotel or a parking space with electricity.

Camp mode is practical in many situations. For example, if you have driven a long way and need to take a nap for a couple of hours, if rain or snow would affect visibility so much that it is better to stand still for a while, or if something happens and you need to cool or heat the passenger compartment while waiting for assistance.

Exactly that heating the passenger compartment was what we thought about when we were going to winter test Tesla's camp mode. Cooling a sun-heated car to non-stick sleeping temperature is one thing, but how about warming it up from freezing to a comfortable 20 degrees? And how much does it take from the car's charge?

The prevailing trends of nature and vanlife increased interest in Tesla's camping fashion. It's full of romantic descriptions of how the Tesla owner puts the pedal to the metal and feels the freedom of being able to camp in the wild without having to think about the proximity of a hotel or a parking space with electricity.

Camp mode is practical in many situations. For example, if you've driven a long way and need to take a nap for a few hours, if rain or snow affects visibility so much that it's better to stay put for a while, or if something happens and you need to cool or heat the cabin while waiting for assistance.

Exactly this heating of the passenger compartment was what we thought of when we were going to do the winter test of the Tesla's camping mode. Cooling a sun-warmed car down to a non-stick temperature is one thing, but what about heating it from zero to a comfortable 20 degrees? And how much does it take from the car's load?

Not as much as you think. Of course, the answer will vary depending on conditions such as the ambient temperature outside and the temperature you want in the cabin, if you carry a lot of gadgets and so on. But in general, it's about 2 percentage points per hour.

In short, camping in winter is no problem, a tip is however a pair of thick slippers. The air in the passenger compartment quickly heats up, but not the interior itself. If you're tall and your feet are against the trunk lid, you soon get cold feet, even through a blanket.

The electric car's feature as a "giant battery" also means you don't have to look for a field with electricity like other camps, but can park basically anywhere. In the forest, by a lake or on top of a mountain, if you are looking for an experience close to nature with a view.

To put the car in camp mode, press the climate control on the interactive screen and select camp mode. An even air circulation is then connected to the passenger compartment so that neither the windows fog up nor the air is bad. The temperature is also regulated, and after a while the screen shows a relaxing camping image with a tent and crackling fire.

If you don't want to sleep right away, you can watch movies, play games or listen to music. As long as the car is sufficiently loaded and you stay in the permitted place, relax. If you have a good sleeping pad, of course.

ABOUT CAMPING IN THE TESLA MODEL S...While other Tesla models get a smooth luggage surface (with just a slight slope) with the rear seats folded down, the Model S unfortunately has a negative quirk. In all Model S models – right up to the recently launched Model S Plaid – the surface is left with a border almost six centimeters high in the middle of the sleeping area when the rear seat is folded down.

Very ugly and about as recognizable as that infamous princess pea. In addition, it is difficult to get the edge to fit your own body. (If I want to fit my 176 cm, I have to climb as high as possible, but the edge doesn't match the body.)

The only mattress that sufficiently evokes the edge feeling is the air mattress. However, both it and the thicker memory foam mattress require a headrest to be able to use the full length of the mattress. Another purchase, then, of a camp/headrest or cargo rack to hold the top. Here, the thinner memory foam mattress has a clear advantage because it has rigid plates built into the top, which the other two mattresses in the test do not have.

Note: The evaluation of the mattresses was therefore finally done on a Tesla Model Y...There are several different mattresses specially adapted for Tesla. Most models seem to exist for the Model 3 and Y. In this test, we tried an air mattress and two different memory foam mattresses. Each has its pros and cons. The price goes up by about SEK 1,000 for each model.

AIR MATTRESS...The air mattress is molded to match the interior of the car. On top are two pillows and two extra inflatables are included. The top is covered in velvet and comes with a 12V pump that plugs into one of the car's cigarette sockets. If you want to inflate the mattress inside the car, it must be done in the correct order – or you will have to change the outlet after you have inflated the bottom/top of the total six valves, as the cord is a little short. The inflation itself takes a few minutes.

On the Tässla Store website it says it should fit both the Model S, Y and 3, but in reality it no longer fits the Model S. The edges fold over and it looks like it's lying in a bowl. The pump holes on the sides also press against the sides of the car, which makes a squeak. If you choose not to have the side wings inflated, it fits better. Still, an air mattress is the best choice for an older Model S because it means you don't feel the edge of the seats folded down.

BATTERY...Battery charging has started at 81 percent. From 10 pm to 6 am, the load dropped to 62%. This corresponds to a consumption of 2.4 percentage points/hour. The outside temperature was a constant +2°C. Previous tests at an outside temperature of +16°C gave a consumption of 2.0 percentage points/hour.

by: Mundoquatrorodas