Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD.
The world's most popular BEV. The LR version with longer range.

The Tesla Model 3 is the most popular BEV in the world (cumulatively the best-selling BEV), and it debuted in 2017. The Model 3 LR AWD is the Long Range version with two motors and a bigger battery.

The Model 3 LR AWD means two motors with a 79 kWh gross battery (73.5 kWh net), 498 hp of system power and a WLTP range of 629 km. AC 11 kW + DC at up to 250 kW on a Supercharger.

Starting price of around PLN 240,000. The competition - BMW i4 M50, Polestar 2, Hyundai Ioniq 6. The Model 3 - the Supercharger network, Autopilot, the best software ecosystem.

In Poland, the BEV market is growing steadily - more than 30,000 new EVs were registered in 2024. The Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD fits the trend - the premium mid-size BEV saloon is enjoying growing popularity among Polish customers.

Why a fully electric car and not a hybrid? Because a BEV means zero refuelling, zero local emissions and zero fuel cost when you charge overnight on the G12 tariff. In the Model 3 LR AWD you do your daily commute quietly and without jolts.

Before we get into amps and kilowatts, we need to establish which box the Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD falls into. The four drivetrain types on the European market in 2024-2025:

MHEV (mild hybrid, 48 V) - weak assistance for the combustion engine, no EV mode. HEV (full hybrid, e.g. Toyota Prius) - a 1-2 kWh battery that only charges from braking. PHEV (plug-in hybrid, e.g. BMW 330e, Lexus RX 450h+) - a 12-25 kWh battery, real-world EV range of 50-90 km, Type 2 port. BEV - that's our Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD: a full EV, no petrol engine, 100% electric.

The decision by the manufacturer, Opel, to go pure BEV was deliberate. CO2 rules in the European Union force zero fleet emissions by 2035, and premium-class customers increasingly choose charging locally over filling up at a station.

Manufacturers today fall into two schools: those who build BEVs on a modernised combustion platform (the BMW i4 on CLAR) and those who use a dedicated BEV platform (Hyundai E-GMP, VW MEB, Mercedes EVA). Each strategy has its upsides: a modernised platform gives familiar handling and lower production costs, a dedicated one gives better efficiency and more room inside. The Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD uses the optimal configuration for its segment.

The Model 3 LR AWD pack is built with lithium-ion cells supplied by Panasonic NCA and CATL LFP. The 73.5 kWh net capacity gives a real-world range of 629 km WLTP.

Why is the capacity buffer so important? Because Li-ion cells age fastest when they're charged to 100% or discharged to 0%. Most manufacturers hide 5-10% of capacity at both ends of the scale. That gives 1,500-2,500 charge cycles without significant degradation. If you plug in every day, that's 7-10 years of use.

Check the production year of your Model 3 LR AWD. The manufacturer regularly introduces improvements - better cells, heat pumps, thermal management software. Real-world measurements from owners of BEVs from 2020-2022 show 8-12% degradation after 5 years, while newer cars (2023+) are projected at 4-6% over the same period - a better BMS and chemistry.

The battery mounted under the floor preserves a practical boot and gives a low centre of gravity - key to driving dynamics. The Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD makes use of this layout while keeping its interior versatile.

Under the floor of the Model 3 LR AWD sits a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor (PMSM) or an asynchronous one (in AWD versions). System power and torque deliver an instant response to the accelerator - a characteristic BEV trait that makes even the weaker variants feel "faster" than comparable combustion cars.

The Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD offers the standard driving modes: Comfort (default, balanced), Eco (energy saving) and Sport (maximum performance). Real-world energy consumption in the combined cycle: 16-20 kWh/100 km in summer, 22-26 kWh/100 km in winter (cabin heating draws as much as 5 kW from the battery).

The manufacturer, Opel, deliberately limited AC charging power to 11 kW over 3 phases. The logic: plug in in the evening, unplug in the morning - 6-8 hours is more than enough for most customers. Investing in a more powerful OBC (On-Board Charger) would raise the car's price by several thousand with no real gain in a typical usage scenario.

What is the onboard charger, or OBC (On-Board Charger)? It's a device built into the car that converts alternating current from the wall into direct current for the battery. In the Model 3 LR AWD it's a three-phase 16 A charger running at 400 V, which gives 11 kW. CCS Combo 2 connector (the European standard). DC charging goes through the fast-charging port - at public stations at up to 150-250 kW (depending on the model).

Many customers ask whether the Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD can be charged at a higher AC power from a home wallbox. The answer is no. The manufacturer has never offered an OBC bigger than 11 kW for this model. It's a cost decision: a 22 kW OBC costs the manufacturer around EUR 600 more, and with a typical battery the difference in charging time is an hour (3 h vs 6 h) instead of the overnight window in which the car sits in the garage from 19:00 to 7:00 anyway.

Let's pause at the most common sales myth. Dealers suggest that the fastest home charging is a fixed wallbox. That's a half-truth. A wallbox is simply a charger in a wall-mounted housing. From the Model 3 LR AWD's point of view there's no difference between an 11 kW wallbox and an 11 kW portable charger plugged into a CEE socket. The charging parameters are identical. The portable charger has an edge: you can take it to a hotel in Masuria, to your in-laws' summer house, on a road trip to Italy. The wallbox stays on the wall.

The Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD doesn't exist in a vacuum. The premium mid-size BEV saloon segment is a competitive fight between several players.

When does the Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD win? Brand character - handling, quality of finish, the dealer network. Every manufacturer has its own DNA: BMW - sportiness, Mercedes - luxury, Volvo - safety, Hyundai/Kia - value for money. When does the Model 3 LR AWD lose? Here you need to weigh up the alternatives - range, DC charging, price. The best thing is to compare it with the competition in person, on a test drive.

And how does it compare with more expensive models? Most brands have a BEV ladder: compact, mid-size, flagship. Each step up brings a higher price and more performance. The Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD positions itself as the optimal choice in its segment - if you mostly cover short distances, have a garage with charging and aren't afraid of public fast chargers on the road, this model will be a sound choice for years.

The Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD has been through dozens of tests in Polish and European motoring media. The consensus is clear: good handling and performance for the segment, economical running. The weaker points usually remain motorway range (a 25-30% drop at 130 km/h) and DC charging at public stations (the curve drops off after a 50% charge). Below is a summary of the main findings from independent tests.

According to industry tests by the motoring press, the real-world range of the Model 3 LR AWD falls within 80-95% of the declared WLTP figure in the combined cycle. In summer, with gentle city driving, you can reach as much as 105% of WLTP, while in winter it drops to 70-80%. The winter drop has two causes: colder cell chemistry gives up less energy, and cabin heating draws as much as 4-5 kW from the battery. A heat pump (in newer versions) reduces that drop by 30-40 per cent.

Independent road tests highlight the handling: a low centre of gravity (battery under the floor) and a stiff body give the Model 3 LR AWD better cornering stability than its conventional combustion counterparts. The car retains the brand's characteristic traits - handling, comfort, a quiet cabin. The downside of BEVs in their heavier versions (AWD, big battery) is weight - 2-2.5 tonnes is no sports car, despite the instant torque.

Industry analyses of the EV market indicate that the Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD has a deliberately designed DC charging curve - the manufacturer balances speed against battery life. A customer charging overnight at 11 kW AC and occasionally at public DC chargers has every scenario covered - daily commutes and long-distance trips.

That's exactly how we see it at Ampere Point. A customer buying a Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD gets from the manufacturer a car deliberately designed for overnight 11 kW AC charging and occasional DC fast charging. Our Q11 and P11 portable chargers are a perfect match for that profile: the full 11 kW, a Type 2 cable, 3 hours to a full battery. No fixed wallbox installation, no electrician, no cutting into the wall.

The Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD is a choice for the informed customer in the premium mid-size BEV saloon segment. Recommendation: Q11 or P11. Both charge the Model 3 LR AWD in 7-8 hours.