Pressman distills his longstanding expertise with Tesla Motors and Tesla owners, first-hand experience with the Model 3, and participation in forums, blogs, auto magazines, websites, and social media to provide a useful reference for those on the vehicle’s long reservation list, potential buyers considering making the commitment, as well as anyone interested in Tesla Motors and/or the future of electric vehicles.

Many of the hundreds of thousands of people who plunked down $1,000 for Model 3 know relatively little about battery electric vehicles and almost nothing about what they have to begin doing now to prepare for Model 3. This book answers their questions and provides a roadmap for those who want to better understand the car.

—Roger Pressman

While likely of interest even to those with a solid understanding of the technology of electric vehicles and the related charging infrastructure, Pressman’s book should be a valuable resource for potential new buyers—if not for the Model 3, then for the Chevy Bolt, or any of the other competitive cars emerging on the market.

In Chapter Six (“Model 3 Performance”), for example, Pressman runs through an easy-to-read run-down of BEV architecture, chargers, batteries, motor and torque, control electronics, regenerative braking, performance and vehicle dynamics.

The book:

1. Examines the exterior and interior of Model 3 with exclusive photos;

2. Clarifies issues such as range and “range anxiety;”

3. Discusses and explains what is known about the car’s tech;

4. Considers the decisions that will be required as each owner configures their Model 3;

5. Offers a preview of Model 3’s autonomous driving features;

6. Explains how to develop a personal charging infrastructure for owners of the car;

7. Delineates the costs of ownership; and

8. Provides a targeted, quantitative method for estimating when the car will be delivered to reservation holders. (Chapter 8, “When Can I Expect My Model 3 To Be Delivered”)

The last item will likely be of most interest to those who have pre-ordered Model 3 and those considering doing so.

Our company, EVANNEX, sells aftermarket accessories for Model S, Model X and soon, for Model 3. We have enormous respect for Tesla Motors, for their engineering prowess, their manufacturing abilities, and their forward thinking, risk-tolerant leadership. We were the first outside company in what I call the Tesla “ecosystem,” and we’ve had an opportunity to observe the company for quite some time.

One thing we’ve noticed is that Tesla Motors operates on “Tesla Time.” Quite frequently, the infectious optimism that pervades the company causes its leadership to announce release dates for products that are … well … aggressive. Often, Tesla will miss those dates—sometimes by a little, and sometimes by a lot.

… Tesla time is real, and it has to be taken into account whenever projections for delivery dates are made.

—“Getting Ready for Model 3”

Pressman runs through a number of projections of production rates, but, bottom line:

Unless my estimates for the delivery ramp are way off (and they might be), anyone who got on the list after mid-April will probably have to wait until early 2019 before their Model 3 is delivered.

“Getting Ready for Model 3” is available on Amazon.