Even though it looks easy, vinyl installation can be a challenging DIY project. Small errors in alignment, an inadvertent tear, stretching, or wrinkles which are challenging to remove do occur in some instances. If you're not a DIYer, we strongly recommend you get a professional to do the installation work. We don't want you to be frustrated or disappointed if you decided to try this on your own. If you choose to do the installation yourself, we ask that before you attempt this as a "DIY" project, you ask yourself the following questions: Marco Gaxiola, an electrical engineer who participated in a Model 3 teardown for a Tesla competitor, reverse engineered the electric car’s charger and found it to be ready for bidirectional charging. Am I willing to read and follow detailed installation instructions and watch the installation video? Given all of this, we decided to provide two (2) copies of every vinyl shape so you can recover from error if you make one.

Not at all, but it does require care. The surface should be cleaned with a 60% water/40% isopropyl alcohol mix applied using a spray bottle, and then wiped away using a lint-free cloth or paper towel. The objective is to remove all dust, dirt, and greasy residue before vinyl installation commences. What I learned on reverse engineering the Model 3 charger, was that the design is fully bidirectional. This means power can be converted from AC to DC the same way as the previous example, but also power can flow in reverse direction, coming from the battery and ending up on the AC side. This is known as DC to AC inverter, and when this technology is present in a vehicle, it is known as V2G (Vehicle to Grid). We've developed detailed step-by-step written instructions for our Chrome Delete Vinyl Kit and a set of detailed installation videos (see "Installation" tab). When used in combination, these video and written instructions will give you comprehensive installation guidance. Do I have the time required to properly install the Chrome Delete Vinyl Kit, recognizing the typical times for an install on one side of the Model 3 could be between 2 and 3 hours?

Chrome Delete

Here’s a schematic of the charger that Gaxiola produced as part of the reverse-engineering of the vehicle: Tesla owners would still have the option to opt in or out of the program, and they would also likely control when the electric utilities can access the energy in their vehicles. Controllable load, the ability to control when an EV is charging, is possible with any electric vehicle as long as it is connected to a smart charging station or the vehicle itself has an internet connection. While those comments are not too encouraging, they do note that there’s value in vehicle to grid once the EV fleet becomes large enough, which is starting to become the case.

A study showed that electric vehicle fleets could save billions of dollars with controllable load and vehicle-to-grid features, and it would enable the grid to optimize its use of renewable energy.You can use a heat gun or a hairdryer but you want to use a heat gun whenever you need to stretch or conform around awkward areas. When using heat, don’t stay in one area. Keep your gun moving and roughly 6 inches away. Does it come with everything I need to install? Straubel noted in a presentation in 2015 that once Tesla’s fleet reaches 1 million vehicles, it would have a significant controllable load capacity: The area that's most prone to peel is on the mirror lowers because of the odd shape (2D wrap on 3D surface).

No. Once the vinyl has set on the surface (requiring about 24 hours), its adhesion becomes stronger and more permanent. It can still be removed without difficulty, but removal will stretch and potentially tear the vinyl. It cannot be reused. However, we've provided two (2) copies of each vinyl kit piece which can be used in this instance.To complement this, the bidirectional design is replicated 3 times across the same PCB on the Model 3 charger. Another example of redundant design that assures a working process even if one of the circuits fails. Additionally, it is 3 phase design, so it can be used worldwide. In a recent filing with the Texas electric utility commission in which Tesla was responding to questions about how electric utilities should approach electric vehicles, the automaker summarized its view of vehicle to grid technology:

The kit comes with everything you need, except a heating source. We recommend using a heat gun or even a hairdryer if needed. Do I need any experience? If I decide to remove the vinyl after some period of time, can I reinstall it again at a later date? One of the most interesting features of Tesla’s implementation of bidirectional charging is that they don’t require an inverter outside the vehicle, like the Wallbox Quasar used on the Nissan Leaf. Vehicle to grid benefits can be recognized much more efficiently when EV deployment is at scale rather than in the early adopter phase. At the same time, any discussion regarding the capabilities of EV related technologies must recognize as a first principle that customer experience and willingness for participation is key. There certainly may be an opportunity for future projects and programs that focus on advanced technological integration, such as the eventual aggregation of EVs in the future to provide grid services in wholesale markets. In any setting, it is important to remember that EVs are modes of transportation first and foremost for customers. There is also an opportunity to evaluate stationary storage assets first to provide similar grid services capabilities from a wholesale electricity market perspective. The tools typically needed are squeegees for smoothing and finishing (included); a retractable utility knife with a 9mm wide blade (included); a spray bottle (not included) containing a water/alcohol mix to ensure proper cleaning and surface preparation (critically important); a hair drier (not included) to help remove any wrinkles and make the vinyl more pliable; and sharp scissors (not included).

In general, no. The vinyl kit components have been specifically designed and cut to fit without any requirement for cutting or trimming. However, a few vinyl pieces have been designed with a small overlap to make installation easier. A retractable utility knife with a 9mm wide blade is used to trim the overlap. In addition, you may need a blade for trimming if small angular or positioning errors, or stretching occur during installation. Now that we know that Tesla already has hundreds of thousands of Model 3 vehicles bidirectional-ready on the road, I think this new product could be released sooner than people think. Electrek has learned that Tesla has already prepared its onboard vehicle charger for bidirectional charging. Several automakers, like Honda and Nissan, have been openly exploring the technology, but Tesla, who is arguably the leader in electric vehicles, has been reticent about deploying bidirectional charging in the past.