Tesla Model S.
The Motley Fool has driven a Tesla Model S 85 kWh for over 10,000 miles and learned quite a lot:
Tesla Model S.
1. "Charging is easier than you might think."
The 85 kWh Model S is rated for 265 miles of range. Motley Fool mentions that "they rarely have to charge the car anywhere but home." Whether it be charging at home or out on a road trip, simply plug it in and walk away. When you walk back to it, you either have a full charge ready to go, or you've got some juice back into the battery from a place that you were going to stop for that amount of time anyways.
"The freedom of not having to stop frequently to fill a gas tank is absolutely worth the one time in 10,000 miles I've needed to stop somewhere to charge the car when I'm out and about. " -Motley Fool.
2. "Tesla's Supercharger network is a game changer."
If there were no Tesla Superchargers, the Model S would not be the same vehicle. Simple as that.
These Supercharger stations recharge the Model S' battery pack from 0-80% in ~ 30 minutes.
The Supercharger stations are and always will be free to Model S owners. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors promised this. In addition, the Supercharger network is expanding.
Per Motley Fool:
"On our trip to California, plenty of charging stations were available at every Supercharger location. I have heard from some Tesla owners, however, that they occasionally have to wait for a charging station to free up at some busy California locations. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Tesla recently launched a beta battery swap location in the state."
Tesla Model S Interior.
3. "Range anxiety is overstated."
If we had a nickel for every time we heard something along the lines or "range anxiety", I think we would all be able to afford a Model S.
Range anxiety is the fear of running out of juice in your EV while away from home, resulting in being stranded.
It takes only a small amount of planning to avoid being stranded. Understand that there are many helpful tools such as charging apps, websites, in-car navigation, etc to help you plan a doable route.
Here is a nickels worth of free advice from Motley Fool:
"To put the impact hills have on range in perspective, Nick J. Howe explained in his book, Owning Model S, that "gaining 5,000 ft of elevation in Model S takes the same amount of energy as driving 30 miles at 60 mph." That's a pretty nasty dent! But here's where the Model S makes up for this drawback: As long as the driver comes back down the hill, much of this loss is regained with regenerative braking. "Model S gains most of that energy back (about 80%) when you come down," Howe writes."
"It's also worth noting that, unlike the gas-powered cars around me, not once during these 30 miles did I ever have to use my brake pads, since I could use regenerative braking going downhill to slow the car."
Tesla Superchargers
4. "Most people are clueless about Tesla."
I have experienced this myself. It is the truth.
As Motley Fool explains:
"One of the most common initial questions we get from strangers and friends is, "Who makes the car?" After we explain the car is made by Tesla, they often persist: "But who makes Tesla?" "
"Furthermore, most people don't know Tesla now has an all-wheel-drive version of the Model S, are completely unaware of the fast-growing Supercharger network, and have never heard of regenerative braking."
Are you a Model S owner? If so, what have you learned from driving the Model S?
Tesla Model S Supercharging.
Source: The Motley Fool
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