I am currently on my third Tesla, and while I admit the company has its share of annoyances, I have never been happier with any of my cars as I am with my Teslas. My experiences with Tesla’s growing pains remind me of the challenges Apple faced in the late 80s, such as difficulty in reaching customer service and poor communication.
However, over the past eight years of driving Tesla, I have noticed significant improvements in their processes, leading to fewer frustrations. Some people claim that charging at home with a 110-volt outlet only provides about 25 miles of range per hour.
While that is technically correct, most Tesla owners do not use a 120-volt outlet. Approximately 80% of owners have a 50-amp outlet installed in their garages at minimal cost, which allows for charging that is six to seven times faster.
The remaining 20% have dedicated chargers for even quicker charging options. The Tesla Model 3 boasts an EPA-rated range of over 350 miles.
This ample range suffices for my daily commuting and errands, so I can easily plug in at home, and the car is fully charged by the time I need to drive again. Since most people drive over 95% of their miles locally, charging during road trips is less of a concern.
Tesla has also developed a global network of Superchargers, making road trip charging far quicker than traditional AC connections. A typical Supercharger can fully charge a car in just 15 to 30 minutes for every 200 miles driven.
My Model 3 consumes about 1 kWh of energy to travel three miles, translating to a cost of approximately three cents per mile. This is significantly cheaper than gasoline, especially when considering the absence of costs for oil changes and other maintenance associated with internal combustion engines.
The driving experience with an electric vehicle offers additional enjoyment compared to gasoline cars. There is no lag in acceleration, and factors like the need to keep a foot on the brake at stoplights, engine vibrations, and the stop-and-go of gas engines have been eliminated.
While Tesla is not without its imperfections, their impact on the development and adoption of electric vehicles has been substantial. Just as Apple transformed the mobile phone industry with the iPhone, Tesla has propelled electric vehicles forward, benefiting the entire world in the process.
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