Drive The Future

Answer: Tesla launches limited-time 0.99% APR loan rate on U.S. Model Y orders

So here’s the deal; Tesla’s offering a 0.99 percent APR interest rate for buyers who finance a Model Y on an order placed by May 31, 2024. The promotional financing can be used on loan terms ranging from 36 to 72 months, and it’s available on all three Model Y trim options.

What to do; Go to Tesla’s ordering website, select your preferred Model Y, sign up for the promotional interest rate for 60 months (or whatever term makes sense up to 72 months for this promotion), pay $4,250 down, and drive off with your spanking new Tesla. But that’s not the end of it…

Now that you got that once in a lifetime financing deal from Tesla, I want you to go over to Vanguard, open an account, and immediately invest all the money your just saved in a 5-year CD currently yielding 5.25%.

When all is said an done, I think this will be the least expensive car you have ever owned after factoring in car operating expenses and investment yield. Someone else will have to do the math for me, but this sounds like the best deal ever, for the best car ever!

Oh, and did I forget to mention that this car also qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit, which you now get at point of sale if you qualify! So what are you waiting for??

** update **

OK, I have done some calculations and think I have an answer for how much you’ll spend on interest on Tesla loan and earn on your Vanguard investment. Here’s what I came up with:

For a Long-Range AWD Model Y

• Purchase price: 47990
• Amount down: 4250
• Amount financed: 45130
• Monthly payment (P&I, 60 months, .99% promo): 772 (according to Tesla website)

• Total interest paid on the loan after 5 years: ~1153
• Amount invested (Vanguard 5 yr CD @ 5.25%): 45000
• Interest earned on investment over 5 years: ~13120

By my calculation, you’ll be ahead approximately $12,000 in 5 years versus buying your Tesla for cash today. To me, that sounds like a smokin’ deal! (Unless a math wizard can prove me wrong)

And should you actually decide to buy, don’t forget to use another Tesla owner’s referral code, preferably mine: https://ts.la/glen27381 – thanks!

That’s a very strange title! What do these two companies have in common? Tesla is a car company (that thought it might be good idea to make a smartphone), and Apple is a smartphone company (among other things) that thought it was a good idea to make an electric car. In my mind, each company should stay in their own lane and continue to do what they do best, but who am I to counsel Jobs (RIP) or Musk? But in my mind these two companies have a lot in common!

First Apple: Steve Jobs was the main man when it came to establishing Apple’s vision for the future (definitely disruptive and futuristic). 1984 was when I started paying attention to Apple’s ambitions in the personal computer arena with the Macinstosh computer. Then Jobs hit another home run in 2007 with the first iPhone. So innovative, so exciting (for the techies among us). And granted, it wasn’t just Jobs that brought these things to life, but his identity was so tightly connected with the vision and the product that it was hard to separate the two, which was both good and bad for Apple’s shareholders. But from my perspective the products just got better and better, and that’s what I care about.

Then Tesla: Elon Musk, like Steve, established a vision for Tesla Motors (a company established by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in 2003) that produced its first car, the Tesla Roadster, in 2008 when Elon assumed the role of CEO. Like Steve, Elon’s methods were very unconventional, but both had a vision for the future that drove their teams to produce something completely new, that would position their companies to continue to innovate well into the future, and well ahead of the ‘competition’. Sandy Munro says “I would say that Tesla is at least 5 or 6 years ahead of everybody…and I have no idea how other people are going to catch up.” (source)

Here’s my point in drawing a comparison between these two ‘interesting’ individuals and their companies: both are/were visionaries, both had unique and largely unconventional ways of driving (aka ‘motivating’) their teams for success, and both left/is leaving an indelible mark on humanity. Jobs created a computing ecosystem that for many drives their work and home life. And Musk wants you to drive EVs to/from your work place and home, because EVs are ‘more sustainable’ then the alternative.

Having worked in tech since the early 80s, there is noone like these two ‘characters’ that have had quite the same impact in quite the same way. As controversial, and sometimes odd, as Elon and Steve are/were the world is a better place because of them! And for the techies among us, their innovations absolutely ‘spark joy‘.

A shout-out to Ryan Shaw for his excellent coverage about everything-Tesla on YouTube. Having recently watched his YouTube video entitled ‘NEW Tesla Model Y Launched In US | They Changed Everything‘, something I have been wondering about has been clarified – mystery solved!

So, what’s the mystery? Well, it was my understanding that both the Model 3 and Model Y standard configuration (aka single motor/RWD) were using LFP batteries sourced from CATL in China. However, when the new Federal tax credits were announced, the base Model 3 fell off the list, but the base Model Y stayed on it for the full $7500 tax credit (now deducted from the purchase price at time of sale for those who qualify). So, why the difference if both use CATL batteries?

Sourced from the transcript of Ryan’s video, Ryan says:

The standard-range Model Y was always in a bit of a weird spot in the US since Tesla didn’t introduce it for a while. Elon said the range did didn’t meet Tesla’s standard of excellence so they got rid of that and then eventually they did bring it back but with a 260 mile range instead of the previous 240 mile range which raised some questions as to the battery pack. And now, with recent changes to Tesla’s lineup, we have learned that Tesla was secretly selling these customers long-range cars that were just ‘software-locked’.

This past week, Tesla finally introduced the all-new long-range rear wheel drive Model Y this is a trim they originally announced for this car back in 2019, but it truly never came to market. The only way to get a long-range Model Y was to upgrade to all-wheel drive. That’s great, but for many customers that second motor actually isn’t necessary, and they’d rather have the increased range of a single motor. Elon Musk announced this car saying the standard Tesla Model Y now has a 320 mile range although it is rear-wheel drive. The precision of Tesla’s electric motors means it still has great traction on snow and ice with All Season tires.

As we can see on Tesla’s website, that trim now has replaced the standard-range Model Y but with a slight price increase of $2,000, so now the base price of the Model Y is up to $44,900. In any case, this rear-wheel drive Model Y gets a 320 Mi range, 10 m higher than the all-wheel drive. The same 135 mph top speed and 0 to 60 in 6.5 seconds making it the ‘slowest’ available Tesla. Upgrading to induction wheels drops the range from 320 down to 295 miles. And it’s worth noting that these are using the new EPA testing standards so range predictions here should be more accurate than previous years.

Ryan continues, I think it’s a very smart move by Tesla and this car will be extremely popular. Range is very important to people even if they don’t really need it and a $2,000 price bump to take 260 Mi up to 320 is well worth it for many. With that said, many customers over the past couple of years purchased a standard-range Model Y and we have now learned that they were actually buying this car. Elon Musk tweeted, saying ‘the 260 mile range model built over the past several months actually have more range that can be unlocked for $1,500 to $2,000 with gains of 40 to 60 miles of range depending on which battery cells you have.’ So this whole time Tesla was selling a software-locked version likely due to battery sourcing.

It was probably just easier and cheaper to create a lower range version of this car that they could sell for less than it was to make and source an entirely different battery pack for production. They have done this in the past a few times especially with the Model S. It definitely sounds odd at face value but when an unlock like this is offered, it can make a lot of sense. The interesting thing to keep in mind here is let’s say you have a standard-range Model Y and that they offer a $2,000 upgrade that gets you 60 more miles of range, matching the 320 mile estimate for the long-range rear wheel drive. Today, this is a long-range battery, so your advice is going to be that for battery longevity you should charge to 80% daily and reserve 100% charges for road trips.

In practice, that will actually mean that you are daily using 80% of your battery’s potential, or 256 miles of it, versus if you don’t pay for that range unlock you can charge up to 100% or around 260 miles each day, so really this software unlock will only truly benefit those who need to charge to 100% on a semi-regular basis. Once Tesla offers that upgrade that will definitely be a consideration since you only want to charge to 80% each day. Anyway, is unlocking the full battery necessary for your personal needs? Either way this is an exciting upgrade for the Model Y and I still hope to see the return of the standard-range version, just with its own actually smaller (hopefully LFP pack) in the future. Most of this comes down to scaling and tax credit eligible battery sourcing…

End Quote

So, I was confused, and perhaps many others are as well. When I order my Tesla, what battery technology does it have? Is it software-locked or not? How should I charge my Tesla for best battery longevity? Etc… My hope is that you, the consumer, will be better informed now about the choices you are making, and Tesla will be more transparent about the options available to you.

In the meantime, Ryan’s video did clear up my questions about why certain cars qualifiy for tax credits and others don’t, and what battery tech is offered in the Model Y base model, which I think many will consider to be the BEST EV on the market today – that is until the Model Y ‘refresh’ in 2025, in which case it will be even better!

I’m probably not alone wanting to put a bicycle rack on the back of my Tesla to haul my e-bike(s) to the trails. But what’s missing from my Tesla’s UI is the ability to tell my car that there’s a bicycle or two on the rack and that I probably shouldn’t open the trunk for fear of scratching the paint on my trunk lid, or worse.

And now with the ability to open the trunk merely by being in close proximity to it, I might be in even more peril. What I REALLY need is a setting in my car’s UI that allows me to override all the ways the trunk can be opened until I have removed all obstructions and then physically reactivate all trunk opening options.

There are many incidents reported on the web where Tesla owners have made the mistake of opening their trunks with bikes on the back, all with bad results. Tesla needs to remedy this oversight, and not just for their tow hitch installation package, but for aftermarket tow hitch installations like mine as well. I’m using a Stealth Hitch from eTrailer and the Sport Rider SE Bike Rack from Hollywood Racks. This hitch and bike rack combo work really well, but I have to be SO careful when hauling bikes on the rack so as to not damage my car. I have been lucky so far, but having another level of protection provided in Tesla’s software would be very helpful!

Thanks for listening Tesla!!

I asked Gemini the following question:

“Tell me about the impact China will have on Tesla”

And Gemini’s response, which I think is fairly accurate:

China’s influence on Tesla is a two-sided coin: opportunity and challenge.

Opportunity:

• Market Growth: China is the world’s largest auto market, and the electric vehicle (EV) segment is experiencing explosive growth. Tesla benefits by having a large and potentially loyal customer base.
• Manufacturing Hub: Tesla’s Gigafactory in Shanghai is a major production center, allowing them to produce cars for the Chinese market efficiently and avoid import duties.
• Data & Innovation: Approval for full self-driving software in China could be a game-changer, providing Tesla with valuable data for autonomous driving development.

Challenge:

• Competition: Chinese domestic EV makers like BYD are rapidly innovating and offering feature-rich cars at competitive prices, putting pressure on Tesla’s market share.
• Supply Chain: China dominates the EV battery supply chain, so any disruptions there could impact Tesla’s production.
• Regulations: Navigating China’s regulatory landscape can be complex, and Tesla needs to maintain good relations with the government.

Recent developments show promise for Tesla. They secured data security clearance and are making progress on getting full self-driving approval for China-made cars. This could be a turning point to counter declining sales and regain a competitive edge.

However, competition is fierce, and Tesla will need to adapt and innovate to stay ahead in the ever-evolving Chinese EV market.

And some useful references from this inquiry:

• The effect of China’s EV dominance on the global automotive sector
• China’s BYD set to overtake Tesla as world’s most popular EV maker
• Tesla Shanghai becomes world’s largest production volume Gigafactory
• China – Country Commercial Guide
• More than 123 Chinese automakers are challenging Tesla for supremacy in the EV market
• Musk’s big win in China: Tesla clears data security, full self driving hurdles for locally-made cars
• Tesla Wins Data-Security Clearance in China

Ok Gemini, I have another question for you:

“What about China government incentives with respect to competition in the electric vehicle market segment?” My concern here is that Tesla might not be competing with Chinese EV companies on a level playing field. Here’s what Gemini says:

China’s government incentives have played a major role in fostering competition in the electric vehicle (EV) market, but their approach has shifted recently. Here’s a breakdown:

Previous Policy (Subsidies):

• Financial Support: From 2009 to 2022, China heavily subsidized EV companies through direct cash handouts and tax breaks. This helped reduce production costs and make EVs more affordable for consumers.
• Boosting Domestic Players: The policy also aimed to nurture domestic EV companies by offering them a financial edge, allowing them to compete with established automakers.
• Impact: This strategy was successful. China became the global leader in EV sales, with domestic players like BYD flourishing alongside Tesla.

Current Policy (“Dual Credit System”):

• Market-Oriented Approach: In 2023, China phased out direct subsidies and replaced them with a credit system. Automakers now earn credits for producing electric vehicles and lose credits for selling gas-powered cars.
• Encouraging Innovation: This system aims to promote competition by rewarding companies that develop more efficient and technologically advanced EVs.
• Leveling the Playing Field: The shift intends to create a fairer market where competition is driven by innovation, not just government handouts.

Overall Impact:

China’s government incentives have undeniably spurred competition in the EV market.

• Increased EV Production: The previous subsidy policy significantly boosted EV production in China, making them a much larger market share.
• Rise of Domestic Brands: Chinese companies like BYD were able to leverage the incentives to establish themselves as strong competitors to Tesla.
• Shifting Focus: The new credit system aims to push the industry towards further innovation and efficiency in EV technology.

This ongoing competition will likely benefit consumers by driving down prices and offering a wider range of feature-rich electric vehicles. However, it also puts pressure on Tesla to keep up with the rapid advancements of Chinese EV companies.

And some more useful references from this inquiry:

• China’s Electric Vehicle Market: A Storm of Competition Is Coming
• Electric vehicle sales leapt 55% in 2022 – here’s where that growth was strongest
• Following a boom, China’s electric vehicle industry now faces weak domestic demand and heightened geopolitical risk – The story of China’s EV industry.

In closing, here’s a good NPR article entitled “Chinese electric carmakers are taking on Europeans on their own turf — and succeeding“. In time, Chinese automakers will reach the US, probably via Mexico – China’s BYD plans new electric vehicle plant in Mexico. Elon Musk is concerned. He ‘predicted that Chinese automakers will “demolish” global rivals without trade barriers.’ The Alliance for American Manufacturing echoes this sentiment:

“The introduction of cheap Chinese autos – which are so inexpensive because they are backed with the power and funding of the Chinese government – to the American market could end up being an extinction-level event for the U.S. auto sector.”

The phrase ‘The Elephant in the Room’ means there’s ‘a major problem or controversial issue that is obviously present but avoided as a subject for discussion because it is more comfortable to do so.’

So, you’re considering buying a new car and you have had your eye on a specific Tesla model for a while, but this guy named Elon Musk has been in the news, like every day, making crazy decisions:

• On Monday, Tesla’s not going to build an ‘affordable EV’ for the masses, but is planning to announce a ‘RoboTaxi’ on August 8.
• On Tuesday, deliveries are down so Elon thinks he’ll lay off 10% of Tesla’s workforce (and those that were laid off found out when the security guard at the front gate wouldn’t let them enter because their employee badge didn’t work anymore).
• On Wednesday, the Tesla Supercharger team is gone – all of them! What’s up?

This is the pace of changes going on at Tesla with Elon at the helm…

The ‘elephant’ can wait a moment while I give you a bit of personal history. In the 80s I worked for Boeing in Seattle. And with the market for airliners being a cyclical thing, we were always either hiring or laying off staff. I survived these layoffs by just being in the right place at the right time, but many friends lost there jobs along the way. Then I worked for Intel during the 90s and early 2000s. As a manger for part of that time, I got to know how the employee ‘retention’ system worked so we were always prepared for the next downturn. Intel’s business was also very cyclical. Staff is expensive and it’s one of the first places management looks to trim cost.

Enter Tesla (and Elon). During the first quarter of 2024 Tesla delivered 386,810 cars, a 20.1% drop from the previous quarter. Why the downturn? Well, I have an opinion:

• Lots of discounts during Q4 2023 to reduce inventory, plus Federal tax incentives were still in effect (many of which were likely to disappear for certain models in 2024)
• The 2024 Model 3 ‘refresh’ (Highland) that many decided to wait for started to ship in Q1 2024, but not in large quantities, while there’s still considerable 2023 unsold inventory.
• A Model Y ‘refresh’ (Juniper) is on the horizon (2025?), so if you’re not in a hurry to buy now then this is something to wait for. If the Model 3 refresh is any indication, it will be worth the wait!
• Tesla prices are bouncing all over the place. “Am I getting the best deal, or should I wait?” “Will the Performance Model 3 (just announced) qualify for the Federal tax credit?” What do you know, it does! OK, that’s the car I want, but I know I’ll have to wait a while… etc.

So, let’s get back to the elephant. Elon’s in the news. Elon’s getting lots of heat. We, the EV consumer, only see and hear about the crazy things Elon does and says (of which there are many). But what about Tesla (we’ll leave the CyberTruck out of this discussion for the moment)? Tesla has:

• Best supercharger network
• Best software
• Best self-driving capability (that’s constantly improving)
• Good build quality (that’s constantly improving)
• Great products, becoming ever more affordable
• Best Net Promoter Score (customer loyalty) score in the industry
• And the Model Y is the ‘best selling car (of any type) in the world!’)

Will Elon’s latest decrees help or harm the Tesla brand? In the press, there’s lots of speculation, some of which get’s back to Elon’s mental state (ah, there’s the elephant). Is Elon being ‘rational’ when making these decisions? Good question(s)!

I’m going to climb out on a proverbial limb and say that I think Tesla is fine. I agree that Elon adds quite a bit of drama to the equation. Also, there’s a lot of credible competition on the horizon (here’s a good recent video from Ryan Shaw on this topic). But Tesla leads the industry in innovation that makes their cars more efficient, more reliable, and for Tesla’s benefit, more profitable than any of their competition (we’ll leave the discussion about China for another post). See also: Sandy Munro: Tesla’s NEW innovation is light years ahead.

What I’m not saying is that ALL of Elon’s decisions are ‘rational’. But he has built the best car company in the world and I think he cares that it continue to be the best, and he believes that his decisions are in line with that objective.

PS – Yup, that Kool-Aid tastes great!

There are Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) lovers and haters out there. The lovers paid a small fortune to be FSD ‘beta testers’ for Tesla, have lived through good and bad FSD characteristics during its evolution, and can honestly say that the version (v12) on the streets today is far superior to previous versions.

On the other hand, the haters say I want to be in control of what my car does, not some computer. And not only that, but I don’t want to always be second-guessing what my car is going to do next, then have to take control at the last moment (which might be too late anyway). There are plenty comments like that, but the one that resonates with me the best is this comment: “I equate my experience so far over the last couple days to it being like driving with a new teen driver.” I found this comment on Reddit, and put together this image that echoes this sentiment (Please Be Patient – FSD v12 Driving):

So, do I love or hate FSD? Neither. I think FSD v12 works really well in many situations, and not so well in others. Living in Pennsylvania, we have potholes that will eat your whole car if you let them. FSD doesn’t know about potholes, and invariably aims right for them. That’s a problem! And FSD sometimes gets confused. But the real issue for me is that it doesn’t drive like I do. FSD wants to accelerate more quickly, decelerate more quickly, wait too long to turn on a turn signal, etc. What this means is on local streets I’m not going to use FSD. But on the highway where things are more predictable I will. Besides, I LIKE DRIVING. With FSD I’m not driving, I’m monitoring and correcting. This is actually more stressful than just driving, and not as enjoyable. My Model 3 is actually a real joy to drive, so why would I give up that job to my car?

Then there’s the question of cost. Is buying FSD for $8000 USD worth it for me. Absolutely not! $1500, maybe. OK, so Tesla also just reduced the subscription amount to $99/month. Is this worth it for me? Maybe. My free month just finished and I started my subscription because I knew I was going to put on some freeway miles this month. However, I’ll probably drop the subscription in June and only start it again if there’s a road trip coming up. The subscription lets me do this, which is ideal for the way I use my car.

The bottom line for me with respect to FSD is use it where it makes sense and doesn’t pose a danger to you or to those around you. Otherwise, enjoy driving your Tesla! You own a really good car that wants to be driven. It’s fast, it’s safe and reliable, it’s comfortable and it handles really well. All that said, I’ll opt out of FSD for most of my daily driving, but thank you Tesla for giving us all the opportunity during April 2024 to try it out for ourselves. For some, this improves their Tesla driving experience. For others, not so much. And that’s OK…

My auto insurance company is USAA. And USAA has a program (and smartphone app) called ‘SafePilot’ which collects driving data every time I drive. Some think this level of ‘surveillance’ is way too invasive. However, I have come to realize that being part of the SafePilot program does in fact make me a safer driver. First, SafePilot gives me an infraction for Harsh Braking. That makes sense, and I’ll explain in a moment now my Tesla helps me out in this regard.

Second, SafePilot really doesn’t like us to use our smartphones while driving. Phone Handing, Hand-Held Calling, and Hands-Free Calling all result in infractions. And when you get too many infractions, the auto insurance discount you would get with a perfect score is reduced.

So, SafePilot encourages good driving habits and potentially gives me a 15% discount on my auto insurance, but what role does my Tesla play in all this. Well, Teslas are designed to do almost all of their braking via regeneration. This means that when you release the ‘go’ (aka gas) pedal, a significant amount of braking occurs as power is put back into the battery via regeneration. In fact, the actual brake pedal is rarely used, if ever.

What’s cool about using SafePilot with a Tesla is that the regenerative braking process is so smooth and consistent that it never results in a Hard Braking infraction. The only time I would get an infraction is in case of an emergency when I actually need to use the brake pedal, which with good driving habits rarely happens. As shown below, I did get one infraction for hard braking a while ago due to an unavoidable incident. I still get the infraction even though I might not have been the cause for the emergency. However, if that only happens once every 1000 miles or so, I’m OK with that and still get the full discount when my insurance renews.

I also find that SafePilot can distinguish between me as the primary driver, and a passenger who happens to be using my phone for navigation and such. How it knows I have no idea, but is does. It also knows when I’m riding a bicycle versus driving a car. SafePilot is a well designed app and really helps reinforce good driving habits. And when used by a Tesla owner, should be easy to get the full insurance discount. I’m happy with SafePilot’s design and its ability to accurately monitor my driving. Is it keeping track of everywhere I go in my car? Absolutely! Is that a problem? Absolutely not! I’m a more cautious, more attentive driver as a result, and I’m saving some money on insurance as well. And these are all good things!

This IS another reason to own a Tesla. Let me explain…

When I was 15, I wanted to drive an old Vauxhall (that wasn’t mine) that was parked in our back yard. I simply filed down an old Ford key till it fit, charged the battery, and I was off to the races. In retrospect, I think a screw driver would have worked just as well. But I took the more challenging route, and succeeded!

Take the time machine forward 55 years or so and here we are in a place where every car is either push-button start, with a ‘fob‘ of some sort, or uses an actual ‘key’ – that metal thing you insert into the steering column and turn to start your car. And there’s a good chance your fob or key is ‘chipped’, meaning it has to be programmed to work with your specific car.

So here’s the problem. Lose one of those keys or fobs and you’re in for a rude awaking when your dealer quotes the replacement cost for just one #^$% key. My Mom lost a key to her 2017 Subaru Forester (which still uses a real key that’s chipped). The local Subaru dealer quoted $243 (plus tax, plus cutting, plus programming). I expect the final bill to be around $400 so. Also, all he needed to start the replacement process was the vehicle’s VIN. Now that’s convenient, but way too expensive for just one #^$% key. I have been researching other ways of getting a replacement key and I’m halfway through the process:

Step 1 – Buy a compatible key on eBay ($17)

Step 2 – Talk your friendly neighborhood locksmith into cutting the key ($15)

Step 3 – Try to program the key yourself (yeah, good luck with that). I’ll follow these instructions to the letter. Then, failing that, try to find someone other than my local dealer to program it for me. How hard can it be with the right equipment?? I’ll soon find out…

In my mind, this whole replacement key thing is a total profit center for the dealerships and I really don’t want to play their game! But hold the phone, there’s a solution!!!

The Solution

Buy a Tesla. Tesla Models 3 and Y use something called a ‘key card’ which has a short range radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip in it. Here’s a picture of what you get when you pick up your new Tesla:

Of course you can also load the Tesla app on your smartphone and use that as your key, or buy a ring with the RFID chip in to that takes all of 5 seconds to program, etc. BUT should you lose one or both of your key cards, Tesla will replace them for $40. Yup, that’s it! ONLY 40 bucks:

And that include two new keycards that are easily programmed by the owner once received.

So here’s my point. “This IS the way it should be!” There’s absolutely NO reason why replacing a lost car key should be so expensive or complicated. None! Tesla understands this and we, Tesla owners, benefit. And you can too…

Now call me paranoid (and cheap). I don’t really want to lose my Tesla key card, so I invested another $35 in a Tile ‘Slim’ that I taped to the back of my Tesla key card, so I can try to locate the card if it gets lost in a shirt pocket, or worse. The Slim fits the key card perfectly and you hardly know it’s there. Plus, you just click the app on your phone to find your Tile/key card. Perfect!

Then there’s also the very cool CNICK Tesla Key Ring. This is a little pricey, but these rings are good quality and work well as a back-up key solution. This is the key ring I purchased:

In the final analysis, I have spent a bit of money on my Tesla key solutions, but I didn’t have to. Regarding the Subaru replacement key saga, I’m already $32 into that adventure with programming still on the horizon. We’ll see how that turns out??

Anyone reading this headline who has been around EVs in general and Teslas in particular would think this is nonsense, and it might well be. But having just reviewed Ryan Shaw‘s latest YouTube video, I think I can make this claim, and here’s why…

In Ryan’s video “NEW Tesla Available NOW“, he talks about availability of the Model 3 ‘Performance’ at minute 5:50:

Ryan says “Tesla has finally released their newest car, the new Performance Model 3. While this will have ‘Ludicrous mode’, they haven’t called it the Ludicrous Model 3. Instead it’s simply ‘Performance’. The main specs are that it brings a 0 to 60 in 2.9 seconds, 510 horsepower and a 163 mph top speed. It’s also coming with a 296 mile range which is noticeably less than the 341 mile range of the Long Range trim Tesla… with this spec coming in a little over $5,000 more than Long Range, it’s the only Model 3 trim that qualifies for the $7,500 EV Tax Credit, so if you qualify you’ll be able to get the new Performance Model 3 for $45,490. That’s $2,250 less than the Long Range trim” (which doesn’t qualify for the tax credit currently)!

So, if you have been waiting for the ‘refreshed’ Model 3, AND the ‘Performance’ model pushes all the right buttons, then your car has arrived and is available to order now!

What are you waiting for? Order now! Or wait…

When it comes to buying a new Tesla, there’s always the thought that this might not be the best time to buy. Is it the end of the month, end of the quarter? Is there inventory in the pipeline Elon’s going to try to unload with discounts and incentives? Etc…

Well, I’m here to tell you that you just need to bite the bullet and lay your hard-earned money down on the best car you’ll ever own or drive. The new Performance Model 3 is perfection (which I’m willing to say without ever seeing or driving one). I own the ‘slow’ Model 3 RWD, and it’s total perfection. And the new Performance Model 3 is far better in every way. So in reality, with Tesla there is no better or worse time to buy. Buy when the time is right for you and you will be delighted with your purchase – guaranteed!

I bought my Tesla Model 3 RWD last summer and knew that software updates were a ‘thing’ with Tesla, but it wasn’t until the 2023 ‘Holiday Update’ (version 2023.44.30.2, soon to be updated to 2023.44.30.5.1) landed that I realized how significant these updates are relative to my driving experience. Most notable with that update were:

1) Custom Lock Sounds (replaces the horn sound with another sound of your choice – mine is the Windows 95 startup sound produced by Brian Eno)

2) Park Assist (Tesla Vision Park Assist displays a 3D representation of the world around your vehicle, including the proximity and shape of nearby objects, barriers, vehicles, and painted road markings), and

3) Automatic Blind Spot Camera (The blind spot camera view now alerts you with red shading along the edge when your turn signal is on and your vehicle detects an object or another vehicle in your blind spot)

Then in February 2024, the 2024.2.6 update was released with even more improvements. Here’s the short list for this update:

Then came April’s 2024.3.6 Release, accompanied by a 30-day free FSD (beta) trail for EVERY Tesla owner in the US (all 500,000 of us). Here’s this list of improvements provided in this update:

Besides the FSD (Beta) update which provided this feature to those interested in trying FSD out for 30 days, improved driving visualization and autopark are at the top of my list for cool features I’ll use every day. Mid-April saw an update to FSD (Supervised) v12, which “upgrades the city-streets driving stack to a single end-to-end neural network trained on millions of video clips, replacing over 300k lines of explicit C++ code.” As I’m writing this, FSD (Supervised) sits at v12.3.4, and last week Tesla reduced the monthly subscription cost for full-self driving from $199 per month to $99 per month. This is starting to make FSD look very interesting to the masses. Plus with an FSD subscription, you can cancel it when you’re not using it much, then start it up again for long road trips, etc. Or just subscribe! Compared to our cell phone and streaming service bills, this really isn’t a lot of money for the useful features FSD provides…

On the horizon is Tesla’s 2024.14 Release which includes these features (plus some others that we don’t yet know about):

There are a bunch of features here I’m excited about (visual updates, hands-free trunk, Spotify queue, better wiper controls, speed cameras, cabin overheat protection improvements, and improved trip progress, speedometer and regen indicators). Beach Buggy Racing? Not so much…

As a new Tesla owner, I didn’t think much about how important software updates would be to my ownership experience. But now that I have seen how significant these changes are to my safety and enjoyment of my Model 3, I believe this IS the way cars of the future should be. Many of us keep our cars for a long time, and if the car can continuously adapt to the driver(s) and to the world around us, then that’s the kind of car I want to own! And Tesla is doing that…

And on a side note, as I have now had the opportunity to drive with FSD (Supervised) for a while, what I said in the previous paragraph holds true. Two features of FSD that reinforce Tesla’s mission to make their cars the safest cars on the road include the following examples:

1. You pull up to a 4-way stop sign at the same time a car to your right stops. Which car is supposed to go first? The rule in Pennsylvania is that the car on the right goes first. Most drivers in PA don’t know that, but the car does. The car will indicate that it’s waiting for the driver on the right to go first, because that’s what the law says it should do.
2. There’s a cross-walk ahead. Many drivers, even if they see someone approaching the cross-walk will speed up because the person is not yet ready to cross. Not a Tesla in FSD mode. It will slow because it sees someone approaching the cross-walk, and will stop to allow them to cross, which again is what the law says it should do. This is the right behavior for a car using FSD, and SHOULD be the same behavior we all adopt to improve pedestrian safety!

But the on a slightly negative note, FSD is not yet very good at negotiating stop lights, in my experience. In PA, if you stop for a yellow light, you get rear-ended, because it’s common knowledge here that you speed up for yellow and stop for red. Also, in PA, if you enter the intersection on yellow, you can continue through after the light turns red. This is complicated for FSD and often gets it wrong. FSD is also know for running red lights. Bad FSD! But as we all know, the driver is ALWAYS responsible and is in control AT ALL TIMES. Right? So this is not such a big deal. Take control when you need to and everything will be just fine…

I was just reading this article from CNBC dated April 16, 2024 – “Tesla job cuts heighten Wall Street concerns that EV maker faces a demand problem“. Tesla announced job cuts on Monday. Tesla shares plunged almost 6%, continuing a year-to-date sell-off. Then EV demand questions that have been popping up… Sounds dire!

As an ‘investor’, I’d be concerned. As a Tesla owner, or prospective owner, I’m delighted. First, as an owner, I invested in Tesla in 2023 by buying a Model 3, and their cars are amazing. In my opinion, Tesla makes 2 ‘perfect’ cars for the segment of the car-buying public that is willing to take the EV plunge. The 2024 Model 3 (refresh) and the Model Y (best selling car of any type in the world in 2023). Safety, reliability, efficiency, cost of ownership, and just plain fun to drive are all criteria my Model 3 meets and exceeds. And the Model Y is more of the same, just roomier for young families or older individuals that find the sportier stance of the Model 3 to be less comfortable.

Then for the prospective EV buyer, Tesla offers amazing deals on cars ‘in inventory’ that make it hard to pass up. I bought my Model 3 from inventory which provided a substantial discount before the federal tax credit. If one were in the market for a Model Y, this is the kind of deal you could find today (link): $39,300 to $41,500 after tax credit – add $1000 for red paint…

I know, for many this sounds like a lot of money, and it is. But, after doing the math that factors in electric versus gas cost savings, and maintence and inspection cost savings, owning this Model 3 or Y for 5 years will break even with, or be less than, the cost of owning a Toyota Camry. A few people have put some effort into doing this comparison, in case you’re interested (some of these links are dated, but you could substitute Model Y for Model 3 today and come up with a similar comparison):

• Tesla’s Model 3 Now Cheaper than a Toyota Camry in California
• Tesla Model 3 Just Became Cheaper Than Toyota Camry
• TESLA MODEL 3 COST OF OWNERSHIP COMPARISON VS …
• Tesla Model 3 vs Toyota Camry: TRUE OWNERSHIP COST …
• TESLA MODEL 3 COST OF OWNERSHIP COMPARISON vs …
• TESLA MODEL 3 COST OF 5 YEAR OWNERSHIP IN THE …
• Tesla Model 3 Vs Toyota Camry: Long Term Cost Comparison …
• Tesla Model 3 VS Toyota Camry In California
• Tesla Model 3 Vs Toyota Camry: Ultimate Ownership Cost …

Well, that’s all for now. I got a bit off track, but my point is Tesla makes a great product and they’re postured well for the future. Sure, China is a becoming a major player on the EV scene, but as an American company with good leadership, I’m still betting on Tesla to lead the industry when it comes to producing EVs that people want to buy, perform well, and last as long or longer than the venerable Camry.

If you own a Tesla and have been reading the news, you might have seen headlines such as these:

• All Teslas in the US get a one month trial of FSD starting this week
• Tesla Will Let Buyers Try Its Pricey FSD System—For Free
• Tesla Stock Jumps as Musk Offers Free Driver-Assistance Trial
• Tesla offers U.S. customers a month’s trial of its driver-assist technology
• Tesla Owners Get Free Full Self-Driving for a Month To See How It Works
• Tesla to offer free one-month trial of FSD software to U.S. customers
• The real reason Tesla may be giving free trials of its Full Self-Driving software, etc.

So what was Elon thinking when he wrote “All US cars that are capable of Full Self-Driving (FSD) will be enabled for a one month trial this week” on X? For those not aware of what FSD is, this feature enables the vehicle to automatically change lanes, park on its own, enter and exit highways, and also recognize stop signs and traffic lights. All current Tesla models are delivered with the Autopilot driver-assist program. But Tesla owners can also buy the company’s FSD feature as an add-on either at a $12,000 flat rate or as a $199 monthly subscription.

I believe Elon’s primary motivation for offering this 1-month FSD trial to ALL Tesla owners in the US is simply to increase FSD subscriptions which in turn increases the company’s profit margins. A side benefit of bringing a lot more drivers online with FSD is to increase the speed at which the FSD system learns, becoming more reliable for all Tesla owners using FSD.

As of today (March 28, 2024), I have not yet received an invitation to participate in this trial. I don’t currently subscribe to the FSD program, but my 2023 Model 3 does qualify since it has all the hardware components necessary to support FSD. That said, when I do receive my invitation, I will be considered a FSD-newbie. I have never been in a Tesla with FSD enabled, though I am a frequent ‘auto-steer’ user, so I have that feature with which to compare full-self driving. Auto-steer has its idiosyncrasies, and I expect FSD will also. The question on my mind is ‘will I feel safe with FSD enabled?’ Time will tell, and I’ll be reporting my inital impressions here, probably in just a few days.

** Update **

IT’S OFFICIAL! It’s March 30, 2024 at 10am, and I just applied update 2024.3.6 (FSD Beta v12.3.2.1) to my 2023 Model 3 RWD. Immediately after the update completed, I received this email message:

Also, in the Tesla app on my phone there are these following release notes specific to this update:

And a couple photos from the car’s display:

Full Self-Driving (Beta) enabled.

I guess this means I’m set! Let the fun begin…

** Update **

First impressions!

The good: slows for speed bumps, gives dog walkers plenty of room, stays in the lane (most of the time), easy to override when necessary (though it always wants to know why I turned it off), frequent warnings to keep your hands on the steering wheel, which you should be doing anyway, stops reliably for stop signs and lights.

The bad: it doesn’t drive AT ALL like I would! Accelerates too quickly, brakes too forcefully, slows for pavement patches that are a different color than the asphalt around them (not sure what it thinks they are?), aims for potholes and hits them (not a good feature on PA roads), slow turns are a little jerky, and it got very confused at one point with lane markings that didn’t make sense. I’m not sure where it would have gone had I not intervened…

Basically, if someone was following me while in FSD mode, they would think I was a ‘student driver’. That said, there were some roads I tested FSD on where it worked perfectly fine. However, understanding its limitations a bit better, there are places on my drive where I would definitely have to take full control to safely navigate an intersection or road construction site.

I’ll have many other opportunities during the 30-day trial to learn to trust FSD more than I do at the moment. But at this point in time, I would not pay extra for the upgrade. Free autosteer is a wonderful feature and I use it often. And if FSD was free, I would use it in situations where it makes sense, which is most likely on freeways with light traffic and on long road trips to minimize driver fatigue. FSD has amazing potential when it comes to improving safety, however, when used on our local roads here in PA, I don’t think it’s improving my safety. If anything, it’s distracting since I’m always second guessing my car’s decision-making process and must be prepared to intervene, rather than just driving the car as I normally would. I’m a good driver and haven’t had an automobile accident in 50 years (knocking on wood, and my motorcycle ‘incidents’ don’t count). What I’m trying to say is “I want FSD to drive like I do.” Is that too much to ask?

I think it’s best that we start with the thing that’s causing Republican frustration over the Biden administration’s policies promoting electric vehicles, and that’s an April proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would set the strongest emission standards for new vehicles in the agency’s history, with the hope of slowing global climate change.

At a speaking event in Washington, EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced the new standards, which would take effect in 2027, saying the federal government isn’t requiring automakers to adopt electric vehicles but indicating that is one preferred path. With large investments and additional incentives in place, Regan said of the historically tough standards, “I believe we can (achieve that level of electric vehicle sales) and I believe that because we’re following the market trends.” “This is the future,” he said. (source)

Of course, oil companies are vehemently opposed to such a program and Republicans in Congress have complained in the past that Biden and the environmental community are trying to force the public to embrace more expensive electric vehicles against their will.

On the House floor December 2023, Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., says “the proposed rule is an electric vehicle mandate… not only does this EV mandate display breathtaking government overreach into the auto industry, but it’s also unaffordable, unattainable and unrealistic for American consumers.”

Turns out, the EPA’s proposal doesn’t specify how automakers should reach the new requirements, which tell them to dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions across their fleets or pay penalties for breaking the rules. But regulators estimate automakers will use electric vehicles to do so — in part because the industry was already investing heavily in these vehicles. Given these investments, industry analysts expect a rapid rise from current EV sales numbers. Goldman Sachs estimated earlier this year that EV sales would make up around 50% of all new car sales by 2030 and 70% by 2035.

So, what’s the reality in the US?

Of course, car companies are going to continue building gas-powered cars in the years to come, as a majority of consumers remain skeptical of EVs and because bigger SUVs and trucks remain their major source of profits! That said, the development of new materials used in battery production, and the introduction of new battery designs and effective battery recycling operations continue at a rapid pace. Also, powertrain units and thermal management will become more efficient, reducing power consumption, and engineers continue to find ways to reduce the weight, while improving safety, of electric cars.

Consider these factors in addition to a number of EV manufacturers working hard on developing ‘affordable’ EVs and build-out of the EV charging infrastructure thanks in part to the Biden administration’s ‘National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure’ Program (NEVI), and I expect we’ll see a very significant up-tick in EV relative to ICE sales over the next decade.

All-electric IS the future. There’s much to be done to make this a reality as convenient and cost effective as it is today for ICE cars. Still, we MUST start moving in this direction. And I think (I know) the EPA’s blue-print is sound and putting up roadblocks to progress in this regard is short-sighted and counterproductive.

I know this is the question on every EV driver’s mind since the Angela Chao’s death in February 2024. Well, Ryan Felton accepted the challenge to answer the question in his March 13 Wall Street Journal article entitled “What to Do if Your Car Is Submerged in Water“. Catchy title!

For the moment, I’ll skim over the Tesla gearshift design ‘feature’ in her car which might have contributed to Angela’s car heading in the wrong direction in the first place. Regardless, Angela found herself in the pond, in her Tesla, and should you find yourself in a similar situation, here are things to think about…

How much time do I have to act?

About one minute to get out of the car before it fills with water. Enough time to execute your escape ‘plan’, if you have one. Hopefully you will (have a plan) by the time you’re finished reading this post!

What should I do?

Stay calm, unbuckle your seat belt and lower your window down. Exiting through the open window is preferred above anything else. If there are children in the car, get them out first.

What if I can’t open the window?

In this case, a window-breaking tool could be useful for drivers to have—as long as the windows are made of tempered glass. Knowing what kind of glass you have and how to break it is critical. These tools can also be used on the sunroof if one is available.

Note: ‘Laminated glass’, like that found on many Teslas, is nearly impossible to break underwater.

What about opening the door?

It is risky. If you can manage to open the door, water could then rush inside the vehicle, causing it to sink more quickly and leaving others inside more at risk. Still, the best way out the door is through the vehicle’s windows…

Does it make a difference if it is an EV or gas-powered car?

No, the occupant response should be the same for both types of vehicles. ICE and electric cars will sink in whatever direction the car is the heaviest. “The bottom line is it’s going to sink, water is going to come in through the vents, and until the water gets up to the windows, you can open the windows and get out,” Giesbrecht said.

What are the industry and regulators doing?

Not much. Don’t drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Know your car’s controls to avoid making mistakes that might result in you and your car ending up in such a situation. And if you do find yourself under water in your car, have a plan and respond quickly!

So what’s my plan!

My glass break tool will be handy, and knowing that my front side windows are laminated, I’ll break a rear side window which isn’t, and escape that way. All that after failing to immediately roll down the side windows…

As a white water kayaker (in my younger years), I would practive the ‘eskimo roll’ over and over again – literally. But guess what, when I actually needed to roll after getting knocked over in a rapid, did all this preparation and practice pay off? Nope! I would forget everything I learned and exit the kayak. I expect the same result when my car submerges. Panic!

Don’t be me. You can do better. Be safe!

I need to admit up front that I’m not the best person to talk about this. I own and Tesla and haven’t even been to a supercharger yet. That said, there are any number of articles and YouTube videos out there that discuss the issues a non-Tesla EV owners might experience when attempting to charge their EVs at a Level 2 superchargers provided by Electrify America, EVgo, EVCS and ChargePoint. Some complaints include:

• Unreliable Chargers: A common complaint is that chargers are frequently out of service due to malfunctions. This can be caused by broken screens, faulty payment systems, or issues delivering the advertised charging speed.
• Inconvenient App and Payment Systems: Many networks require app downloads and account creation for payment. These apps can be buggy and frustrating to use, while some stations lack alternative payment methods like credit cards.
• Inaccurate Information: Real-time data on app or station displays might not be accurate. This can lead to wasted time driving to a station that’s unavailable or has a slower charging speed than advertised.
• Short Charging Cables: Some stations have cables that are too short to reach all charging ports on certain EVs, creating an additional inconvenience.
• Limited Availability of High-Powered Chargers: While these networks are expanding, the number of high-powered charging stations (essential for long trips) is still lower compared to Tesla’s Supercharger network.

Here are some recent articles on the subject:

I Visited Over 120 EV Chargers: Three Reasons Why So Many Were Broken

• Problem 1: Out of Order 
• Problem 2: Payment Rejected
• Problem 3: Handshake Failed 

Electrify America Explains Cause Of Those Vexing EV Charging Problems

• The Cause: Components
• The Challenge: Surge In Demand

A reporter drove a Rivian to 126 EV fast-chargers in LA and found out-of-order signs on dozens of them

Problems noted:

• out-of-order signs
• dead screens
• error messages that said “charger unavailable” or “out of service
• power issues
• charging stations needing parts replaced
• payment rejection
• handshake failures between the charger and her vehicle

The Solution

This is what I think: unlike the Tesla supercharger network that was put in place to help promote and support the Tesla brand, non-Tesla superchargers have no such incentive. They are for profit businesses, often assisted by government subsidies to get started. But the incentive to provide a high-level of service, or to continually innovate as Tesla does with its charging network, appears to be lacking.

For long-term viability and address predicted EV growth, there needs to be a clear incentive to build out infrastructure in all parts of the country, and oversight that guarantees a high level of reliability and consistent levels of service across each supercharger vendor’s network. This is absolutely NOT happening today, and if I owned an EV other than a Tesla, AND I need to charge my EV using the nation’s supercharger network, I would be VERY discouraged and probably would decide that owning an EV was just not worth the hassle right now.

Well, I do own a Tesla. I know there’s an extensive charging network available to me today and growing, and it’s reliable. My choice was intentional, and was partially based on this fact. We, as a country, can do a lot better and must! Moving all EV manufaturers to the NACS (aka J3400) charging standard is a good first step. Adding a lot more superchargers to the network in places where they’re most needed (and hopefully near other services such as shopping and food) is next. Then treating the whole BEV ecosystem as an intentional program rather than a haphazard set of decisions made by commercial interests and government entities whose priorities change with each administration is essential.

Today, there’s a complete imbalance between government incentive programs, EV development investment, and EV charging infrastructure investment. These all need to be brought back into sync with reasonable targets set by green/sustainability initiatives. In the meantime, we’ll have large legacy manufacturers holding off large scale EV investment, startup EV companies going bankrupt due to high development costs and low market share, and then there’s Tesla…

Perhaps the biggest thing standing in the way of more substantial EV adoption is charging. Here are some of the primary concerns:

• Having a safe and secure location for home charging
• Cost of setting up a home charger
• Using proper charging practices for your car/battery type
• Understanding supercharging options when traveling
• Range anxiety and battery longevity
• Understanding things that impact range – temperature, speed, weight…

Let’s start with first question people ask when they arrive home with their brand new EV, and that’s “how am I going to charge this thing?” Most start with the least cost, most convenient option which is to plug their mobile charger into a 120v outlet (aka Level 1 charging). Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long to realize that a charging rate of 3 miles added to your range each hour doesn’t cut it when you don’t have a couple days to reach a full charge. So, you decide to invest in a Level 2 charger (240 volt, usually on a 40 or 50 amp circuit). And now your talking about a sizable investment of $1000 or more for hardware and installation.

The previous paragraph talks about charging hardware, but there’s another important consideration and that’s where to install the charger so your shiny new car can be charged securely (ideally in a locked garage where charging hardware can’t be tampered with). This, perhaps, is the most significant roadblock for many to-be EV owners. This is also the conundrum Tesla will encounter when they announce there ‘affordable’ EV (aka Model 2). The issue will be that many who purchase the affordable EV simply won’t have a safe place to charge. I don’t know that there’s a good solution, but this single factor will definitely slow adoption within this market segment.

The next thing that confuses many is how to properly charge their battery. Lithium batteries require some attention to proper charging practices if the EV owner expects to get good longevity from their battery. Typically, we charge our cell phones over night to 100%, as we do our laptops. This is not a good practice for cell phones, laptops, e-bikes, or EVs. Better is to let your batteries live most of their lives between 30 and 80% state of charge (SoC). This is where the battery is most stable and living in this zone significantly increases battery longevity. It also means the EV owner needs to think about their real daily range requirements and charge primarily to meet that need versus keeping the battery fully charged ‘just in case’.

Also, when supercharging, stopping the charger around 80% will save a bunch of time since the charge rate slows significantly above 80%. To illustrate this charge rate issue, assume your battery takes about 25 minutes to charge from 20 to 80% SoC. Continuing to charge 80 to 100% (another 20%) will likely take another 25 minutes. It’s better to stop at 80% and get back on the road (freeing up a charger for another EV driver), and just plan to stop and charge again a little sooner than you would if you had charged to 100%. That said, if your next charger is farther away than an 80% charge will support, then by all means, charge to 100%, though you shouldn’t have to do this very often.

As a side note, there is a new battery technology on the market now using the LFP (lithium iron phosphate) chemistry. Some EV manufacturers recommend charging these batteries to 100% (at least once per week). Some believe this battery should be charged to 100% every charge, and even when supercharging. Please, don’t! At superchargers, charge to 80% when appropriate like everyone else. Then when you’re home charging, let the battery ‘rest’ in the 30 to 80% range like every other lithium battery, with the understanding that you should then plan to charge the LFP battery to 100% once per week, and preferably drive soon after your 100% charge. Even LFP batteries should not ‘rest’ for long periods at 100% charge.

Another issue has to do with range anxiety and things that impact range. First, range anxiety. And in this regard, pay attention to your car’s state of charge, and not miles remaining. On many EVs, the displayed miles remaining are an EPA calculation and are not accurate. Better is to view current state of charge, and know what your charging options are within your remaining range (plus a reasonable buffer). With respect to Tesla, with which I’m most familiar, all charging options are displayed within the mapping display, and when a charging location is selected, the car will precondition its battery to optimize charging when the car arrives a the charging location.

Also be aware that outside temperature, driving speed, and additional weight in your car are all going to impact range, as will choice of tires, roof racks, wind direction and speed, elevation changes, aggressive driving, etc. Interestingly, your car should take all these factors into consideration when calculating your expected range relative to a supercharger. Tesla does a really good job in this regard, though you have some level of control over your car’s range by controlling many of these factors yourself, with the most important ones being speed and driving style.

One final comment before leaving the topic of charging, and that’s to ‘mind your ABCs’. This is about always plugging your EV in (Always Be Charging) when you’re not using it. If I am running multiple trips in a single day, I’ll not plug in between trips. But when I arrive home after the last trip, on the charger it goes. And it’ll go on the charger even if the current state of charge is greater than my usual charge limit which is set to 65% during the week. Each Saturday night I’ll charge my LFP battery to 100% (because that’s what Tesla’s LFP battery requires, “at least once per week”), but otherwise the charge limit is set to 65%. So again, plug in when you get home. Let the battery charge to your set charge limit. Then while still on home power, you’ll be avoiding power drain while being parked, and you’ll be able to precondition before your next drive, all without sacrificing SoC or incurring additional charging cycles. This is a very good thing!

It’s SO easy to set up, and you’ll be able to try out Tesla’s new models. Here’s the website you’ll use to sign up: https://www.tesla.com/drive. A couple days ago my 99-year-old Mom and I checked out the Model Y at the new Tesla Service Center in Warminster, PA. This is the first time I have been in a Model Y and Mother, who likes anything on 4 wheels, thought the car was great. She has trouble getting in and out of most cars – seat too low, seat too high, no grab bar above the door to hoist herself in (her 2017 Subaru Forester is perfect in this regard), etc. The Model Y seats were a bit too high (I didn’t think to lower them for her), and there’s no grab handle. Anyway, she’s not in the market for a new car so no harm no foul. This test drive was mostly for me, and to give Mom some enjoyment driving a Tesla.

Then today, my sister and I checked out the refreshed Model 3 (Long Range). She drove my 2023 Model 3 to the Service Center so she could experience a Model 3 with stalks, then during the test drive compare the driving experience in a car with no stalks. Turns out, she thought the new controls were intuitive and didn’t miss the stalks, and she liked ‘no stalks’ better. This was a surprise to me, but I expect Tesla drivers moving from stalks to no stalks will adjust quickly and find the no-stalk driving experience to be one more step forward to simplifying the Tesla user interface experience.

Other impressions I came away with during this test drive include better suspension, quieter cabin, updated interior and audio system, more comfortable seats (also ventilated), better cameras, relocated Tesla key card sensor, and I do like the little screen at the back of the arm rest. The refreshed Model 3 still needs organizers in the center console, and the usual mods (mud guards, floor mats, brake and go-pedal covers, screen protector and swivel, etc.).

The other thing about the Tesla demo drive experience is the no-pressure staff. If needed, some young person (they’re all young it seems) will come out and provide basic instruction prior to departure. However, if you’re a seasoned Tesla owner, you get a key card in exchange for an image of your driver’s license and you’re off for your 30 minutes of pure bliss in a Tesla of your choice. Then when you come back, you’ll probably be asked if you’re ready to purchase a Tesla and you say “No, not right now”, and they say “Well I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. Thank you for considering Tesla.” Nice!

This is so different than test driving a car at a non-Tesla dealership, or interacting with a sales associate at any dealership that isn’t Tesla. Tesla knows you’ll consider other options and that you’ll be back because, admit it, Tesla is BEST! So, they have nothing to lose by not pressuring you to make a decision then and there. That said, I heard an interesting comment about EV ads played during the Super Bowl. Tesla, as you know, doesn’t really advertise. But other companies spend $7 million dollars for their 30 seconds of air-time and what Tesla found was that their sales increased significantly. Once people went to the showroom to look at the EV model in the ad, they quickly decided that if they were going to go electric, Tesla really is the only sensible choice. Tesla is great value for the money, and as Tesla continues to improve their cars like they have with the Model 3 refresh (Highland) and will soon with the Model Y refresh (Juniper), the already great products just keep getting better.

If you don’t believe me, then you’re just a demo drive away from finding out for yourself. And if you think about it, please use my referral code and you and I will both benefit. Here it is: https://ts.la/glen27381, and thank you!

Parting shot (my sister after driving the 2024 Tesla Model 3 Long Range):

And another demo drive with a friend in a Model X. What a car!

And the ‘car’ in the showroom they wouldn’t let us drive (insert sad-face emoticon here):

Notice they’re charging this beast on a wall outlet (probably 15 amp). I guess since nobody’s driving it, the 4.5 days it’ll take to charge it this way is a non-issue…

The Hummer EV comes in two main configurations, an SUV or an SUT (truck bed), then there are a couple battery pack options, the standard 20-module pack with an EPA range of 311 miles (EV^2X) and 381 miles for the 24-moduleEV^3X. And you must admit, this ‘car’ just looks really cool!

But if you’re considering buying a Hummer EV, there are two links you’ll want to check out. The first one was written a year ago by Emme Hall for The Verge entitled ‘GMC Hummer EV review: bummer EV‘. Emme’s article opens with “If you want an EV that makes sense, you should not buy the GMC Hummer EV. If you want an EV that’s affordable, you should not buy the GMC Hummer EV. If you want an EV that’s efficient or luxurious, you should not buy the GMC Hummer EV.  Is there any reason to spend $110,000 on this ghastly behemoth? I spent a week trying to figure it out, and frankly, I’m still left wondering.”

And the second stop should be “This is NOT Lean Design: Hummer EV Battery Pack Breakdown” on the Munro Live YouTube channel. The battery in the Hummer is massive and you should really know the ins and outs of this part of the Hummer’s tech. The Hummer is not an efficient vehicle (relative to other EVs on the market), and this video explains why. That said, is efficiency really the first thing on a Hummer buyer’s mind? Not…

OK, so why am I really writing this piece? It’s not to beat up on the Hummer. It’s to explain my choice versus other ‘extremes’ on the market. I will not spend $110k on a car. Maybe a house, but not a car. And efficiency and sustainability are important. The Hummer represents neither, but my choice of EV comes a lot closer, though not perfect. And one more thing, I’m into simplicity. Here’s a picture of the Hummer’s dash:

And the 2024 Tesla Model 3’s dash:

The perfect car needs to be designed to minimize distractions, maximize the intuitiveness and simplicity of interaction with all controls while driving, AND above all else, protect its occupants in the event of a crash. The Tesla does all these things extremely well!

Uh, no. No car is perfect! Let me outline specific things about my car that leave room for improvement.

1. The frunk latch – when closing the frunk/hood you need to apply a fair amount of force in just the right location to avoid denting the hood. With most cars, you simply let the hood drop from a certain height and it latches in with a nice ‘thunk’. Not so with the Model 3. Push down with hands placed strategically to the left and right of the Tesla emblem and it might latch on the first, second or third push. This is annoying, but it is what it is.
2. I’m 6’2″ so my driver’s seat is fairly far back in the track. With my driver seat in the proper position, the back of my seat crunches the headrest of the rear seat when it’s lowered to make room for large items. This could have been remedied with a removable headrest for the rear seats. But as it is, I just need to be a little uncomfortable when that back seat is folded down. I’m OK with that, but think this could/should have been resolved in the initial design.
3. Floor mats, mud flats, swivel mount for the center screen, center console organizers, potential water intrusion into the ventilation system – these are all items that have been resolved with 3rd-party accessories for minimal cost.

When comparing this car with all my previous cars, this list is nothing. Tesla builds a great car that just works really well, and most people could drive it off the lot then for another 5 years without doing anything to the car – just drive and enjoy. I’m not that person. I need to file the rough edges until it’s perfect for me, and realistically the frunk and rear seat things are just Tesla idiosyncrasies, and I can live with that. My Prius had its share of annoying traits I learned to live with as well, yet I still view my 2017 Prius Prime as an ‘almost’ perfect car (for me). Turns out, with the Prius Prime redesign for 2024, the Prime is now even more perfect! Check it out: https://www.toyota.com/priusprime/

PS – There is one major defect with the Tesla Model 3 (and the Model Y as well) and that’s the vulnerability of this poorly protected, plastic coolant connector:

Run over some road debris and you’ll get a repair quote from Tesla in the neighborhood of $18,000+ to replace your battery because Tesla has no repair procedure to simply replace the connector. Here’s a link to Reddit for more information if you’re interested: https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaModelY/comments/17kwoai/coolant_line_damage_new_battery/

Today, I’m having a pair of aluminum aftermarket skid plates installed on my Model 3 to help prevent this sort of damage from occurring in the future (video). I recommend you consider doing the same since it might just save your bacon (and a lot of money) some day.