Author Archives: wordsin5

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

If you own a Tesla and have been reading the news, you might have seen headlines such as these: So what was Elon thinking when he wrote “All US cars that are capable of Full Self-Driving (FSD) will be enabled … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

Perhaps the biggest thing standing in the way of more substantial EV adoption is charging. Here are some of the primary concerns: Let’s start with first question people ask when they arrive home with their brand new EV, and that’s … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 (EV2X) and 381 miles for the … Continue reading →

Uh, no. No car is perfect! Let me outline specific things about my car that leave room for improvement. When comparing this car with all my previous cars, this list is nothing. Tesla builds a great car that just works … Continue reading →

I’m going to begin this post by talking briefly about yesterday’s breakfast with other Tesla Owners Club members. This was a first for me since joining the TOCPA and the experience was different than I expected. I thought our discussion … Continue reading →

Scotty Kilmer has over 6 million subscribers and on February 2nd, 2024 he released this YouTube video: ‘Proof Electric Cars are a Scam and the Media is Lying to You‘. And before I say anything more, I like almost everything … Continue reading →

Hybrid vehicles ‘ARE SO 2023’. Yeah, EVs and PHEVs are all the rage for advertisers, but hybrids are what people are actually buying. CNBC reports (source): “Sales of traditional hybrid electric vehicles, or HEVs, such as the Toyota Prius, are … Continue reading →

My wonderful, amazing 2017 Prius Prime Advanced was a PHEV, and perhaps the best PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) on the market at the time. As the acronym suggests, this car has a gasoline motor with a hybrid mode, as … Continue reading →

OK, so I’m sold on Tesla, the car and the company, not so much the man (Elon, not Nikola). That said, there are other fish in the sea to consider. Here’s a shortlist: and many others: Lucid Air, Fisker Ocean, … Continue reading →

I’m in the process of creating presentations for Tesla owners and for those interested in EV technology in general. Both are works in progress, however, below are links to several presentations I created recently which might be of interest: And … Continue reading →

It might already be apparent that I’m a fan of Tesla automobiles. And my wife has started to catch on that this (EVs in general and Tesla specifically) is becoming more like an obsession, so she got this for me … Continue reading →