Well, here we are. I passed 50,000 miles in just over 31 months of ownership this past Sunday and my 2021 Tesla Model Y Long Range is holding up very well. According to the media, I should have had to replace my battery like 5 times by now, or my range shall have been reduced to like 6 miles, or my vehicle has become totally useless in Cold weather. I am happy to report that none of this is true. In fact, my first 50,000 miles as a Tesla owner, I am convinced that I will never buy another gas powered vehicle again. Will I buy only Tesla vehicles from this point forward? What do I love about my Tesla? What don't I like? I'll dive into these questions and some of the data I have collected over these two years.
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As you can tell by now, I have loved and continue to love my Tesla and ownership experience so far. So much so, that I will (likely) not buy another gas vehicle ever again. Will all of my future vehicles be Tesla vehicles? No, but I am sure I'll buy another Tesla at some point. I'll tell you one thing. I never want to deal with another dealership ever again. No kidding. Why does it take 2-3 hours to get all the paperwork right and signed at a dealership? Based on recent experience by friends and family, it is also impossible to buy a car from a dealer without them adding like $5000 of dealer ad-ons and fees that you cannot say no to, take it or leave it. Many ICE vehicles are now as expensive or more expensive as many EVs today. In fact, in late 2023, the average ICE sales price exceeded the average sales price of an EV. On the flip side, the Tesla price is exactly as they quote, no add-ons. It took less than 30 minutes to inspect my Tesla and sign all the paperwork before I drove off the lot. I never had to deal with a sleazy salesperson. That sort of buying experience is just superior. Right now, I believe Rivian is one of the others that operate in direct to consumer sales. I love the look of their vehicles! The R2 line is coming out and I am really interested (see release details in early March)
I love not having to go to a gas station once or twice a week. It is such a pain when I have to take one of our other cars to get filled up. It takes barely 5 second to plug in my Model Y each evening when I get home and another 5 seconds to unplug. I can drive it for several days and plug in whenever it gets low and wake up to a "full tank", or, if you want, you can decide to plug in every night and wake up every morning with whatever battery level you set. Tesla recommends 80% for my Model Y version, but some battery chemistries are OK to charge to 100% every day.
Here are the things that I love about my Tesla (EV):
Easy to charge ANYWHERE - at home with a L2, piece of cake, but it is the reliability and availability of the Supercharging network that makes me so glad to have purchased a Tesla. I won't buy another brand until that brand has access to Tesla's network.
Roomy - tons of space for passengers and luggage with Frunk and Sub-Trunk
Autopilot - game changer on a road trip. I know, many other OEMs have their version of this technology, but only in their top spec (so $$$$) models. It reduces fatigue big-time
Phantom Braking - this was a bit of an issue early in my ownership experience, but with SW updates, this is all but gone really.
Programming Climate - It is warm and ready to go every workday morning and again when I am ready to leave for work. Cooled in the summer before I leave work. This is not possible with an ICE due to the risk of the vehicle being in a garage where the fumes could build up and harm people
Technology and App - instant access to the vehicle details, climate control, locks, cameras, etc. via the Tesla App is way beyond where all other makers are at today. The in vehicle screen is amazing.
Navigation - the navigation makes going on a trip so easy. No thinking required if you don't want to think about the trip. Just plug in your destination and go.
Note - be sure to put in a round trip to make sure you can get home from your destination
Google Maps - you can find destinations in Google Maps app and send them to your Tesla for it to be there when you get in.
DATA - Tesla has an open API setup to allow 3rd party apps and websites access to the car's data. All the charge and drive data is right in the 3rd party application. Great for nerds like me.
Constant SW Updates - I have averaged about 1 SW update every month. Not every update is earth shattering, but there have been many improvements along the way that make the car better over time.
Towing - I have towed a Uhaul trailer 3 different times. The range loss was not great, but oh man, you could barely tell you were pulling a trailer with the 450+ HP electric motor output.
Acceleration - I am not going to lie, 0-60 in 4.1 seconds is pretty awesome. There are very few cars out there that can keep up.
Here are the things that I do NOT love about my Tesla:
The stiff ride - On nice roads, this is not an issue at all. Unfortunately, starting about this time each year, our roads here in SE PA start to crumble and they get littered with potholes. You definitely feel every bump. Tesla addressed this in their 2023 and later model years. I might install a suspension upgrade in the next 50,000 miles.
Automatic Wipers - Yeah, they aren't great. They are always too sensitive or not sensitive enough. They could be better.
Automatic High Beams - They have gotten better. Early on, they would wait way too long in my opinion to turn off when on coming traffic is approaching. Unfortunately, they are also way too sensitive and with the modern reflective signs like the speed limit signs, it detects these return light signatures as on coming headlights. Also, parked cars, it turns off.
Maintenance Cost so far:
New roof glass - $1800 - This was my fault, although, I would argue that the glass shouldn't have cracked in the way I cracked it.
Air Filter and Cleaner - $35 per time. This is an easy DIY project. I generally do this about every 6-12 months. I think I have change the filter 2 times so far and I am about to do a 3rd replacement later this week
Wiper Blades - I ordered expensive, $75/set blades once but wasn't impressed. I have a just ordered a new set for about $21 from Amazon. We'll see. The last set has lasted almost a year.
Washer Fluid
New Tires - I replaced the summer tires after about 24,500 miles. They had life left but wasn't comfortable with them in heavy rain conditions. I have about 21,000 miles on my set of winter tires and honestly, the look way better than the summer tires wore. I might get 30-40k out of them. The other 5k on a new set of All Season tires for the summer I picked up in about August. EV performance grade tires are a bit more expensive. About $1600 for a set of 4.
Ownership Metrics
317 WH/mile - driving
~420 WH/mile - total (includes energy used to warm up, cool down, sentry mode, cabin overheating, charger efficiency, etc.)
Energy Usage: 20,438 kWh = $2,275 $0.0455/mile
79.3% of energy from AC charges
466 Charges at Home + 456 charges at other L1 and L2 locations
18.9% of energy from Tesla Superchargers
134 Supercharger sessions at 56 different locations
1.8% of energy from CCS Stations
25 CCS charges at 12 different locations
Savings:
2500 gallons = $9,612 - $2,275 (electric) = "Fuel" Savings = $7,338
No Brake Service - estimate $400
No Oil Changes - estimate $400
Battery Degradation
6% reduction in range over the first year of ownership - typical to see an initial reduction in this range the first year.
9% reduction in total range currently - EPA 300 miles now vs about 326 new
After initial year of ownership, currently running less than 3% range reduction annually since.
At 200,000 miles / 10 years of ownership, projecting about 235-260 miles of max range
Longest drives without stopping - 170-180 miles (7 drives)
I find this duration too long to be honest. At highway speeds, I can get about 220 miles from 100% to 0%. Considering usable % on a road trip is 150-160 miles, this is where most of my longest drives fall.
Major Road Trips
Disney via Harrisonburg - 2305 miles
Disney via Stirling VA - 2200 miles
FLX: Many 650-700 mile round trips
Temperatures
Lowest: -3F, NY Finger Lakes
Highest: 105F Locally
What Next?
Well, I am hoping to have another 6-8 years of flawless, hassle free ownership to share with you. Susan's car is a 2020 with barely over 20,000 miles on it, and we rarely drive it anywhere. It is almost a waste to own it to be honest, but we need a second car on occasion. I put my name in the waitlist for a Cybertruck. I took this picture below on Sunday at the KOP showroom. It is nice, but given projections on build rates, it will be unlikely I would get to order one for another 5+ years. We will likely need a new car in less than 6 years to replace Susan's. I have my name on a list to order an Aptera. Who knows, that might be the next EV we purchase. It would be the ideal travel car for two people with ridiculous efficiency and range to be honest, so who knows. The EV landscape will change so much by then. Rivian R2 series is coming, Tesla Model "2", and others, as long as they have the NACS port, will all be great options. I am seeing data right now that Tesla Model Y inventory is growing rapidly and many believe that Tesla might significantly drop its price this year. Its not that there isn't demand, but the refreshed Model 3 is getting a ton of attention and sales right now, and people believe the Model Y is going to see a similar refresh by the end of 2024. Many might hesitate to buy until the refresh is here. I am thinking that jumping on a deal this year, if anyone is looking, might be the best route. We'll see!
Cybertruck:
Rivian:
Aptera:
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