All Your Tesla Questions, Answered š§
by Alijah (tap to send me a message)
Curious about going vegan? Tap here!
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Charging & Range
How/where do you charge a Tesla?
How far can a Tesla go without recharging?
How would I take a long road trip?
Does Tesla make any gas or hybrid cars?
Are Superchargers easy to use?
Are there as many Superchargers as there are gas stations?
What if I live in an apartment building?
Why don’t EVs have solar so that they can drive forever?
Features
Do Teslas drive themselves?
Does the screen come with all Teslas?
Are Teslas fast?
What other vehicles does Tesla make?
What makes a Tesla so special?
Does Tesla make a good app?
Should I invest in $TSLA?
Cost
How much do Teslas cost?
Does it make your electricity bill expensive?
What kind of maintenance is there?
How do you buy a Tesla?
Can you make money driving a Tesla?
Common Concerns
What happens if you run out of charge?
I’d forget to plug it in!
Do electric cars need expensive battery replacements?
What if my power goes out?
Are electric cars actually dirtier than gas cars?
Do Teslas start on fire?
Do you have to be a Biden/Hillary supporter to buy a Tesla?
Safety
Are Teslas safe?
How does it do in the snow/rain?
Do you trust Autopilot?
Miscellaneous
Why are the door handles weird?
Do you like driving a Tesla?
Can I test drive a Tesla?
Where are Teslas made?
These white seats must be impossible to keep clean!
What about hybrid & hydrogen cars?
What else can I do to advance sustainability?
Features
Do Teslas drive themselves?
Yes, if you enable Autopilot! Autopilot is the most advanced driver-assistance system in the world. Your Tesla will make lane changes, select forks to follow your navigation route, navigate around other vehicles and objects, and make left and right turns. This works on and off the highway on any road or city in the US.
Despite being in beta, Autopilot reduces accidents by 90%, meaning you are around 10 times safer when the system is engaged. Only the 10% of accidents that aren’t prevented are reported on by the dishonest legacy media, which is why we all hear so much negativity about Tesla’s life-saving Autopilot technology.
Related: Do you trust Autopilot?
Does the screen come with all Teslas?
Yes, and it’s the only screen in the car. You can play games on it, as well as watch streaming services like Hulu or YouTube. Teslas receive free over-the-air software updates periodically, just like your iPhone or Mac. This means that your Tesla’s core features and Autopilotās abilities will get better, not worse, from the day you buy it.
Are Teslas fast?
Tesla Model S Plaid does 0-60 in 1.99 seconds, making it the fastest production car in the world. Amusingly, it’s also a 5 seater with room in the back for plenty of groceries. Check out Model S on Tesla’s website.
What other vehicles does Tesla make?
Model S – luxury sedan
Model 3 – sedan
Model X – luxury suv (7 seater)
Model Y – crossover (7 seater)
Cybertruck – pickup truck
Roadster – sports car
Semi – semi truck
What makes a Tesla so special?
š¹ Arcade Mode
š£ Voice Commands
š± Remote Access
š„ Driver Profiles
āļø Remote Climate Controls
š PIN to Drive
š Dog Mode
š Camp Mode
š¤ Sentry Mode
š Trip Planner
š Charging on the Road
š” Charging at Home
Does Tesla make a good app?
Yep! The Tesla app is free without a subscription cost (pretty sure other car companies make you pay eventually.) A few things it currently supports:
ā¢Acting as your key (unlocks and starts your Tesla as you approach, from your pocket)
ā¢Preconditioning (heating/cooling, including the heated seats)
ā¢Remotely opening and closing windows, the trunk, and the frunk
ā¢Remotely locking and unlocking the car
ā¢Autonomously summoning your Tesla to you in a parking lot (and eventually, across town)
ā¢Viewing your charging status and current range
ā¢Viewing your Tesla’s current location
ā¢Scheduling service appointments
Woah! With all these great features, it seems like $TSLA might be a good investment.
Whether you invest in Tesla or something else entirely, I recommend Robinhood.
Sign up with my link and you’ll typically get a free stock. This is not financial advice.
Charging & Range
Do Teslas take gas? Does Tesla make any gas or hybrid cars?
No. For all the reasons detailed throughout this FAQ, internal combustion engines are objectively inferior to electric motors for everyday use, so Tesla doesn’t bother producing new cars using antiquated technology. Many other new car companies are doing the same, like Lucid Motors and Rivian (check Rivian out if you like trucks!)
Take a minute to imagine if everything ran on gas. ā½ļø
How/where do you charge a Tesla?
You plug your Tesla in at home using the included charging cable. Your Tesla fully recharges while you sleep using electricity from regular outlets, just like your iPhone. That’s it!
For folks who drive a lot, you can install a Tesla Wall Connector.
How far can a Tesla go without recharging?
Model S ~ 405 miles
Model 3 ~ 358 miles
Model X ~ 351 miles
Model Y ~ 330 miles
For reference:ā¢NYC -> DC = 228 mi
ā¢San Fran -> Lake Tahoe = 202 miā¢Austin -> Dallas = 197 mi
š Thanks to overnight charging at home and hotels, you’ll wake up every morning with a full tank of electrons.
Related: How would I take a long road trip?
In that case, how would I take a long road trip? š
Long distance travel in a Tesla is much easier than in a gas car. The display in your Tesla will automatically add Tesla Superchargers to long routes so that you can drive anywhere in the continental US. No effort is required on your part to add charging stops. Superchargers are always located at stores and cafes right off the highway and add roughly 200 miles of range in 15 minutes, which is about how often youāll want to stop on a road trip regardless. They also cost significantly less than gas per mile.
Tesla operates over 40,000 Superchargers globally, and youāre free to use third-party charging networks as well. See what your road trip would look like at tesla.com/trips.
Are Superchargers easy to use?
Yes. You pull in, then plug in. Use the restroom, grab a coffee, and done.
Your Tesla account will be billed automatically. You don’t need to talk to any cashiers, swipe any plastic cards, enter any zip codes, or fiddle with any apps like you have to at gas stations.
When will there be as many Superchargers as there are gas stations?
If you’re asking this, you’re missing the point- you can’t refuel a gas car at home. Tesla Superchargers are purpose-built for highway travel on roadtrips. For your “around town” driving and work commutes, you’ll just charge at home while you sleep! If gas cars could refuel at home, do you think we’d still need a gas station on every corner? š
Nonetheless, Tesla opens six new Supercharger location weekly.
Charging at home sounds great, but what if I live in an apartment that doesn’t have exterior outlets?
You can use public charging stations, typically located at stores and gyms. This just makes the charging experience what you’re already used to with a gas car (except you can’t work out or shop while getting gas.) š¤·š¼āāļø
Alternatively, you could just buy a sEV.
Use this email script to pressure your property management into installing EV chargers to make your life easier. Why would they install EV chargers if they don’t think anyone is interested?
Why don’t EVs just have solar so that they can drive forever?
You’re referring to a sEV, or a solar electric vehicle. A new company called Aptera is working on mass-producing sEVs, and I’d recommend pre-ordering one if the two-seat configuration fits your needs.
Cost
How much do Teslas cost?
Teslas start under $40,000, thanks to a $7,500 tax (theft) credit, and leases are just $349/mo before gas & maintenance savings. Check out Tesla.com for exact pricing.
Teslas last two to three times longer than gas cars, with the motor being tested and validated for over one million miles. Best of all, Teslas hold their value better than any other car brand.
Does it make your electricity bill super expensive?
Nope. Assuming you pay about 10Ā¢/kWh (common in Tennessee), the electricity cost is about 2Ā¢-3Ā¢/mile. This makes a full charge (300-400 miles of range) cost around $8.
If you invest in renewable energy like Tesla Solar Panels for your home, the electricity cost of charging your Tesla should be $0.00 since the sun produces your fuel.
What kind of maintenance is there?
Almost none, because Teslaās goal is to *not* profit from service, unlike virtually every other automaker. Unlike gas cars, Teslas require no oil changes, fuel filters, spark plug replacements or emission checks. As electric cars, even brake pad replacements are rare because regenerative braking returns energy to the battery, significantly reducing wear on brakes. When you do eventually need service, Tesla can optionally drive a van to your home and perform whatever maintenance you need right in your driveway, or you can visit one of the many Tesla service centers. Appointments are scheduled right from the Tesla app, where you text your closest service center rather than calling them and waiting on hold. Check out tesla.com/support/car-maintenance.
How do you buy a Tesla?
Thankfully, Tesla doesn’t participate in the annoying dealership model. When you purchase a new Tesla, you are purchasing directly from the company. Their stores are staffed by their own employees, and your vehicle will be serviced by their employees, eliminating costly middleman shenanigans. Ordering a Tesla takes less than five minutes online. You can pick it up at the nearest Tesla Store, or have them drop it off at your home.
Can you make money driving a Tesla or my current gas/hybrid car?
I thought you’d never ask. I’ve had a good experience partnering with Uber as my main source of income, and you might too.
Sign up to drive with my referral links, and we’ll typically both get a reward. This is not financial advice.
Common Concerns
What happens if you run out of charge?
The same thing that happens if you run out of gas. However, youāll basically have to try to make this happen because your Tesla will automatically add charging stops to your trip and clearly tell you the battery percentage youāll arrive to your GPS destination with. Gas cars donāt do this for you, unfortunately.
Like omg I could never own a Tesla because I’d totally forget to plug it in š¦
When shifting into park, your Tesla will alert you in the car if your battery percentage is low, as well as send notifications to your Tesla app. So if your Tesla is dead in the morning because you pulled into your driveway with 1% battery and forgot to plug in overnight (which takes 5 seconds) despite multiple notifications and alerts, you honestly deserve it, Carol.
Do electric cars need expensive battery replacements?
No, this myth mainly comes from legacy dautomakers pushing misinformation about electric vehicles. The battery included in your Tesla will easily last the lifetime of the car, and is highly recyclable so it can be made into fresh new batteries for future Teslas.
What if my power goes out?
Firstly, your Tesla doesnāt magically die during a grid outage. It will still have as much charge as it had before the power went out, likely good for hundreds of miles. Secondly, you can use gas to fuel your Tesla by plugging it into a gas generator. You can use gas to charge an electric car, but you canāt use electricity to fuel a gas car. š
Are electric cars actually dirtier than gas cars?
No. This is pathetic disinformation spread by big oil stakeholders. Certainly electric cars arenāt perfect. They still cause plenty of harm to disadvantaged workers, animals, and habitats during the manufacturing process (since the materials have to come from somewhere), and producing and recharging them still uses fossil fuels. However, while ādirtierā to manufacture than a gasoline car, Teslas are much cleaner to propel (fuel.) This means that the more you drive your Tesla, the cleaner it becomes in comparison to a gasoline car. On average, driving a brand new Tesla just 6,000 miles makes up for the dirtier manufacturing process, a fact that gasholes love to selectively ignore. Even if 100% of the electricity generated for a Tesla comes from burning coal, it is STILL slightly cleaner than a gasoline car. Thankfully, most electricity comes from a variety of clean sources, and not just coal. You can even make your own at home with solar panels or windmills! š
Hereās the data to back up my claims:
https://www.tesla.com/impact/environment
My uncleās girlfriendās momās cat saw a CNN piece about a Tesla on fire or something. What gives?
Statistically, for every one Tesla that catches fire, there are eleven combustion engine car fires (it’s literally in the name.) These of course get zero media coverage. This is because Tesla drama gets clicks, but entire gas stations bursting into flames is only good for a few YouTube chuckles. Big oil and gas companies often advertise on “news” networks, further disincentivizing them from reporting on how insanely unsafe combustion/gas cars are. For those concerned about fire risk, there should be absolutely zero doubt that it is safer to power a car with a battery than a large tank of highly flammable liquid, perhaps also the reason why arsonists use gas, not batteries. And tell the damn cat to stop watching CNN.
Do you have to be a Biden/Hillary supporter to buy a Tesla?
You’re thinking of Prius drivers.
What if I’m so excited about my new Tesla that I forget I’m spending too much money on my cell phone bill?
Switch to Mint Mobile, which offers premium 5G cell service for $15/month (unlimited for $30/month.) I need reliable cell coverage for my job, and Mint has yet to let me down.
Use my referral link and you’ll typically get $15 off your first month:
Safety
Are Teslas safe?
The safest in the world, actually. For serious accidents, Model 3 achieved the lowest probability of injury of any vehicle ever tested by NHTSA. While you’re driving, Autopilot runs silently in the background and will take automatic evasive action against collisions to prevent an accident from happening in the first place. Donāt put yourself or your family at risk by choosing a new car that doesnāt put safety first. Teslaās commitment to safety is located at tesla.com/safety.
How does it do in the snow/rain?
The Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive Model 3 and Model S will do better than any gas sedans on the market thanks to Teslaās best-in-class traction control software, instant torque, and insane performance. Obviously, vehicles with much larger tires and more ground clearance (like the Cybertruck, Model Y, or Model X) will do better because, well, physics.
Unlike most other electric cars, your Tesla’s range will not be greatly affected by cold weather, thanks to the inclusion of a heat pump.
Teslas also operate in much lower temperatures than gas cars, making them extremely popular in places like Canada and Norway. Itās especially handy that your Tesla will automatically keep itself from getting too cold overnight, since itās always āonā (similar to an iPhone with the screen off.) When you use the Tesla app to precondition your vehicle in the morning, your car uses energy directly from your home (since itās plugged in overnight) rather than noisily idling and exhausting fossil fuels into the air or draining the battery. Again, not possible with a legacy gas automobile.
Arenāt you afraid of a computer driving you when you use Autopilot?
Sure I am. Driving is a fundamentally unsafe activity, which is why I keep my eyes on the road whether I’m using Autopilot or not. However, I feel a lot better about Autopilot driving me than a human. In addition to monitoring nearby vehicles and road conditions in 360Ā° at all times, Autopilot doesn’t drive under the influence, get distracted by a Tinder notification, get road rage, or split its attention between traffic and a screaming child in the back seat. Humans are meat computers with two cameras that only look in one direction at a time. And remember, Autopilot is always off until you intentionally turn it on, and it can be disengaged at any time by tapping the brake pedal or taking the wheel.
Autopilot frequently receives overnight over-the-air software updates that enhance safety and add new abilities, so your Tesla will get better at self-driving over time without you having to do anything.
Miscellaneous
Why are the door handles weird?
As Marty McFly would say: “I guess you guys aren’t ready for that yet… But your kids are gonna love it.“
Do you like driving a Tesla?
Switching to a Tesla from my old gas car has been like switching to iPhone from an old flip phone. Unlike other ācoolā cars, which usually require sacrificing practicality for looks and party-tricks, Teslas are far more practical and easier to own than legacy gas & hybrid cars. The door handles are literally the hardest part of the car to figure out (as Iām sure you noticed.)
Can I test drive a Tesla?
Yep, easily! If you live in Middle Tennessee, your closest Tesla Store is located in Brentwood. If you don’t live in the area, find your closest Tesla Store here.
You can schedule a free test drive at tesla.com/drive. Last I knew, you get the car to yourself for half an hour- no employee!
Where are Teslas made?
Teslas sold in the United States are made in Fremont, California. At the time of writing, Tesla is nearly finished building a new gigafactory in Texas, since demand is soaring and many of their employees are sick of Californiaās leftist shenanigans. The Model 3 is the most American-made car in 2021.
These white seats must be impossible to keep clean!
Theyāre vegan leather, which means theyāre designed for durability and stain resistance. Thatās a win for you and the cows. For example, coffee or ketchup will not stain them (regrettably I’ve accidentally tested the former.) Some clothing dye can stain the seats. Of course, Teslas can be ordered with a black interior as well, if you prefer.
What about hydrogen cars?
Hydrogen cars are actually just electric cars that use hydrogen (basically water with the oxygen removed) to store energy instead of a battery. Hydrogen is extremely expensive and inefficient to produce (using far more electricity per mile than simply charging a battery), and requires complex mechanisms within a car to convert back into propulsion energy. Every wall outlet in America can be an overnight charging station for your Tesla, but there are only a handful of hydrogen stations in the entire country. Hydrogen cars were once pushed by desperate legacy automakers (particularly Toyota) and big oil in order to distract from the impending disruption caused by electric cars. Thankfully, it didn’t work.
ā¦And hybrids?
Why would I want my car to half suck?
What else can I do to advance sustainability?
Keep your money with an institution that doesn’t invest in fossil fuels or political lobbying.
Using my link will typically grant you a $50 sign-up bonus. This is not financial advice.
š Thatās it! If your question isnāt on here, let me know! Thanks for reading. š
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Tesla FAQ 