Tesla Model S long-term review Archives | CleanTechnica

Tesla Charging & Driving Tips

Guest Contributor — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 17:29:48 +0000

By William Goodwin FNP As a new owner of a 2016 Tesla Model S 90D for about 6 months now, I have fine tuned a few things that have really improved my driving experience and efficiency. I want to share with new Tesla owners or anyone else who might be interested. Charging: I was charging to […]

1st Impressions of 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid — Owner Review

Guest Contributor — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 06:50:40 +0000

And launch of long-term review.

Tesla & EV Life In Wroclaw, Poland — What’s New?

Zachary Shahan — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 01:00:41 +0000

I recently had our Polish Tesla Shuttle Model S for a few days (it normally lives in Cracow). I didn't expect I'd experience many new things in the car and thought I wouldn't have anything to write about, but I was wrong.

Tesla Opens Up Free Supercharging For Customers In Areas Affected By California Wildfires

Kyle Field — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 02:06:43 +0000

Tesla has unlocked free Supercharging for its customers in the vicinity of the California wildfires this week to make it that much easier for Tesla owners to stay charged and safe.

8 Keys To Eliminating EV Range Anxiety On Long Road Trips (Part 3)

Loren McDonald — Sat, 29 Sep 2018 14:00:48 +0000

Tesla Kettleman City – lounge – exterior – cropped

" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://cleantechnica.com/files/2018/09/Tesla-Kettleman-City-lounge-exterior-cropped-270x150.png" data-large-file="https://cleantechnica.com/files/2018/09/Tesla-Kettleman-City-lounge-exterior-cropped-570x316.png" />Road trips are a make or break factor for mass adoption of electric vehicles in the US. Unlike much of Europe and many other parts of the world, the US does not have a train system that connects most cities in the country (Amtrak in the Northeast being an exception). As such, most Americans either fly or rely on their cars when they go on vacation to Disneyland or Disney World, to visit relatives a few states away, or to take their child to college hundreds of miles away.

Diary of an EV Road Trip: 900 Round-Trip Miles in Our Tesla Model S 60 (Part 2)

Loren McDonald — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 00:32:03 +0000

Kettleman City – 203 miles of charge

" data-image-caption="

Image credit: Loren McDonald. Used with permission.

" data-medium-file="https://cleantechnica.com/files/2018/09/Kettleman-City-203-miles-of-charge-270x168.png" data-large-file="https://cleantechnica.com/files/2018/09/Kettleman-City-203-miles-of-charge-570x355.png" />Time for the long drive home. In Part 1 of this 3 part series, I shared in detail our recent road trip from our Northern California home to our hotel in Redlands, California. In Part 2, this piece, I continue the story with stop-by-stop details of our more event-filled trip back home.

Diary of an EV Road Trip: 900+ Round-Trip Miles in Our Tesla Model S 60 (Part 1)

Loren McDonald — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 02:00:18 +0000

Riverside Tesla Supercharger – rooftop parking empty urban superchargers-cropped
Image credit: Loren McDonald. Used with permission.

" data-image-caption="

Image credit: Loren McDonald. Used with permission.

" data-medium-file="https://cleantechnica.com/files/2018/09/Riverside-Tesla-Supercharger-rooftop-parking-empty-urban-superchargers-cropped-270x147.png" data-large-file="https://cleantechnica.com/files/2018/09/Riverside-Tesla-Supercharger-rooftop-parking-empty-urban-superchargers-cropped-570x311.png" />Late August signals the beginning of the end of summer and for households with children it also means it is “back to school” time.

Life With Electric Vehicles — New Nissan LEAF, Renault Zoe, Tesla Model S, BMW i3, Jaguar I-PACE, Tesla Model X

Zachary Shahan — Sun, 05 Aug 2018 19:21:28 +0000

Our local Tesla Shuttle arm in Poland has been operating for over a year. One of our co-founders, Tomek Gać, has also had a Nissan LEAF for years and he recently test drove the new Nissan LEAF and the Jaguar I-PACE. We decided to have a long chat about our experiences with the Tesla Model S, some of our experiences with Tesla Shuttle (which is now in operation in Europe and the USA), how the new Nissan LEAF & Jaguar I-PACE compare to Tesla vehicles, and how adequate they may be for "average people" — not just EV fanatics.

CleanTechnica’s Tesla Shuttle Road Trip Encounters Interesting Surprises In Albania

Jacek Fior — Sun, 20 May 2018 15:00:06 +0000

The first stop they made after the border was a small hotel. They were planning a short biological break and something to drink but then ran into a group of ... American tourists.

Epic Energy Usage In Our Tesla Model S In Albania

Jacek Fior — Sat, 19 May 2018 21:41:44 +0000

Here we come with the final stage of our CleanTechnica Tesla Shuttle Adventure. Our previous entries attracted a lot of attention in the countries we visited and the photo of the Polish tourist in Macedonia was a Twitter hit. We also received emails from concerned EV enthusiasts from Hungary, who were sorry to hear about our difficulties in Debrecen.

CleanTechnica’s Tesla Shuttle Weaves Through Romania, Bulgaria, & Macedonia … But Does The Battery Die?

Jacek Fior — Sat, 05 May 2018 15:52:23 +0000

Where did we leave off? Right, in beautiful Romania. Since then, the reports we are getting have become somehow more chaotic. It could be the heat, it could be the tiredness, or it could simply be excellent wine. We will never know. Anyway, in the last entry, I said we would save driving on your last kilowatts for later, and here we are.

Tesla Wanders Dracula’s Castle, Monasteries, Transfagarasan Road, & Kaufland Parking Lots

Jacek Fior — Wed, 02 May 2018 00:22:56 +0000

As we are receiving regular reports from Tomek and his fellow travelers, we can now put together a few stories from the first couple of days on the road with the Tesla. The most important news is there's no real news — the first day driving through Poland was simply smooth and easy. There are two reasons behind this: Tesla’s range and GreenWay infrastructure. As Zach was already pointing out in the opening article, GreenWay has done a good job developing a network of fast chargers in Poland and Slovakia. It may still be challenging in a Nissan Leaf or Renault Zoe to get from charging point to charging point, but not so in a Tesla.

CleanTechnica Tesla Shuttle Aims To Conquer 12 Central & Eastern European Countries

Zachary Shahan — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 02:00:51 +0000

Some people seem to be born with a particularly adventurous, exploratory gene. I get the sense my colleague Tomek Gać, another Tesla Shuttle co-founder, is one of those people.

Tesla Model S Center Console From EVANNEX (#CleanTechnica Review)

Zachary Shahan — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 12:59:10 +0000

The good folks at EVANNEX were kind enough to send us a Center Console Insert for the Tesla Model S to use in our Tesla Shuttle fleet right after we launched the company. Yes, I assume they expected a review for the gift (which is worth $530–630), but they haven't said so or pressured us in any way. (I have to say, though, it was weird when a 6'7" thug-looking character with EVANNEX tattooed on his forehead showed up at my door holding a long iron rod. And I have to disclose that he did ask me if I needed any help evaluating the console.)

#1 Feature Of Tesla Model S In Europe?

Zachary Shahan — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 18:10:40 +0000

What's the #1 feature of a Tesla Model S or Model X. Perhaps the acceleration? Perhaps the amazing navigation and software controls? Perhaps the super smooth and quiet drive? Maybe it's Autopilot? Or wait, maybe it's the Easter eggs!

Tesla’s New Christmas Easter Egg → More Than A Gimmick

Zachary Shahan — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 21:49:04 +0000

As I noted a moment ago, I recently took a small risk, faced a short freakout, and then made it through my first Tesla software update. The reason I cut it close on the timing and installed the update was that it was a fun Christmas one that I knew my older daughter (3 years old) would love.

Teslas Are Freakin’ Computers (1st Software Update Notes, Freakout, & Reflections)

Zachary Shahan — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 20:58:30 +0000

Some other members of our Tesla Shuttle team installed Tesla software updates on our Model S earlier in the year, but the first time I personally did so was the day after Christmas (or 2nd day of Christmas as some people call it). I was a little uncertain whether to do the update at that time — we needed to leave approximately 2 hrs later and the car said it would take 1 hour and 40 minutes. Additionally, I was a little concerned about how much energy it might take. We had an 85% charge but quite a ways to drive. "How much energy does a Tesla software update take?" I had never thought to ask and didn't recall seeing this information somewhere, so I searched online. Unfortunately, I couldn't find an answer.

Tesla Model S Charging Cost After 17,000 km = $70

Zachary Shahan — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 20:27:31 +0000

We've had the first Tesla Model S in our Tesla Shuttle fleet for 3 months now. We've put 17,000 kilometers (~10,500 miles) on it. One of several reasons the business idea originally made sense to us was that we'd have almost no operational costs for the car itself. Most of the charging stations in our home city are free and Tesla's Superchargers are of course free (for vehicles up to a certain production date).

Tesla Autopilot Review — 2 Months Later

Zachary Shahan — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 23:19:41 +0000

A little over two months ago, I provided my initial observations from life with Tesla Autopilot. Clearly, I was young and foolish. Without a doubt, I rushed in. That said, I have no regrets and stand by what I wrote on June 25.

Tesla Navigation Review — More Goods & Bads

Zachary Shahan — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 21:37:53 +0000

A month and a half ago, I wrote a raving review of Tesla's navigation system for long-distance trips. It's brilliant. It's unmatched by any other car's navigation system. The core benefits are: it estimates how much battery capacity you'll have remaining when you arrive at your destination, it tells you where to stop to Supercharge if you need to, and it's extremely accurate because it takes so many factors into account — topography, temperature, your own recent energy use while driving, average driving speed on the route (or at least the speed limit along the route — I'm not sure dataset Tesla uses, or if it uses both), and perhaps even whether or not it's raining. However, it's not perfect. There are three major issues with it, from my perspective. Anecdotally, I gather that most Tesla drivers are irritated by the same three things.

Prepping For World Electric Car (Tesla) Distance Record Attempt

Zachary Shahan — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 14:59:42 +0000

This weekend, members of the Tesla Shuttle crew are going to attempt to break the world record for miles/kilometers driven on a single charge in an electric car. The attempt is being led by Tomasz Gać, founder/CEO of Quriers and co-founder of Tesla Shuttle. But I'm also one of those people and will be doing a good chunk of the driving — weather permitting. A third co-founder, Jacek Fior, and I did a test drive for several hours recently. Below the video (and in the video chat) are some of my notes from that test drive.

A Funny Story — Used Tesla Model S vs Toyota Prius Prime

Zachary Shahan — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:29:49 +0000

As many of you know, we're trying to get an electric shuttle startup (Tesla Shuttle) off the ground in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). We recently held a test ride event to attract customers, perhaps attract investors, and just generally EVangelize. To organize the event, we partnered with a fleet industry magazine, Menadżer Floty. I was surprised to find out that they actually had a Toyota Prius Prime to bring to the event.

Tesla Superchargers vs … Ugh

Zachary Shahan — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 23:29:56 +0000

First of all, let me say that if anyone else creates a superfast charging network anything close to Tesla's, I'll be one of the first people to cheer it on and I may cheer it more loudly and broadly than anyone else. My goal is to stimulate the transition to zero-emissions transport as quickly as possibly, not to loyally attach my dreams to one company over every other one because I like the logo. Companies that do good stuff deserve to get praised and rewarded.

New Answers To Common Electric Car Questions

Zachary Shahan — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 08:00:37 +0000

Now that I've been driving an electric car (a Tesla Model S) around on a regular basis for a few weeks, I'm getting bored with the most common questions. Over and over again...

Always Have 2–3 Options (For EV Charging)

Zachary Shahan — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 15:13:30 +0000

Driving an electric car for a bit, I've learned what many an EV driver knows well: You should always have 3 — or at least 2 — charging options in mind. Also: Choose wisely. And get lucky.

Tesla Smart Navigation Is Brilliant (+ 3 Tips)

Zachary Shahan — Sun, 16 Jul 2017 23:45:07 +0000

I recently used Tesla’s smart navigation system to drive from Wrocław (Poland) to Berlin (Germany) and back, and then I used it again a few days later on a long trip to the Polish boonies. Tesla doesn't call it "smart navigation" — just sticking to the boring basic term "navigation" instead — but this beast is brilliant and performed much better than I expected. However, I learned something from these drives that I think anyone using this navigation option should know ahead of time. I'll get to that in a minute.

A Tesla Service Experience — The Cool & The Uncool

Zachary Shahan — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 16:20:16 +0000

It's sweet when you buy a car and it immediately needs service — awesome experience. Seemingly out of pure luck, that's what happened with the first Tesla Model S we bought for our new Tesla Shuttle service. Days after picking the Model S up from Germany (used, and not through Tesla), "Acceleration Reduced" appeared on the small screen behind the steering wheel, and underneath that in a bit smaller text, "Contact Tesla Service When Convenient."

Tesla Service Is On Another Level — Now Getting Even Better

Kyle Field — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 21:16:10 +0000

The Model 3 is going to level up Tesla's game in many ways, with the first and foremost being the lower price point. Bringing a Tesla to market that is on par with the average sales price of a new car in the US changes everything and truly opens up the brand to the mass market for the first time in its existence.

Our Tractor Keeps Shaking Violently & Has A Sore Throat

Zachary Shahan — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 17:15:57 +0000

Our tractor has started shaking violently ... and seems to have a sore throat. I didn't really notice it initially, but now this strikes me as a disastrous concern.

Best Way To Plan For Tesla Model 3 — Rent An Electric Car

Zachary Shahan — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 15:59:18 +0000

Tesla Model 3 production starts tomorrow, unless there was some kind of dramatic surprise since Monday. It seems that tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people who have never before had an electric car have a reservation for a Model 3. They have a bit of planning to do.

Driving A Tesla Model S To The Polish Boonies

Zachary Shahan — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 13:45:44 +0000

As you've probably read, a handful of guys and I recently got a Tesla Model S 85D for an intercity European Tesla Shuttle service we're launching based out of Wroclaw, Poland. This last weekend, I rented the Tesla myself (but with no personal driver, unfortunately) to pick my family up from my in-laws' "summer house" (lake house in the middle of nowhere). This place is really off the beaten track, in what I think we'd call "the boonies" in the United States.

Where Tesla Autopilot Truly Shines

Zachary Shahan — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 15:10:35 +0000

My second "real," long drive on Autopilot (from Wroclaw to Berlin) demonstrated to me two places in which Autopilot is brilliantly lovable. These, imho, are the situations in which Autopilot is like collecting mushrooms in Mario Bros.

1st Real Drive With Tesla Autopilot (Including A Few “Warning Shots”)

Zachary Shahan — Sun, 25 Jun 2017 23:23:03 +0000

I first experienced Tesla Autopilot last year, as I wrote in my Tesla Model X review. It was certainly cool and interesting, and a bit nerve-racking. But that was a short test drive on a California highway — not real use. Well, a few guys and I recently got our first Tesla Model S for an intercity Tesla shuttle service we're launching here in Europe (... called Tesla Shuttle), and the Tesla includes Autopilot.

Tesla Rep Sheds Light on Supercharger “Idle Fee” Logic

Kyle Field — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 00:52:07 +0000

Tesla's free Superchargers have been a hotly debated topic since they first went live for the Model S. People complained about how it wasn't scalable, how the stalls would all fill up because of local freeloaders when it was designed for people taking long trips...suffice it to say that it has been a point of contention for the company...but at the same time, one of Tesla's key differentiators.

Tesla Model S Long-Term Review — Year 1 Summary (CleanTechnica Exclusive)

Kyle Field — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 17:56:09 +0000

Having owned the beast for a year now, I took some time to step back to think about what it's been like to own a Tesla Model S as compared to our 85 mile range Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive — as well as what ownership is like compared to more conventional gasmobiles.

The EV Annex Tesla Model S Center Console Insert (CleanTechnica Review)

Kyle Field — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 16:52:25 +0000

Back in April, Zach and I went on a CleanTechnica tour de Southern California centered around the Tesla Model 3 unveiling event. While in line to lock in our Tesla Model 3 reservations at the Santa Monica Tesla store, we met Roger and Matt Pressman from EV Annex in person. Since then, they have sent over a few of their custom-designed and custom-built accessories for the Tesla Model S for us to review (like the Cubby Compartment).

EV Annex Cubby Compartment Fills A Gap In The Model S

Kyle Field — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 11:49:55 +0000

Back in March, Zach and I met the guys from EV Annex — premium producers of Tesla Model S accessories — while we waited in line to lock in our own reservations for the highly anticipated Tesla Model 3 outside of the Santa Monica Tesla store. Later that night, we ran into them again inside the Tesla Model 3 launch event […]

Hidden Benefits Of … Teslas — Simplification

Kyle Field — Sat, 07 May 2016 10:32:20 +0000

The Simplification of Vehicle Ownership Vehicle ownership is a piece of life that many people have come to accept as a necessary evil. Not many people enjoy getting a tune-up, having the oil changed, or filling the car up with gas … that’s just the way we’ve always done it. Until now. EVs are bringing […]

Living Through A Tesla Supercharger System Failure

Kyle Field — Sun, 17 Apr 2016 22:46:19 +0000

One of the strengths of Tesla that we share over and over again is the Supercharging network, as it enables Tesla owners to drive across the country on the most robust, integrated network of chargers in existence at very high charging speeds. The downside of Tesla building this network out on its own is that Supercharging is another […]

Changing The Tesla Model S Cabin Air Filter

Kyle Field — Sat, 09 Apr 2016 11:00:22 +0000

I recently wrote about the annual maintenance for the Tesla Model S, and after testing out a few options, I ended up ordering two cabin air filters from Tesla and just swapping that piece out myself. The filters cost me all of $8.50 each and took just a few minutes to change out. The cabin […]

The Tesla Navigation System Is A Mixed Bag

Kyle Field — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 18:18:56 +0000

I have put thousands of miles on my Tesla Model S using the built-in navigation, but admittedly, most of that was a straight line along fairly direct freeways with very brief tangents off of the prescribed route for Supercharging. I knew that I had not really put it to the test but didn’t realize just […]

Charging In Public: Tesla vs Other EVs

Kyle Field — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 11:35:22 +0000

Electric vehicles (EVs) are still a relatively new technology on roads around the world, but the gears are shifting extremely quickly. For those in the industry with a finger on the pulse of the EV market, it is beyond obvious that the momentum is building. The adoption and growth of EVs are being driven by several key […]

What’s Included In The Optional Model S Annual Service?

Kyle Field — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 13:56:58 +0000

The Tesla Model S is the undeniable leader in mass-produced electric vehicles (EV) when it comes to the magic trifecta of range, charging speed, and service, but one question haunts many prospective Tesla buyers — what in the world is included in the optional and expensive annual maintenance plan? With the price per service running several […]

5 Things That Surprised Me About The Model S

Kyle Field — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 12:52:23 +0000

Disclaimer: I am a recent investor in TSLA. I’m in it for the long haul with no plans to sell anytime soon. For readers that don’t frequent CleanTechnica, I recently bought a Certified Pre-Owned Tesla Model S and drove it across the country. If that 4,180 kilometer trip wasn’t enough to convince you that I […]

Tesla Model S Service Screens Exposed

Kyle Field — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 21:36:59 +0000

I recently picked up a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Tesla Model S (part 1 and part 2 of that story), and in the first month, drove it across the US, gave the Supercharging network a serious workout, and have already converted a few new EV enthusiasts along the way. Unfortunately, in that same span, I have […]