A 4,000 km road trip in a Tesla Model 3 (video + interview)

July 20, 2019 by Jake Richardson

Mike Krueger recently drove with his son to a Tesla Model 3 in northern California, Texas and went to visit family members living in the state of Lone Star. He made a very detailed video and uploaded it on his YouTube channel to share some of the ideas of the trip. There are many striking aspects to this trip: one is the fact that you can place the Model 3 rear seat forward and lie in the back of the car – even if the vehicle does not look big enough for you. to do outside. Another is that the very long trip was comfortable for a 10 year old driver as well as for the adult driver. The main narrative element seems to be how easy the summer hike in several states has been.

Krueger has generously answered a few questions about the conduct of Model 3 during such a long trip to CleanTechnica.

Image provided by Mike Krueger

1. What is your name and why do you use the handle Frugal Tesla Guy?

I'm calling Mike Krueger and I'm just a middle clbad guy who does not have a lot of money. Over the years, most Tesla YouTube the chains were filled with wealthy guys showing off their expensive toys. When model 3 came out, I had to change some parts of my budget to make it happen. That's when I thought it would be nice to start a chain for the "average Joe" like me. I just want to be realistic and not only help people decide whether or not to buy a Tesla, but also help those who already have one.

2. How long have you owned your model 3 and why did you choose it rather than the other electric vehicles on the market?

Before I ordered my model 3, I had a Nissan Leaf since 2013. Although it was not a travel car and everything I wanted in an electric vehicle, it was an affordable start. Once model 3 came out, I ordered one and I received it in August of last year. The reason I chose Model 3 is that for me it's the only EV on the market that is worth the money. I have been Tesla since the release of the Model S, but I also kept abad of the latest news about electric vehicles. In addition, the boost network still can not be beaten, but I am also aware that the CHAdeMO and CCS charging networks are starting to catch up.

3. Why did you want to buy an EV?

The idea of ​​owning an electric vehicle has always fascinated me long before the Model S was about to hit the market. Reducing my carbon footprint is an advantage, but that's not the main reason I have an EV. Having an EV makes sense. It's virtually maintenance-free (I've never used my Nissan Leaf for maintenance in the last 5 years), clean and fun to drive.

4. How many kilometers have you traveled and what do you like from Model 3?

So far, I've traveled a little more than 26,000 kilometers with my model 3 in the 11 months I've had it. Eight thousand of them are both trips to central Texas and northern California. Even so, 22,000 miles still represent a lot of miles to go to get a car up in less than a year, but I love to drive and be excited every time my wife wants to go on a weekend. We both love traveling on the road and after the trip to central Texas with my son, too. The question is not what I like in my model 3, but what I do not like. It may sound crazy, but I love everything. From fast and smooth acceleration to the opening of the garage door automatically when I drive to my house. This car is everything I've ever wanted in a car and so much more. Of course, there are things like the lack of Apple Carplay and … well, honestly, I can not think of anything else. The absence of Apple Carplay is not the end of the world, despite what many people say.

5. Why did you create the 4,000 miles travel video to share all the information from Model 3?

I did not document and make a video the first time I traveled the 4,000 kilometers because I did not have my YouTube channel yet. However, this last time I took the trip, I not only wanted to share my experience, but I also felt compelled to do so because of my clientele, although modestly compared to many others. The video was mainly aimed at convincing people about to get a Tesla proving that it can be done without any problem. It's also for those who have one to see the potential of their car and the extraordinary supercharging network.

6. How much did you spend on electricity for the trip?

Thanks to the people who used my referral code, I was able to acquire more than 140,000 free overfill miles, so I did not have to pay for my supercharging sessions. However, I failed to report what it would cost if I had to pay because most people will have to pay. That being said, the first time I made the trip, it cost me $ 150 in total and, after a better route planner, the estimate was the same.

7. Is driving the Model 3 more comfortable than a gas-powered car because it is quieter and the autopilot performs some of the steering?

The Tesla Model 3 is by far the most comfortable car I've ever driven. Since the suspension is quite tight, you feel more bumps than a luxury sedan like the Model S, but it's also one of the reasons it behaves like a sports car. Although the engine does not make noise, there is a lot of noise from the road. However, I blame this noise on the roads and not the car. Some roads are just not as sweet as others. Autopilot … it's not perfect but gets better with every update. That being said, it's amazing. I used it for most of the trip, which significantly reduced the stress badociated with driving. In fact, I always have back and shoulder hurts during long journeys. The autopilot reduces the pain from 10 to 3. In addition, I had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery throughout the course.

8. What was the driving time for each 2,000 mile leg?

On the way, it took literally 48 hours to get to central Texas from northern California. I have been sleeping in the car twice for about 3 to 4 hours. We stopped a few times the first day, but my son wanted to cross the next day to go to Texas. On the way back, we stopped to discover some additional sites, including a 3-hour detour to the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. We also stayed at a hotel for a good night's sleep. All this added about 12 hours more to the trip.

9. The video shows that stopping more frequently to recharge did not bother you. Was it because you planned to do other activities at the same time?

I did not mind stopping more often. Of course, we wanted to enjoy some sites along the way, but more stops meant more rest. Autopilot not only helps reduce the stress of driving and reduces mental and physical stress, but stopping more often for Supercharging also allows you to "recharge". I've also watched each Supercharger destination as small victories to help with the total duration of the trip. In most ICE cars, you will have longer periods of driving between fuel stops, which increases fatigue.

10. Do you think that extra recharge planning makes you more aware of the journey?

Absolutely! You become more attentive because you have to pay more attention to where the superchargers are. The infrastructure is still centered on ICE cars and will be for a long time. This allows ICE drivers to go with little planning, especially if they have a good navigation system and stop whenever they need gas without even thinking about it. With electric cars, you can not just refuel when you start to be down – you have to plan these "full". It's not necessarily a bad thing, it just means a little more planning.

11. How old is your son and how comfortable was he with the trip?

My son is 10 years old and I even asked him if he wanted to go on this adventure and he said yes without any hesitation. He really enjoyed this experience because he loves to travel and has discovered new things on this trip. It's also a big snack, so he enjoyed drinking and drinking at most of our load stops. He never complained and never asked the question, "are we still here?" I think this is largely because the big screen showed where we were at all times and often referred to it by itself. He even mentioned that he wanted to travel to Seattle on our next road trip.

12. Is it important for you to raise awareness of environmental issues related to transportation?

Aiden is growing at a time when recycling and green energy are the norm. It constantly boasts of our electric car and the way it is so much cleaner than a gas car and better for the environment. He grew up with fuel-efficient cars from a Prius at birth, a Ford Escape Hybrid, an all-electric Nissan Leaf at the age of 5 and now the Tesla Model 3 for almost a year. Obviously it's important to me and I love the fact that he is interested in electric vehicle technology himself. He knows all the statistics of the 2020 Roadster and highlights all the electric cars in circulation.

13. When will he start driving, will he also drive an EV?

If he succeeds, he will have my model 3 in 6 years when he will start driving. If I can afford a new Tesla at this point, model 3 belongs to it. If not, we'll see what's on the market. He also likes fast cars, so we'll see how his taste evolves.

14. What other long road trips could you undertake with your model 3?

My wife and I are always on the hunt for new adventures, so only time will tell exactly where we will get Model 3. That being said, we have a trip to Oakhurst near Yosemite at the end of the month and I have already determined where the closest Supercharger is to our Airbnb. There is one about 20 miles north of us.

Keywords: EV road trips, Telsa Model 3, Tesla, Tesla Model 3, Tesla road trip

About the author

Jake Richardson Hello, I've been writing online for quite some time and enjoying the outdoors. If you wish, you can follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JakeRsol