Brandon Robertson from Franklin calls himself a Tesla evangelist. He and his wife, Chrissy, both drive the Tesla 3 model. Chrissy has a 2018 with 85,000 miles on it, while Brandon has a 2023 Tesla 3 Performance. Robertson is truly a car guy, having worked for General Motors in public relations.
His first exposure to electric vehicles was driving a 2008 hybrid Chevy Tahoe as the company was dipping its toe into emerging EV technology. He was even on hand for General Motors at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show where the Chevrolet Volt was introduced.
Many EV owners purchased their vehicle with their mind on the environment, as the cars produce no emissions. While that is certainly a bonus for Robertson, his main attraction to the Tesla is the technology. Teslas are packed with innovation, and the technology grows each week! Just like your smartphone, the cars get regular software updates, so even the older 2018 model receives current software compatible with the 2023 model.
Robertson evangelizes about technological wonders much like a Sunday-morning pastor preaching a sermon. He highlights how smooth the Tesla drives, even when you mash the accelerator pedal to the floor. The car goes from zero to 60 in only 3.1 seconds, making it accelerate as fast as a 2023 Chevy Corvette and even faster than the 2023 Ferrari Roma Spider.
One common concern is battery range. The Tesla boasts 350 miles per charge, allowing the cars to make longer trips. With a top speed of 163 miles per hour, it far outpaces the little CitiCar in both range and speed. Robertson is quick to counter all the myths and concerns of the fossil-fuel aficionados. The cars function normally in the rain, and they add little to his home’s monthly electric bill. He estimates that he pays an additional $40 per month to charge both vehicles combined, and on Chrissy’s 2018 model, the only maintenance required was a chassis lubrication and a scuff shield that came loose.
The technology of the Tesla is almost overwhelming, as virtually every facet of the vehicle can be adjusted and controlled by a smart phone. The cars stay “on” all of the time, keeping the vehicle temperature controlled while not in operation. They do have a self-drive feature that has different levels of operation, with the full feature costing an additional $100 per month.
One of the coolest features of the Tesla is the regenerative braking system that essentially makes the car a one-pedal operation. When you lift your foot from the accelerator, the power feeds back into the battery and it slows the car as if you were hitting the brake pedal. They are equipped with traditional-style brakes, but the operator rarely needs to apply them.
In a final act of evangelism, Robertson, eager to make a convert out of me, opens the driver’s door and offers the driver’s seat. The full performance capabilities were all there, even if the car was whisper-quiet. The car was easy to drive and very comfortable, nothing like the bare bones operation of the little CitiCar. When an open road presented itself, Robertson challenged me to test the performance, and the instant acceleration was beyond impressive. “Torque,” Robertson said with an ear-to-ear grin!
EVs are not everyone’s cup of tea, but they have become another option for those who seek different modes of transport. Ownership does require a little home upgrading as well. The Tesla requires regular electrical charging, so owners must add a 240-volt outlet. The Robertsons enlisted Whiteland-based company Midwest Electric to install their charger.
The evangelist made a strong case to consider Tesla a modern-day hot rod. The acceleration is incredible, and the car handles and brakes with authority. It even boasts a performance mode and a drift mode, thought I didn’t try those features out. Like many new cars, it offers its share of unnecessary features, like a disco light-show feature and actual fart sounds, possibly proving Elon Musk to be every bit eccentric as he seems.
The petrol heads in the car community may resist the electrical revolution, but the Tesla does make a strong case that electric cars can also become the hot rods of the future. EVs have moved beyond a novelty vehicle to a very practical one, and the future will certainly bring even more performance and technology.
Until then…keep cruising!
