In 2014, while driving with colleagues in London, one of them pointed out an electric Tesla car. I had never heard of the brand before, nor had I seen a Tesla. All I could think of was the inventor Nikola Tesla. It was an early Model S in silver, and I promptly forgot about the sighting.
Fast forward a few months, and a friend urged me to watch a presentation by Elon Musk on an electric car. I was warned that his presentation style was not slick or polished and might not run smoothly. However, it was honest, and I wanted to know more. I watched it twice and was intrigued despite the rough presentation. Soon after, my friend booked a test drive of a Model S, similar to the one I had seen. My mind was blown away. The ride was smooth and comfortable, with minimal noise—just tire noise and a slight motor hum. The minimalist interior suited me, and the acceleration was both scary and incredibly fun.
This is my first electric car. Over the years, as I saved up money and researched EVs (electric vehicles), friends questioned my choice, influenced by common misconceptions and misinformation.
Some statements I encountered include:
- A friend joked that I could warm my hands by the roadside when my car battery catches fire.
- Another asked, "Can you drive an EV in the rain?”
- An electrician friend claimed the grid couldn't handle the demand, and we'd need more coal-powered stations, he did not know that we no longer have coal-fired power stations.
I faced numerous unfounded criticisms, many influenced by the Daily Mail, such as EVs damaging roads and multi-storey car parks. Concerns about insufficient chargers, broken chargers, and long charging times were also common. My response has always been, “What came first, the motorcar or the petrol station?”. Early car adopters had to find fuel too, which was not readily available, often from pharmacists. Today, electricity is widely accessible and easy to install charging stations where needed.
Despite these remarks, there were genuine concerns from friends. Which I addressed with well-researched facts.
Tesla has 141 charging stations in the UK as of this writing, and more coming on line monthly. Along with other providers like Grid Serve, Instavolt, Pod Point, Osprey, Ionity, and even BP and Shell are building charging stations.
The most important charging solution for me is home charging. Roughly Sixty percent of all houses in the UK have the capability to charge at home. (Google search). Every morning, I have a full charge or a range of 250+ miles—more than my bladder would allow in one go.
My research included sources like Fully Charged, RSEV, Electric Vehicle Man and Now You Know. I attended shows and lectures, and a great resource was FairCharge, headed by Quentin Willson. I recommend "Little Book Of EV Myths" for anyone interested.
Driving the Tesla Model 3 Highland is a revelation. The car is silent, with just tire noise. There are no gear changes, making overtaking simple with instant acceleration. The regenerative braking puts energy back into the battery, and you can control client, navigate, security and more from your phone. Charging at home using Octopus Energy’s Intelligent Tariff costs 7p per kWh between 23:30 and 05:30, which translates to about 1.7p per mile—a fantastic rate.
Controls are often criticised, but I find them intuitive. The two main differences from conventional cars are the forward and reverse selectors, which are on the screen—just slide up to go forward, down to reverse, and press 'P' to park. It’s simple and futuristic. The indicators on the steering wheel took some getting used to, especially at roundabouts, but after five months, I prefer them over traditional stalks. The uncluttered cockpit, designed for a generation familiar with iPads and iPhones, is a joy.
Forward and reverse. Indicators left and right.
If I could speak to Elon Musk, I’d praise his dedication to his dreams and ask how he can land booster rockets but still struggle with getting automatic windscreen wipers to work perfectly. However, Tesla’s “over the air updates” mean that this issue will likely be fixed anytime. Last major update came with a surprise automatic boot release, new graphics screen graphics, Auditable, Spotify and more. And all for free. The car get continuous improvements with over the air updates.I haven’t used a Tesla Supercharger in the past six months because my car’s 250-mile range is more than sufficient for my needs, eliminating any range anxiety.
The silent ride is something I love. I don’t need a loud engine to feel speed or to announce my presence. Acceleration is incredible. For die-hard petrol enthusiasts, the new sound of speed is silence.
I may seem like a Tesla fanboy, but I am truly an electric car enthusiast. Using Octopus Energy, which distributes only green energy, I support sustainable energy wholeheartedly.
I hope you enjoyed reading this blog and find the links and information useful. Disclaimer: I am not a professional journalist or an expert on electric cars, just an individual enjoying my Tesla Model 3 Highland.
