Ever wondered what it really costs to drive a Tesla across California? A recent road trip from Northern to Southern California by a Tesla owner has sparked a lively debate, and the results might surprise you. Let's dive in!
This story begins with a TikTok video from Tesla Blondie (@tesla.blondie), a regular poster about her electric vehicle experiences. In the video, she's cruising in her Tesla with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged. The video highlights two key aspects of her journey: the total cost of charging her EV and the total miles covered using FSD.
According to the video's "Roadtrip Stats," the trip spanned 485 miles and took 10 hours. The total cost for charging her Tesla? A mere $54.57. Tesla Blondie seems pleased, captioning her video with a playful "485 miles I didn’t drive," accompanied by a tongue-out emoji, a nod to the convenience of FSD.
But here's where it gets controversial... The comments section quickly filled with varied opinions. Some viewers were taken aback by the vehicle's speed, with one commenter expressing concern about the slow pace: "43 mph on the freeway would drive me insane." Another commenter offered a counterpoint, suggesting that FSD (Supervised) makes these slower highway speeds more bearable.
Let's talk about FSD. Several people shared their thoughts on Tesla's 12.41 and 12.5 FSD (Supervised) updates, particularly the improvements to the "steering wheel nag." These updates aim to reduce the need for constant physical interaction, though human supervision remains crucial. Tesla's in-cabin cameras play a vital role in monitoring driver attentiveness. According to the Model 3 owner’s manual, the cabin camera doesn't require full visibility of the driver's eyes to monitor attentiveness, and even sunglasses shouldn't impede the system.
And this is the part most people miss... The effectiveness of the attentiveness monitoring system has sparked debate. One TikToker posted a video claiming success in driving with sunglasses on while looking at their phone, suggesting they'd "outsmarted" the system. However, experiences shared on Tesla Owners Online tell a different story. Many users reported that their Teslas would prompt them to put their hands on the steering wheel while wearing sunglasses, regardless of whether they were watching the road. Removing the sunglasses, they said, stopped the nagging.
No Hands On The Wheel? Others questioned the portrayal of FSD. One commenter noted, "Don’t forget the naggings. Tesla will nag you to death to pay attention. Nice advertising though." Another mentioned their test drive experience, where the car consistently prompted them to apply pressure to the steering wheel.
The Cost Factor. The cost of the trip also raised eyebrows. One commenter exclaimed, "54 dollars [is] crazy. My mom’s hybrid can go 600 miles for only 30 dollars." Another simply asked, "Why is your charging so expensive?" For comparison, one user mentioned completing the same journey in less than half the time, costing them $130 in gas. Others were shocked by the 10-hour travel time.
What do you think? Did Tesla Blondie's experience change your perception of EV travel? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Do you agree or disagree with the commenters? Let's discuss!
