Driving A 1st Gen Tesla Model S Across The Country In 2024! What It’s Like Going Back In Time

[@KyleConner]

The team that deserves all of the credit!!

[@RicoKen2000]

Alex is a steely eyed TSLA man ..this team worked the hardest , and didn't get enough credit . Good recount, now I know why there wasn't as much video from this team :) . Its amazing to see how far the product & charging network has improved since 2014 when the first MS went cross country utilizing the TSLA super chargers . Would like to hear about Kyles drive up from San Diego . Also do the same OOS spec tests with this car 10% & range as baselinie - could be a Branden Flasch show down he laments his charging curve daily .

[@AmericanRoads]

11:57 Lol at TJ's description of the EQS, "That thing looks so cool.......... from the inside." 😂🤣

[@newscoulomb3705]

This was a great run. As someone who is still road tripping an 8 year old EV, I can say that trip was definitely a challenge.

[@ab-tf5fl]

Curious how a Bolt would have done compared to the old Model S.

[@newscoulomb3705]

@ab-tf5fl Based on my estimates, it would have been very close. I'm reasonably sure I could do the run in around 60 hours, plus or minus based on conditions and traffic.

[@nycameleon]

If I was doing cross country OG Model S, it would include nice meals with longer charging stops, and hotel with a charger so you could do 3 hour drives a few times.

[@Billyhime]

I was kinda disappointed nobody was waiting for this team when they finally made it.

[@AlexEVRepair]

Can't really blame them, we rolled in early in the morning and I'm sure everyone else really wanted to get some sleep! - Alex; Team Old Model S

[@MADAmechanical]

Out of spec is pretty good at predicting range, charging times etc, so I would rather see them give the slower cars a head start to make for a better finish and everyone getting there at similar times.

[@nevco8774]

All cars on the trip were cool. People have to have a perspective about old electric cars. That particular Tesla wasn't old, it was a rather well preserved slightly aged car. Imagine driving a vintage electric car like original Detroit Electric or a Baker or a Studebaker Electric. That would be a chore! Imagine how difficult was to make it in 1907 Thomas Flyer in the race from New York to Paris! The most excited about race was Jordan being impressed by new Tesla Model 3 he eventually got a lease. To me the most fun would be if Jordan would drive a classic car, let's say a 1932 Jordan Motor Car company vehicle, yes a brand with same name.

[@junehanzawa5165]

Great job guys. Thanks for doing all that long and hard driving on the old Model S, with no cruise or lane keeping assist, for us all to see just how far EV's have come in just a decade. The fact that the Taycan was 17 hours ahead of the old Model S, but only 2 hours behind an ICE car, really scares a ton of people out there.

[@georgepelton5645]

Dan says he would not be enthusiastic about taking a 2014 Chevy Spark across the county. I can't blame him, but that reminded me of two Europeans that took an iMIEV across the US circa 2011. There were few if any Chademo chargers, so most charging was with the 3.3 kW on-vehicle charger. They stopped at random houses and asked to plug into an outlet. One time they tried this it was an Amish home with no electricity! With only 16 kWh,, the iMIEV could only go about 60 miles between charges. At least they had the sense to sleep while the car was charging 😂

[@dandaigle4546]

you guys were super troopers, Kyle should give you all 6 months free charging after this was all done

[@chengcao418]

this og model S has lifetime free charging tho, but Kyle definitely should give them something as kudos

[@BruceAMah]

Team Old Model S rocks! I've done road-tripping and Supercharger-hunting with my 2015 Model S 85D so I know the drill with this vintage of cars. Respect to you guys, you did a great job!

[@georgepelton5645]

I agree with TJ that an old Model S can still be a good for family road trips. When our 2015 Model S 85D was 7 years old, we could still take our normal trips with one hour lunch and dinner stops, and a few 10-15 min rest stops every 1-2 hours. The rest stops were for our need, not the car's need. We did make all of the stops at superchargers and that enabled us to still never wait for the car to charge. I think you have to be careful when buying an old Model S for road tripping though. Some of them had their charge speeds slowed down more than others. Mine was one that had the less drastic reduction in charge speed. Based on the (very brief) 120 kW peak speeds that this team got, I believe their car also had the less drastic charge speed reduction, despite its very high mileage.

[@walterbooth534]

Time marches on. Using the old Tesla was the right decision to show how EV’s are advancing. Thanks guys for your true dedication and support.

[@danburkland]

In the next cross country race these guys deserve to be in a contender next time.

[@JamesRussoMillas]

I think they bring up a good point about being able to sleep when you stop so frequently. These guys were the MVP for sure, had no idea the Model S tapers so hard.

[@newscoulomb3705]

33:50 I mapped out the route for my 2017 Chevy Bolt EV (built and delivered in 2016), and the trip would definitely be doable with today's CCS infrastructure. My back of the napkin math puts my trip time to cross the country on I-90 at just under 60 hours barring any major mishaps. The BMW i3, Chevy Spark EV, and Hyundai Ioniq would definitely struggle with the range, though.

[@teslatim78]

Spotted Tesla in the House🎉

[@Longsnowsm]

These guys made the trip look easy. You worked like a well oiled machine with your range, stops, and routine. Congrats and well done!

[@computernay]

Kudos to this team, lol! It was a really good idea to show how far the tech has come in the last decade or so. Really good for anyone out there considering buying an older model S.

[@georgepelton5645]

Quick correction: The Model S was not the first DC fast charging car. In the modern EV era, the Mitsubishi iMIEV was the first I can think of, followed by the Nissan Leaf, and only then the Tesla Model S. Early EVs, 100 years ago, were also DC charged, but I don't know if they could be called "fast" or not.

[@karlwolf2]

What electric car do you drive Isaiah?

[@jihangaban]

i had to watch this at 0.75 speed out of respect of these guys. 🙂

[@markfitzpatrick6692]

I would like to see a non Tesla race . Like I.d. 4 Ayria equinox

[@TheReal_JG]

I believe the reason they include Teslas is because it's pretty much the benchmark of all EVs. Chargingwise, the new benchmark is now the Porsche, but the charging reliability is still in favor of Tesla. At least all GM cars can charge on a Supercharger.

[@fjalics]

Maybe when GM reintroduces the Bolt, you can do another old vs new test.😢😅 Sounds like 10 years later, that old S could absolutely do second car duty.

[@newscoulomb3705]

It's too bad they didn't want an 8 year old Chevy Bolt EV for this test. I would have taken the time off work.

[@georgepelton5645]

@@newscoulomb3705 They had a great lineup of cars, but a Bolt EV would be a *great* addition. I like the idea of new vs old Bolt EV after the new "Ultium Bolt" comes out.

[@ab-tf5fl]

For what it's worth, the old Model S averaged about 50 mph. I've averaged similar with a Bolt before charger-hopping down I-5, but that's with mild weather and infrastructure in the right places. Doing a Bolt on this trip, the deep charges needed to get through eastern Montana and Wyoming would have been brutal.

[@newscoulomb3705]

@ab-tf5fl Yes. Under ideal conditions, the Bolt EV can maintain close to 53 mph travel time including charging stops. Realistically, it would be a little slower on this run, but the thing to remember is that the Bolt EV also has charging options on I-90 that every one else would avoid (e.g., 62.5 kW ChargePoint and 150 kW Freewire locations). Those would help to bridge the gaps.

[@fjalics]

@@ab-tf5fl In theory, should be able to charge on superchargers with the adapter. I got one for my wife. I have to go test it.

[@mikerpm4x4]

Now do old Model S vs ID4 Ayria, BZ4X, Equinox, Mache

[@junehanzawa5165]

LOL. The fact that you're comparing, and rightly so, a 12 year old Tesla to brand new models from legacy automakers says a lot. Their disregard for electrification really placed them far behind. Porsche and the Hyundai/Kia group were the only ones to think ahead once Tesla proved to everyone around the world that the future had arrived. So they're the closest, and even inching ahead, until Tesla converts all their models to 800V and higher, starting with the Model X and S in their next refresh.

[@polestar7235]

What is OG?

[@nicholasyoung2794]

You knew you were going to be last, if there decent places to eat might as well take longer to charge, but eat well

[@nicholasyoung2794]

and maybe take a nap between the longer drives between charges

[@markfitzpatrick6692]

The Nissan leaf beat the model s to market in 2011. I am not saying it is better than model s but it was 1st not the 80,000 model s. And they had no supercharger network

[@junehanzawa5165]

They clearly said "the first modern EV that could fast charge," which was over 120kW and 260 miles of range, versus your 2011 leaf with it's tiny 24kW battery, a mere 73 of range (and only if you kept your speeds low, not highway speeds) and horrible fast charging, which could barely be called "fast." That's not a modern EV in any way, shape, or form. That was barely more than a compliance car and a dream of Carlos Ghosn and his lead engineer.

[@YeOldeTraveller]

Still missing Francie!

[@Swapnil638]

This assignment was cruel 😂 I don’t think an old model is necessary in future races