Progress | A Tesla Owner Story (Model Y + Solar Panels)

[@nancytekautz1331]

Enjoyed the look back in time.

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

Thank you. It is a very different area for sure ;)

[@techgeektesla]

Dude! Your video creation and editing skills are top notch. You should have 10k subscribers easily. This channel is severely underrated. It takes a unique blend of being tech savvy, having good communication and presentation skills, being driven to publish content on a regular basis, and having the skills and patience to do this type of video editing. Very few people can do it. Keep up the great work. There is no reason you shouldn't be more popular than some of the other creators. I've noticed your ability to iterate and improve your content tremendously over time. Sometimes I stop watching your driving videos due to excessive dialog and conversations that dwindle (tips for you to consider possibly), but this type of content is TOP NOTCH! Bravo.

[@TeslaElonSpaceXFan]

👍

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

Thank you. That is great feedback and such a compliment coming from another creator that I admire! I started thinking to expand beyond FSD testing since others get software updates earlier than I usually do. I made a 2023 'updates' video that gave me some clarity around what I want to do creatively this year. You're correct in the work involved with editing. My goal is to do something like this about once/month. I think that is sustainable from a workload standpoint. Feedback like this is encouragement to keep it going. 😀

[@brianriebedriveselectric]

Great video John & beautiful shots.

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

Growing up in northern MN, we've always had mining in our community. It was a bit nostalgic to go back to that time and see what has changed since then (both in the area where I spent a few childhood years as well as in my life). I haven't done much storytelling in my videos, but think that I'll being incorporating that more. Thank you for the encouragement ;)

[@thomasegeland1847]

Amazing video! This deserves much more attention!

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

Wow, thank you!

[@artklym]

Very nicely done! I like the balance and personal touches. I've had my Model Y for just over a month. I love driving it! I'm a little apprehensive about my first long-distance drive, but I'm confident it will work out fine thanks to Tesla's infrastructure of Superchargers.

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

I was the same until I drove from Eau Claire to Nashville last year. It was about 1600 miles round trip and went off without an issue. Enjoy your MY! Thanks for the compliment ;)

[@charlesking5368]

Nice reminder...I want one...

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

It hasn't been a perfect vehicle, but I've really been enjoying it. Thanks for the watch!

[@jaydenbomback6141]

Very well done! Keep it up! 😁

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

Thank you! 😁

[@Geckogold]

I used to drive a 2017 Chevy Volt. Much like you, it was my "transitional" vehicle to get me used to driving on electric without the range anxiety worries. I would've been fine buying say, an Equinox plug-in hybrid. But alas, GM abandoned their awesome Voltec platform (I think a Voltec-powered Equinox would've sold well, if the Rav4 Prime's sales and demand are anything to go by), and while the Chevy Bolt seemed nice, I wanted something a little more than that, especially for long range travel. I ordered a Model Y Performance at the beginning of June 2020. Like you, I was expecting to get it in September at best. So I was pleasantly surprised to find out Tesla had it ready before the end of the month.

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

We test drove the RAV4 hybrid, too, knowing that it used the same proven hybrid system as the Prius, which has been in production for years. I ultimately knew I wouldn't be content unless I went fully electric, since it eliminates a lot of the maintenance (oil, spark plugs) of the gas engine component. That is interesting that we shared a similar journey. Thanks for sharing that!

[@mikeoberg1]

Nice video! I like your emphasis on progress and your transition to EVs via PHEVs. I also got a PHEV in 2017, a Prius Prime. It served as a great transition car to my 2023 Tesla M3LR that I received in December. I recently drove about 2000 miles on a roadtrip and am looking forward to more roadtrips this year. On my roadtrip, I showed my car to my BIL, a longtime Porcshe owner, and let him drive it and see me charge it at his house while staying there. He really liked the acceleration and cornering and decided that he would be interested in a new Tesla when they make a smaller car. The turning radius of the M3 is a little long for a true sports car and he didn't need the trunk space of the 3, either.

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

I've driven the Taycan 4S and have to say it is a very nice car. Super customizable ride experience and excellent acceleration/handling for the little bit that I drove. There's much to love about that brand. Thanks for the watch and sharing your story with the Prius transition as well!

[@bensontek]

Nice commentary

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

I appreciate it!

[@patrickwalsh467]

Great cinematic effort here. I suggest you submit this video to a film festival or two. I too owned a Volt like yours. It was an awesome car and I traded it for a new Model 3. The Model 3 was traded in on my Model Y last Tuesday. Best car I’ve ever had. Can you do a video on your tire/wheel combination?

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

Thank you. It's a different video style from my usual, but really a joy to create the story and put it together. For tire/wheel, I have an older video on my channel - wheels are Enkei Phantom 19" and tires are Continental VikingContact7 winter tires. I swap them out with the stock 20" induction wheels for summer which makes seasonal tires super easy to do.

[@patrickwalsh467]

@@JohnVanDeVoort I’ll watch it.

[@jonnyroon]

Beautiful. Just beautiful!

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

I enjoyed sharing my story and decision making process going into the EV world when making this video. Thank you very much for the positive comment :)

[@TeslaElonSpaceXFan]

❤

[@TheShmann]

Great video. Keep up the good work.

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

Thanks, will do!

[@jimspielman8042]

Great video! lot to think about.

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

Thanks for watching!

[@handsomecaveman]

Inspiring!

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

I appreciate that. Thanks so much.

[@egidiomeola]

You did a good thing this is how you save a ice car by electric

[@ImSurizon]

Great video great production. However, while I really enjoy driving a Tesla, love the engineering, and think it’s the future, we’re just as reliant on electricity as gas. If shit hit the fan, electricity is just as vulnerable (if not more) than gas.

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

You're absolutely correct. Solar (and/or wind) + battery storage helps to tip the scales towards self-reliance, but doesn't guarantee it. In my situation, our home PV system generates about 75% of the annual electrical need for household use + EV charging. I'd like to expand it at some point in the future, but still deciding. The advantage to electricity is its potential for production at the point-of-use (in our case, our home).

[@jeffberwick]

Nice video. People who believe in self reliance and a sustainable future for humanity are....guess what- environmentalists! It's so funny how no one wants to use "that word" though they admit that they care about what we are doing to the world we live in.

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

I struggle with that word to describe me, but only because I don't follow more of an environmentalist lifestyle. I do care about the world in general and being sustainable and more energy independent. Perhaps it's more of a journey towards becoming that, or being somewhere on a spectrum of environmental consciousness that leads to more awareness and decisions. I'm not sure. My true motivation started with the car's technology and performance and is now that I very much enjoy burning less gasoline in daily life.

[@beelust4312]

I joined ur thinking January 2023.

[@JohnVanDeVoort]

It took me many years... and gallons of gas ;)