The Tesla Math - How the heck does THIS make sense??

I was recently asked if I would write "My Story" for Tesla.  Naturally, I agreed.  I didn't receive any money or "gifts" for doing it, I just did it to toss my two cents into the ring.  After perusing many of the other "stories" on their website, I decided that the value perspective was under-represented, so I took that approach.  I call it "The Tesla Math".  I didn't go into the actual math there but merely alluded to it-- which didn't go unnoticed by some.  So, for them (and for you) HERE is The Tesla Math:

RECALL UPDATE: Seatbelt Safety Check

All Model S owners should have received the notice below.  I don't think it's a big deal (Tesla being their typical proactive selves have recalled every car ever built because ONE car showed a possible problem) but there's no harm in a once-over.  

Click through for details:

The Somerset Supercharger MUST-DO Detour

With so many of you hitting the roads this holiday season, I realize a lot of folks might be traveling through my "neck of the woods" for the first time.  Even if it isn't your first time, indulge me in a little description of what we call the "Must-Do Detour" between the Somerset, PA and Hagerstown, MD Superchargers.

Yes-- yes, I'll admit this would be a far superior excursion in warmer weather.  But even in winter I think you'll find it worthwhile and starkly beautiful.

Where All the Cars Are Above Average

My parents and I would spend road trips listening to Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" to break up long stretches of music.  As a restless youngster, the tales from Lake Wobegon were always a welcome respite from my father's Willie Nelson or yet another round of Peter, Paul and Mary complaining about their lemon tree love.  In Lake Wobegon, everything was pretty idyllic despite also being able to prop up Keillor's local news with some entertaining stories.

I'm beginning to think that perhaps Fremont, California is the EV movement's Lake Wobegon-- or perhaps the entire auto industry's (especially as the Volkswagen diesel scandal grows).  If you're at all familiar with NPR you're probably really scratching your head about now... I know, it seems like a very random association.  Let me explain...

Baby Steps - Building Up Tesla's Pittsburgh Presence

In April, I announced in a post that an official Tesla Pittsburgh presence was on the way.  

In May, I introduced the first (known) employee of that store, Katie (Hi Katie).  

Now, as school starts back up and the days get shorter-- and the new team has had a chance to get their feet under them (and a cooler display car!)-- I thought it would be appropriate to update the blog with some pictures of the Ross Park Mall kiosk and where Tesla goes from here.

A Penny For My Thoughts?

As soon as I knew we were getting a Model S, I started this blog.  My wife was tired of my blathering on about our upcoming car in the months while we waited for it to go into production and I needed an outlet.  It's my understanding there are a number of other car blogs that have been birthed by similar compulsions.

Since Serena arrived, I've tried to be candid and open about my various thoughts on the car and have reviewed a number of accessories here and there.  My goal was to help nudge you-- yes, YOU-- off the fence railing and into the ownership of your own Tesla.  And now... the best nudge yet!

EVannex ASLK Review: A Surprising Value... If You're Into That Sort of Thing

Christmas has been getting harder and harder every year-- not for the kids, but for the adults.  We're all capable and impatient enough to buy whatever we want, when we want it.  So what do you get people who don't leave anything on their wish list uncrossed off?  For years it seemed we would panic buy various gift detritus like we're on some kind of timed shopping game show-- just so we have something to wrap and put under the tree-- annoyed for the trouble of getting it there.

I think EVannex has found themselves with the same problem.

Putting Down Roots

I can't take all the credit, but I will take just a teeny-tiny bit:

Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce to you the newest member of Tesla Motors and one of our very own PITTSBURGH representatives, KATIE!

 

I had the pleasure of talking with her this afternoon (as my Twitter followers know) and left with the confirmation that we really need to start formalizing what we do here a little bit.  SOooo.....

Pittsburgh Location Soon?

Well... look what I found...  A possible store coming to Ross Park Mall?

 I think I have something worth clicking through for....

Let's Make a DEAL!

After a soft launch and rumored great prices... the OFFICIAL Tesla CPO sales website has gone LIVE.  If you've pondered getting a Tesla but found the price steep...  THIS is the moment you've been waiting for:

http://www.teslamotors.com/models/preowned

Now GET out there and get yourself a DEAL!

Hat Tip to a Job Well Done

UPDATE:  It appears the video discussed here has been taken off YouTube.  HOWEVER, it has been reposted on VIMEO.  Link after the click...

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My day job is as a video editor and I'm always happy to find and applaud the work of my colleagues.  This video (by Cinesaurus) is just one of many on their YouTube channel that is super-creative and well executed.  Not only that, but the underlying message is part of the revolution I've long hoped for-- which I'll explain.  

While at first the Tesla connection might not seem obvious... WATCH and you'll find yourself smiling soon enough.  Click through for the video: It. Is.  EPIC.

All A-Twitter: Winter of Discontent Part 2

UPDATED 4/22/15:

As I write this, there remains a small patch of snow clinging to Winter in my front yard.  It's April tomorrow, but this doily sized clump is being stubborn.  It has not been an easy Winter for us.  Changes and (admittedly) some first-world problems have tried to consume our good cheer.  TRIED.

Ah, but you're here because you're curious about the car.  I know, I know... I will be getting to that in a lot more detail soon.  For now, let's flash through the last month or so since the last post to get you all caught up and preview what's to come.

The Ice Queen

We'd ventured out after a morning snow storm to attend a Super Bowl party-- sorry, to watch "The Big Game"-- figuring the worst road conditions of the day were past us.  Even if they weren't, my expectation was for the possibility freezing rain and black ice-- so the question was:  Take the AWD Subaru on all season tires...  or take the RWD Tesla on its winter Nokians?

Reasoning that traction would be better for turning and stopping with the winter rubber compound tires than with the AWD alone, we took the Tesla.  And we almost didn't come home with it.  

Check out the video after the jump.

Elon Musk on The Simpsons

You can catch the episode here (at some point):  http://www.fox.com/the-simpsons/full-episodes

https://twitter.com/TeslaPittsburgh/status/559354038178033665

Get Your Juice Loose

The gas crowd has a leg up on us.  There, I said it.  Every time they go to fuel up their cars they find each dispenser to be road-accessible, surrounded by ample room to park and the hose on the dispenser can reach either side of their car.  But wait-- don't go trading in your Tesla just yet!  You can still run over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house... just remember to pack this:

Whether you're digging behind bushes to access your parents' dryer outlet or carefully inching your Model S close to rusted farm equipment in hopes of reaching an ancient welder's plug at your crazy uncle's place, remember that the juice you use is cheaper than gas and the car is a lot more fun!  What you need then is a way to bring the power more conveniently to your car... and this is the solution.

July Trip 2014: PART 5 - A Backward Glimpse

I love traveling.  Going places, seeing things, meeting people...  It really stimulates the grey matter "more betterer" (as we say in the TV biz) than just about anything else.  And yet, waking up on the morning I get to go home is always a special feeling.

A mixture of melancholy for the adventure drawing to a close, anxiety for the potential travel tribulations, excitement for the last vestiges of discovery the trip might reveal and the hope of my next night's sleep to be.. in.. my... OWN BED.  Oh yes, truly: Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home.

Waiting down by the warehouse, in the dark, was our ride home.  Fully charged, ready, and finally...it was time to go.  We were going home.  HOME.