A Tesla Model Y owner, Alex Gayer, embarked on a 3,605-mile journey across 13 states in the United States, with five passengers, a running mini-fridge, and frequent air conditioning use. The journey, starting from Central Florida, passed through Chicago, Western New York, and the East Coast, and was documented by Gayer on social media platform X.
The driver reported spending $421.84 on charging throughout the trip, translating to an average cost of $0.12 per mile. However, some drivers noted that the same trip in a gas-powered car would have required an average of 30.0 mpg to match the cost, given the average gas price of $3.516 per gallon at the time. Gayer also admitted to spending 10 hours and 58 minutes waiting at charging stations during the trip.
Despite the reported efficiency figures, some drivers argued that gas cars would still be a more practical choice for long trips due to cost and waiting times at charging stations. The post on X received more than 1,600 comments, with some suggesting renting a more spacious and fuel-efficient gas-powered vehicle like the Chrysler Pacifica minivan for similar trips.
The pros and cons of electric vehicles (EVs) and gasoline-powered vehicles were also discussed. While EVs offer advantages such as lower maintenance costs, reduced CO2 emissions, and performance benefits, they have higher initial costs, require more frequent tire and brake replacements, and suffer from range anxiety due to limited charging infrastructure. Gasoline-powered vehicles, on the other hand, have a well-developed refueling infrastructure, faster refueling times, and lower initial costs, but are associated with carbon emissions, higher repair costs, and varying fuel prices.
