Experience - Range Anxiety

Rahul Khanna shares his first experiences with range anxiety, and how that did not stop his love for road tripping in Teslas.

I still remember the excitement of our first road trip in our 2018 Tesla Model 3, driving from Charlottesville, Virginia, to Orlando, Florida. It was December, and with winter break upon us, we couldn't wait to hit the road after trading in our 2018 BMW i3.

BMW i3 instead of Tesla Model 3 - what? Why?

You might be wondering why we traded our 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid for the i3, given that I had reserved a Model 3 in 2016. The story began on Memorial Day weekend, when I spotted a brand-new Model 3 on US-29 S and couldn't stop thinking about getting my own. However, after two years, I still had no clue when I would get my Tesla.

Our choice was primarily driven by the convenience of BMW service options compared to the limited Tesla service centers in Virginia. I managed to convince my wife that we should cancel the Model 3 reservation and stick with the i3.

Our first experience with electric vehicle (EV) ownership was eye-opening. We took the i3 on a mini-trip to Fredericksburg, VA, for a party. On the way back, we had to recharge the motorcycle engine to make it back to the DC combo charger in Charlottesville, VA. This adventure exposed the discomfort and impracticality of road-tripping in the i3.

Later, while browsing my Tesla account online, I noticed that the configurator was ready. Realizing I had missed the email invitation from Tesla, I quickly configured the Model 3 and faced the crucial decision: should I cancel the reservation or proceed with the order?

A Stark Contrast

Her response came in the form of a question: "Would we have made it to Fredericksburg and back without having to charge it?" The Model 3's impressive range became its most appealing feature, reminding me of the difference between the 4GB iPod and the 512MB iRiver I once owned – a stark contrast.

That sealed the deal. I paid a commitment fee and eagerly traded in the overpriced BMW i3 for the much-coveted Tesla Model 3.

As we embarked on our first road trip, we drove from Charlottesville, VA to Wilson, NC, stopping at our first Supercharger in Rocky Mount, NC. The stop in Wilson allowed my wife to visit a childhood friend from South Jersey.

The next day, we hit the road again, only to discover the consequences of poor planning when we encountered a long line at the 150 kW Superchargers in Santee, SC. That's when I experienced my first moment of range anxiety. I searched for alternative charging options, but none were close enough. So, we waited.

After about 30 minutes, we plugged in and went to McDonald's for lunch. Ironically, there was a long line there too. It took us another 30 minutes to get our food, which we ate inside the restaurant.

We resumed our journey to Florida, with range anxiety returning as we reduced our speed to conserve battery life. We finally arrived at the Kingsland, GA Supercharger with 30 miles of battery left, only to find another line of Teslas. We waited, plugged in, and walked to a nearby IHOP to recharge ourselves.

That experience taught me never to rely solely on Tesla's mapping logic for charging stops. Instead, I began meticulously planning our trips around charging stations.

Fast forward to today, our Model 3 Performance has taken us on numerous road trips. These adventures convinced me to trade in my 2012 Highlander Hybrid for a 2020 Model X Long Range AWD. We've driven the Model X on several extensive road trips, making the most of our stops around charging stations.

Thanks to the Full Self-Driving (FSD) capabilities and advanced technology in our Teslas, road trips have become a joyous experience we love taking!