Tesla began a revolution in the electric vehicle industry. Starting with a single model to becoming the world’s leading electric vehicle supplier, the journey of Tesla is truly an incredible one.
If you don’t own one of Tesla’s electric vehicles, you are definitely missing out on a futuristic driving experience! However, there are a few things you need to know before buying a Tesla Electric vehicle.
What to Know Before Buying a Tesla Electric Vehicle
Before buying a Tesla, you need to know about different Tesla models available in the market.
Moreover, you should know where to buy a Tesla electric vehicle and how to charge a Tesla’s battery. You should also know the features Tesla incorporates in their cars or available as an upgrade.
1. Where to Buy a Tesla
There are two ways to buy a Tesla electric vehicle: either go to Tesla’s official website or visit their in-person stores.
In both cases, you can only order and not buy on the spot. Tesla sells more than 200,000 cars each year.
Tesla’s Website
You can check out Tesla’s range of different models and trims on its website. Moreover, you can also look for the feature of Tesla’s Design Studio on their website.
It allows you to virtually customize your selected model as per your preferences.
In-Store Purchase
There are about 160 Tesla showrooms in the US Head over to the store nearest to you, explore the different models available there in person, and then place an order.
Test Drive
You can walk into a Tesla showroom for a test drive or schedule a test-drive appointment for later. But what if there are no Tesla showrooms nearby? Well, you still have two options.
- The first option is attending test drive events held across the country. You can find the details of upcoming test-drive events on Tesla’s website.
- The second option is returning the car within the first three days of purchase; technically, it just means you test drive after buying the car and return it if it doesn’t fit your expectations.
Check How Much Money Do You Save with a Tesla Electric Car?
2. How to Charge a Tesla’s Battery
If you plan to buy a Tesla, a major factor to consider is the time and cost to charge your Tesla vehicle. While you need a few minutes to fill up the tanks of gas-powered vehicles, charging an electric car takes much more time.
Hence, don’t think you can top up your Tesla on the way to work as you do with a gasoline-powered car.
The following are the two key ways to charge a Tesla electric vehicle.
Tesla Supercharging Stations
You can charge your car at the Supercharging stations introduced by Teslaacross numerous interstates and locations in the USA.
A supercharger refers to a 480-volt direct current technology used to charge electric vehicles. Tesla operates over 30,000 Tesla superchargers, making it one of the largest global charging networks.
The time required to charge an electric car depends upon the battery’s size and the speed of the charging point. It can be as little as 30 minutes or take longer than 12 hours.
You can fully charge an electric car with a 60kWh battery in 8 hours, using a 7kW charging point. A 15-minute charge can give you about 200 miles of driving range.
The cost of charging Tesla’s Model S or X at supercharging stations is typically around $0.25 per KW after January 2017.
Tesla cars bought before January 2017 can be charged for free. The same cost applies to the Model 3 too.
Home Charging Installation
Another way to charge your Tesla is to set up a charging station at home. It can be costly, so you should expect a figure of around $700 or so. You can buy a wall connector or a mobile connector.
The speed of both kinds of home charging equipment varies from car to car and the available power supply.
Wall connectors
A Tesla Wall Connector is the fastest way to charge your battery at home or office. You can enjoy a range of up to 44 miles after charging for an hour.
All you have to do is order the wall connector online and hire a Tesla-certified electrician to install it.
Mobile Adapter
Don’t want to go through the hassle of installing a wall connector? Use the 20-foot mobile connector and NEMA 5-15 adapter provided with the car.
You can connect it with a standard three-prong 120-volt outlet that will cater toa range of 2 to 3 miles per hour of charge.
If you commute for 30 to 40 miles per day, let the battery charge overnight, and you will be good to go the next day.
You can also get an adapter bundle to charge with a 240-volt outlet and enjoy a range of 30 miles per hour charged.
Read What Happens if Your Tesla Runs Out of Battery?
3. What Models Are Available?
Currently, there are four different Tesla electric vehicle models available in the market. Each model has several different versions to choose from.
Moreover, Tesla also has a few models in the making, all set to be released in the upcoming years.
When buying a Tesla electric vehicle, make sure you know all the available options in detail. We have highlighted the specs of each model below.
Model S
The Model S was the first model Tesla’s line ofelectric vehicles. It was announced in 2009 and released in 2012 as the first premium five-door hatchback.
You can get this model at a starting price of $89,990 / £91,980.
Earlier, the two versions of Model S were called the standard and performance trims. Recently, Tesla hasupgraded the versions of this model to Long-Range and Plaid.
The all-new Long-Range trim of Model S has dual motors, offering you a top speed of 155 miles mph and a range of 405 miles. Plus, it allows you to go from 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds.
The tri-motor plaid trim is even more efficient, with a range of upto 396 miles on a single charge and a top speed of 200 mph.
Moreover, the plaid version can go from 0-60 in 1.99 seconds. Tesla also introduced a plaid plus version that offered 520+ miles.
However, it was soon scrapped when the company realized that people did not need more than 400 miles.
Read How Much Does a Tesla Weigh?
Model 3
Tesla’s Model 3, a four-door sedan, was released in 2017. With a starting price of $41,990 / £40,990, this model is much more affordable than the previous model.
There are three versions of this model currently available in the market. Here are the specifications of each trim.
| Trims | Transmission | Estimated Miles | Acceleration (0 to 60) |
| Standard | Rear Wheel Drive | 262 miles | 5.3 seconds |
| Long-Range | All-Wheel Drive | 353 miles | 4.2 seconds |
| Performance | All-Wheel Drive | 315 miles | 3.1 seconds |
Model X
Tesla’s Model X is a classy SUV with impressive features like rear falcon wings door, huge touchscreen, and different seating configurations rates (ranging from 5 to 7) available at different prices.
The design of this model is similar to the first and original Tesla model.
The starting price of Model X is $99,990 / £98,980. This model is also available in two different versions: long-range and plaid.
The long-range model offers 360 miles and accelerates from 0 to 62 mph within 3.8 seconds. Comparatively, the tri-motor plaid trim offers 340 miles and goes from 0 to 62 mph in just 2.5 seconds.
Read Tesla Electric Car Model X Versus Model Y
Model Y
Like the Model X, the Model Y is also a compact and spacious SUV. However, it is priced lower than X to make it more affordable to the crowd.
With a starting price of $54,990 / £54,990, Model Y is definitely an excellent deal for everyone out there. Tesla unveiled it in 2019 and launched the first Model Y car in 2020.
This compact SUV was originally going to have four versions, but only two different versions are currently available: Long-range and performance models.
They are either a rear-wheel drive or a dual-motor all-wheel drive. The low-tier trims, including the standard range, were dropped by Tesla over time.
The long-range offers 315 miles with the ability to go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, while the performance trim allows 303 miles with an acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.
Read Which States Offer Incentives for Electric Cars in the USA?
Cybertruck
In 2019, Tesla unveiled Cybertruck as its first electric vehicle in the pick-up truck format. The unveiling was a great success, and thousands of people booked their orders.
The launch was planned for late 2021, but the production was delayed due to supply chain problems.
The Roadster is now expected to hit the market in 2023 with three different versions: Single, dual, and tri-motor.
- The single motor cybertruck will be a rear-wheel-drive that can travel above 250 miles. You can go from 0 to 60 mph in less than 6.5 seconds.
- The dual-motor is an all-wheel-drive that will allow you to cover more than 300 miles and take you from 0 to 60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds.
- The tri-motor cybertruck is also an all-wheel drive. It will offer you more than 500 miles and let you accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 2.9 seconds.
The starting price of cybertruck is set at $39,000. Characterized by an angular design, stainless steel body, and armored glass, cybertruck holds a storage capacity of 100 cubic feet and a towing capacity of more than 7,500 lbs.
Roadster
Tesla unveiled the Roadster concept in November 2017, intending to make it the fastest electric car on the roads. It was supposed to roll off the production lines in 2020.
However, the production was delayed, and the new Roadster is expected to be released in 2023.
The Roadster is designed to be a four-seater with a removable glass roof. You can choose between two versions: Roadster and the Founder series.
The reservations are open at a starting price of $200,000. This model promises a top speed of over 250 mph and a range of 620 miles. Plus, it will allow you to go from 0 to 60 mph in just 1.9 seconds.
Read How Many Watts Does An Electric Car Use?
4. What Features Are Available in a Tesla?
Autopilot refers to an advanced driver assistance system with super-cool features to reduce your workload as a driver.
The system encompasses the feature of traffic-aware cruise control that aligns your speed with the surrounding vehicle. Moreover, it also offers an auto-steer option to help you steer within your lane.
All Tesla models delivered after 2019 come with autopilot as a standard. Those who got their deliveries without the autopilot can upgrade their Tesla by choosing one out of the two available upgrade packages: Enhanced Autopilot and full self-driving capability.
- With Enhanced Autopilot upgrade, Tesla owners can avail features like auto lane change, auto-park, summon, and enhanced summon.
- The full-self driving upgrade includes all the features of autopilot and enhanced autopilot versions. This upgrade will cost you around $6000 or $8000.
The autopilot features do not make the car completely autonomous; some degree of driver control and supervision is required at all times.
Other features available in Tesla electric vehicles include karaoke, bioweapon defense mode, touchscreens, streaming services, and sentry mode.
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Final Words
Complete information about a vehicle is necessary to make a suitable buying decision. Therefore, you should learn about different sources, models, features, and the ways to charge Tesla electric vehicles.
Some other essentials to learn before buying a Tesla electric vehicle include the procedures and cost of maintenance, the details of buying a used Tesla, and the composition of total ownership cost.
After collecting all necessary information about Tesla electric vehicles, you can match them to your commuting needs and choose the right model for yourself.
My name is Matthew, staying in Seattle, Washington. Electric Vehicles (Electric Cars & Electric bikes) caught my attention for the last few years and my love for electric cars and bikes is everlasting. I spend many of my weekends traveling to various places all over various cities with my electric vehicle (e-bike and electric car). Here I am sharing my expertise, experience, and invaluable information about electric cars and electric bikes. Check out more.