It was my birthday in mid-May, an occasion I don’t usually make a big public announcement about. Birthdays can feel a bit self-centered, which is why you’ve probably never seen a birthday blog post from me before. But this year is different! While this isn’t primarily about my birthday, it’s definitely sparked by what happened because of it: I had the incredible opportunity to drive a Tesla Model S for a whole week!
Those who know me well are aware of my long-standing admiration for Teslas. This started years before my role at Valley Vision, leading our work in the Clean Economy and my involvement with the region’s Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) Collaborative. So, this birthday gift, orchestrated by my wonderful husband and some conspiratorial teenagers, was truly exceptional.
I had a brief Tesla encounter about four years prior at a ride-and-drive event in Napa. But this was a full seven days with the Model S. What were my key takeaways from this extended experience?
- Mind-Blowing Acceleration: For someone like me, who honed their driving skills in the assertive style of New Jersey, the Tesla Model S acceleration is a dream come true. It’s genuinely head-snapping if you decide to unleash it. (I even gave CEO Bill Mueller a demo one day, and he was equally impressed!)
Meg Arnold smiling in front of a Tesla Model S, highlighting her week-long experience with the electric vehicle.
-
Autopilot: A Glimpse into the Future: The Autopilot feature is genuinely remarkable and offers a real taste of the autonomous driving future. Its performance was exceptional across various conditions. I tested Autopilot on surface streets in Davis and Sacramento, on highways, merging onto the Causeway during rush hour, in rainy conditions, in both heavy and fluctuating traffic, and even on Highway 49 up to Grass Valley as the road transitioned from a four-lane divided highway to a winding, hilly two-lane road.
-
Surprise Lane Changes with Autopilot: Autopilot’s ability to change lanes on the freeway was initially startling, discovered quite by accident. I activated my turn signal to change lanes, intending to disengage Autopilot as I thought necessary. Feeling the car initiate the lane change on its own was more thrilling than I anticipated! But after the initial surprise, it became simply amazing and incredibly convenient.
-
Overnight Home Charging (Slow but Steady): Plugging the Tesla Model S directly into standard household power overnight does charge the car, but at a leisurely pace. We typically gained about 30-40 miles of range over a roughly 10-hour charging period. If I were to own a Tesla, installing a dedicated home charger would be essential for achieving near-full overnight replenishment of the battery.
-
Tesla Superchargers: Convenient and Efficient: Tesla Superchargers are fantastic – user-friendly and efficient. The Natomas Supercharger became a regular stop for me, and I also utilized the Rocklin Supercharger during my trip to Grass Valley. The Supercharger network significantly alleviates charging concerns for Tesla drivers.
-
Range Anxiety: A Real Factor, Even with Superchargers: Despite the convenience of Superchargers, “range anxiety” is definitely a real consideration, particularly when transitioning from a traditional gasoline car. I’m accustomed to driving a Prius with a 500+ mile range between fill-ups. The Model S typically charged to around a 200-mile range. However, spirited driving or frequent acceleration (guilty!) can impact the total achievable range. While I’m sure owners acclimate to driving closer to “empty,” the relative scarcity of Superchargers compared to gas stations and the slower charging speed at standard outlets did make me a bit cautious and range-conscious, especially when the indicated range dipped below 75 miles.
-
Turo: Your Tesla Test Drive Opportunity: If you’re interested in experiencing a Tesla Model S for yourself, there’s an app for that! It’s called Turo, and it functions much like Airbnb, but for car rentals instead of homes. With some reluctance, we returned our borrowed Tesla to its owner in the Pocket area one Saturday morning.
-
Tesla Sightings are More Common Than You Think: It’s surprising just how many Teslas are actually on the road. One afternoon, leaving the parking garage behind the library in downtown Sacramento, I paused at a traffic light to make a left turn. A black Tesla Model S was directly behind me, and another one was in the lane to my right. We were like a mini-Tesla convoy!
-
Tesla’s Turn Heads: It’s not just me; many people still stare (and sometimes point!) as a Tesla drives by. The Model S continues to hold a certain novelty and allure, attracting attention wherever it goes.
My week with the Tesla Model S was incredibly insightful. With meetings across Sacramento, Davis, Grass Valley, and various locations in between, I drive a significant amount. The Tesla allowed me to accomplish this driving while feeling more aligned with my professional commitment at Valley Vision – particularly the Cleaner Air Partnership, focused on improving air quality and reducing transportation emissions, and the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative, addressing climate change and its impacts. To stay informed about Valley Vision’s leadership in these critical areas, I encourage you to subscribe to our monthly Cleaner Air News email newsletter!
Meg Arnold is Managing Director of Valley Vision, leading the Clean Economy and Innovation and Entrepreneurship Strategies.
