Imagine a car that keeps going, mile after mile, until it reaches a distance so far, it could’ve traveled to the moon and back—twice. That’s not just a dream for Hansjörg von Gemmingen-Hornberg and his Tesla Model S. More than the average car journey, this adventure pushes the boundaries of what we thought possible for electric vehicles (EVs).
Indeed, electric cars are powered by batteries, much like the smartphones we use daily, but on a much larger scale. For a long time, many wondered, “Can these electric cars last as long as traditional ones that use gasoline?” Hansjörg’s story gives us a resounding “Yes!” and then some.
Driving over 1.2 million miles in his Tesla, Hansjörg has shown incredible potential for EV longevity and provided valuable lessons on the importance of choice, care, and maintenance. His journey wasn’t just about the miles covered but about challenging the status quo, proving electric cars can endure the test of time and distance with the right care.
In this story, we’ll dive into what it takes to keep an electric car running for over a million miles, the adventures it can bring, and how this extraordinary journey shapes our understanding of EVs. Whether you’re a diehard petrolhead or just curious about the future of cars, there’s something in Hansjörg’s journey for everyone.
Let the tale begin.
The Journey to 1.2 Million Miles
When Hansjörg von Gemmingen-Hornberg first took the wheel of his 2014 Tesla Model S, little did he know he was setting out on a record-breaking journey. Achieving 1.2 million miles in any vehicle is a monumental feat, but doing so in an electric car, particularly one from the early days of modern EV technology, is truly extraordinary.
Hansjörg’s voyage didn’t begin with the Model S. He was already familiar with the Tesla brand, having previously owned a first-generation Tesla Roadster. With over 400,000 miles clocked on the Roadster, he was no new to long-distance EV driving. However, his transition to the Model S marked a new chapter, one driven by a desire for more space, comfort, and the uncharted potential of electric mobility.
Purchased second-hand with around 18,000 miles already on the dashboard, the Model S reflected his belief in EVs and challenged the prevailing skepticism around their longevity and reliability. Safe to say, he was determined to prove a point.
The Model S in question, a P85 model, boasted an 85-kWh battery capable of delivering around 265 miles of range on a single charge. On paper, these numbers were impressive, especially for the time. But Hansjörg’s ambitions stretched far beyond what was on paper. He went on extensive road trips that spanned continents and climates, from the scenic landscapes of Europe to the challenging terrains of Africa and the bustling streets of China.
In fact, this is not the first time he’s getting a spotlight for driving his Model S. In 2019, his vehicle reached a million kilometers on the dash, and Elon Musk himself congratulated him! Since then, the miles have racked up to over 1.2 million. Each mile added to the odometer was a step toward uncharted territory in his EV adventure.
The Strategies
We can all agree achieving over a million miles in a Tesla Model S is no small feat. But Hansjörg’s journey that takes his Tesla there was full of exercise in vehicle care, strategic planning, and driving discipline. Here are the key strategies he employed to ensure his EV could endure the test of time and distance:
- Dedicated Maintenance: Hansjörg proactively monitored his Tesla’s health, addressing minor concerns before they escalated into major problems, ensuring continuous optimal performance.
- Smart Charging Habits: He avoided extremes in battery charging, never allowing the battery to exceed 80% charge or drop below 20%. This approach significantly reduces battery strain and degradation, extending its useful life.
- Limiting Extended Driving Sessions: By avoiding long, continuous drives and instead taking breaks every 60 miles or so, Hansjörg minimized wear on the vehicle’s battery and motors, aligning with optimal EV usage patterns.
- Mindful Driving Techniques: His driving habits were also carefully adjusted to reduce unnecessary strain on the EV’s systems, such as moderate acceleration and leveraging regenerative braking to its fullest, showcasing how driving style impacts vehicle longevity.
- Utilizing Regenerative Braking: Maximizing this feature not only conserved energy but also likely reduced wear on the physical brakes, showcasing the dual benefits of this EV technology.
- Strategic Route Planning: For his extensive travels, Hansjörg planned his routes with charging stations in mind, ensuring the vehicle could be charged optimally while reducing the battery’s exposure to deep discharge cycles.
- Temperature Consideration: Although not directly mentioned, managing the battery’s exposure to extreme temperatures is critical for its longevity. It’s possible Hansjörg took measures to park and charge his Tesla in conditions favoring battery preservation.
The Model S Isn’t Exactly a Durability Champ
Two key components underwent significant wear and tear in Hansjörg’s Tesla Model S: the electric motors and the battery pack. Throughout his journey, the vehicle saw its motor replaced 13 times and the battery pack 3 times.
For electric cars, the electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy to drive the wheels. Hansjörg’s Model S, in particular, went through multiple motor replacements, averaging less than 100,000 miles per motor. Although this figure might seem high, it’s important to understand the context of early Tesla models and the pioneering nature of their technology. These replacements highlight Tesla’s iterative improvements over the years, with each new motor iteration likely being more robust and reliable than the last.
As for the battery pack, which stores the electrical energy powering the motor, underwent three replacements throughout the journey. Considering the sheer mileage, the battery packs’ performance was pretty decent, with each pack lasting an average of around 400,000 miles and 1,500 charge cycles. In fact, those are quite impressive for an early adopter, especially as he adhered to the strict charging rule of always maintaining the charge between 20-80% to preserve battery health.
Still, there’s no denying that EV technology, especially the earlier ones, is still no match for internal combustion engines (ICE) when it comes to durability. Hansjörg’s 2014 Model S is the first of its kind and uses Tesla’s original architecture, thus the rather frequent motor and battery changes. Meanwhile, there are ICE-powered cars out there still retaining their original engine and transmission, even with over a million miles on the clock.
If He Can Do It, Should You?
Sure, going electric promises lower long-term costs due to reduced maintenance and operational expenses. But let’s not forget EVs are still relatively expensive, which makes a high barrier for anyone getting into. And although it wasn’t particularly mentioned, pretty sure those Tesla motor and battery replacements Hansjörg paid for weren’t exactly cheap either. Considering the cost to replace the Model S battery starts from $13,000, he would’ve spent at least $39,000 for the battery replacements alone, which were still needed even after careful driving and maintenance.
And while improvements have been made to modern-day Teslas, like the Model 3, which is still going strong even after 150,000 miles and some battery degradation, EVs, in general, still miss out on other ICE vehicles’ benefits. That includes faster refueling and minimum range anxiety, established maintenance networks, thermal efficiency in varied climates, and, for petrolheads, the sense that the car is actually alive through engine revs and the tactile feedback from gear changes. So as cool as the future sounds, we think shifting to EV still needs some careful thinking — at least for now.
That said, given the tech around the EV world is evolving rapidly, it’s only a matter of time before electric cars will be as durable and enjoyable to use as their ICE counterparts. Over time, EVs should become more affordable, and the declining cost of batteries and technological advancements should make them increasingly desirable and cost-effective over their lifespan.
But for now, it seems like it’s better to wait and cherish our ICEs while we still can.
Last Words
As we’ve seen with the pioneering Tesla Model S, early EVs came with their fair share of excitement and glitches. They’re like the first version of a new gadget—thrilling and innovative but might need some updates to work smoothly.
That cautious approach is probably why carmakers like Toyota and Honda haven’t rushed their electric cars to market. They’re known for making cars that just keep going, year after year—think of the Toyota 4-Runner, famous for its simple design and lasting power.
However, the world of electric cars is improving fast, and they’re starting to show they can be just as dependable as their gasoline ancestors, maybe even outshine them. They’re cleaner for the planet, simpler in design (which means less could go wrong), and they have that instant zip when you hit the pedal. Sure, they’re still on the pricey side, and making them isn’t always the greenest process, but that’s changing too.
For now, many of us stick with gasoline cars out of habit, cost, and convenience. However, the story of Hansjörg’s Tesla Model S, with its journey past the million-mile mark, is proof of the potential and resilience of EVs. Despite numerous repairs and the hurdles of early technology, his car has broken expectations, showing us with a bit of love and lots of charging, electric cars can indeed go the distance.
