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This week’s EV Feature Friday is about Ivan K. and his 2022 Tesla Model Y Performance. EV Feature Friday is a weekly column where we report on EV owners’ experiences and observations. Topics include charging and range to real-world reports on their EV’s performance and reliability. EV Feature Friday is open to any BEV, PHEV, or hybrid vehicle. Here’s what Ivan has to say after 28,000 miles with his Tesla.
Economics Drove Ivan’s Purchase of the 2022 Tesla Model Y Performance
Ivan resides in Tampa, Florida. He’s head of sales for an automotive publishing company, thus he’s very familiar with cars and the automotive industry in general. Ivan has owned his Tesla Model Y Performance for about 2 years. The story of why he purchased the Model Y Performance centers primarily on economics. “When Covid started in 2021 we were looking at new vehicle options. At the time, fuel was through the roof, so we started looking at EV options. My daily driver was a 2014 Ford F-150 with a 5.0L Coyote engine, which averaged about 16 mpg, and I was driving 50 miles a day. After doing the math I was spending $400-$500 a month on fuel plus the truck payment. So, the EV option was very favorable at the time, he says.”
No Need for Modifications
Other than some Weathertech floor mats to protect the Model Y’s carpet, modifications haven’t been on Ivan’s priority list for his dual-motor Tesla. It’s no wonder because the Model Y Performance boasts some impressive equipment and specs. Acceleration from 0-60 mph is around 3.5 seconds, the estimated range is approximately 303 miles, and the all-glass roof helps make the interior a place that’s pleasant to be. Add in things like the Autopilot semi-autonomous driving system and ample horsepower and the result is a very capable car.
Ivan’s 2022 Tesla Model Y Performance Charging Experiences
Ivan reports that he completes most of his Model Y’s charging at home using a plug-in Tesla charger and he doesn’t bother with specific charge times. “I use the Tesla charger that’s wired to my house via a 220-volt outlet. I don’t customize the times,” he says. When traveling and away from his home charger, he reports no problems. Example: “We drove it from Tennessee to Florida while we were moving down. The Tesla Supercharger network is so easy to use that it wasn’t an issue outside of it taking a bit longer since you must wait for the charge.”
Best Range and Longest Trip
On the topic of best range with his 2022 Tesla Model Y, we learned that Ivan isn’t fixated on range. “I haven’t actually taken the time to test the range, I just charge it and then drive it around town. It charges every night and I always have plenty of range to go. Tesla rates this model at 303 miles but it’s probably actually more like 250 with our driving style. Again, I didn’t test this it’s an assumption,” he says.
Weather Extremes and How it Relates to EV Performance
One of the challenges for EVs is temperature extremes. To help decrease problems, manufacturers have fit EVs with systems to help batteries perform and charge faster. For example, when using Tesla’s Trip Planner to navigate to a charging station, the Model Y has a feature that pre-heats the high-voltage battery in cold weather. This ensures that when arriving at the charger, after 30-45 minutes of driving, the temperature of the high-voltage battery is optimal and ready to charge. This helps speed up the charging process. Apparently, the Tesla’s systems work well, because Ivan says that even when it was cold and snowy in Tennessee, he didn’t have any issues with charging.
Ivan Has Opinions About His 2022 Tesla Model Y Performance
Ivan’s list of likes regarding his 2022 Tesla Model Y Performance far outweigh the dislikes. He likes how easy the Tesla is to operate. “I love how simple the Tesla is. It’s like the iPhone. Set it up once and it does everything the way you like after that.” He also gives a thumbs-up to the acceleration of the Model Y Performance. ‘’I got the Performance because I wanted the fast acceleration, so that is also a ton of fun.” Along those lines, he also notes that the linear power delivery is incredibly smooth and relaxing. Ivan also notes that he likes the regenerative braking characteristics of the Tesla, which results in decreased use of the brake pedal. “Not having to use the brake is awesome for a guy with multiple knee surgeries, he says.”
More Opinions and Observations
There are many other things that Ivan likes about his Model Y Performance. The list includes the glass roof, not having to stop at gas pumps, $30 per month average charging costs, spaciousness, comfortable interior, unique styling (inside and out), and no oil changes. He also likes the simplicity of using the vehicle. “It just works,” he says. But what about criticisms? Well, Ivan doesn’t have any except for the price of the Tesla Model Y Performance. “I don’t have many things to complain about. The Tesla has been a good vehicle for us. The overall investment for the Model Y Performance is a bit high based on the features of the vehicle in my opinion, but vehicles today are expensive,” he says.
More EV Opinions
The Tesla has left a positive impression on Ivan. As a matter of fact, when we asked him what EV he’d buy if he had to choose one today, he chose another Tesla. “I would again buy a Tesla. I don’t think anyone else is doing it as good as they are. From charging to their Supercharger network & reliability.” But what EV would Ivan choose if money were no object? He says, “Rimac Nevera. I was born in Croatia, so this hits home for me. Beyond that I think it’s the best looking and performing EV on the market!” And the Rimac Nevera is certainly a fine example of an EV hypercar. According to Rimac, the car has 1,914 hp, 1,741 lb-ft of torque, 0-60 mph acceleration of 1.74 seconds, it does 0-180 mph in 9.22 seconds, and has a top speed of 258 mph.
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Electrified’s EV Feature Friday is open to any BEV, PHEV, or hybrid street-legal production vehicle. It’s an opportunity to read about electrified vehicle ownership directly from the vehicle owner. If you’re an electrified vehicle owner, you can submit your vehicle information and your EV experiences by completing this online form and providing photos. Thank you!
