Experiment Result
I must confess that it's all a bit of a blur. We managed to travel from Melbourne to Augathella in one day, a journey that took 22 hours. Charging the Tesla every four hours was necessary, which interfered with our ability to travel non-stop. Despite this, the autopilot features allowed us to drive for much longer periods than we could have in a traditional fuel vehicle, making the car a plus for long-distance drives. My wife Christine and I took turns driving; I would sleep while she drove, and vice versa.
My patient daughter, Francis, often receives complaints from her teachers about her behavior in class, so I may view her through rose-colored glasses. However, she was exemplary during the trip, sitting in the back of the car for 22 hours without any issues, composing music on her iPad, playing songs, and enjoying the scenery.
After searching the internet to find anyone who had covered as many kilometers as quickly in a Tesla and finding no results, my motivation waned. We stopped in Augathella for a night's rest. The next phase was only a three-hour drive to my in-laws' property in Bacadline. The story, shared with locals, was met with fascination, as they were influenced by media claims that electric cars are merely toys that cannot travel far.
This being a brand-new vehicle, concerns about breakdowns were minimal. However, I'd like to note that concerns would be low even with a two or three-year-old electric car due to its simplicity. In my view, they are far superior for long-distance travel, even considering charging times, because they do not break down unless you run out of battery. The sensitivity of a Tesla to any mechanical fault is so high that any slight issue would be flagged by the computer before becoming critical.
No product is perfect, and while I'm not an evangelist for any brand, it's worth noting that the Tesla Model Y, although excellent, has minor issues that need addressing to make it more user-friendly for long travels.
Tesla's system is closed—you cannot add your own apps to the center console without hacking, and the current map system only plans routes around Tesla superchargers. It does not recognize third-party chargers automatically, making trip planning via the console almost impossible in Australia.
We used third-party apps for planning. This is a ridiculous constraint given the lack of Tesla infrastructure in Australia. However, charging at state-operated and private chargers was straightforward. We could have reduced our charging costs if we had traveled more slowly, but we chose to maintain a quick pace. On the return trip, we took it slower and made several stops, including Griffith, where I visited my cousin Dom and explored the unique culture of Gritth and its hard-working Sicilian locals.
We could've completed the trip without paying for charging if we were willing to take more time. I have no real bias—the Tesla EV was right for our needs, but I'm also fine with petrol cars. It's important to address the vast amount of incorrect information about EVs in the media; they can indeed manage long distances well.
Stopping every four hours for a break is a good practice, so to me, the charging issue is a moot point. For anyone who drives as much as I do, an EV seems to be the way to go. I tried most other options besides the Polestar, and none were as enjoyable as the Tesla I chose.