Small 'first world problem' rant......that ends up being not that big a deal it's just a PITA
So my company (Siemens Healthineers) has decided that in an effort to reduce 'our' carbon footprint.....they will be moving company provided vehicles to all EV's. As one of their Project Managers that oversees the installs of MRIs, CTs, Rad. Equipment....etc etc.....I can and have driven upwards of 500-700 miles a day when making site visits so you can imagine the push back and disappointment us Project Managers made do to an already long day of driving that can and will get longer in order to charge the EV's.
Our company provided cars now are largely Hybrid engine, I currently drive a Toyota RAV 4 Hybrid, so we all were just like.... can't we continue to drive the Hybrids? But that was shut down. What they did offer is that if we don't want to stick with the company provided option, they would reimburse us if we were to use a personal vehicle. It would be an averaged reimbursement for taxes, insurance and car payment plus a small .15 cent a mile reimbursement for business miles driven. The vehicle would also have to stay in compliance by always being a model year within the current 'window'...with the window now going from 24'-28'. So, I'd have to get a 2023- or 2024-year vehicle which is something I really don't want to spend the $$$ to do. Right now, with them paying for the gas, insurance and vehicle it's saving me literally close to $1k a month between all that plus having no car payment... with this reimbursement offer for personal vehicles, I'd probably end up taking a couple hundred dollar a month hit which makes it less appealing to enter into.
For me, my largest issue with the whole switch is my furthest and most frequent long-range drive is to Kansas City....from my house it's about 4 hours....275 miles-ish to then visit my project locations. I do a lot of out and back in a day trips to KC because I coach and have crap to do outside of work. So I get up at 4:00am....drive to KC.....do my site visits....then come home. Long ass day but I'd get home by 5-6pm and still be able to run a hockey practice, go coach a game or get to one of the boys school concerts or whatever is on the slate for that night.
Adding charging time to that trip just makes it a massive pain in the ass and all but eliminates my 'out and back' regiment and I lamented this to my boss. To which he said, if and when I need to do that to just rent a car on the company dime. Him telling me that ended my whining about the whole thing because that solved my largest issue. Now, if it's not necessary for an out and back I just stay the night and charge the EV as needed.
So, I went to test drive the two Tesla models they are letting us choose from 2024 Long Range Model Y's and Model 3's. Drove the Model Y first because it has a bit more space and I was thinking of needing to load crap in and what not I'd probably prefer the space....but then I drove the Model 3 and that pretty much sealed the deal. So smooth, cabin was freaking quiet.....those 14 speakers were amazing....I was blasting 'Voices' and it was unreal....freaking concert in the car.
All the technology was just 'neat' but that regenerative braking was weird to get used to but really cool. I didn't mind the bare look of the dashboard and all in all it was a relief to drive them and experience them. Very easy drive. So, I ended up choosing the 2024 Long Range Model 3. Really liked the way that the navigation charts your path for you that shows where and when you'd need to charge as well. I thought that was going to be a pain in the ass trying to figure all that out but it's all done for you...so...another worry eliminated.
They're paying for the Tier Two Home Charger, electrician to install it, reimbursed Kw hours when you charge at home, charge card for all the Tesla charging stations....and, it's a company vehicle so all the insurance and what not is through them. Should be getting the vehicle sometime mid-summer. I went from holding a pitchfork and ready to storm the castle when this was announced to now refreshing the order status on our company site to see when the hell this car is going to get here! It can't be soon enough!
Anyone drive a Tesla and have any advice, warnings, good/bad stories or experiences?