What would you like for Christmas?
If the appeal of a car with less expensive operation and maintenance costs, and state-of-the-art technology has you considering asking Santa for a new electric vehicle (EV), allow us to offer some first-hand input.
In August 2020, GVEC added its second electric vehicle (EV) to its employee vehicle fleet—a 2020 Tesla Model 3. The Model 3 came equipped with a 75 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that has a maximum range of 322 miles per full charge.
Just as in 2018 with the addition of “Sparky,” our 2019 Chevy Bolt, a primary purpose of integrating the Model 3 in the GVEC fleet is to help better understand power consumption of EVs as they become more common in the auto market.
Lucky Driver Drawing
In mid-September 2020, GVEC held weekly drawings through the end of the year to select one employee to take the Tesla home for a seven-day extended test drive. This gave personnel the chance to gain hands-on experience with the Model 3 and to check out the advantages and performances of EVs.
We asked a few of these drivers to share their thoughts on their EV experiences. Here’s what they had to say:
Justin Schwausch – GIS Technician III
“I was surprised there’s really no engine—no oil to change or engine to repair. I had not really thought about buying an EV before, but things like cheaper charging than fueling and no engine repairs made me reconsider. It gave a very smooth, quiet ride, and looking into it, they’re affordable.”
Dana Segura – Administrative Assistant to IT Executive Manager
“Since there’s not really an engine, having ‘dual trunk’ space is nice, and I liked the self-driving feature. I was very impressed by how fast it got up to speed and how smooth it drove. I loved all the features and how high tech it was and the fact I didn’t have to fuel it up.”
Ethan Walpole – Journeyman Lineman
“What I liked best about the Tesla was the take-off speed. It got up to the desired speed much faster than I anticipated. The screen showing details of the area you were driving, and it’s sensor knowing what color the traffic light was when approaching was impressive—and of course the auto pilot was, too.”
Jennie Kerlick – Field Communications Support
“It may not be for me because I mainly drive in a lot of rural areas without many charging stations, so if we did get one we’d definitely need a charging station installed at our house. But if you are in an area with charging stations or have one at your home, it could be a more cost-effective vehicle to own.”
Lyle Stratemann – Facilities Maintenance Supervisor
“I was impressed with the responsiveness of the vehicle. These vehicles definitely have a place in the market for some drivers. It’s about individual comfort and the amount of time you’ll be spending in the vehicle.”
Gerri Lawing – Economic Development Director
“What’s not to love? Smooth, seamless driving with some serious acceleration—not that I ever tested that out (wink). I liked the one-stop shop screen with everything you need to operate the vehicle at your fingertips. I was surprised how easy it was to operate and how smooth the ride was—like nothing I’d ever driven before.”
Home Charging
A common note all of our test drivers agreed on—if you purchase an electric vehicle, a home charging station is likely going to need to be purchased along with it.
Luckily, GVEC delivers affordable charging station installation with our EV Charging Station Rebate. Both residential and commercial customers can save up to 50% of total installation costs! For details about the GVEC EV Charging Station Rebate, visit gvec.org/electric/ev-rebate/.
