The Story of a Tesla Model S That Has Traveled Over Two Million Kilometers

By Karan Singh
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In a stunning achievement, Hansjörg von Gemmingen’s Model S has reached a jaw-dropping 2 million kilometers (1.25 million miles) of distance traveled. He hit this milestone during a cross-country trip from northern Morocco to Mauritania.

This is a remarkable achievement, and we’ll take a deep dive into Hansjörg’s story and experience with having such a long-lived Tesla.

The 2 Millionth Kilometer

Hansjörg’s journey began in the northern Moroccan city of Tangier. Nestled on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Tangier is a bustling metropolis known for its vibrant culture, scenic ocean views, and modern infrastructure, including an international airport and a thriving business district. As a seasoned traveler and EV enthusiast, Hansjörg has been all across Morocco, embracing its diverse landscapes and challenging terrains.

Rallye Rive Maroc

His adventures included participating in the Rallye Rive Maroc, a grueling 7-day electric vehicle rally. This event is designed to push both drivers and their vehicles to the limit, with participants covering approximately 300 kilometers a day on three of the seven days. The rally navigates through harsh deserts, rugged mountains, and remote locations, presenting a formidable challenge that tests the vehicles' endurance, skill, and durability. The routes are not only demanding but also showcase the breathtaking beauty of Morocco's natural landscapes.

Rallye Rive Maroc's participants in 2023.
Rallye Rive Maroc's participants in 2023.
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In his latest endeavor, Hansjörg set out from Tangier with the ambitious goal of reaching the 2-million-kilometer mark. His route took him across Morocco, heading towards the southern border with Mauritania. This milestone journey was more than just a personal achievement; it represented a significant moment for Tesla owners worldwide, demonstrating the potential and reliability of electric vehicles over extensive distances and diverse conditions.

Reaching the 2-million-kilometer milestone during this trip highlighted the endurance of his 2013 Tesla Model S, a testament to both Tesla’s amazing engineering and Hansjörg's dedication to pushing the boundaries of electric vehicle travel. His journey serves as an inspiring example for EV enthusiasts and a beacon of what is possible with determination, innovation, and the right infrastructure.

Battery Life

Of course, electric vehicle batteries do inevitably degrade, and Tesla is no exception. However, they’ve proven their longevity – with reports showing only 15% degradation at 350,000km (200,000 mi). Hansjörg drives a 2013 Tesla Model S 85+, with a single motor. He’s seen several battery replacements throughout the vehicle’s lifespan, but the vehicle is still going strong. Keep in mind Tesla had only begun producing the Model S in 2012. It was Tesla’s first vehicle that was designed and created in-house.

1.      Hansjörg replaced the first battery at 290,000 km (180k miles)

2.      The second battery lasted 670,000 km (416k miles), before being replaced due to cell in-balance – it had suffered only a 20% loss of range

3.      The third battery lasted for 550,000 km (341k miles)

4.      The vehicle is currently on its fourth battery, which has already clocked 250,000 km (155k miles), but remains going strong

There is a 150,000 km gap above, which was due to the vehicle using a temporary loaner battery offered by Tesla while the vehicle’s battery was repaired.

These are some amazing numbers to see – real-life battery degradation under high-stress conditions, over a decade. Tesla, vehicle owners, and future customers couldn’t ask for a better data set in this case.

The two million kilometer Model S, in all its glory.
The two million kilometer Model S, in all its glory.
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Charging in Morocco and Africa

Ali Lakrakbi, who brought this amazing feat to our attention, operates a network of EV charges in Morocco. He’s been working on opening an electric road – one lined with EV charging stations – from Morocco to the rest of Africa. This is an amazing initiative and one that is bound to help Africa replace its mobility access with EVs. Promoting EV adoption is difficult enough in North America, Europe, and Asia, but doing so in Africa is leagues harder, and a feat worthy of admiration.

Currently, Ali's network includes a significant number of slower AC (Level 1) chargers, which provide essential charging options for travelers. These chargers are crucial for establishing the foundational infrastructure needed to support the initial wave of EV users in regions where such facilities are scarce.

However, Ali does recognize the need for faster and more efficient charging solutions, and he is actively working to increase the availability of faster DC (Level 2 and Level 3) chargers. These high-speed chargers (such as Superchargers) can significantly reduce charging times, making long-distance travel more practical and appealing for EV owners.

The development of this electric road is more than just a technical achievement; it represents a vision for a connected and accessible Africa. By facilitating easier and quicker EV charging, Ali's project aims to encourage more people to switch to electric vehicles, thus reducing the continent's reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, this network of chargers can stimulate economic growth by creating new business opportunities and fostering a green technology sector.

Ali hopes to one day see Superchargers like these in Morocco.
Ali hopes to one day see Superchargers like these in Morocco.
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Some African Challenges

Ali has faced some challenges in establishing his network in Morocco and Africa, given the lack of EV adoption there. People have made fun of EV owners – who have not had much success before Ali in deploying chargers, even free of charge – to locations. However, Ali has incentivized the process by demonstrating the benefits – which in part helps bring in travelers who will spend money locally.

Even getting basic chargers installed in cities can be difficult – much less the high-power capabilities needed for something like an L3 Supercharger. An L2 charger in Morocco can cost as much as an L3 in Europe or North America, but the charging network is beginning to spread. One positive note is that the weather is milder – no deep winters – this means that vehicles have better range even without preconditioning.

Another challenge is the lack of subsidies in Africa. Europe and North America have plenty of subsidies. Ali identified that vehicles are considered luxury items in Africa – and providing subsidies for EVs is next to impossible considering other challenges faced. However, he mentions tax subsidies may be a good option in Morocco – and Africa in general.

Since adoption is slower In Morocco and Africa, Ali and others have one big advantage – they get to learn from North America’s and Europe’s mistakes. Adoption is smoother – their chargers and vehicles use a single standard, and they don’t have challenges with RFID cards or other government regulations.

The shortest point between Morocco and Spain is just 9 miles
The shortest point between Morocco and Spain is just 9 miles
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It is also possible to import Teslas from Europe since Morocco is so close to Spain. Many Moroccans also work in Europe and return, and vice versa. There are plenty of Moroccans who experience EVs in Europe as the growth for EVs grows in the country. Ali finances his charger deployments through the sale of Teslas to Moroccans.

However, Tesla doesn’t send parts to Morocco meaning it requires a chain of third-party companies to send over any parts necessary. It can be difficult since Tesla doesn’t officially support the vehicle in the country. Ali hopes that one day Tesla will support owners in Africa, not only with parts but also with training personnel and navigation data as well.

World’s Largest Tesla Supercharger: 168 Stalls, 100% Off-Grid, Powered by Sun and Battery Storage

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

In just 8 months, Tesla has gone from breaking ground to delivering electrons at its most ambitious Supercharger project to date, just in time to be ready for the busy Fourth of July holiday weekend. Project Oasis, the world’s largest Supercharger site, is now partially open to customers for its first phase in Lost Hills, California.

What makes this remarkable is the speed of execution. In just eight months, Tesla has constructed a site that will eventually feature 168 stalls (84 stalls are now open), supported by 11 MW of solar power and 10 Megapacks of battery storage. That construction speed is pretty impressive, but what is even more impressive is how this new station operates and what it means for future Supercharging infrastructure.

Self-Sufficient Energy Oasis

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The first 84 stalls at Lost Hills are now open, and according to the Tesla Charging team, they are currently powered solely by the sun and operate off-grid.

This makes it more than just a new Supercharger site. It serves as a proof of concept for a new type of Supercharger. Unlike nearly every other charging site in the world, which draws power from local utilities, this station generates its own clean electricity from its massive solar array and stores it in its array of on-site Megapacks. 

Self-sufficient charging stations are something completely different than what we see today. They are highly resilient since they’re not reliant on the grid. That means that even if there is a local power outage, brownout, or blackout, one can always come to Lost Hills to Supercharge.

If you’ve got a Cybertruck, you could take advantage of the Cybertruck’s Powershare feature and charge up at Lost Hills to help keep your home powered during a blackout, utilizing the Cybertruck as a portable battery charger. Now that’s true independence and self-reliance.

The Future of Charging

Solar-powered Superchargers help avoid massive new loads on already stressed electrical grids, especially during peak afternoon and evening hours, when demand is the highest.

This is Tesla’s vision for the future of charging: a clean, fully closed-loop ecosystem that sustains itself. The sun’s energy is captured, stored, and delivered directly to vehicles on site at any time of day without relying on the electrical grid or fossil fuels.

Largest Supercharger in the World

This opening of 84 stalls is just the first phase of the project. Tesla says that the remaining stalls, as well as a new on-site lounge, are coming later this year. Once complete, the 168-stall site will be the largest Supercharger site in the world.

While the speed of building such a massive project in just eight months is a testament to Tesla’s execution, the true innovation is actually that self-sustainability. Let’s hope we see even more large, self-sufficient Supercharger sites across the world in the near future.

The future lounge
The future lounge
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Elon Musk Considers Solar Gigafactory in North America to Power AI Boom

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Elon Musk is once again seeking to expand Tesla’s vertical integration in the energy sector, this time focusing squarely on solar power. Following discussions on X that highlighted the massive gap in solar deployments between the US and China, Elon is now discussing the need for a Tesla Solar Gigafactory in the United States.

This potential move is driven by a specific catalyst: the exponential growth of AI is creating an insatiable demand for electricity. For Tesla and xAI, two of Elon’s companies betting their future on AI, building the power generation required is a strategic necessity.

A new factory wouldn’t just be about making panels; it would be about manufacturing the final missing piece in Tesla’s vertically integrated energy ecosystem.

Catching Up to China

The context for this renewed focus is pretty stark. In May, China reportedly added a staggering 93 gigawatts (GW) of solar power capacity. In contrast, the United States installed approximately 14 GW over the entire first quarter, roughly 20 times less than China.

The primary driver of this demand is the revolution in AI. Training ever-larger and smarter AI models involves operating vast data centers, which consume staggering amounts of power. Google, Amazon, and Microsoft have turned to small-scale nuclear reactors, with Microsoft petitioning to reopen the infamous Three Mile Island for its AI operations.

For Elon’s companies, whose future products like FSD, Optimus, and Grok are built on a foundation of real-world AI, securing a massive and sustainable energy supply isn’t a side quest. It is part of the main mission, especially in conjunction with grid-scale storage, such as Megapacks and Powerwalls. You can’t power a world of autonomous robots without a world of abundant, clean energy.

The Tesla Ecosystem

A US solar gigafactory would be the final, logical step in completing Tesla’s energy hardware ecosystem. While Tesla already manufactures some solar panels and the Tesla solar roof, the scale is too minuscule to matter. 

By mass-producing its own panels, while also increasing Solar Roof production, Tesla would become a true one-stop shop for all things green energy. This would allow the company to supply its own large-scale projects, like the massive solar array for Project Oasis - the world’s largest Supercharger site.

It would also enable more complete residential packages, like the Giga-Small Haus concept home, combining Tesla-made panels and roofs with a Powerwall 3. This level of vertical integration would give Tesla complete control over the technology, cost, and supply of every major component in its energy ecosystem, from generation to storage to mobility.

Building a new Solar Gigafactory is about much more than just simply producing solar panels. It’s a requirement to power Tesla’s future products and make solar panels accessible to everyone.

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