Lifestyle
The Importance of Having a Tesla Supercharger

With every new Supercharger location that comes online, a certain population of people can no longer say a Tesla can’t get them from A to B. For some current, future and perspective Tesla owners, there is one particular trip they make regularly that can not be done in their Model S. I would wager that most of these people have one specific Supercharger location in mind – whether they came up with it themselves or it is on Tesla’s own charging map as planned for some day – that if built, would be the key to their trip.

Tesla Supercharger in Allentown, PA via app check-in
For me, that location is Allentown, PA. As I mentioned in my post about Giving Thanks to the Tesla Village, this particular location was intended to be built in 2014. As a yet unwise future owner, I truly believed the showroom employees and delivery team I worked with were correct in saying that location would be completed in time. Our car was set to be delivered some time in November or December of 2014, so we worried not about getting to our parents’ home in the Northeastern corner of PA for the holidays. Traveling round-trip from the Southeastern corner of PA, up and over mountains in the cold, would not be possible without a Supercharger en route or a reasonable destination charging option. (They have no driveway or garage, and the nearest L2 charger is a 15 minute drive to an adjacent town.)
Watching the “dot” on Tesla’s map move from 2014 to 2015 and learning that the original location at the Lehigh Valley Mall ran into reportedly insurmountable obstacles was very disappointing. As if owning such a grand car isn’t embarrassing enough, asking for a ride to drop off and pick up said car because you can’t make it home without charging really made me feel awkward. (Thank you Mom, Dad and little bro for being a team player for an entire year!)
The wait started getting a little ridiculous, so I searched and inquired for any tidbits of information that would bring good news about a charger. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, a new site was selected. The new township would have to have a zoning board meeting to determine how to categorize the space. (Parking vs. fueling.) They likened the need to vote with a time, years ago, when someone asked to build a cell tower there. The township just had no way to classify it yet.
Something told me that driving over an hour to attend this zoning board meeting was crazy, so instead I reached out to a local reporter and asked for updates. She happily obliged but unhappily gave me the bad news: the zoning board couldn’t vote due to some procedural snafu. That one month delay gave me a bad premonition that the charger would not be installed in time for the cold weather or our Thanksgiving trip.
“You see, one single charging location can mean the world to some people”
I was right, unfortunately, but still had hopes for Christmas. That too came and went, as did we, to and from that level 2 charger 15 minutes away. I visited the site while in construction and heard of others doing the same. One claimed a construction worker said they were trying to be done by the end of the year. Of course, done to them does not mean done to us, as testing and electrification requirements must be met before a charger officially opens.
Tesla Supercharger in Allentown, PA [Photo credit: TMC User Syd]
Then one day it happened. On January 21, 2016, a TMC forum member that goes by the name 55 Sux successfully plugged in and took pictures to share the news. Just as soon as the news came out, various members rejoiced. Undoubtedly, others who travel within, to, from or across Eastern Pennsylvania but do not participate in forums rejoiced as well. So too did those hoping to be able to take their Model S to a ski trip at one of PA’s many resorts near or north of Allentown this year.
You see, one single charging location can mean the world to some people. As of today, Tesla has over 250 Supercharger locations in the United States and 600 in the world. Perhaps those early owners who had the car before the first dot appeared aren’t affected by any one new charger. Perhaps those nonchalant California owners who jokingly call their cars “California Corollas” are also unfazed by any one new charger. Perhaps those who don’t road trip couldn’t care less about any one new charger. But for many current and potential owners, one location can mean everything.
But don’t take my word for it, just look at how many owners breathed a sigh of relief and beamed a smile after getting to use their much awaited Allentown, PA Supercharger location. (Note: This unofficial ribbon cutting ceremony brought out curious onlookers that surely recognized how important these funny shaped charging stations were to us.)
Lifestyle
Tesla Model S Plaid battles China’s 1500 hp monster Nurburgring monster, with surprising results
There is just something about Tesla’s tuning and refinement that makes raw specs seem not as game-changing.

The Tesla Model S Plaid has been around for some time. Today, it is no longer the world’s quickest four-door electric sedan, nor is it the most powerful. As per a recent video from motoring YouTube channel Carwow, however, it seems like the Model S Plaid is still more than a match for some of its newer and more powerful rivals.
The monster from China
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra is nothing short of a monster. Just like the Model S Plaid, it features three motors. It also has 1,548 hp and 1,770 Nm of torque. It’s All Wheel Drive and weighs a hefty 2,360 kg. The vehicle, which costs just about the equivalent of £55,000, has been recorded setting an insane 7:04.957 at the Nurburgring, surpassing the previous record held by the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
For all intents and purposes, the Model S Plaid looked outgunned in Carwow’s test. The Model S Plaid is no slouch with its three motors that produce 1,020 hp and 1,420 Nm of torque. It’s also a bit lighter at 2,190 kg despite its larger size. However, as the Carwow host pointed out, the Model S Plaid holds a 7:25.231 record in the Nurburgring. Compared to the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra’s record, the Model S Plaid’s lap time is notably slower.
Real-world tests
As could be seen in Carwow’s drag races, however, Tesla’s tech wizardry with the Model S Plaid is still hard to beat. The two vehicles competed in nine races, and the older Model S Plaid actually beat its newer, more powerful counterpart from China several times. At one point in the race, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra hit its power limit due to its battery’s temperature, but the Model S Plaid was still going strong.
The Model S Plaid was first teased five years ago, in September 2020 during Tesla’s Battery Day. Since then, cars like the Lucid Air Sapphire and the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra have been released, surpassing its specs. But just like the Model Y ended up being the better all-rounder compared to the BYD Sealion 7 and the MG IM6, there is just something about Tesla’s tuning and refinement that makes raw specs seem not as game-changing.
Check out Carwow’s Model S Plaid vs Xiaomi SU7 drag race video below.
Lifestyle
500-mile test proves why Tesla Model Y still humiliates rivals in Europe
On paper, the BYD Sealion 7 and MG IM6 promised standout capabilities against the Model Y.

BYD is seeing a lot of momentum in Europe, so much so that mainstream media has taken every opportunity to argue that the Chinese automaker has beaten Tesla in the region. But while BYD sales this year in Europe are rising and Tesla’s registrations remain challenged, the raw capabilities of vehicles like the Model Y are difficult to deny.
This was highlighted in a 500-mile challenge by What Car? magazine, which showed that the new Tesla Model Y is more efficient, cheaper to run, and more reliable than rivals like the BYD Sealion 7, and even the nearly 400 KW-charging MG IM6.
Range and charging promises
On paper, the BYD Sealion 7 and MG IM6 promised standout capabilities against the Model Y. The Sealion 7 had more estimated range and the IM6 promised significantly faster charging. When faced with real-world conditions, however, it was still the Model Y that proved superior.
During the 500-mile test, the BYD nearly failed to reach a charging stop, arriving with less range than its display projected, as noted in a CarUp report. MG fared better, but its charging speeds never reached its promised nearly-400 kW charging speed. Tesla’s Model Y, by comparison, managed energy calculations precisely and arrived at each stop without issue.
Tesla leads in areas that matter
Charging times from 25% to 80% showed that the MG was the fastest at 17 minutes, while Tesla and BYD were close at 28 and 29 minutes, respectively. Overall efficiency and cost told a different story, however. The Model Y consumed 19.4 kWh per 100 km, compared to 22.2 for MG and 23.9 for BYD. Over the full trip, Tesla’s charging costs totaled just £82 thanks to its supercharger network, far below BYD’s £130 and MG’s £119.
What Car? Magazine’s testers concluded that despite BYD’s rapid sales growth and the MG IM6’s seriously impressive charging speeds, Tesla remains the more compelling real-world choice. The Model Y just offers stability, efficiency, and a proven charging infrastructure through its Supercharging network. And as per the magazine’s hosts, the Model Y is even the cheapest car to own among the three that were tested.
Watch What Car? Magazine’s 500-mile test in the video below.
Lifestyle
Tesla Cybertruck slapped with world’s least intimidating ticket, and it’s pure cringe
One cannot help but cringe and feel second-hand embarrassment at the idea of a person just driving around with a stack of these babies.

A Cybertruck parked at Stanford Shopping Center in California was recently hit with what might be the most try-hard piece of paper ever slipped under a wiper blade: a “fake citation” accusing the driver of supporting a “fascist car.”
The note, shared on X by Tesla staff program manager Ryan Torres, quickly made the rounds on X, where it quickly gained attention as an example of how not to protest.
The world’s least intimidating ticket
According to the citation, the supposed “violation” was “driving a fascist car.” The remedial action? Take the bus, call an Uber, or ride a bike. The note also dubbed Elon Musk a “chainsaw-wielding Nazi billionaire.” Now, protests against Tesla and Elon Musk have become commonplace this year, but one cannot help but cringe and feel second-hand embarrassment at the idea of a person just driving around with a stack of fake anti-Tesla/Musk citations.
Torres pointed out the irony himself in his post on X. Tesla currently employs over 140,000 Americans, and SpaceX has put the U.S. firmly back at the top of space technology. As Torres put it, maybe the person behind the world’s least intimidating ticket should “read a book on innovation before vandalizing” other people’s property.
Peak performative clownery
Not to mention that the fake ticket’s logic collapses under its own weight. EVs like the Cybertruck are literally designed to reduce emissions, not “destroy the economy.” If anything, Tesla has bolstered the United States’ economy by fueling jobs in engineering, manufacturing, and clean energy. It’s not the first time a Tesla has been the target of vandalism or politically charged notes, but this one stands out for sheer cringe value.
Torres summed it up neatly: “Peak clownery.” On that point, at least, the citation earns full marks. In a way, though, perhaps cringe fake tickets are not as bad as the literal firebombs that were being thrown at Tesla stores and cars earlier this year because some critics were gleefully misinformed about Elon Musk.
-
Elon Musk2 weeks ago
Tesla FSD V14 set for early wide release next week: Elon Musk
-
News1 week ago
Elon Musk gives update on Tesla Optimus progress
-
News2 weeks ago
Tesla has a new first with its Supercharger network
-
News2 weeks ago
Tesla job postings seem to show next surprise market entry
-
Investor's Corner2 weeks ago
Tesla gets new Street-high price target with high hopes for autonomy domination
-
Lifestyle1 week ago
500-mile test proves why Tesla Model Y still humiliates rivals in Europe
-
News1 week ago
Tesla Giga Berlin’s water consumption has achieved the unthinkable
-
Lifestyle1 week ago
Tesla Model S Plaid battles China’s 1500 hp monster Nurburgring monster, with surprising results