Lifestyle
Why does a Tesla have such high resale value?

If you buy an electric car that isn’t a Tesla, chances are you will take an enormous hit when it comes time to trade it in. According to Black Book, a 2013 Nissan LEAF is worth just 22% of its original MSRP. A five year old LEAF is worth a dismal 11% of what it cost new. A three year old conventional car is typically worth between 45% and 65% of its original cost.
Keep in mind that all calculations involving electric cars are skewed by the federal tax credit. What buyers paid for their car is often considerably less than MSRP after the credit is figured in. But even with that caveat, that used LEAF is typically worth about 30% of what a buyer paid for it three years ago.
“To be under 20 percent is fairly telling,” said Anil Goyal, Black Book’s senior vice-president of operations. “A lot of it has to do with demand.” Demand for used electric cars is suppressed by a number of factors. First is range. An early Nissan LEAF can only drive about 60 miles before range anxiety kicks in. The same is true of most other electric “compliance cars” like the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Volkswagen e-Golf and Fiat 500e.
Another factor is the pace of improvements. When the personal computer first hit the market, upgrades happened so rapidly that the machine you bought in the morning was often obsolete by the time you got it home. Battery range has increased significantly in recent years. Black Book’s Goyal says used car buyers are just not that interested in a car that has less than 100 miles of range. The BMW i3 is included in that group.
A three year old Tesla Model S is worth 62% of its original value
Another factor is the chaotic nature of EV charging networks. Competing standards, lack of consumer information, and a welter of confusing charging plans cause anxiety for EV drivers. Which brings us to Tesla. A three year old Tesla Model S is worth 62% of its original value according to Black Book.
Why? Several factors. First, over the air updates eliminate most of the fear that the car will be out of date in a year or two. Second, the Supercharger network assures Tesla owners that when they need to replenish their batteries while away from home, a free fast charging facility is nearby.

Tesla continues to aggressively expand its fast-charging Supercharger network across the world
A third factor is styling. Most manufacturers decided to give their first electric cars “Hey, look at me!” lines. But mainstream buyers want mainstream styling. The Tesla looks Model S and Model X look like the premium luxury cars they are. The forthcoming Model 3 has a pleasing, modern design that will make it stand out from other sedans without the weirdness of the BMW i3. Chevrolet tried making the original Volt look different, but decided to make the second generation more conventional in appearance. It’s hard to tell a new Volt from a new Chevy Cruze.
A number of car companies are planning to offer battery electric vehicles in the next 3 to 5 years. How will they fare in the used car market after the new wears off and they have tens of thousands of miles on them? That’s purely speculative at this point, but unless they have the build quality and reliability people expect, over the air updates to keep then current with technological changes, and the comprehensive charging networks needed to eliminate any hint of range anxiety, they are unlikely to retain their original value as well as a Tesla.
While everyone else is whining about how hard it is to sell electric cars and hedging their bets by building cars that can be powered by gasoline, diesel, plug-in powertrains, batteries, fuel cells, and pixie dust, Tesla is just going out and doing what needs to be done to make the electric car revolution a reality.
The numbers don’t lie. When it comes to selling electric cars that people want and that continue to hold their value as the years and miles go by, only one company done it successfully — Tesla. Everyone else is so far behind that by the time they catch up to where Tesla is today, Elon will be sending the first astronauts on their way to Mars.
Lifestyle
Tesla Cybertruck takes a bump from epic failing Dodge Charger
The Cybertruck seemed unharmed by the charging Charger.

There comes a time in a driver’s life when one is faced with one’s limitations. For the driver of a Dodge Charger, this time came when he lost control and crashed into a Tesla Cybertruck–an absolute epic fail.
A video of the rather unfortunate incident was shared on the r/TeslaLounge subreddit.
Charging Charger Fails
As could be seen in the video, which was posted on the subreddit by Model Y owner u/Hammer_of_something, a group of teens in a Dodge Charger decided to do some burnouts at a Tesla Supercharger. Unfortunately, the driver of the Charger failed in his burnout or donut attempt, resulting in the mopar sedan going over a curb and bumping a charging Cybertruck.
Ironically, the Dodge Charger seemed to have been parked at a Supercharger stall before its driver decided to perform the failed stunt. This suggests that the vehicle was likely ICE-ing a charging stall before it had its epic fail moment. Amusingly enough, the subreddit member noted that the Cybertruck did not seem like it took any damage at all despite its bump. The Charger, however, seemed like it ran into some trouble after crashing into the truck.
Alleged Aftermath
As per the the r/TeslaLounge subreddit member, the Cybertruck owner came rushing out to his vehicle after the Dodge Charger crashed into it. The Model Y owner then sent over the full video of the incident, which clearly showed the Charger attempting a burnout, failing, and bumping into the Cybertruck. The Cybertruck owner likely appreciated the video, in part because it showed the driver of the Dodge Charger absolutely freaking out after the incident.
The Cybertruck is not an impregnable vehicle, but it can take bumps pretty well thanks to its thick stainless steel body. Based on this video, it appears that the Cybertruck can even take bumps from a charging Charger, all while chilling and charging at a Supercharger. As for the teens in the Dodge, they likely had to provide a long explanation to authorities after the incident, since the cops were called to the location.
Lifestyle
Anti-Elon Musk group crushes Tesla Model 3 with Sherman tank–with unexpected results
Ironically enough, the group’s video ended up highlighting something very positive for Tesla.

Anti-Elon Musk protesters and critics tend to show their disdain for the CEO in various ways, but a recent video from political action group Led By Donkeys definitely takes the cake when it comes to creativity.
Ironially enough, the group’s video also ended up highlighting something very positive for Tesla.
Tank vs. Tesla
In its video, Led By Donkeys featured Ken Turner, a 98-year-old veteran who served in the British army during World War II. The veteran stated that Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, is “using his immense power to support the far-right in Europe, and his money comes from Tesla cars.”
He also noted that he had a message for the Tesla CEO: “We’ve crushed fascism before and we’ll crush it again.” To emphasize his point, the veteran proceeded to drive a Sherman tank over a blue Tesla Model 3 sedan, which, of course, had a plate that read “Fascism.”
The heavy tank crushed the Model 3’s glass roof and windows, much to the delight of Led By Donkeys’ commenters on its official YouTube channel. But at the end of it all, the aftermath of the anti-Elon Musk demonstration ended up showcasing something positive for the electric vehicle maker.
Tesla Model 3 Tanks the Tank?
As could be seen from the wreckage of the Tesla Model 3 after its Sherman encounter, only the glass roof and windows of the all-electric sedan were crushed. Looking at the wreckage of the Model 3, it seemed like its doors could still be opened, and everything on its lower section looked intact.
Considering that a standard M4 Sherman weighs about 66,800 to 84,000 pounds, the Model 3 actually weathered the tank’s assault really well. Granted, the vehicle’s suspension height before the political action group’s demonstration suggests that the Model 3’s high voltage battery had been removed beforehand. But even if it hadn’t been taken off, it seemed like the vehicle’s battery would have survived the heavy ordeal without much incident.
This was highlighted in comments from users on social media platform X, many of whom noted that a person in the Model 3 could very well have survived the ordeal with the Sherman. And that, ultimately, just speaks to the safety of Tesla’s vehicles. There is a reason why Teslas consistently rank among the safest cars on the road, after all.
Lifestyle
Tesla Model 3 driver is using FSD to travel to Mt. Everest Base Camp
The ambitious, nearly 4,000-kilometer (2,485-mile) Tesla FSD journey is being livestreamed on Chinese social media.

Count on Tesla drivers in China to push Full Self Driving (FSD) as far as it could go. As could be seen in videos posted on Chinese social media, a brave Model 3 owner is currently going on an epic journey from Henan Province to the base camp of Mt. Everest on FSD.
Recent posts from the Model 3 driver suggest that the ambitious destination may be within reach.
Epic FSD Journey
As noted by Tesla owner-enthusiast Aaron Li, the journey from Henan Province to the base camp of Mt. Everest spans almost 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles). The journey itself is epic, with stunning vistas and roads that require some drivers to bring oxygen canisters with them. The fact that it is being done using FSD makes it extra impressive.
Based on the videos that have been recently shared, the Model 3 running FSD seems to be nearing the Everest Base Camp. There seems to be a good chance that the Tesla Model 3 may reach its destination this Friday.
Previous Everest Trips
This is not the first time that a Tesla has driven to Mt. Everest’s base camp. That would be a Model 3 that was driven in September 2020. That vehicle, which went on a long 5,500 km (3,400-mile) journey, was manually driven to its destination.
In April 2021, Tesla China announced that it has completed the buildout of 11 Supercharger stations in the picturesque route from Chengdu to Tingri. This route would allow drivers to reach the base camp of Mt. Everest. Sure enough, in July 2022, Tesla China shared a video of two Teslas—a Model X and Model Y—reaching the Everest base camp without any issues. Numerous other Tesla drivers have since taken on the long, picturesque journey.
Check out this Tesla Model Y’s journey to the Mt. Everest base camp in the video below.
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