Tesla iPhone App Can Help You Keep Track of Your Cars, Among Other Things

Just in case you have more than one Tesla Motors vehicle, the Tesla iPhone app can help you keep track of where they are.  It can also tell you how much of a charge it has, honk the horn or change the temperature in the car.

Here Monika Kozdrowiecka, owner of two Teslas, shows Peter Cheney of Globe Drive how to access a Tesla via iPhone.

(apologies, but I can no longer retrieve the video - but it was cool.  Monika could actually see where BOTH of her Teslas were ...)

Do EMFs from Teslas and Other Electric Vehicles Pose a Health Risk?

Do EMFs (Electromagnetic Fields) in Teslas and other electric vehicles pose a health risk to owners of these vehicles?  An article at the Daily Mail says that experts have dismissed the risk from EMFs in electric cars, but is there something there?

WHAT ARE THE SAFETY CONCERNS SURROUNDING ELECTRIC CARS?

The flow of electrical current to the motor that moves a hybrid vehicle or electric produces electromagnetic fields (EMF).

A number of studies have linked EMF exposure with serious health issues, including a possible risk cancer, miscarriage and a higher risk of leukaemia among children.

Batteries and power cables in electric and hybrid vehicles are usually placed close to the driver and passengers, meaning that prolonged exposure to electromagnetic fields is unavoidable.

‘Some members of the public have attributed a diffuse collection of symptoms to low levels of exposure to electromagnetic fields at home,’ according to the World Health Organisation.

‘Reported symptoms include headaches, anxiety, suicide and depression, nausea, fatigue and loss of libido, sleep disorders, headaches, tiredness, concentration and memory problems.’

I received the following message yesterday and immediately wanted to dismiss it as quackery.  Then I thought that I would do some research and make myself aware of any possible risks.

Hi Joe-
I’m happy that you’re a fellow manifester. I was compelled to send a LinkedIn request because I noticed that you’re trying to manifest a Tesla. I, too was obsessed with the notion of driving an electric vehicle, until it was made known to me that having the body close to a large battery is not good for our health.

I’m studying to become a biontologist under Johan Boswinkel, inventor of The Chiren (www.biontology.com). He observed a phenomenon called Electron Spin Inversion, where the electrons in the atoms that make up our cells spin in the opposite direction they were intended. This is caused by prolonged exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). The resulting symptoms can range from fibromyalgia-like tiredness, chronic fatigue, slow healing process, or even acute illness. According to Dr. Boswinkel all leukemia patients are in electron spin inversion.

I have observed slow healing and unexplained tiredness in my clients who drive electric cars. Because of this I have had to abandon my dream of owning a Tesla, and have decided that my next vehicle will be a VW diesel. I’m unsure which model, but it will be one that gets several hundred miles per tank, which reduces my personal consumption of fossil fuels by 2/3. Not as sexy and swanky as the Tesla, but it’s a great compromise.

I am sorry to bear the bad news, but I do so out care and compassion for my fellow man.

Be well.

This has definitely NOT caused me to not want a Tesla, or even lessened my desire to get a Model S one bit – but I do want to know what others think.  Do you have an opinion on this?  Do you think EMFs from Teslas and other electric vehicles can cause health problems?

Will the Tesla Model X Still Be Out Fall 2015? I Sure Hope So …

This is a really interesting video where Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk is introducing the new Model X.  This was over two years ago …  It was posted on February 9, 2012.

Although there has been a lot of conjecture that Tesla will have to delay the production of the Model X until have the Gigafactory site is chosen and built so that they can produce the batteries for it.  That does not appear to be the case, asThe Wall Street Transcript is predicting that Tesla will be unveiling the Model X in production format this fall and making some initial customer deliveries in Q2 of 2015.

On the Tesla Motors site, they are estimating delivery for Model X vehicles ordered now to be in Fall of 2015.  This is super exciting – I’m really looking forward to driving a Model X, but sure hope that I have my own Model S by the time the Model X is out.

Tesla Motors is surely changing the world and could be the catalyst to starting to get ICE cars off our roads so we can reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels and help protect our mother earth for future generations.

Canada’s Globe and Mail Journalist Peter Cheney Touring Model S from San Diego to Whistler

Peter Cheney on day one of his journey in Torrey Pines State Park near La Jolla, California.
(Marian Cheney for The Globe and Mail)

Peter Cheney, a journalist with Canada’s Globe Drive (auto) section of the Globe and Mail is in the midst of a tour in a Model S from San Diego (my former home) to Whistler BC – one of my favorite places on the planet to ski and snowboard.

There’s no doubt that he’s going to have a great time, as the Model S is a pure joy to drive every time you get behind the wheel.  Not to mention the weather is great this time of year.

Here’s a short video of Peter hooking up the Model S to the Tesla Supercharger in Hawthorne California.  Super easy and 45 minutes later he has a full charge – absolutely FREE.

If you are interested in following Peter on his Tesla Model S journey from San Diego, California to Whistler, BC you can do so at Globe Drive.

I Applied For Jobs at Tesla

It’s probably not the fastest way for me to get my Tesla Motors Model S, but the other day I went to TeslaMotors.com and applied for four different jobs – sales positions at the Bellevue Square and Seattle Tesla stores.  I also sent an email to the manager of the Bellevue Square store to let her know that I applied and am very interested in working for Tesla Motors.

It’s still early, and I haven’t heard back yet, but if they are looking for someone who is passionate about Tesla cars and can sell, I am their guy.  It would be really cool to be able to talk about Tesla and the Model S all day long …  As they say, Do What You Love!  I love selling and I really love the Model S ….

Tesla Motors Announces Extension of Model S Drive Unit Warranty

Tesla Motors announced today that the Model S drive unit warranty has been increased to match that of the battery pack. That means the 85 kWh Model S now has an 8 year, infinite mile warranty on both the battery pack and drive unit. Moreover, the warranty extension will apply retroactively to all 85 kWh Model S vehicles ever produced.

No other changes have been made to the warranty.

Here’s what CEO Elon Musk wrote about the new policy in a blog post today:

Infinite Mile Warranty

The Tesla Model S drive unit warranty has been increased to match that of the battery pack. That means the 85 kWh Model S, our most popular model by far, now has an 8 year, infinite mile warranty on both the battery pack and drive unit. There is also no limit on the number of owners during the warranty period.

Moreover, the warranty extension will apply retroactively to all Model S vehicles ever produced. In hindsight, this should have been our policy from the beginning of the Model S program. If we truly believe that electric motors are fundamentally more reliable than gasoline engines, with far fewer moving parts and no oily residue or combustion byproducts to gum up the works, then our warranty policy should reflect that.

To investors in Tesla, I must acknowledge that this will have a moderately negative effect on Tesla earnings in the short term, as our warranty reserves will necessarily have to increase above current levels. This is amplified by the fact that we are doing so retroactively, not just for new customers. However, by doing the right thing for Tesla vehicle owners at this early stage of our company, I am confident that it will work out well in the long term.

Mike’s Tesla Motors Model S on Display at Exotics at Redmond Town Center Auto Show

This morning while riding my bike home from the gym in Redmond, I came across a really cool car show in the parking lot at Redmond Town Center.  There were all kinds of awesome cars there, many that would make most car buffs drool.  I walked around the parking lot looking at and taking pictures of cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Lotus, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Porsche, Jaguar, BMW and more.  There were also some classic cars and a fully electric Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Even though there were a lot of cool exotic cars, I still had an empty, unfulfilled feeling.  These were all highly desirable cars, but the one car that is in my future was not there.  But as luck would have it, just as I was about to leave, I happened to notice it – a shiny, white Tesla Model S!  Easily the best car on the lot (at least in my mind) – and the least expensive to operate, but not even close to the most expensive in the show.

I went to talk to the owner, a really nice guy named Mike.  As all Tesla owners I have ever spoken to, Mike was very enthusiastic about his car. I asked him if it was fun every time he drove it, and with a huge smile said “it really is”. He said he’d had it for about 16 months, but it was in mint condition.  I asked if he’d taken any road trips and he said, not really – except for an excursion to Bellingham.

After sharing some Tesla driving

stories, Mike admitted that he only drives the car 2-3 days a week because he wants to keep it in the best of condition.  His power bill at home has increased about $30 a month since he bought the car – which is a small drop in the bucket compared to paying today’s gas prices.

Even though I really appreciated being able to meet Mike and him being there to show his Model S –  and we both share a passion for Teslas, when I get my Tesla, I can guarantee it will go on A LOT of road trips – and probably look a lot more lived in …

Thank you Mike for being at the Exotics at Redmond Town Center and showing your super cool Tesla Model S!

Exotics@RTC is an informal weekly gathering of exotic car owners and enthusiasts, and has grown to become the largest weekly car gathering north of Los Angeles.

Hours are 9-11 AM. Be sure to get there about 8:30 if you’re bringing a car to show.

Tesla Motors Opens New Super Charger in The Dalles Oregon

Tesla Motors has just announced that they’ve opened their latest Supercharger in The Dalles Oregon.  This Supercharger will support travel between Portland, the Columbia River Gorge, Eastern Washington and Idaho.  And as Tesla is fond of saying “For free, for life!”

I cannot wait to charge up at The Dalles Tesla Supercharger after I get my Tesla Model S P85!!!  So stoked!

The Dalles Tesla Supercharger
2114 W 6th Street
The Dalles, OR  97058

Located at Cousins’ Country Inn, open 24/7 with 5 charging stalls