Already the holder of several records, a Tesla Model S owner has just exceeded the threshold of 2 million kilometers with his car. The opportunity to further twist the necks of certain stubborn beliefs regarding electric cars.
2 million kilometers is approximately 50 times around the Earth. It's not the record for the most mileage car, but it's the electric car that has driven the most without a doubt. Its driver, Hansjörg von Gemmingen-Hornberg, is a German who bought a used Model S in 2014, when it had 30,000 km on the clock. Since then, the man has regularly shared on his account the steps taken, without forgetting the problems he also encountered.
In 10 years, the man behind the wheel of his Tesla Model S has covered miles on different continents, long before superchargers were even as widespread as they are today. In December 2019, he celebrated the first million kilometers of his electric car. Since April 1, 2024, it is the 2 million mark which was crossed.
Multiple batteries and motors to go the distance
2 million kilometers cannot be achieved without technical problems. Even if Hansjörg von Gemmingen-Hornberg takes particular care of his car, by driving quietly and taking great care not to mistreat his battery with fast charging, the components age.
The 2014 Model S is on its 4th battery. That may seem like a lot, but the driver points out that two of the replacement batteries Tesla installed were already second-hand when he picked them up. Only the battery currently installed in the model is new. The penultimate battery lasted 670,000 km, before only offering 260 km of autonomy, which was not enough for this big driver. The last battery (the new one) already has 650,000 km under its belt and it still has 400 km of autonomy. This is certainly down 8% since it was installed, but it should stay that way for a while before dropping.
On the engine side, this is where things get complicated. The 2014 Tesla Model S has already undergone 14 repairs. It should still be noted that this car was one of the first 100 sold by Tesla. The reliability of this model has improved over the years since its launch. The longest period the car had without a mechanical problem was 300,000 km, which is already a long life for an electric car in the hands of the average person.
Other notable facts about this car
Two notable things, in the interview conducted by the Watt Energy YouTube channel on the occasion of the 1.9 million kilometers, deserve a spotlight.
Although the battery and motors have had several replacements, the car has aged well overall. Inside, the steering wheel and seats are still original. Despite the adventures carried out by this model even in the desert, it is in remarkable condition for this exceptional mileage.
The average consumption recorded by the dashboard of this Model S displays 15.8 kWh/100 km over the last 1.2 million kilometers. This data alone is already an achievement for a sedan just under 5 m long which dates from 2014. Its driver may drive very quietly, including on the motorway, but it remains impressive.
We certainly haven't heard the last of Hansjörg von Gemmingen-Hornberg, since the German has every intention of continuing to drive his Model S. Doing 1,300 km a day has become his daily life. There is no doubt that as long as the car does not have an accident or is not declared irreparable, it will continue to set new records. Good road !