Founded in 2003 by engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, Tesla hit the highlight when Elon Musk invested in 2004 and assumed the function of chairman a 12 months later, ultimately turning into the CEO in 2008. From there, the design of their automobiles and, due to this fact, their gross sales, skyrocketed, positioning Tesla Motors not only as the leading manufacturer of EVs but also as the global benchmark, compelling different automakers to transition to electrical and compete with them.

Nowadays, Tesla Motors stands on the pinnacle of the electrical car world because of the standard of its product and its relentless pursuit of discovering the very best resolution to each drawback it’d encounter. This has made it doable to drive a car not solely impartial of gasoline but additionally outfitted with the most recent technological developments, all the time protecting the clear purpose of conserving the setting in thoughts.

Even although Tesla vehicles have been initially thought of uncommon and unattainable, the corporate has steadily expanded manufacturing, launched new fashions, and made them extra accessible to the general public. Its dedication to progressing towards the longer term distinguishes it from many different automotive corporations solely involved with sustaining the established order. Throughout this journey of creating and perfecting its vehicles, there are some intriguing quirks worth highlighting. That’s why listed below are 10 attention-grabbing and amusing info about Tesla EVs you in all probability didn’t know.

In order to provide the newest and correct info doable, the information used to compile this text was sourced from varied producer web sites and different authoritative sources, together with Tesla Motors and Car and Driver.

1 The Tesla Model S Has A Hidden James Bond Mode

Tesla’s vehicles stand out as a few of the most thrilling and charming machines on the planet. They boast an array of options and applied sciences that set them aside from their rivals. Tesla house owners, particularly, can vouch for this and ensure that there are some remarkable Easter Eggs in their vehicles that make the expertise that rather more enjoyable and entertaining.

Witness The Authentic 007 Experience

The CEO of Tesla remodeled his fondness for James Bond movies into an Easter egg. Owners of the Model S or Model X can press and maintain the “T” button to entry the technician log-in display and, by typing in “007”, they’re going to remodel the automotive displayed on the infotainment heart into the Lotus Esprit S1, the automotive featured within the 1977 James Bond movie “The Spy Who Loved Me.” For these unfamiliar with the film, the automotive may convert right into a submarine, that is the explanation why the experience top on the show will seem as “depth”. So, as an alternative of “inches,” you may learn “leagues.” It’s a fairly humorous and random characteristic!

2 The Tesla Model S Became The Best Safety-rated Car Ever Tested

In 2013, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) carried out impartial testing and awarded the Tesla Model S, not just an overall 5-star safety rating but it managed to achieve the same rating in every subcategory (with out exceptions). Ultimately, the Tesla Model S set a brand new report, turning into the primary car to attain a 5-star consequence for the bottom chance of damage to occupants, bearing in mind the likelihood of damage from entrance, aspect, rear, and rollover accidents. Despite being a sedan, it surpassed the protection scores of all SUVs and minivans.

Safety Test Results

(Data sourced from NHTSA)

It Caused The Testing Equipment To Break

Achieving the very best doable rating is already an unbelievable feat, particularly for a sedan, a automotive class that does not usually safe such prime rankings. Even extra spectacular is the truth that, in accordance with the automaker, the Tesla Model S broke the testing tools utilized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for roof crush evaluations, a incontrovertible fact that states the corporate’s dedication to passenger security and the numerous success they managed to attain.

3 The Model Y Is The First All-electric World’s Best-Selling Car

For the primary time in historical past, an all-electric vehicle, the Model Y, has become the world’s best-selling car. By promoting 267,200 items globally, the Tesla Model Y has outperformed Toyota’s RAV4 (211,000) and Corolla (256,400) fashions, securing the highest spot in international gross sales rankings for the primary quarter of 2023. This achievement is especially noteworthy contemplating that the beginning worth for the 2023 Model Y is $47,490, considerably increased than the 2023 Corolla ($21,700) and RAV4 ($32,575). This automotive proves that Tesla has actually outdone itself, leaving no doubts that it is price each penny.

World’s Best-selling Cars 1Q 2023

(Data sourced from every respective automaker)

It Smashed The Sales Record In Denmark

In addition, the Tesla Model Y has set a new record in Denmark for the highest number of sales in a single 12 months. This accomplishment is very exceptional, provided that it was achieved in October of this 12 months, with solely two months left within the 12 months.

4 Tesla Aimed For A “S-E-X-Y” Model Lineup

Tesla had already named their first mass-produced automotive, Model S, which stands for sedan. After that got here their second automotive, Model X, which stands for crossover. Being confronted with this case, Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, recognized for being liable to standing out from the gang, made it his purpose to create a lineup of 4 fashions at Tesla that, when mixed, would spell the word “SEXY”. This would contain utilizing the final letters of the Model S, the Model E, the Model X, and the Model Y, in that exact sequence.

Ford Motors Did Not Allow It

However, the Model E ended up being named the Model 3, as their third technology automotive, after Ford rejected the idea of allowing Tesla to have the name, placing an finish to Musk’s somewhat humorous dream. Despite this, the lineup does not fare too badly because it finally fulfills its goal, making Elon Musk profitable in his quest.

Tesla’s S-3-X-Y Lineup

(Data sourced from Tesla)

5 The Tesla Model S Adjusts Its Suspension Height Based On The Location

The 6.0 software program is extra proof that over-the-air updates aren’t only for fixing bugs but additionally for including options. In the case of Teslas, as a person, you can even receive them without even having to visit a dealer. Alongside varied options comparable to traffic-based navigation that makes use of real-time information from each visitors sensors and different Tesla drivers to offer extra correct journey instances, the location-based air suspension setting makes its look.

How does this work? Essentially, when the motive force raises the Model S, the automotive shops the situation and remembers whenever you want extra floor clearance. Then, the automotive lifts itself to that stage the subsequent time you attain that location. This is definitely very helpful and useful for individuals who often drive on steep driveways or journey on gravel roads.

6 Record-breaking Performance By The Model S At Nürburgring

Tesla’s Model S Plaid made a return to the world-famous Nürburgring racecourse in Germany earlier this 12 months, setting a new record for the best lap time for a production EV. The Tesla machine accomplished the 12.9-mile lap in just 7 minutes and 25.231 seconds.

Outperformed Its Own Previous Milestone

This new report beats Tesla’s personal earlier greatest time of seven minutes and 30.909 seconds set in 2021. Although the 2021 lap time was measured on a 12.8-mile model of the Nürburgring observe, Tesla had additionally established an official 12.9-mile report for 7 minutes and 35.579 seconds on the identical day. In both case, Tesla now boasts two authenticated Model S information, outpacing Porsche’s 2019 report with the all-electric Taycan Turbo S set at about 7 minutes and 42 seconds.

What’s new with the Model S Plaid this time round? Well, that is the addition of the long-awaited $20,000-Track Pack, a system that upgrades the automotive’s parts and software program, permitting it to boost its efficiency (fairly a bit).

Unfortunately, This Record Has Already Been Shattered

Sadly, that report did not final. Not lengthy after Tesla set this report, in June of this 12 months, the Rimac Nevera, with Croatian driver Martin Kodric on the wheel, broke this report held by the Model S. The Croatian carmaker lately unveiled that the electrical hypercar has established a brand new manufacturing electrical automotive lap report on the famend racetrack, clocking a blistering lap time of seven minutes and 5.298 seconds, pushing the Tesla into second place.

7 Only Six Parts Need Regular Replacement

As is extensively recognized by now, Teslas are automobiles of very prime quality, so it is unusual to listen to about them breaking down or requiring common upkeep. This in itself is spectacular, nevertheless it’s much more notable to comprehend that only six parts need to be replaced in their structure on a regular basis: the 4 wheels and the 2 wiper blades. Despite this, service technicians also occasionally check the level of the battery and motor coolant, simply to make certain.

The Other Components Have A Longer Lifespan

The brake pads, for instance, do not put on out as shortly since many of the stopping energy comes from regenerative braking (changing the electrical motor right into a generator to recharge the battery), in order that they have a ridiculously lengthy lifespan. Moreover, with out valves, camshafts, connecting rods, a crankshaft, gears, clutches, or any of the opposite complexities present in a conventional automotive with an engine and transmission, a battery-electric automotive requires minimal service, which clearly raises issues amongst automotive mechanics.

8 Tesla’s Car Designs Are Patent-free

All of Tesla’s automotive designs are open supply, with the Tesla Model S being acknowledged because the world’s first open-source automotive. The firm began releasing its patents in 2014 to propel the advancement of electric car technology, one thing that would doubtlessly profit individuals worldwide. How good of them!

Always Seeing The Bigger Picture

Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, has defined that this choice was made to speed up the adoption of electrical vehicles. In this fashion, by means of the discharge of quite a few patents associated to electrical powertrains and their integration into automobiles, Tesla has said they appear to propel the continual development of your complete electrical automotive trade, with no distinction about which firm produces them and income from it. Due to the nonetheless comparatively small dimension of the electrical automotive market, Tesla declared it perceives little risk from its electrical rivals and that it believes there’s ample room for everybody available in the market.

9 It’s Technically Illegal To Drive The Model X Over The Brooklyn Bridge

In order to drive a automotive throughout the Brooklyn Bridge, whether or not it is an SUV, pickup, or sedan, it should weigh lower than 6,000 kilos. As it seems, whereas the Tesla Model X has a curb weight of 5,441 kilos, in reality, it has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 6,768 pounds. Tesla Motors explicitly said that the precise weight determine surpasses 6,000 kilos because it allowed them to qualify the Model X for an old tax loophole often called the Hummer Loophole, offering a $25,000 tax credit score.

Police Officers Have Legal Grounds To Fine You

In this fashion, in accordance with the bridge weight restriction, decided by engineers and builders who calculate the utmost weight a construction can bear, the Tesla Model X is not allowed to travel across the Brooklyn Bridge, plain and easy. Therefore, any NYPD officer ought to be happy to situation fines, make arrests, or carry out PIT maneuvers on any Tesla Model X driver they encounter on the bridge, so watch out in the event you’re eager about doing it!

10 The Model X Boasts Hospital-like Air Conditions

Tesla’s Bioweapon Defense Mode is among the many firm’s most mentioned but least understood options. This perform makes use of a set of enormous HEPA filters and chemical converters to filter out and neutralize dangerous particulates and air pollution inside the automotive’s cabin. The main goal of the system is to make sure passengers take pleasure in high-quality air (even in a few of the world’s most polluted cities).

It Effectively Works Even In Cities Experiencing Severe Pollution

Tesla put this characteristic to the check by parking a Model X inside an enormous plastic bubble with its doorways open. As the bubble was full of air that was extraordinarily contaminated (20 instances extra polluted than the common air high quality in cities like Beijing and Mexico City), and the Bioweapon Defense Mode was activated, the HEPA filtration system labored its magic.

In lower than two minutes, it scrubbed the air contained in the Model X, reducing pollution levels to the point of being undetectable, thus reaching hospital-like situations.