ORIGINAL TESLA MODEL S 85 ROAD TRIP UP THE ENTIRE AMERICAN WEST COAST: NEW CHARGING SITES, OLD TESLA

EV Channels Review

This video documents an ambitious 1,200-mile road trip from San Diego to Seattle in a 2013 Tesla Model S 85, highlighting how the original long-distance EV has aged. The reviewer praises the car's enduring build quality, noting fewer rattles than a new Model S, and its surprisingly effective climate control. However, the aging powertrain presents challenges: the original motor is prone to coolant failure (though this car has a replaced motor), and charging speeds are significantly slower than modern EVs, with peak rates around 130 kW that quickly diminish. The car's navigation system is also described as sluggish. Despite these drawbacks, the reviewer emphasizes that the expanded Supercharger network makes such a trip feasible today, a stark contrast to 2013. The video also touches on the car's original range of ~265 miles, now degraded to a predicted ~232 miles, and its lack of modern driver assistance features. Overall, the Model S 85 is presented as a capable, albeit slow-charging, classic EV, especially for those who can leverage its potential for free lifetime Supercharging.