Creston family all charged up to drive

As the price of gasoline has gone up this year, one Creston family goes right by it all.

Brian and Megan Kinkade are not having to pay nearly $3 a gallon for gasoline as they get from point A to point B in their 2018 Tesla S, an all-electric powered car.

“I’ve always liked cars and my dad was a used car salesman,” Brian said. “I had been looking at electric cars for over a year. The technology and performance got me curious. We wanted something with some performance and styling.”

Based in California, Tesla was Brian’s first choice in battery-powered cars. His research about other car manufacturers electric models were not what he desired. But getting to see a Tesla is not the same as looking at Chevrolets, Dodges and Fords. Tesla does not have traditional dealerships. Tesla had a demonstration day in Kansas City which the Kinkades attended in June 2017.

The test drive in Kansas City was all he needed.

“That’s when you figure out what you want,” he said about the day.

Teslas are purchased online and delivered to the buyer.

One of the first things he noticed about owning a Tesla is it is not like owning another brand of car.

“They don’t have model years,” he said. “Our is a 2018, it’s when we bought it, as Tesla can change things. It’s more like an iPhone.”

His registration states 2018 mainly for the year it was purchased.

One of the first things Megan and Brian had to determine was how to get the car charged as there is not an electric-car charging station in Creston or Union County. Tesla has its own charging stations in metro-Des Moines, Shelby and Council Bluffs. Other charging stations in the area are Clarinda and in Eagleville and Bethany, Missouri.

The Kinkades do not have to pay for the charge at Tesla stations, but do at other brands of charging stations.

“When we took it to Nashville, we didn’t pay a dime,” he said about strategically using Tesla locations.

With input from Tesla, they had a charger installed at their house which cost about $500. Brian said charging the car at home usually is faster than at a charging station. Depending upon the amount of power left in the batteries, a recharge can last from 30 to 45 minutes at a station. Brian said they have not seen a drastic increase in their electricity bill. The car is usually charged overnight.

“It does make you think,” Megan said about using the car and needing a charge.

She said if plans are to go out of town the next day, it’s best to charge the car the night before rather having to wait for the charge to complete before leaving they day of the trip.

The Kinkade’s car typically can go 250 miles on a single charge. Newer models of Tesla are closer to 400. Over the life of the car, the batteries do lose power. A cell phone app tells the Kinkades the location of car charging stations when they are traveling.

“Watch your gauge,” he said about knowing how much charge is left. “It is pretty accurate.”

Iowa’s winters also influence the car as Brian said cold weather reduces battery power, which means the car does not travel as far on a charge. His Tesla has a regenerative brake system which captures kinetic energy during deceleration and backs up the power batteries.

The car virtually has no other maintenance.

“The only fluid is the windshield washer,” Brian said.

The car is heavier than gasoline powered sedans which Brian said makes the tires wear out faster than usual. Like computers and cell phones, Tesla sends computer program upgrades to the car via Wi-Fi which owners are notified via the app.

Should the car need maintenance, Tesla has a mobile service which can go to the owner’s home, or location of the car. Tesla also has a service station in Council Bluffs.

As for actually driving the car, compared to a comparable gasoline powered car, “It’s not that much different,” Brian said. “It’s like driving an electric golf cart, but on a bigger scale. It has instant torque.”

At highway speeds, there is no noise from the motor, but he can hear road noise, from tires and wind, like in other cars.

The car also has robot-like capabilities. Brian said the car can exit the interstate and enter an exit ramp using GPS, not him turning the steering wheel at the right time and speed. Using the app on his cell phone, Brian can move the car without being in it akin to a toy remote-control car. Buyers can choose from colors and wheel designs among other features.

After the purchase of the car, the Kincades received a tax credit but have since paid more in annual registration fees compared to their gas-powered vehicles. Taxes from fuel sales in Iowa fund road repairs.