Tesla Model S owner who hit 1.2m miles reveals secret
- This Tesla Model S owner has driven his car more than one million miles
- It’s an impressive feat that has put the car through 14 engines
- But how has he done it?
Published on Sep 04, 2024 at 1:01 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Sep 04, 2024 at 6:44 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
A man who drove his Tesla Model S for 1.24 million miles has revealed the secret to car longevity.
Hansjörg von Gemmingen-Hornberg is the proud owner of a sturdy 2014 Model S P85.
He received a shout-out from Elon Musk way back in 2019, congratulating him on the impressive milestone.
So what is his secret to making the car last so long?
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
The issues that comes with a Tesla Model S
Earlier Tesla models had some issues with their rear motors – this car was no exception.
Over the span of 1.2 million miles, the engine had to be replaced 13 times, according to Inside EVs.
Hansjörg von Gemmingen – Hornberg
Gemmingen-Hornberg has form for getting good use out of his vehicles, as his previous Tesla Roadster had racked up 400,000 miles on it.
When he decided to trade up for a Model S, he opted to get a pre-owned one with an odometer reading 18,641.
His Model S is currently on its fourth battery, the equivalent of a battery pack every 300,000 miles.
So the car hasn’t reached its impressive mileage without a few tweaks here and there, but – all in all – it’s held up well.
Hansjörg von Gemmingen – Hornberg
The secret to car longevity?
What’s the secret to keeping a Model S going after 10 years? Lots of breaks, apparently.
Gemmingen-Hornberg says that he doesn’t drive for more than 62 miles at a time before he takes a break.
Not only is this beneficial for him as a driver, but it gives his car some time to breathe.
He recharges the car whenever the battery reaches 20 percent rather than waiting for it to die.
You may be wondering on how on earth he managed to rack up so many miles.
Well, he is retired and has taken the car all over the world, from Morocco to China to Sweden.
He’s not the only car owner to have pushed his car beyond the million-mile mark.
One Greek taxi driver racked up an astonishing 3 million miles over the course of 23 years, whilst a Canadian cabbie hit 1.6 million over 35 years.
That still gives Gemmingen-Hornberg plenty of time to overlap them.
# Tags - Cars, EV, Latest articles, Tesla
Ben Thompson
Ben got his start in journalism at Kennedy News and Media, writing stories for national newspapers, websites and magazines. Now working as a freelancer, he divides his time between teaching at News Associates and writing for news sites on all subjects.
