Man drives 434 miles in one day in his Tesla Model 3 then compares costs and time to gas and diesel cars to see which is the best all round
Published on Jul 07, 2026 at 5:46 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jul 07, 2026 at 5:46 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
This man racked up 434 miles in one day driving his Tesla Model 3 to see how it fared compared to gas and diesel cars.
Serge Fino set out from his house at 9am with 89 percent on his EV.
From there, he completed a 434-mile round trip.
This man took this Tesla Model 3 out in freezing temperatures and drove it for 434 miles
Serge Fino, the creator behind the FinoGarage YouTube channel left home at 9am with 89 percent battery and temperatures sitting between 19-23°F.
That could only mean one thing – the heater was on full blast.
The car in question was a 2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range.
For today, it was taking on a trip that would have normally been undertaken by a gas car or a diesel camper van.
Usually, it would take him around 10 hours to complete and set him back around $83 in fuel money.
For the sake of this comparison, he would be tracking every change to see how much he was spending.
His first top-up cost him $7, while his second set him back $12.
When it came time to visit a Supercharger, he was forking out $24 for a session.
By the time he’d completed his 434 miles, he’d paid $53 in total.
That’s a whole $30 cheaper than what an ICE car would have cost him.
It may have saved him money, but it didn’t save him on time as it took 11 hours to complete.
That’s an hour longer than it would have done with the gas car.
But to be fair, the charging stops lined up with coffee, breakfast, and dinner breaks.
So this wasn’t simply a case of watching a battery percentage tick up while shivering in the snow.
The Gas-EV comparisons have been ongoing for a while now
As EVs have become more visible on our roads, more people have gotten themselves embroiled in the EV versus gas debate.
Plenty of people have spoken up about the savings they’ve amassed by switching to EVs.
One Model Y owner was so stunned that he had to take a picture of his bill.
A UK man gave a thorough breakdown of how much 1,300 miles a week cost him in his Model 3.
For another man, it was a direct comparison between a Tesla and a gas-powered Mini.
And it’s not just individual testimonies either – one study found that EVs were officially cheaper to run in the UK than their gas guzzling cousins.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
