New Jersey man pits Tesla and a gas car against each other on a 1000-mile road trip to see which is fastest

This New Jersey man pitted a Tesla Model S Plaid, a Mustang Mach-E, and an Audi Q5 against each other in a 1,000-mile trip around North East America.

Legend has it that Tesla cars are slower than alternative gas cars over long distances, but quicker than other EVs, with charging times and accessibility being the real crux.

But is that strictly true?

Well, this YouTube creator from New Jersey and his team planned a 1,000-mile trip to put the theory to test.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie

Tesla Model S Plaid took on an EV and gas car in a 1,000-mile race

The Tesla Model S Plaid is seriously quick.

So much so that the famed EV has stormed past supercars like the Koenigsegg Agera RST in a quarter-mile drag race.

But over longer distances, many critics have claimed that charging infrastructure and long rates have meant the leading EV lags far behind its gas car competitors.

Now, YouTuber Marques Brownlee has raced a Tesla Model S Plaid, a Mustang Mach-E, and an Audi Q5, to see whether the charging times really do hinder road trips, compared to gas cars.

The trip would consist of two legs, reaching a stop-over near Niagra Falls and then hitting several other landmarks on route before heading back to the start/finish line in New Jersey.

Are EVs actually slower than gas cars on long trips?

Well, yes. But the gap is getting closer.

Overall, the Audi Q5 completed the 1,000-mile circuit in 18 hours and 39 minutes.

The Tesla, on the other hand, took an extra 90 minutes thanks to the amount of time it needed to charge over the duration of the trip.

But the Tesla far outpaced the Mustang Mach-E, which faced significant trouble getting to its charging stations and accessing them in competitive places.

All in all, the Mustang took more than 24 hours to complete the journey, finishing 6 hours 36 minutes after the Audi.

It is worth noting that the Mach-E had a charging nightmare on the first heat, having to double back for a short while.

Some saving grace is the software in the Tesla, which far outweighs the gas cars, especially for long-distance trips which helps you plan routes specifically with hitting stations.

Of course, there’s also the costs to consider.

We all know charging an EV is cheaper than filling up with gas, but with the 462-mile range in the Audi Q5 tank and the smaller 350-mile range in the Tesla, the savings weren’t as much as you’d imagine.

The trip ended with the Audi spending $85 and the Tesla just $66 – in fact, the real winner here was the Mach-E costing $61.

Those Supercharger prices are steep.

So, if you’re planning a road trip, Tesla is best for routing and is clearly ahead of EV competition, but there’s still no match for gas cars if you don’t want to be delayed charging.