US man adds gas engine to his Tesla and drives 1,800 miles across several states without ever charging
Published on Oct 16, 2025 at 6:01 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Oct 17, 2025 at 3:50 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
This American decided to add a gas engine to his Tesla and attempt to drive 1,800 miles across several states without ever needing to charge.
We’ve all heard about ‘range anxiety’ – that moment on a road trip when you’re desperately looking for a charger, watching the battery tick down mile by mile.
But this guy wasn’t having it.
Instead of waiting around at Superchargers, he came up with a crazy idea: What if the Tesla could charge itself?
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Strapping a gas engine to a Tesla
This Tesla owner just strapped a gasoline engine to his EV and went on an epic 1,800-mile road trip without plugging in once, basically building the world’s first cordless Tesla.
And while he managed the 1,800 trip, it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
Tired of sitting around at Superchargers on road trips, the YouTuber Warped hacked his Tesla by squeezing a single-cylinder gas engine into the trunk.
The little engine pumped out 10 kilowatts of power, feeding energy straight into the battery like a mini power plant on wheels.
His plan was to drive the car across several US states, from Illinois to Michigan, to Wisconsin, without having to stop to charge at all.
The DIY hybrid Tesla faced some challenges
The new little engine made the Tesla incredibly loud outside, however, inside the cabin, the sound wasn’t too bad.
The DIY hybrid started leaking fuel and burning through gas faster than expected, it even started spraying gas out the back of the EV at speed.
Because one crazy engine wasn’t enough, he also met up with a buddy who had built a jet-powered pontoon boat.
Although he completed all 1,800 miles of his odyssey without plugging in, he actually described the experiment as ‘basically useless’.
The generator didn’t produce power quickly enough for a truly seamless trip – he still had to stop for hours each day to let the EV catch up.
Not quite the dream range extender, but a good experiment nonetheless.
Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
