To enjoy their trip, the siblings decided to rent a Tesla from Hertz.
They wanted to have a unique firsthand experience of what driving an electric car is like.
However, they encountered unexpected challenges related to charging the vehicle during their journey.
Xaviar and Alice Steavenson rented a Tesla from Hertz, fully aware that electric cars require periodic charging.
They anticipated longer charging times due to the cold weather in late December. Little did they know that their frequent stops would become a significant inconvenience.
Initially, the Stevensons estimated that they could drive their Tesla for at least 2 1/2 hours before needing to recharge it.
However, the reality was much different. Xavier Steavenson revealed that the battery was depleting faster than it could be recharged, forcing them to stop frequently for recharging.
They found that they needed to refill the battery every one to one and a half hours, with charging times ranging from one to two hours.
Xaviar Steavenson told Insider: "We ended up having to stop every one to 1 ½ hours to charge for an hour, then an hour and a half, then two hours," he said.
"So beyond the lost time, it also got to the point it was between $25 and $30 to recharge. Just in one day, we stopped six times to charge at that cost."
On the website, Hertz promotes Tesla rentals as being "always cheaper than gas". However, Xaviar Steavenson throws away Hertz's claim.
When Steven contacted Hertz, the agent seemed unaware of any issues with Tesla rentals.
He said: "They had nothing but Tesla calls today" and had "no idea why they're having issues."
Frustrated by the repeated stops and unexpected costs, the Steavensons eventually returned the Tesla to the nearest Hertz location. However, they didn't receive another Tesla; instead, they drove back in a gas-powered Nissan Rogue Sport.
While Xaviar and Alice Steavenson encountered difficulties with their rented Tesla, others have reported significant fuel savings with their own Tesla vehicles.
One Tesla owner, Sattar, shared his impressive savings over six months, highlighting the stark difference in experiences.
In X platform, Tesla owner, Sattar left people in awe after showing incredible money he saved in fuel over six months.
The post read: “6 months and roughly 10k miles I've spent only $573 to charge. An equivalent gas car at $4/gallon would have cost roughly $2400. I saved $1800".
Sattar has saved significantly on charging costs. Sattar shared that over six months and approximately 10,000 miles, he spent only $573 to charge his Tesla.
In comparison, a gas car at $4 per gallon would have cost around $2,400, resulting in substantial savings.
Sattar attributed his savings to several factors, including taking advantage of locations that offer free charging.
However, Sattar's secret to success extends beyond charging stations. He also utilizes solar panels, which allow him to contribute wattage to the grid rather than drawing from it. Solar energy has long been recognized as an effective tactic for saving money.
