1.2 Million Miles In A Tesla Model S: A Journey Of Endurance (And 4 Batteries And 13 Motors)

The recent launch of the Cybertruck after years of failed promises and delays was a historic moment for Tesla. But on the other side of the world, in Germany, anticipation is building for another landmark Tesla moment. It won’t be long before Hansjörg von Gemmingen-Hornberg’s Tesla Model S has clocked up an incredible 2 million km, or 1.24 million miles.

By the time you read this post, Gemmingen-Hornberg will have passed the 1.9 million km (1.2 million miles) mark and in the video below he explains what was involved to get it there.

Remember the 1966 Volvo P1800 that the late Irv Gordon bought new and took to 3.25 million miles (5.23 million km) before passing away in 2018? Irv’s coupe required just two engine rebuilds to hit that monster mileage, but the mega-mile Model S P85 has been through at least 13 new motors and is on its fourth battery pack to travel just over one third of the distance.

Related: Worry Over Battery Lifespan Putting You Off Buying An EV? Relax, Says New Study

And that’s not because Gemmingen-Hornberg drives it recklessly. He claims never to exceed 62 mph (100 kmh) in day to day use, despite living in a country famous for having no speed limits on some of its roads, and charges his batteries from 15-70 percent.

That kind of conscientious attitude to charging means his current battery has only degraded by 8 percent after 93,000 miles (150,000 km), and has a driving range of 249 miles (400 km). Before it was swapped out, the last battery had degraded so badly it would only provide enough energy for 162 miles (260 km) of driving.

Gemmingen-Hornberg isn’t a taxi driver, just a regular citizen who bought his Model S as as a used car in 2014 with only 19,000 miles (30,000 km) on the clock and does a lot of driving. And not just driving in Europe. He’s been to Morocco and even China (though he shipped it there, rather than attempt to drive it across), and has seen huge changes in the availability of chargers across the world in his decade-long ownership of the EV.

The Model S isn’t Gemmingen-Hornberg’s only Tesla, either. He also owns an original Tesla Roadster, but that one’s barely run in, having covered a mere 457,000 miles (735,000 km).

Though the Model S has needed several bits of major surgery to clock up its huge mileage, it’s still an impressive achievement, particularly in such an early EV. And the fact that he’s over 250,000 miles (402,000 km) out of a battery is of more note than saying he’s needed four of the things. Gemmingen-Hornberg has had a few problems with features like the infotainment system, but overall, the car looks incredibly tidy, with even the leather showing little wear.

Screenshots Watt Energy / YouTube