Front Porch Politics and Tying It Together podcast host Tim Boyum, with photojournalist John Stampf, are wrapping their cross-country trip in a rented Tesla to test the realities of electric vehicles. They've talked with everyday Americans and local leaders about the issues that matter to them this election season reporting along the way.
Tim and John have arrived at Santa Monica Pier in California nine days after departing from the big apple in their Tesla, packed full of new political and electric vehicle driving experiences.
Here are the total EV stats:
9 day trip
Covered 14 total states, 9 battleground states
Distance: 3,753 miles
Time charging: 15 hours, 45 minutes of total charging, or about 1 hour 45 minutes per day
Charges: 28 total charges, or about three charges per day
Cost: $449.91, or $49.99 each day
So, Tim's take on EV's, way cheaper than gas but more tolling on your time. He believes it was only possible in a Tesla due to their routing feature. It routes in a charger before the car dies. Would he buy an EV after this experience? No way he's telling you, too political of a topic, he said. But he feels a lot more comfortable.
As far as the politics, he learned America is no doubt divided right now, even in places where the election may not be as "hot" — you can feel it. But, Tim adds, America is much different meeting people in person than it is online. Battleground states he visited handled the divisiveness differently, and wonders how the rhetoric on either side will be handled after the election.
There will always be differences that will need to be worked out in the country, and there are times and places for that like on political shows. For Tim, this was an opportunity to cover politics in a unique way, and he hopes you've enjoyed the trip.
