Kryštof Kněžínek is one of AutosEU’s founders. He shares his experiences and opinions on electric cars. What is his experience with Tesla, and should everyone get an electric car?
I have been following the world of electromobility for a long time, mainly because of Elon Musk and his Tesla. The more I learned about it, the more fascinated I became with electric cars.
I was particularly attracted to Tesla’s unique technology. Originally, I was interested in a hybrid car that would allow me to cover longer distances.
However, since I live in Prague and drive and park there about 95% of the time, I needed a hybrid that would allow free parking, similar to electric cars that require a license plate with “EL” on it. Only hybrids with emissions below 50g CO2/km qualify, so the options are quite limited.
That’s why I ultimately decided to go with an electric car.
I chose the Tesla Model Y Long Range because of its technological advantages, cost savings on operation, and the benefit of free parking in Prague’s blue and purple zones.
I’m not planning anything right now, but I’d like to get a Tesla Model S or X at some point in the future, and possibly a BMW, such as a hybrid XM or electric iX xDrive40 . I really like the looks of those and would love to drive them.
I typically charge about once every four to five days. The charging time varies depending on the type of charger and socket.
With fast chargers in Prague, it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to go from 20% to 80% charge. At home using a conventional socket, it can take up to 24 hours. Alternatively, charging from a 380v socket at home takes about 5 to 6 hours.
The farthest I’ve traveled was probably to Budapest. On that trip, I charged twice—once in Brno and once in Bratislava. Each charging session took about twenty minutes to half an hour at most.
Not really, since I mostly drive around Prague. However, if I were to drive long distances frequently, I’d definitely be limited by the range.
The cost savings. Operating an electric car is cheaper in terms of parking, fuel, and maintenance. I’ve saved over 50,000 CZK on fuel alone in the past year.
It is definitely profitable in the long run. While I do pay higher compulsory insurance compared to a conventional car, having the option to charge at home makes up for it with savings on fuel and parking costs.
Yes, there have been some problems. Chargers from major suppliers like PRE, CEZ, and E.ON don’t always work as expected. There have been times when I had to search for another nearby charger, and sometimes the process of charging with these providers can be unnecessarily complicated.
I’d suggest signing up with all the major energy suppliers to get a better tariff. Although setting up and registering can be a bit of a hassle, the cost savings are significant.
Also, Tesla offers an excellent charging solution for long trips; the car itself plans where and how long to charge to ensure you reach your destination.
Make sure to keep an eye on the availability of chargers on your route. Tesla, for example, prefers its own chargers, so if there are none on your route, you may not plan your trip as efficiently. In such cases, I have to manually search for alternative chargers.
I don’t think it’s my place to convince anyone. Everyone should decide based on what they’re comfortable with and what their needs are, including how often they drive and where they need to go.
My main issue with electromobility is that the EU is pushing it too forcefully. This approach may not be good for the economy or a healthy market environment. It also puts a heavy burden on car companies, which are investing heavily in development, even though many people are not ready to own an electric car and the infrastructure is not fully ready.
At the end of the day, everyone should find their own way to get an electric car. Pressure on others is not helpful.
