damage

Tesla Model S Aluminum Body: Why Repair Costs Are Higher
David Noland January 15, 2015

As more and more Tesla Model S electric sport sedans hit the road—50,000-plus at last count—some of their drivers are naturally starting to have accidents. They are bumping into other cars, colliding with deer, scraping telephone poles, and backing up into poles and trees. Their cars are suffering all the other dents, scratches, and dings that are an almost inevitable part of a car's life. DON'T MISS: 2014 Tesla Model S P85D: First Drive Of All-Electric AWD Performance Sedan Fortunately, I have done none of those things in my 85-kilowatt-hour 2013 Tesla Model S. Yet. But I have to...
Life With Tesla Model S: Battery Safety Shield In Detail (Photos)
When I first heard last week that Tesla was offering Model S owners a free retrofit that would install its new underbody shield and deflector plates, I called my local Tesla Motors service center almost immediately. It seemed like a no-brainer. The titanium shield and two aluminum deflector plates...
David Noland April 10, 2014
Chevy Volt Charging Cord Cut: Angry Neighbor, Electric-Car Hater?
Owning a plug-in electric car, as buyers learn, is a process of educating the public at large. Mostly, people are curious when they see a car plugged in to recharge. But occasionally, uglier emotions come into play. That's apparently what happened to Matthew Cummings and Jennifer Brown. The couple...
John Voelcker February 21, 2014

It's Not Easy Being Green: Solar Windows 1, Prius 0
A southern California Prius owner learned the hard way that energy-efficient building windows can reflect enough sunlight to melt plastic.
Kurt Ernst January 25, 2012
Reader Poll: Was This Done By a Hybrid Hater, or An Angry Ex?
It's Friday, the day when we round up the random items we've received all week and decide what to do with them. This one, we decided, deserves a reader poll. What do you think, was this innocent grey second-generation Toyota Prius keyed by someone who hates the fuel efficiency and green image of...
John Voelcker August 6, 2010