by Greg Walcher, E&E Legal Senior Policy Fellow
As appearing in the Daily Sentinel
Atlantic writer Mateo Wong gushes about “a group of people in a red Tesla driving through the Moroccan desert,” when one exclaims, “Two million, Hans!” Apparently, the 2014 Model S became the first electric car to drive 2 million kilometers, or 1.24 million miles.
It turns out that to achieve that milestone, the car needed “several battery and motor replacements.” I’m not sure that counts as a record. In fact, almost any car might last that long with “several engine replacements.” In fact, it is far from setting any record. Guinness World Records lists several gas-powered cars that have topped a million miles, with their original engines and drivetrains and without major repairs. That includes Irvin Gordon’s famous 1966 Volvo 1800S with over 3 million miles; a 1976 Mercedes 240D with 2.85 million; a 1963 Plymouth Fury with 1.62 million; a 1983 Lincoln Town Car with 1.3 million; a 1991 Chevrolet Silverado pickup with 1.29 million; and several others.
Still, Wong’s headline boasted, “EVs could last nearly forever, if car companies let them” adding that “An electric car capable of running for 1 million miles is within reach.” He points out that gas-powered cars have thousands of moving parts, and a typical electric vehicle (EV) only a few dozen. That should mean lower maintenance costs and longer-lasting cars. He concludes, “The first EV you buy could be the last car you ever need to purchase.”
You would think millions of people worldwide would be flocking to EV dealerships and trading in their cars for the latest technology. But they’re not. Instead, McKinsey & Company’s Annual Mobility Consumer Survey for 2024 shows “Half of electric vehicle owners switching back to internal combustion engines.”
