Tesla Model S racks up one billion electric miles

Tesla has announced that its total worldwide vehicle fleet has surpassed one billion electricity-propelled miles, in the three years since the Model S was launched.

The milestone will be celebrated with an event titled ‘The Next Billion’, which will be held concurrently at Melbourne and Sydney Tesla stores from July 24-26. Attendees at the event will be able to experience the Model S for themselves.

The Californian car maker says that in achieving one billion miles almost 75,000 Tesla owners worldwide have saved more than half a million tonnes of carbon emissions, as well as $US175 million by avoiding the traditional petrol station fills that go with an internal-combustion engine.

Tesla’s charging network continues to grow with 445 ‘Supercharger’ stations located world-wide, along with ‘thousands’ of Destination Charging locations. Owners can also charge from home where possible.

Unfortunately the emissions savings don’t take into account the largely coal-generated electricity supplied to Australian charging points. Currently 73 per cent of fuel used for local electricity generation is coal, split 51 per cent black coal, 22 per cent brown, the majority of the latter being consumed in Victoria where the material is mined.

Thankfully, states such as Tasmania are investing further in renewable electricity resources with hydro power at the forefront. In fact, motoring.com.au is currently in Tasmania exploring The Apple Isle in zero emission glory. Stay tuned for more details.