Well there are all kinds of new things you need with a Tesla, one of the main things are additional applications including:

  • EV Trip Planner. This takes in actual data from real cars and then calculates mileage with wind and elevation taken into account.
  • A Better Route Planner. Like the one above. You can set charge minimums at each supercharger vs home. But you need to know the individual range characteristics of your car.
  • Teslafi. This stores information about your car. You give it credentials and it shows you detailed statistics. Really helpful statistics.
  • Teslafi Firmware. There is no way to force an update to your Tesla, but at least this tells you what firmware you should be on. And theoretically, when you get services, you can get the latest update.
  • Eve for Tesla (Teslaapps.net). You put this on the browser window of your Tesla and you get really useful widgets like gmail reading, etc.
  • Remote S. This is an IOS application that has more detail than the regular Tesla mobile application. Also if you leave it open it records statistics as you drive.

And of course monitor the forums:

There there are the adapters:

  • Spare J1772 to Tesla. This is the one used most often for Level 2 Chargers. It is $99 (what a rip off for a connector). directly from Tesla.
  • Chademo to Tesla. Wow, $500 for a plug that converts from the Japanese Chademo to Tesla.
  • CCS to Tesla. There don’t seem to be any of these things and that means if you want fast charging other than at Tesla Superchargers, you are stuck with Chademo. It’s not clear if it is worth $500 for the adapter above.
  • Level 2 home charger. For $500 if you have a L14-50P installed, you can get 40 amps x 240V or 9.6kW at home. The nice thing compared with a Tesla home charger is that you can also use it for your non-Tesla cars as you are using J1772.

Then there are some old fashioned things you still need even with an EV thanks to Wirecutter:

  • Weego Jumpstarter 22S. Yes, the Tesla does have a 12V battery and things don’t go well if it is out. In fact, it is in the Fronk, so if the battery goes out, you need to know how to get to the emergency trunk release (for late model, hint, you need a screwdriver and look at the lower left of your fender). Another hint, don’t keep anything in the fronk you don’t really need as it’s easy to pop open (the alarm does sound though). Modern jumpers use Li-ion and can also be used as a battery pack. $60-70 at Amazon buys you a good one. You don’t need a lot of start power since it doesn’t need to start the engine.
  • Tire gauge. Given range anxiety having the tire pressure right is even more important in a EV.  So get a great tire gauge (unlike the Chevy Bolt there is no easy way to see tire pressure on the mobile app).
  • Flat fixer. Yes, the Tesla does not have a spare tire, so you need the goo to patch it up or you can call AAA or Tesla roadside service. But Wirecutter has a good list.
  • Adventure Medical First Aid kit. Amazing how most cars don’t just pack this but for $20 it’s easy to fix. Personally I like to supplement with a compress bandage just in case there is a massive chest wound or something really serious.
  • Stone Point Warning Beacon. These are tiny LEDs, but a lifesaver if you don’t want to get run over.
  • Glass breaker. Yes, if you get trapped you want a fast way to get out.
  • First Alert Fire Extinguisher. Hopefully you will never need it.
  • Black and Decker Wide Mouth Bag. Someplace to put all the junk
  • Goop Cleaner. Some way to wash your hands after it is all over.
  • Duct Tape. Yes this is the way to fix just about everything.

I’m Rich & Co.

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