9 Things You Didn't Know About Tesla Motors

Tesla has gained a ton of recognizability in recent years, with the rise in fame of CEO Elon Musk and the media publicity of his SpaceX program.

But what are some of the key facts about his company Tesla that you probably don’t already know?

In this article, we’ll take a look at nine things you haven’t been told about Tesla.

1. Elon Musk (Probably) Didn’t Found Tesla

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Wait… what?

It’s true.

Although Musk is the current CEO of Tesla, he may have not founded the company. It’s an easy assumption for us to make that he did, however, as he routinely acts as though he is the founder of the company.

The reality is that Tesla Motors was actually founded by two men named Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in 2003.

Make no mistake about it: there is controversy surrounding this fact, with Musk (along with two others) claiming they were also original company founders. But that case has never been fully settled in the court of public opinion.

And we’re probably not going to sort it all out here.

2. A Tesla Car Never Shuts Off

You probably didn’t know that a Tesla does have an off switch. In fact, it’s never completely “off.”

Although the car does seem to be off when you shift it into park, it’s actually only sleeping (much like your laptop when you close it).

This is why a Tesla springs to life so quickly when needed.

3. Much More Than an Automaker

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On February 1, 2017, Telsa officially filed with the SEC to remove the word “motors” from its name. This lined up with the plan Musk came up with in 2006.

Musk’s plan was to take the profits made from cars and put it into sustainable electrical systems and solar panels. The idea spawned the Tesla Powerwall.

4. The $465 Million Loan From the Government

Tesla received a gigantic government loan of $465 million from the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program, created by George W. Bush in 2008 before being funded by Congress.

However, contrary to popular opinion, it wasn’t an interest-free loan and wasn’t part of the 2008 automaker bailout package.

5. Ludicrous Mode

The inspiration for the Tesla Ludicrous Mode was taken directly from the movie Spaceballs. This mode is in specified versions of the Tesla Model X and Model S.

Ludicrous Mode pushes the vehicle’s acceleration to unbelieveable levels. Just remember that that thesse lightning-fast sprints do drain the battery quite quickly.

6. There’s an Override for the Falcon Wing Door

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A lot of people have claimed that the falcon wing doors are incredibly dangerous, especially after it was reported that a person got trapped in a Model X after an accident.

In this particular situation, it was claimed that the falcon wing doors weren’t able to actuate due to a lack of power within the vehicle.

However, what most people don’t know is that there’s a mechanical override for the falcon wing doors. Behind each speaker cover within each door are manual pull cables for the doors. You’ll have to remove each speaker cover by pulling on a lip that exposes a cable that you can then pull.

7. Tesla Doesn’t Always Lose Money

A lot of people believe that Tesla has never made a cent in profits. However, that isn’t actually the case.

While it’s true that developing new technolgies, funding flashy mall stores, and building rockets aren’t cheap endeavors, the company has reported quarterly profits in the past.

8. The Supercharger Situation

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Many Tesla owners were under the imprssion that they were given unlimited access to all Supercharger stations that are located across the U.S.

This isn’t true.

Several years ago, Tesla let their Model S owners know, via email, that Supercharges were intended mostly for travel over long distances. Although they can be used locally once in awhile for convenience, the company didn’t intend on owners using them to top off their batteries locally.

9. Model 3

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If you purchase a Model 3, you’ll have to pay to use all Superchargers. Tesla recently announced that the EV doesn’t come with complimentary access to Supercharger, unlike the Model X and Model S which are more expensive.