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Recruiting for Tesla Destination Charging Locations

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9 years ago

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Back in November of last year, I had a clear mission: Find independently owned restaurants that appear to own and operate their own private parking lots near Wilkes-Barre, PA. (eg: Not a chain and not in or around a mall.) My reason: There are no destination chargers in the area, and PA is quite underserved by Tesla Superchargers.

My result: Breaker Brewing Company

Tesla-Destination-Charging-Breaker-Brewing-Co-Logo

On that day I decided to send an unsolicited email to the contact email address listed on the Breaker Brewing Company’s website. The email concisely mentioned Tesla car charging, explained how Northeastern PA was a charging dead zone, dropped the destination charging program URL and asked someone to call me to discuss.

Pretty immediately, I spoke with an owner named Mark whose interest mostly related to the electrical requirements of the charger. I told him I would be in the area on Friday the 27th and would visit his restaurant to eat and show him the car. I also recruited another Tesla owner/enthusiast who was in town for the Thanksgiving holiday and we both brought our Teslas for a nice meal and chat.

Mark showed me the parking space he had “in mind” for the chargers and asked me if I would be willing to throw in the required breakers. It was at this point I realize that he assumed I somehow worked with the destination charging program. Slightly embarrassed, I explained that I was just an owner who saw a great opportunity and urged him to get ahold of Tesla for real and see what they were offering. I knew the perks included the equipment itself, as well as map placement on both the destination charging webpage as well as on the in-car navigation system. What I didn’t know was how much else Mark could get from them in terms of materials to install or even installation reimbursement. I had heard rumors that both were possible but wanted to make no representations of anything other than what I have learned from official Tesla sources.

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The meal was very pleasant, with a level of food quality that surprised me and a very unique setting in a former school building. It was truly an excellent lunch! (I’m working on my level of food snobbery, but being from a major city, I expect no greater than the Olive Garden when visiting Wilkes-Barre.) The conversation with a fellow owner was even more enjoyable. This owner had previously volunteered his time and his car to hold a show-and-tell type event at a local school. Regardless of what happened with the charger, I knew I’d be back here.

“consider making a phone call to a local business owner … you might just surprise yourself with what happens next”

January 15, 2016

“Hi, Our Tesla charging stations are now connected and ready to go…” Just like that, an email from Mark gave me the best news I’ve gotten thus far this year. In under two month’s time, a web search, quick email and short phone conversation turned into two Tesla High Power Wall Connectors (HPWC) right along a major interstate highway (I-81) that is not just for hotel guest use, as is often the case in the destination charging program, but rather an accessible, affordable and enjoyable restaurant and microbrewery that anyone would be glad to spend an hour visiting. (Because, you know, destination.)

Photo courtesy Mark Lehman, Breaker Brewing Company

Tesla HPWC at Breaker Brewing Company in Wilkes-Barre, PA

If you know of a geographical location that is as of yet unserved by Superchargers, or wish there was a destination charger, consider making a phone call to a local business owner. You might just surprise yourself with what happens next. My experience certainly included a lot of luck and an awesome business owner, but also a little strategy. I quickly realized that an area casino was too large a business for my phone calls to be routed to someone who could actually make a decision so I focused on a restaurant. Your experiences may vary but it certainly can’t hurt to share this program with a business owner who very likely knows not of its existence.

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Elon Musk seemingly confirms Cybertruck gift to 13-year-old cancer fighter

Diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of brain and spine cancer with no cure, the teen has undergone 13 surgeries by the time he was 12.

Published

1 month ago

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March 6, 2025

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Credit: Tesla

Elon Musk has seemingly confirmed that he will be sending a Tesla Cybertruck to 13-year-old Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel, a 13-year-old Houston boy fighting brain cancer. The teen was recognized as an honorary Secret Service member by U.S. President Donald Trump during his address to Congress on Tuesday. 

A Chance Meeting

The Tesla CEO’s Cybertruck pledge was mentioned during DJ’s short interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. When Collins asked the 13-year-old what he told the Tesla CEO, DJ answered that he asked for a Cybertruck.

“I said, ‘can you do me a big favor, when you get back to Houston can you send us a Cybertruck down there?’” the cancer fighter stated.

Daniel noted that Musk responded positively to his request, which was highlighted by Collins in a post on X. Musk responded to the post with a heart emoji, suggesting that he really will be sending a Cybertruck to the 13-year-old cancer fighter.

Teen’s Cancer Battle Inspires

Diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of brain and spine cancer with no cure, Daniel has undergone 13 surgeries by the time he was 12. During his speech, Trump highlighted the 13-year-old’s long battle with his disease. 

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“Joining us in the gallery tonight is a young man who truly loves our police. The doctors gave him five months at most to live. That was more than six years ago. Since that time, DJ and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true,” Trump stated.

Daniels officially received an honorary badge from U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran, to much applause during the event.

Surprisingly Partisan

While Daniels’ story has been inspiring, Trump’s focus on the 13-year-old cancer fighter has received its own fair share of criticism. MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace, while referencing Daniels’ love for law enforcement, noted that she is hoping the 13-year-old never has to defend the U.S. capitol against Trump supporters. “If he does, I hope he isn’t one of the six who loses his life to suicide,” Wallace stated.

Anti-Musk and Trump accounts on X have also thrown jokes at the cancer fighter’s honorary badge, with some dubbing the 13-year-old as a “DEI hire” that should be looked into by DOGE.

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Tesla owner highlights underrated benefit of FSD Supervised

Published

3 months ago

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January 31, 2025

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Credit: Tesla

Elon Musk has been pretty open about the idea of FSD being the difference maker for Tesla’s future.

If Tesla succeeds in achieving FSD, it could become the world’s most valuable company. If it doesn’t, then the company would not be able to reach its optimum potential.

FSD Supervised’s safety benefits:

  • But even if FSD is still not perfect today, FSD Supervised is already making a difference on the roads today.
  • This was highlighted in Tesla’s Q4 2024 Vehicle Safety Report.
  • As per Tesla, it recorded one crash for every 5.94 million miles driven in which drivers were using Autopilot technology.
  • For comparison, the most recent data available from the NHTSA and FHWA (from 2023) showed that there was one automobile crash every 702,000 miles in the United States. 

FSD user’s tale:

  • As per an FSD user’s post on social media platform X, FSD Supervised was able to help him drive a relative to a medical facility safely even if he was exhausted.
  • During the trip, the driver only had to monitor FSD Supervised’s performance to make sure the Tesla operated safely.
  • In a vehicle without FSD, such a trip with an exhausted driver would have been quite dangerous. 
  • “This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.
  • “The convenience of sending the hospital’s address directly from my iPhone to my Tesla while still inside my house, then just a single button press once inside, and 40 miles later we were precisely in front of the hospital’s admissions area.This experience really underscores just how transformative this technology can be for society,” Tesla owner JC Christopher noted in his post.

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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Tesla Optimus “stars” in incredible fanmade action short film

Published

3 months ago

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January 14, 2025

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Credit: @SoKrispyMedia/YouTube

There are few things that prove an enthusiast’s love towards a company more than a dedicated short film. This was highlighted recently when YouTube’s SoKrispyMedia posted a 10-minute action movie starring Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot, as well as several of the company’s most iconic products. 

The video: 

  • Shot like a Hollywood action flick, the video featured a rather humorous plot involving a group of thieves that mistakenly targeted a Tesla Model 3 driver. 
  • The Model 3 driver then ended up speaking to Tesla for assistance, and some high-octane and high-speed hijinks ensued.
  • While the short film featured several Tesla products like the Model 3, Superchargers, and the Cybertruck, it is Optimus that truly stole the show.
  • Optimus served several roles in the short film, from an assistant in a Tesla office to a “robocop” enforcer that helped out the Model 3 driver.

Cool inside jokes: 

  • The best Tesla videos are those that show an in-depth knowledge of the company, and SoKrispyMedia definitely had it. 
  • From the opening scenes alone, the video immediately poked fun at TSLA traders, the large number of gray Tesla owners, and the fact that many still do not understand Superchargers.
  • The video even poked fun at Tesla’s software updates, as well as how some Tesla drivers use Autopilot or other features without reading the fine print in the company’s release notes.
  • The video ended with a tour de force of references to Elon Musk products, from the Tesla Cybertruck to the Boring Company Not-a-Flamethrower, which was released back in 2018.

Check out SoKrispyMedia’s Tesla action short film in the video below.

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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