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SALT LAKE CITY — The sight of smog hanging over areas of northern Utah has prompted some Utahns to consider less-polluting modes of transportation, including Tooele resident Patrick Wiggins.
Wiggins, NASA/JPL solar system ambassador to Utah and self-professed “technology nerd,” last year became one of the growing number of people plugging into electric car ownership.
After years of saving for his dream airplane, the licensed pilot instead chose to use his money on a new Tesla, but only after taking a few test drives with a friend who had already purchased two himself.
“It’s like magic happened in my head,” Wiggins said. “Suddenly I went from 'This is crazy' to it would be crazy to not get one.”
At the time, state law prohibited sales of the high-end electric vehicles, so he had to call California to purchase the car. Several weeks after the first call, he was able to pick up his prized all-electric vehicle — a red Model S 85.
The model he chose was not the most expensive, so he spent additional money to install solar panels on the roof of his house so that, “I’m literally driving on sunshine,” he said.
Wiggins said these latest purchases have made him not only a techno geek, but an environmental geek as well.
“I spent a lot (on the car), but I like to think that I’m contributing to the future,” he said.
In recent years, electric cars rolling down the highway are becoming more common. So much so that Tesla, the Palo Alto-based automaker is commemorating a milestone in Utah this week with a stop on a three-month Electric Road Trip around the world, highlighting the capabilities of the Model S sedan and the Model X sport utility vehicle to people in communities across the country and abroad.
The company will host an open house Friday at the Montage Deer Valley Hotel in Park City as part of the road trip tour in recognition of 2 billion miles driven by more than 130,000 Tesla owners worldwide.
Tesla electric vehicles generally operate like nearly any other car or SUV, explained spokeswoman Sonja Koch, except without burning traditional petroleum-based fuels. As an advanced safety feature, each model comes equipped with sensors that provide real-time information regarding the environment surrounding the vehicle at all times, she said.
“It provides a good driving experience,” Koch said. “It’s one of the safest vehicles and it is constantly monitoring all the other vehicles around you.”
The vehicles can also be suited with a feature called “autopilot” that almost allows them to drive themselves, she said.
“It is not an autonomous driving feature,” Koch explained. “It is a convenience feature that allows the driver to have a more enjoyable experience.”
In autopilot — which is best suited for highway driving since it doesn’t recognize traffic lights or stop signs — the onboard computer drives the vehicle using sensors, however, the driver must stay engaged with their hands lightly on the steering wheel at all times, she said.
“You have to be ready to take over at any time,” she said.
Currently, new Tesla vehicles range in price from just over $70,000 for base models to approximately $146,500 for the top-end vehicle with all available options, according to the company website. Next year, Tesla plans to begin offering the all-electric Model 3 with a base price around $35,000, the website stated.
