- Tesla Model S, gets a huge range boost thanks to a gas powered generator.
- Tons of custom fabrication.
- To test his product by embarking on a 1600 mile road trip.
Besides the sheer amount of mining it takes to get the Lithium needed to make an electric car battery, what’s the biggest drawback to the electric car? Most people would say charging time.
And, if it runs out, you can’t just grab a couple of gallons of electricity to top it off...
What is all this? Just take me to the VIDEO…
Which has led more than a few desperate people to pull this move ⬇️
Recognizing this problem, a creative YouTube engineer decided to take his Tesla Model S and do something unthinkable—he added a gasoline engine to solve his frustration with range anxiety.
Tired of waiting for his car to charge during long road trips, the YouTuber, Matt Mikka of Warped Perception, came up with an unconventional solution: a single-cylinder, 400cc gas-powered engine mounted at the rear of his electric vehicle.
Taking the Modified Tesla on a 1,600-mile Adventure
To test his wild project, Mikka hit the road for a 1,600-mile trip without plugging into a single charger. While the concept of a gasoline-powered Tesla sounds ironic, the execution was both fascinating and problematic.
- Fuel Efficiency Issues: The car burned through gas quickly due to the aerodynamic hit, with some fuel even spraying out at higher speeds.
- Noise Complaints: The small engine, running day and night to keep the Tesla’s battery alive, created quite a racket, leading to reports from annoyed locals along the way.
- Speed Limits: At one point, Mikka was pulled over by the police for driving too slowly, as the setup struggled to maintain speed while generating power.
Time vs Speed
The charger wasn’t enough to keep the car charged at full speed, so Mikka was forced to drive slower to avoid depleting the battery all the way, which eventually led to him gettin pulled over.
A Unique Build With a Bold Look
Despite the hiccups, Mikka’s custom modification worked. The gas engine ran nearly non-stop for seven days, allowing him to complete the trip—albeit much slower than planned.
The exposed engine gave the sleek Model S a rugged, eye-catching look that turned heads wherever he stopped.
Rather than calling it quits, Mikka hinted at plans to improve on his creation, aiming for a bigger and better setup in the future.
It’s hard not to wonder what Tesla’s founder, Elon Musk, would think of this gas-guzzling twist on a car designed to be clean, quiet, and electric. My guess is he’d probably admire the engineering, and HATE the change to the car.