Hansjörg von Gemmingen has gained the bragging rights to say he has covered more miles in a Tesla Roadster than anybody else has. The German racked up an impressive 100,000 kilometers (62,137 miles) since he first purchased the car less than two years ago. A stockbroker living in the southwest part of the country, von Gemmingen says he drives his Tesla on a daily basis regardless of purpose or distance, charging it every night through a standard household outlet.
The owner of the 83rd Tesla Roadster to be delivered in Europe claims he always finds somewhere to plug in and recharge the car’s batteries. His 82-year-old mother-in-law even installed a 32-amp (240-volt) plug at her house so that Hansjörg visits her more frequently.
“The Roadster handles long roadtrips with ease. As long as you have somewhere to plug in for a bit along the way, it’s simple to drive the car no matter where you’re headed,” von Gemmingen says.
He even made an 800-kilometer (497 miles) journey to Berlin for the Tesla owners event last year. In less than two years, he has driven farther than any other Tesla customer. What he didn't reveal, however, is whether the car is still running on the original set of batteries or a new one.
So far, Tesla's global fleet of more than 1,600 Roadsters have been driven more than 11 million miles, with the company claiming it will use all the customer feedback on the upcoming 2012 Model S.
By Dan Mihalascu
