First-time Tesla owner shares what shocked him the most after owning the car for a year: 'The more I drive this car…'

We often hear about the benefits of electric vehicles, but what's it really like to own one? We spoke with a first-time Tesla owner who shared his unexpected experiences after driving his new ride for a year.

When asked about his favorite features, our interviewee surprised us by mentioning something we wouldn't expect: how often he uses Autopilot. "The more I drive this car, the more I realize just how much of my driving is on autopilot," he said with a chuckle. It's not just the semi-autonomous features that have him impressed – it's also the advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) that helps prevent accidents.

Of course, no conversation about Teslas would be complete without talking about charging. Our owner had some concerns at first but found that the company's Supercharger network has been a game-changer for long road trips. "I was worried I'd be stuck searching for a charging station on the side of the road," he explained. "But Tesla's got it covered – I've never had to worry about running out of juice."

With great power comes great responsibility, and our owner has been impressed by the car's incredible range. He estimated that he saves around $500 a month on gas compared to his previous ride. That's money he can put towards upgrading his in-car entertainment system – or maybe even investing in one of our favorite Tesla-compatible screens, like the 10.4 Inch IPS Tesla Style Screen 4GB RAM Android 12 Touch Screen Car Stereo Radio.

As someone who's only owned Teslas for a year now, he's had some time to get used to their quirks – and there are some notable differences compared to gas-guzzlers. For one thing, the lack of engine noise can take some getting used to. "At first, I felt like something was missing," our owner admitted. "But after a while, I really appreciated how quiet it is inside the car."

Of course, no electric vehicle experience would be complete without discussing maintenance costs. Our owner's been pleasantly surprised by how low they are – so much so that he's started thinking about ditching his old gas-guzzler altogether.

A Year in Review

• Autopilot Surprises: Our interviewee was impressed by the advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) and semi-autonomous features that come with Autopilot.
• Charging on the Go: He's been thrilled with Tesla's Supercharger network, which has eliminated his worry of running out of juice during long road trips.
• Saving Green: Our owner estimates that he saves around $500 a month on gas compared to his previous ride – money he can put towards upgrading his in-car entertainment system or exploring new accessories like our 15w 10w Charger Pad for Tesla Model 3 with Light Automobile Car Accessories.

Whether you're a seasoned EV owner or just thinking about making the switch, one thing's for sure: owning a Tesla is an experience unlike any other. And who knows – maybe our interviewee will be swapping his old car for a brand-new Model S in no time.