Unforgettable Night Stranded as an Uber Driver with My Dead Tesla Battery
I've got a story that's part cautionary tale, part adventure, and all about the unexpected journey of being an Uber driver with a Tesla.
So there I was, after a booming night of driving, caught in a blizzard, trying to make it home. Tesla's navigation confidently told me I'd reach the nearest Supercharger with a battery to spare. But the snow had other plans, turning what should have been a straightforward trip into a survival saga involving a dairy farm, a blizzard, the cops, and a dead Tesla battery.
With the interstate closed and my battery plummeting alongside the temperature, I found refuge at a dairy farm—no joke. The scene could've been straight out of a movie: me, trying to communicate through Google Translate with non-English speaking farmhands at 4:30 AM, realizing I'd left my charging cable at home.
Calls to my wife (bless her) ended with the stark realization that help wasn't coming from home, thanks to recently removed snow tires on our other car. Insurance offered a tow... eventually. But with a blizzard wreaking havoc, "eventually" looked more like "maybe sometime tomorrow." And Uber or Lyft? With surges in nearby Syracuse, I was stranded.
My solution? Waiting for a neighbor to brave the snowy roads after sunrise to deliver my forgotten cable. Meanwhile, I faced the teasing of milk truck drivers and the confusion of a farm owner who couldn't quite grasp why I was there. My neighbor's arrival was a small victory, but charging a Tesla with a regular outlet in freezing temperatures is like trying to fill a swimming pool with a teaspoon.
Through desperation and ingenuity, I eventually made it to the Supercharger—only to find it wouldn't connect. The solution? A car wash. Running my powerless Tesla through a car wash to thaw it out actually worked.
Lessons Learned:
Expect the Unexpected: Always plan for more battery than you think you'll need, especially in bad weather.
Essentials: Keep your charging cable in your car. Always.
Seasonal Readiness: Don't rush into spring in places like upstate New York; snow tires are your friends.
Know Your Charging Options: Superchargers are great, but know how each type of Tesla charger works and plan accordingly.
Community Matters: Despite the challenges, the kindness of other humans got me through—well, except maybe the farm owner.
Ultimately, what started as a routine night of Uber driving became a reminder of the importance of preparation, the unpredictability of life, and the stories that make us who we are. For all my fellow drivers out there, whether you're in a Tesla or not, stay safe, stay prepared, and keep your sense of adventure alive. And to our passengers, remember, a little kindness (and maybe an actual tip in the app) goes a long way, especially when it's cold out.
Drive safe,
Levi
