Meet Carl from Teslamonial WI - Your Local Tesla Expert
The Connection Blog is all about introducing my readers to new people and new places. Now, I can say that it also introduces people to new experiences!
Recently, I had the chance to take a ride with Carl, the creator of Teslamonial WI, a YouTube channel all about sharing real Tesla experiences right here in Wisconsin.
In this video, Carl and I drive trough Sheboygan County in his Tesla Model Y using self-driving technology.
It was really interesting to literally drive with no hands, at fast speeds, and feel like we’re now living in the future.
Cindy: Carl, I’ve always known you were a car guy. What drew you to electric cars and how did Teslamonial WI come about?
Carl: I’ve always been passionate about cars. While drifting is my preferred motorsport and sports cars are my favorite type of vehicle, I genuinely appreciate a wide range of automotive design and engineering. Electric vehicles caught my interest because they’re incredibly fast, comfortable, and packed with technology. That doesn’t mean my love for combustion engines has faded. I simply appreciate both for what they offer.
Teslamonial WI started for a personal reason. My aunt and uncle, who are older and sometimes struggle with driving, especially at night, took a ride in my Tesla to try Full Self-Driving (FSD). They loved the hands-free autonomy so much that they immediately purchased their own Tesla. Once they had the car, they needed help learning how to use it.
The challenge? I live in Wisconsin and they live in Florida. To bridge the 1,500-mile gap, I suggested they email me questions. I would then record short how-to videos for them and post them on YouTube so the content was easy to revisit and share. Those simple tutorial videos unexpectedly gained traction, and the channel grew quickly. Today, Teslamonial WI features five categories of Tesla content:
How-To’s: Practical demonstrations for my aunt and uncle and anyone else looking to learn specific features.
Tesla Explained: Overviews of more general topics like Supercharging and how to identify where your vehicle was manufactured.
FSD/Software Reviews: Hands-on testing and breakdowns of new software updates.
First Time Tesla: Real reactions from people experiencing FSD behind the wheel for the first time.
Teslamonials: Interviews with Tesla owners discussing the highs and lows of their ownership experience.
Cindy: What feedback or question do you get most often from people who are curious but still on the fence about electric cars?
Carl: The most common misconception I hear is that Teslas are prohibitively expensive, and that they’re all $100,000+ vehicles. While the Model S and Model X do fall into the luxury price tier, the Model 3 and Model Y start around $37,000 to $39,000. Considering that the average new car in 2026 costs between $48,000 and $50,000, Tesla is very competitively priced for buyers in the new-car market.
The question I hear most is about range. “Range anxiety,” which is the fear of running out of charge, is real for people new to EVs. Because gas stations are everywhere, non-EV owners assume chargers are scarce. In reality, EV charging infrastructure is far more accessible than people expect, especially within Tesla’s well-established Supercharger network.
One major advantage Tesla offers is built-in trip planning. When navigating long distances, the car automatically routes you to charging stops as needed, so you don’t have to search for chargers the way you would hunt for a gas station.
Most people don’t fully overcome range anxiety until they take their first road trip in a Tesla. When they do, they’re almost always surprised by how easy it is.
Cindy: Our winters can get pretty bad. How has your Tesla handled cold weather and snow?
Carl: My Tesla has been excellent in winter conditions. Its traction and stability in snow have been impressive. In fact, I filmed a video while driving in a snowstorm using FSD where the car began to slide, and without any intervention from me, it countersteered and regained control. Since then, I’ve added snow tires, which is something I do for all my vehicles.
It’s true that EVs lose some range in very cold temperatures. This happens for two primary reasons:
Battery Chemistry: Cold weather slows the chemical reactions inside lithium-ion cells, increasing resistance and reducing available range by roughly 10 to 15%.
Cabin Heating: Gas cars generate “free” heat from the engine. EVs do not. Older Teslas used electric resistance heating, which was inefficient. Newer models use a heat pump, which is significantly more efficient, though winter range loss still occurs.
In my experience, a drive that uses 10% battery in summer may use 30% in winter. This has never bothered me, though, because the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Being able to preheat my car from my phone, even inside my closed garage without carbon monoxide concerns, is a luxury I absolutely love.
Cindy: Do you think Sheboygan is ready for self-driving cars?
Carl: Absolutely. Over the past eight months, I’ve driven approximately 6,000 miles in Sheboygan using FSD. It handles everything from quick family visits to downtown dinner pickups with ease. The system can even parallel park on its own, which is a feature that has served me well on Michigan Avenue more than once.
Interestingly, only about 12% of Tesla owners nationwide currently use FSD. Whenever I meet another Tesla owner, I ask if they use it, and I have yet to find someone locally who does. Even when I see Teslas around town, the drivers almost always have their hands on the wheel. The technology is far better than most people realize, including many Tesla owners.
Cindy: For those who may not know you yet, tell us a little about yourself outside of YouTube. What do you enjoy doing when you are not filming or talking cars?
Carl: Life is full, in the best way. I’m an engineer on an international team, so my work includes travel and the occasional odd hour to accommodate different time zones. I have a wonderful wife and two kids who often appear in my videos. We make family time a priority, along with spending time with our extended family.
My wife is heavily involved in the YouTube channel as well. We enjoy traveling and have visited several countries together. I’m currently planning a trip to Japan later this year.
Home renovation is another big passion of ours. We fully renovated our previous house and are slowly tackling our current home, one room at a time. Progress is steady but slow because life keeps us busy. We even launched a renovation-focused YouTube channel called Rice Cracker Renovations to document the process.
But anyone who knows me will tell you this: I’m almost always talking about cars. I have an unapologetically enthusiastic obsession with modifying and racing them.
A huge thank you to Carl for having me on Teslamonial WI and for creating such a fun and memorable experience.
We had a lot of great conversations and were able to give outsiders a little tour of Sheboygan County.
Don’t forget to watch more videos and subscribe to Carl’s Youtube Channel Teslamonial WI. His videos are honest, fun, and very Wisconsin :)
